Nicola Riches

Decided to leave earlier than planned and fight some tide. Really no wind -5 knots from behind, and motored mainly, worrying about fuel. Showed just under a quarter of a tank. In theory plenty but gauge flicked between nil and an 1/8. Tried to sail a couple of times but not enough wind until just of Batz. Then on the nose! Was able to sail the last bit to entrance of Batz and then motored through shallows as only a couple of hours after LW. Through the shallows and approach to Roscoff. Radioed and met by Sonya on the Rib. Got 60L of fuel and Sonya escorted us to D 95 and helped us tie up.

Left in Dark. Quite disorientating leaving anchorage. Once outside much clearer and twilight came fairly soon giving a bit of partial light from just before 0600. 10 knots N wind against a very weak tide at Raz. Made the start of Raz a little late at 0700 Had hoped to be there slightly earlier at 0630-0700 Almost slack water and be clear by 0730 which would have got us to the start of Che al du four around 0930. We were running around 30mins late and never caught up, probably the lack of fuel and sailing across to Chenal Du four once through the Raz slowed us slightly. Although we were making good progress sailing. Close to Saint Matt around 1000 for start of Chenal du four. Sailed close to wind for most of the Chanel deciding to motor again as the wind dropped and the swell slowed us right down. Motored to around the Du Gour lighthouse and then tried sailing again. Had to put in a tack to get round the rocks and were catching Petrel, who turned off to the first Aber. Was able to bear off a touch and charged into the entrance of L’Aber Wrac’h . Took sails down at last big green and motored in . Met by rib who welcomed us to L’Aber Wrac’h and helped us tie up . Went to bed and woke up to the wind roaring. Very satisfying! Lovely evening at sailing school event meeting a French couple and a farmer and his wife, buying each other drinks. Still a good 1m high swell but long swell. At North end of Chanel Du four swell much closer together. About 1.5-2 knots of s going tide against 10 knots of wind.

Umming and arring about staying and leaving in the dark and having about 2.7m in Chanel or going to anchorage. Wind forecast N 21 knots from 1700-2000! Decided on anchor. Mainly Nikki! Good choice so far . It’s now 2030 and calm at 10knots. Planning on 0500 wake up and off!

Alarm for 8! Up breakfast and upped anchor and off. More breeze than we thought and sailed quite nicely out of bay for an angle to tack back in to to get around the headland. Unfortunately the 1/2 knots of tide against us when we tacked meant a tactical 30-40 minutes of engine to get clear of off lying rocks and make some quicker progress. Sailed all the way then to Audierne (Yvette anchorage) arriving just after 1530. Clouded over and threatening to rain although quite warm still about an hour before getting here. Otherwise quite a sunny and pleasant day. Perhaps the last for a while?

Left around 11 . Hoisted main and sailed off from bouy but wind dropped and only making 2 knots on a run. Struggled to get past Beg Meil . Then motor ed for half an and tried sailing. Wind picked up and changed to come from in front, so tacked. Just going past fish farm really blew up to 17-19 knots true. Main down and jibbed to cardinal marking end of fish farm. Motored to anchorage. Windy and rough until right inside , then not too bad

Festival parade at Voncarneau made shopping interesting! Lovely exit from berth and motored out between the shallows and rocks. Checked the anchorage out at La Croix which seemed good. Plenty of room and lots of depth. Worth thinking about in the future. Jib out and tacked towards anchorage . Picked up a bouy after thinking someone had nicked the boat hook! A bit of a way out but seems ok. Had a couple of swims and a sleep.

Called Concarneau for berth to be told there was a festival and they might not have a space for our size and to get here asap. And quite a higher coefficient for depth. So quickly got ready. Snubber off and anchor jammed solid on bottom! A bit of easing and drove forward a couple of times and it freed. A bit scary though, thought we might need to use the trip line! Main up as soon as clear and sailed straight to Concarneau on a close reach at up to 6.3 knots. They told us to phone when we were an hour away. Made great progress. Baggie seemed to be trying hard to get there quickly! Screaming past other boats slowed a little as wind dropped, but made it to Marina by 1145. No problem berthing, seemed plenty of space. Festival is free! Looks good. Breton music and dance. The Silencers from Scotland playing tomorrow.

A bit agitated when we woke with light swell, maybe tide. Wind good for Concarneau but NW-W for the foreseeable after today. So off we set. Slow progress with just main to start at around 2 knots. Jib out after clearing rocks and shallows off anchorage, still only as not 2 knots! Tried coming off a run and gybing across our purple course line and got up to 3 knots. As we cleared the end of Groix wind picked up to around 8-9 knots and we made good progress at around 4-5knots. Decided to go to Ile de Glenan instead as better angle on wind for speed, and it was a bit closer. Leaving only 9.5 miles to do next day. Bikini sailing and swimmers, very hot and sunny. Dead calm sea - could stop for a swim almost! Wind gradually started coming more SW and we sailed well on a close reach. Dolphins as we approached Penfret. Anchored quickly and set off for the beach for a swim and cool down. Crystal clear sea and white sandy beach. Stunning, Partial eclipse in evening.

Very gusty in anchorage so decided to wait to see if gusts died down a bit. Gusts 20 at 930, slowly reduced to 15 by 1030 Nikki got anchor up really well and pick up bouy and we motored out. Nikki steered into wind to hoist main which was tricky with the gusts on the nose. Sailed out on more a less a run with just main at about 5 knots. Once turned to a reach we got jib out and had a great sail down the back of the island with the island creating gusts. Reached 7.9 knots. Chasing Tia. Within 0.5 miles from 1.2 and they headed towards other side of Island and we to Groix. Then the wind totally stopped and we motored for about 45 minutes before being able to sail again at between 3.5 and 5 knots