Paul Merriman

Ending of the trip. Pleasant sail back to St Malo.

Expected little wind but a bonus sail around St Cast

We reviewed the plan in the morning and decided winds would build later in the day and tide would switch direction to be with us. So we took the morning at a leisurely pace and walked to the next beach and have a coffee. We left just before 2pm as planned and had great winds on the way - even more than expected. A cracking beam reach down to St Cast and we arrived pretty much on time.

Perfect exit 2hrs ahead of high tide with stream already flowing. Hoped for a sail to Paimpol but wind was slight and when we called Paimpol found office was closed at 12noon for the day! Changed plan to St-Quay-Portrieux instead which was an easy and pleasant entrance though tide was racing as we rounded Marina wall. Hoping for more time under wind power tomorrow!

We considered a longer trip West but in the end opted for a shorter tip to get into Treguier before the tide became too tricky. In the end it was a good decision - arrived soon after low tide and there was still a reasonable stream coming back in. 4hrs later this was a pretty formidable torrent. The journey here was under motor and overcast and involved finding the passage through the rocks off the coast - good fun tracking transits - once we got on the right ones!

Great sail which went nicely to plan. Left 0830 to catch tide west to Lezardrieux. Lovely wind on the beam so sport tack all the way. Lunch on the go and an interesting meander up the river to home for the night.

Strong Easterly winds so beating into them on the way to Stokes Bay. Saw two drone boats being tested. Great berthing by Andrew and speedy tie up by the crew at Port Hamble.