Toutvabien
Well-Known Member
At about 6pm on the 23rd of July we left Ipswich en route to La Rochelle, where we now have a long term berth for a year or three. As I was taking the boat along the Wallet, sailing past Walton and Clacton piers, waving to Jaywick and then crossing the Spitway and across the Estuary towards N. Foreland I felt quite nostalgic.
Crossing the Estuary I was recalling some of the adventures, and misadventures that I have had since the first crossing in about 1983, like when we almost hit the remains of the SW Sunk tower in the fog, or the time the electronic compasses packed up, leaving us with just the compass in a pair of binoculars with which to steer the boat (pre-GPS). Having sailed around the East Coast on and off since about 1983 this felt like a significant departure as, at 60 years old, I am not sure that I will ever be bringing Jigsaw back this way again.
The longer term plan is to keep exploring Western France, Spain and Portugal for a few years before casting off again long term, so at present we are not planning to a return to Essex. We had a great trip down to La Rochelle, sailed three days non-stop from Ipswich to Roscoff and then mainly day sails down the West coast of France. It is so very very different from sailing around the East Coast and we are feeling very content with the move so far, the facilities are wonderful, great marinas and lovely anchorages. Our marina berth in La Rochelle on an annual contract is about £3100 pa for an 11.7 metre berth, including water and electricity. The locals are almost as friendly as people on the East Coast, and we have already run into several other East Coast boats who are short term or long term missionaries; many tempted by the weather (and they often mention the quality of the food and wine).
I am going to miss being able to dive down to the boat at short notice, but door to washboard, via Stanstead, is about 5 hours and if anybody is sailing by La Rochelle we are on pontoon 6.
Crossing the Estuary I was recalling some of the adventures, and misadventures that I have had since the first crossing in about 1983, like when we almost hit the remains of the SW Sunk tower in the fog, or the time the electronic compasses packed up, leaving us with just the compass in a pair of binoculars with which to steer the boat (pre-GPS). Having sailed around the East Coast on and off since about 1983 this felt like a significant departure as, at 60 years old, I am not sure that I will ever be bringing Jigsaw back this way again.
The longer term plan is to keep exploring Western France, Spain and Portugal for a few years before casting off again long term, so at present we are not planning to a return to Essex. We had a great trip down to La Rochelle, sailed three days non-stop from Ipswich to Roscoff and then mainly day sails down the West coast of France. It is so very very different from sailing around the East Coast and we are feeling very content with the move so far, the facilities are wonderful, great marinas and lovely anchorages. Our marina berth in La Rochelle on an annual contract is about £3100 pa for an 11.7 metre berth, including water and electricity. The locals are almost as friendly as people on the East Coast, and we have already run into several other East Coast boats who are short term or long term missionaries; many tempted by the weather (and they often mention the quality of the food and wine).
I am going to miss being able to dive down to the boat at short notice, but door to washboard, via Stanstead, is about 5 hours and if anybody is sailing by La Rochelle we are on pontoon 6.
