|
|
The
Victoria
Shadow
Association |
|
|
Camaret to Sauzon
received
19/07/07 |
|
After a lovely
week in Cameret in the early June sunshine, we left at first light and
motored through a misty Rade de Brest and into the Aulne River, where
we spent two enjoyable days at Port Launay and Chateaulin. The river
is very beautiful and peaceful, as it meanders through the French
countryside and is well worth a visit. As we entered the river a group
of three dolphins swam past the boat, one of a number of sightings we
were to enjoy in this area. After a night at anchor in the Rade de
Brest we continued south into the Baie de Douarnenez. Although the bay
is lovely with many sandy beaches, Douarnenez was playing host to the
start of the Mini Fastnet race and was crowded with 6.5 metre racing
yachts so after one night we decided it was time to brave the next
major tidal gateway - the Raz du Sein.
As advised in all the pilot books, we
timed our passage to pass through the Raz at slack water and on a calm
day we sailed through with no difficulty. However the bleak cliffs,
guarded by two large lighthouses, combined with the swirling water
leave the distinct impression that it could be a grim place in nasty
weather.
|
|
|
|
Simon passing
La Vielle lighthouse in the Raz du Sein |
|
We had a very
uncomfortable night on a mooring off St. Evette due to a large swell
into the bay, resulting in one of our mooring lines shearing right
through in the night (thankfully we had two!) as well as everything
falling out of cupboards as we rolled violently from side to side. Not
much sleep was had so we were pleased to move on the next day,
rounding the Pointe de Penmarc’h in a south westerly force 5, which
kicked up a large sea as we kept well offshore to avoid the many rocky
hazards along this coast. This marks the official start of southern
Brittany and we hoped it would bring more settled weather but it was
not to be as the latter part of June and early July were marked by
strong winds and frequent rain. However, hearing the news of severe
flooding in parts of the UK, we count ourselves very lucky. |
|
|
|
Another sunny
day in Brittany, taken from our mooring at Benodet |
|
We spent an
enjoyable couple of weeks in the attractive ports of Loctudy, Benodet
and Concarneau. Our visit to Benodet coincided with a week of classic
yacht racing and we were able to watch Pen Duick, Gipsy Moth and other
beautiful yachts sailing in and out past our mooring. We liked the
lively walled town of Concarneau despite a very wild and windy Sunday
when the wave break of the marina behind which we were moored seemed
inadequate to stop the waves whipped up by a very strong south
westerly wind. From Concarneau we sailed to Lorient and then onto
Quiberon, enjoying some great sailing in fresh breezes.
After
a few days in Quiberon we sailed into the Golfe du Morbihan, a
beautiful large natural harbour dotted with a myriad of small islands.
Over the last couple of weeks we have spent time on a mooring at Le
Bono in the Auray River, where we had a couple of particularly lively
dinghy trips ashore as the combination of force 6 winds and strong
tides whipped up a lively sea. We then spent a few days in the old
city of Vannes. It was good to be moored right in the heart of the
city, despite the challenges of manoeuvring in and out through the
very narrow canal into the port, as a rally of 20 English yachts tries
to come the other way! We
have also spent more peaceful time anchored off the Ile aux Moines,
our favourite Ile d’Arz and Ile Berder. We left the Morbihan at the
beginning of this week to visit Belle Ile and are currently in the
lovely harbour at Sauzon, enjoying the coast of the aptly named
“beautiful island”. Time and weather permitting we may also visit the
smaller islands of Hoedic and Houat (pronounced
“what” – as in that !!) before coming home for a few days at the end
of July to celebrate Simon’s brother Michael’s 60th
birthday.
|
|
|
|
'Tessera' at
the Ile aux Moines in the Golfe du Morbihan on 14 July. |
|
We unexpectedly met Ken and Elizabeth
(Victoria Shadow Association members with their yacht 'Tessera') when
they motored past our mooring
at the Ile
aux Moines, having just left Vannes. They stopped overnight and we
spent a very pleasant evening swapping stories. They have been
considerably more intrepid than us, having visited the West Country,
Scilly Isles and the coast of France as far as La Rochelle since the
end of May, despite the weather and a French fisherman's blockade of
some ports in the west of France. When we met them they were making
their way gradually home.
Best wishes
Simon and Jo
|
|
