It was 70 years ago today (17th November 1953) that the International Court of Justice delivered its judgement, confirming that sovereignty of these offshore reefs lay with Jersey (United Kingdom) as opposed to France.
Les Ecrehous lie just over 5 nautical miles to the north east of Jersey, almost midway between Jersey and the Cotentin Peninsula. The larger (much larger) of the reefs are the Minquiers, and they are also the furthest offshore. Lying aprroximately 11 nautical miles to the south of Jersey, towards the north coast of Brittany.
Thanks to that historical judgement, 70 years ago today, these reefs are the playground of Jersey and visiting kayakers. If the judgement had gone the other way how much more difficult would it be for kayakers based in Jersey to access the reefs?
There is so much more to say about these complex and diverse reefs but today we should just recognise the fact that the are part of the Baliwick of Jersey.