Andy Riches

Prepared to leave Vieux port (bassin des yachts) for gate opening at 10:45. Getting edgy by 10:55 when suddenly some action. Gates open and we reversed out and off we went. Down the narrow channel past Les Minimes huge marina. NE ly gusting 16-17 knots. But mostly around 10-14 knots. Jib up and broad reach to D’Aix. Quite busy for lunch and all the bouys taken. Anchored in 5.5 as only 2 m of tide, put out 20 meters but dragged. Reset with 27 and as soon as we were settled we saw movement on a yacht preparing to leave a bouy. So got ready to weigh anchor and as soon as he slipped we swung around to take a path in for pickup. Nikki took the wheel and I picked up. Very smooth! Beautiful sunny afternoon. Nikki in Bikini. All good. Wind forecast to pick up from 0300 but NE off the island so hopefully won’t be too bad.

Dinghy on deck behind mast. Anchor up and off. Got the jib out and headed towards the entrance to La Rochelle channel. Motored past Les Minimes massive marina and slowed right down to time our arrival for the gate opening at 1830. Very helpful on radio and helped At pontoon when we came in at about 1840

After some juggling about in the rafts we set off around 10 with a bit of help from the harbour launch pulling our bow off and through the wind. As we went through the gate and break waters the sea outside looked pretty rough. It felt a good 20 knots NE ly and we motored straight into it until clear of the cardinal. Let out most of the jib and sailed close hauled at around 5-6 knots. Not too much leaning and Nikki seemed quite happy. As we closed in on the Bridge we could bear away abit. Once through the shallows bore off a bit more and under the bridge. Suddenly seemed calmer but probably just the change of wind angle. Headed to the anchorage and after some toing and frowing anchored for the afternoon in 5.7 which should leave 3.2 at LW. A short nap and watched the Grand Prix in the cockpit on the iPad. Before headed off to La Rochelle at 1700

After a late night with Frank and Suzanne on Barista we left a little later than planned at about 10. Rigged code zero and slipped bouy. Main up and sailed for a couple of hours between 4-6 mostly before motoring just before the bridge, shortly after bridge sailed again for 20 mins or so before wind faded and we motored again. Arrived around 1340 radioed in to Saint Martin and hovered around before getting the call to enter. Rafted up along side Ditto after turning around to go starboard side to. Very hot! … and beautiful! Especially the French Bikini clad crew that rafter alongside us!

Quick change of bouy as looked more sheltered around the point

Decided to head for Ile d’aix. Anchor up and motored into deep water before putting main up. Started off around 4 knots but wind quickly faded and we motored having first put the water maker on. On arrival picked bouy up at La Croix first time. Beautiful and peaceful but wind blew up around 1700 to 2000. Then had reasonable night. But a bit hung over!

After run ashore for salad bits, stopped off n Dinghy on way back to have coffee with Dave and Una on Vadana 3. Talked a lot late lunch and left late. Very hot again today. Wind around 12 knots from SW. Motored around the corner and sailed on close haul with just jib between 4 and 5 knots mainly. Swimsuit sail and enjoyed the cooling breeze. Wind faded around 1630 and motored. Anchored in 3.5m just after LW. 2.1 m at LW and 5.1m at HW. 30m of chain plus snubber set. Discovered shower hose in cockpit had perished and had lost a complete tank of water in Lazarette! Bilge pumps had coped well. Read up and got water maker working to replenish 1/4 of tank so we could shower. Chicken Tikka salad, Crement, Sunset and bed! Woke at 03.30 a bit wobbly to find anchorage in thick fog.

Night before we had tapas in the Balcon bar with Paul and Michelle from Ditto. Nikki had a terrible nights sleep and I woke up at 420. Decided to get up 0620 and go. Ditto left about 0630. Beautiful morning light Easterly. Not a cloud in the sky and already warm. Took code zero down as would be close hauled and prepared lines for exit. Went very smoothly and proceeded slowly around S bend out of Marina. Ditto was 3.2 miles ahead by the time we got sails up and settled down to a close fetch in around 10 knots of Easterly. Good speed at up to around 6 knots. Wind came and went and became a close haul. We closed the gap on Ditto to 0.7 miles before the wind dropped off and we motor sailed just after 11 off Ile de Re and headed towards the Bridge before winding in the jib. Followed Ditto over the shallows which seemed about 0.6m less depth than Navionics indicated, and under the bridge. Took main down and anchored in 5.5m off the beach by the bridge. Anse de loubye. Of

After the difficulties berthing with the wind blowing us down to the end of the pontoon we were both worried about getting out. In fact it went very well but still a bit tight as we backed out and turned. Helped by the wind blowing us off and the space next to us being vacant. Main and jib up and enjoyed a pleasant sail to Bourgenay. NE ly around 10 knots. Touched 7 knots tacked in the last bit as the wind faded to within about 0.7m of entrance.

Wind directly behind. Nasty swell across our quarter made Nikki feel ill. First time using pole with punk bitch. Wind quite fresh for first couple of hours then started dropping and the swell felt more pronounced. Pink Bitch up with pole up to over 6knots, reduced to 2.5 Eventually motored at 1300 for about half an hour then again on a run finished up on just main, 4.5kts touching 7kts briefly