Another windy day. We had a relaxed start followed by a walk around the citadel. There was an interesting exhibition about the French equivalent of the RNLI called the SNSM. There was a poignant photographic exhibition about the end of the 2nd world war. We walked into town but most of the shops were ferme on a Monday, even the supermarket! We ate a meal on board.
Tuesday
Iles Glennan
The winds were a little lighter (15-17mph) on the nose as we motor sailed to Glennan. It was a little windy on the beach so we walked around and booked a meal for the evening. We had very large Ile flotants 😋
Wednesday
St Evette
We motor sailed on calm seas to St Evette accompanied by a pod of dolphins. After anchoring the boat we wandered ashore along the sparkling white sand beaches to Audierne. We enjoyed a proper French meal at last.
Thursday
Brest
We motor sailed back to Brest to enable us to get our passports stamped. We just made it before the office closed.
Friday
Ile Molene
We couldn’t resist stopping at Ile Molene on our way home.
Saturday
Sail home
We quietly raised our anchor at 4am and nudged Captiva homewards across the English Channel. We caught sight of our homecoming lighthouse (St Anthony) at 8:30 pm 😊
A gloriously warm and sunny day for a wander, swim and lunch on the boat at Hoedic.
We then motored to Houat and anchored in the usual bay for a refereshing swim. A quick wander ashore revealed many places were closed on a lundi and not opening until the 1st July, luckily tomorrow. We had our evening meal on the boat.
After a slightly cloudy start we went ashore for coffee and booked an evening meal in the usual bar on the square. We went in search of du pain but the old boulangerir only sold ready made sandwiches. The old supermarket looked like it was permanently closed. The only other shop did not sell fresh bread. I tested my French and asked where we could buy bread on Houat and the answer was nowhere?? Such a shame seeing this idyllic island looking sad and neglected. The school seemed to be closed and there were very few children around. After lunch on the boat we walked along the beach to the harbour. We enjoyed our evening meal in our usual restaurant so at least some things have not changed. On Wednesday we bought a sandwich and coffee from the ex-boulangerie then walked along the coast path. We sat on the beach until the only food shop opened at 4:30pm. After an evening meal on board sleep was difficult as windier conditions made the boat a bit bumpy during the night.
Thursday
Morbihan
It was time to move as we were low on drinking water and food, so headed to the mainland. We stopped at Morbihan as neap tides suited going in there. It was a very warm day but we managed a little walk to an old tide mill. We met an interesting couple from Memphis when eating our evening meal (although the young gentleman was originally a local from Ile d’Aix where we were). Fortunately a lovely evening was followed by a peaceful night and good sleep
Friday
Port Haliguen
After a slow start we had coffee then gently motored out of Morbihan to Port Haliguen. We washed clothes,and filled the boat with water. We wandered to the beach for a refreshing swim. After a shower in the excellent port facilities we enjoyed the best meal out of our entire three week trip. It was a really great marina with excellent facilities.
Saturday
Sauzon, Belle Ile
We had a gentle motor to Sauzon for a refreshing swim. We wandered around ashore to refresh supplies and enjoyed crepes for lunch. We walked to a little beach where Richard was happy to see some lizards. After shopping we had our meal on board and a restful night
.
Sunday wind 30-35mph
Port St Louis, L’Orient
We had an unexpectedly challenging crossing back to the mainland at L’Orient. Very misleading weather forecast. Maisie gave herself a bit of a fright by leaping into the front cabin when the door swung open. After Sue rescued her she spent the rest of the journey hiding in the less bouncy rear cabin. We could not immediately go ashore at Port St Louis as a regatta was taking place. We watched some tall ships while waiting to make our way to the marina. Had a shower and meal ashore. Still very windy.
After a grey start we wandered to the supermarche to top up supplies. We left Groix at 10:30 an and motor sailed to Belle Isle arriving around 2pm at another favourite mooring location near Sauron. We had lunch on board then went ashore. We wandered around a very quiet Sauron, many places were closed today and tomorrow. In the evening we had a meal at Le Bistrot du Port. We had not eaten there before and had an enjoyable evening.
On Tuesday we took a bag of washing ashore and had coffee while waiting for it to be washed. After lunch on the boat we spent a leisurely afternoon swimming and sitting in the sun ( and much needed shade). A perfect afternoon was followed by a meal in our favourite Sauzon creperie.
Wednesday
Piriac
We sailed to Piriac on a calm sea. We wandered around the nice little town and marina. Stocked up inthe supermarche and enjoyed ice cream. A sudden rain shower meant sheltering in a nice bar before returning to the boat for a meal.
Thursday to Saturday
Ile de Yeux
We had an 8 hour sail to Ile d’ Yeux taking us out of Brittany and into the Pays de la Loire.. There was more wind and bumpier seas but we averaged over 5 knots, We wandered into Point de Joinville trying to find food and settled for a pizza. We were last here in 2012, it seemed quieter, not thriving and fewer fishing boats.
On Friday we hired bikes. We bravely chose pedal power and were quite pleased with our 30km in 4 hours including photo stops. It was difficult to find lunchtime food as everywhere was ferme apres 2pm.We waited and enjoyed croque monsieur at Port de Joinville. We returned to the boat for our evening meal.
Saturday began with boat chores and some washing. We walked into Point Joinville and practiced our French at the market. We bought fresh sea bass and brocollifor our evening meal. After a lunchtime baguette we walked along the beaches to the east of the port. We found a shady spot and enjoyed a swim and some sunshine. On our way back we stocked up at the local intermarche followed by a cool beer by the harbour. We enjoyed our sea bass for our evening meal on the boat.
Sunday
Hoedic
We motor sailed to Hoedic taking us back into Brittany and the start of our slow journey North towards home. We arrived at 5:30pm in time for a quick swim. We took the dingy to the beach We enjoyed a beer then an evening meal of chicken kebabs, chips and salad followed by lemon possett ….. yummy
At 14:55 we dropped our mooring and sailed gently out of Cornwall, due south, across the English channel. It has been 3 years since we last made this journey. We had hoped to go last year but were prevented by engine difficulties.
It was mostly a good calm crossing to Brest appart from picking up some long strands of kelp in the engine water inlet as we approached to French coast. Brest marina was warm and sunny and enjoyable after our 24 hour journey. After a shower we enjoyed a meal in one of the marina restaurants. We By 8pm we were struggling to keep our eyes open and were glad to have a good nights sleep.
Tuesday
At 9 in the morning we set off to find the douane office and get our passports stamped. After filling Captivas fuel tanks we mostly motored over calm seas to Ile de Sein. A slight mishap entering the harbour when we hit an unexpected rock. A bit scarey but lucklily Richard reversed quickly so we did not get stuck. We enjoyed a walk ashore and a cool beer watching a game of boules. We enjoyed a lobster salad at a restaurant we had been to previously before returning to the boat.
Wednesday
We removed our anchor from its bed of weed and sand and gently sailed and motored to Benodet. It was warm sitting in the cockpit under a blue cloudless. Hardly a ripple on the surface of the sea apart from plunging gannets and dolphins chasing a shoal of fish. Maisie joined us in the cockpit several times.
Arriving at 6pm we walked along the Odet river and had our first moules et frites (although the chips were not that great). After a wander around the town we needed a shower to cool off.
Thursday
We had a morning shopping trip and coffee in Benodet. We then motored to the Iles de Glennan, arriving at 3pm in time for a refreshing swim. We had a beer at Le Brochane bar, which happily hasn’t changed. It was very preaceful, we had never seen it so still here. We sat in the cockpit watching the sun go down.
Friday
A leaisurely day in Glennan. After breakfast we took the dingy ashore but noticed a couple chasing a lost dingy. Richard of course went to the rescue at the exact moment there was a sudden downpour. We both were absolutely soaked to the skin by the time Richard had done his good deed. Fortunately after a walk around the island and sitting on the beach, we were soon dry. After lunch on the boat we tried to eat out at Le Bouchane, but it was fully booked (lesson learnt). We had a meal on board and a peaceful evening.
Saturday 21st June, midsummer and longest day
Another gentle motor sail took us to Doelan, a small village north of Lorient. We last visited here in 2014. It is a lovely village with a small harbour where you can moor on two buoys with the help of the friendly harbour master.
We had intended to walk around but it was so warm we just took the coast path to a beach and a swim. The salt was quickly washed off by another sudden rain shower. We had an evening meal ashore but unfortanately the resaurant had changed hands and wasn’t as good as we remembered.
Sunday 22nd June
We sailed to Ile de Groix intending to stay two nights. Unfortunately a rally was arriving the next day so were only able to stay un nuit. We had a gallete onshore for lunch and a gentle wander around the port (it was very warm). We had a beer then returned to the boat for our evening meal.
in terms of staying afloat we spent much of the winter again training for the Gig rowing World Championships. Obviosly weather dependent, we were often rowing 3 times a week and doing gym sessions at least once a week. Great for our overall fitness. we had a practice row at Helford Regatta which went really well considering the windy conditions
.On the 30th April we sailed to Scilly with our trusty cat Maisie. We picked up a mooring in St Mary’s harbour and spent most of the weekend in Hugh Town.
The masters (over 60s) races were on Friday 2nd May. We both raced in perfect weather conditions but it was much more competitive this year, with more clubs entering this category. We both did OK and enjoyed our weekend. We were relieved to not be rowing on the Saturday with the conditions described as really challenging. Richard raced on the Sunday, but in a really old heavy boat called Slippen, they were a bit disappointed with their performance.
On Monday we sailed to Tresco and enjoyed a walk around and a meal in the New Inn. We sailed home the next day, a good reasuringly, steady journey with our new engine.
