Ile De Re

[gcwhite]

Thanks to all those who sent me info re Ile De Re. Now what about actually getting there?
This will be the furthest South that I have travelled so could anyone give me an insight into what the sea conditions might be like in relatively calm weather. I have heard that the swell can be an issue and that the Chanal du Four can be a challenge.

Thank you
Geoff White

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[Robin]

Swell can certainly be a feature off the top of Chenal de Four but you just ride up and down it, it disappears in the Four itself which is sheltered by Ushant (Ouessant). Fog is also frequent on this corner, often appearing suddenly when the tide turns and cold water is brought up from the depths. Navigation through the Four is easy, and VERY easy at night with 'Intens' white light sectors you just drive down. We use WPTs set on the white light sectors between the major marks but in clear vis especially in daylight you can straighten these out using the chart. The tides in the Four turn south 2hrs before the ebb starts in the English Channel. The next gate is Le Raz de Sein, even stronger tides and can be VERY rough with wind against tide. Quite feasible with wind and tide together to go through with a full tide - if wind against tide and strongish wind then go though at slack water. The Raz is also subject to sudden fog patches as the tide turns. We set WPTs again in the white sectors with a straight up and down leg through, in practice I doubt you could hit the light or the rocks if you really tried, and you will be through very quickly! After that Penmarc'h is no real problem and in summer from there on south is a doddle, just watch for the dolphins and double the sunscreen. Don't be in too much hurry to reach Isle De Re, there are a lot of superb places to visit en route.

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[Birdseye]

There there be dragons!

The chenal du four is one of those places where you go with the tide unless you are in a powerful stinkie. If there were a strong wind against tide, I would be inclined to tie up somewhere like l'AberIldut and wait for decent weather. Or alternatively, go round the outside of Ouessant and the chenal. But the chenal is no great prob really - and you usually find yourself going through in a convoy. In fact, if there were no one else about, I think I would be inclined to wonder why.

The Raz is shorter and nastier and a no-no in bad conditions or strong wind vs tide. Again, timing is all. And even then, we found it as lumpy as anywhere we have been the last time through.

Small boats go through both passages so no need to worry unduly - just dont be casual and sloppy about timing / conditions. I wouldnt rate the chenal as any worse than Lands End say, and the Raz is perhaps like the Shoots in the Bristol channel if those similies are any guide..

I wouldnt go near either in fog, and that coast is prone to fog.

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[Chris_Robb]

Reenmarch

You may get a surprise at Penmarch - there is sometimes a scarry depth reading of about 3 mtrs in deep water due to the warm water from the anse de benodet meeting and flowing over the colder atlantic water. First time it happened to me - I knew it was deep water but I'm sure I kept seeing rocks or shadows passing underneath!!!

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[Robin]

If the fog comes

We have and are used to using radar so this is assumed when making the following comments:-

In the Four, there is a radar station at Pte St Mathieu at the bottom. One time I called Ushant Traffic Control (they control the TSS) and asked if they had any info on vis in the Four since we were in thick fog about 10mls out, they checked with St Mathieu and came back to say the visibility had improved there, but added we could contact St Mathieu directly and they could 'talk us through' on their radar!

The Raz is no problem in Fog IMO. We have often approached and had clear vis of the headland from 10mls or more, only to find a non forecast fog patch appear in minutes when the tide turned. I have set our plotter to show ground track and tried as hard as I can to stay on track through, there is a huge bow in the track away from the light & rocks from the tide push. It would be very difficult to hit the rocks or the light unless you were way off track to the east beforehand. The key is as in the Channel Islands, compass heading is meaningless, what is important is the COG! We went through last year in company with some friends on their first visit, the fog came right on cue and we saw nothing, it cleared about 5mls south. When they went back on their own a week later the same thing happened, two passages and they have yet to see it!

The problem if you have arrived from the UK say is that where else do you go if the fog comes? L'Aberwrac'h and the other ports near are not recommended in fog, though we did make it in last year on our way back north by using radar and plotter and previously checked WPTs (we also have dGPS). L'Aberwac'h is a little easier than before since they added a port buoy off the rocks half way in, but the problem is the cross tides, COG is paramount! The frightening thing once 'in' was being attacked by around 30 sailing school Hobie Cats tacking across the channel in 25m vis!

I am not advocating setting out in fog, just pointing out that on this corner sometimes it happens suddenly and without warning so it pays to be prepared.




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[Robin]

French submarines

Or the first of the summer wine! Never noticed it but wouldn't have been looking at the depth gauge I suppose. It is where the dolphins come out to welcome you to S Brittany though, I have a photo of SWMBO sunbathing topless on the sidedecks, watching the dolphins, with the log on our old W33 showing 7.5kts with the spinnaker up! THAT is why we go, don't get to do that too often back here!

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[Chris_Robb]

Re: French submarines

I NEVER drink at sea......... until the sun is ov er the yardarm

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[brianhumber]

If its calm and vis is ok, CdeF is a doddle.
Yes the swell can be big but its long, not like the short square ones we get in mid channel so you just swoop up and down
Only had to use Morgat as a bolt hole once when wind got up in summer do some prep planning and enjoy the trip- you will return, its a great area


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