Passage Plan - 50 Hours to go

[tome]

Off Saturday for 3 weeks sailing with t'other half. Trying to finish 400+ jobs at work afore I go, but thought I'd stick my neck out and go public with our passage plan.

Destination is La Rochelle then work our way back up the Brittany coast (Karen hasn't experienced this yet, so she's in for a treat). I'm hoping the High west of Sole will build and give us some favourable winds downchannel - if so we'll keep going until we're through the Chenal du Four and then put into Camaret. If we get headed and too tired there are plenty of stops along the way and we are very flexible about this.

From Camaret we'll pick our timing to get through the Raz de Seine and then clear Penmarch and shape a course to take us clear of Belle Ile, Ile d'Yeu and Ile de Re finally into La Rochelle (I love sailing in to the town between the twin towers - can we still do this or do we need to go into the marina outside?).

If we're unlucky with the weather we may cut the journey short and head for the Morbihan which isn't too shabby. We'd like to get some miles under the keel at the start of our holiday so that we can concentrate on the difficult things on board (relaxing with a book, good food & wine, exploring ashore etc). Then some nice day sails back up the Brittany coast, with a stop or two along the West country on our way back.

Are we being flexible enough, and any 'must visit' advice? Anyone we should look out for on our travels?

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[zefender]

Sound loose enough to me. If you do get headed though, you could always go outside the Chenal dF. Yes, you can still go through the towers into the town but space is often a bit limited - you may be lucky - otherwise it Port des Minimes. Have fun. Rather depressingly, it was one year ago (almost to the day) that I left on a two month trip. Think I'd like to be there again!

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[hlb]

Oh. I was thinking of going down there, setting off about the 20th from Plymouth, via Alderney Guernsey Jersey, then err maybe Portioux? and Treggier?. But then where? thats as far as I'v been and all the charts and things are 300 miles away on boat. Is there anything exiting down there?? We will be going a bit faster than you. But then only travel for 3 or 4 hours at a time.

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[Sybarite]

For me the real attraction in Britanny is sailing to the islands. I don't like crowds and so the islands only have what the ferries are capable of bringing and the beaches are the best. I would start with the Ile de Seine where the streets are less than 6' wide and they still speak Breton. From there to the Glénan with their white coral sands. Take a trip up the Odet river which is very scenic. Take advantage of the ambiance in Port Tudy on the Ile de Groix ; moor in Ster Wenn on Belle Ile and then round the corner in Sauzon; arguably the prettiest port in Britanny. On to Houat and the two mile east facing beach. Very scenic little village. Into Morbihan which is scenic but not for a long term stay because of the brackish water - if you like swimming. Back out to Houedic - again very pretty and with a super restaurant at the hotel. Stop in at the Ile d'Yeu - you are getting a couple of degrees warmer by now but there are more holiday makers here. La Rochelle is a lovely city but there again do you want to spend your holiday in a city? Your choice.

For what it is worth ..

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[tome]

Haydn

Roscoff may be a good fuelling stop for you before rounding the Chenal, then into Brest or Camaret.

Brittany is great and there are many places I'd like to return to (Belon river, Audiernne, the islands, the gulf of Morbihan etc) as well as some I haven't explored yet. In places it's like the West country and the climate is great once you get round the corner, not to mention the food and wine. Avoid les Sable d'Olonne, and Royan (IMHO). Enjoy and Bon Voyage!

Regards
Tom

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[tome]

Sybarite

Thanks for this, I've been to Belle Ile and Ile'd'Yeu and agree about Odet river. I'll print out your kind suggestions and put this with our pilot books for onboard perusal. La Rochelle is busy and fun for a day or so, and it takes us half way across the Bay which is good psychological preparation for our longer passages ahead (we've not been across Biscay together yet). Although I like to get away on holiday, there's something comforting about mingling with a crowd but being able to escape to the boat which I enjoy.

Incidentally, I was clobbered by a cyclone(?) approaching the anchorage at Ile d'Yeu on a hot cloudless August day some years ago! It came from nowhere, but the sky to the West went an eerie purple colour which gave us warning enough to shed some sail before it struck. It went ashore and caused some serious casualties in a caravan park, sadly with fatalities. All over in 20 minutes, but it laid us on our beam ends.

Regards
Tom

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[tome]

Re: Passage Plan - 48 Hours to go

Zefender

<it was one year ago (almost to the day) that I left on a two month trip>

Wish we could take 2 months off! Ah well, that's what dreams are for. Agree we can go round Ushant if headed, I'll add that as plan B3 - thanks.

regards
Tom

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[BoatlessinOslo]

Fireworks in La R on 14th are pretty good. There is a parade of boats which comes in through the towers does a U-turn and sail back out again, don't know if private yachts are allowed to though.

You lucky b****r, have fun ))

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[romany123]

Nicked this of the web. Thougt it might help in your prep

How to get ready for a sailing cruise!
1. Sleep on the shelf in your closet.
2. Replace the closet door with a curtain.
3. Four hours after you go to sleep, have your mate whip open the curtain, shine a flashlight in your eyes, and mumble, "Your watch!".
4. Put a wall across the middle of you bathtub and move the shower head down to chest level.
5. When taking showers, shut off the water while soaping.
6. Put lube oil in your humidifier instead of water and set it to high.
7. If your basement floods, during a sudden thaw, go down and start bailing.
8. Bring inside some type of gas motor (lawn mower, garden tiller, etc.), start, and leave running while trying to listen to favorite CD, or having an in depth conversation.
9. If the wind outside is howling, race around the house to make sure all windows and doors are secure (at night, everyone takes a turn on 'watch').
10. Place all non edible garbage in small plastic bags, and store in other half of tub (edible garbage to be thrown out the window).
11. Wake up at midnight and have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on stale bread. Cold canned ravioli or soup, is optional.
12. Make up your family menu a week ahead of time without looking in the pantry, fridge, or freezer.
13. Once a month, pick a major appliance, take it completely apart, and put it back together.
14. Use 18 scoops of coffee per pot, and allow it to sit for 5 to 6 hours before drinking.
15. Put a fluorescent light under the coffee table, and lay there to read a book.
16. Every so often, throw the cat in the tub (hot tub, large sink, etc.) and shout, "Man overboard!".
17. Run into the kitchen and sweep all the pots, pans and dishes off of the counter onto the floor, then yell at the mate for not having the place "stowed for sea".


<hr width=100% size=1>Dave

 

[Sybarite]

The same thing happened to me when chartering from La Rochelle. I was helming and the others were below. It was a flat mirror calm but I could see white water in the distance coming towards us under black clouds. I called the others who refused to take me seriously and interrupt their card game. It came on us and blew us flat and dismasted a boat beside us. There was also some championship one-design class ( Fun's ?) not far away and many of them were dismasted too. Like you, it only lasted about 20 mins. Maybe it was the same line squall?

John.

PS never saw a crew get on deck as quickly...!


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[tome]

43 Hours to go

Hi John

Checked my old log book and it was approaching Porte de la Meule 18th July (not August as stated) 1983. Like you, I had a job to get the crew to take me seriously on a perfect sunny day, but did manage to drop the main and jib before it struck. It wasn't a line squall and I don't recall a cloud in the sky, just a strange and ominous dark purple hue which enveloped us quickly from the West. We were laid flat with torrential rain and a cyclonic wind - can't recall if it was backing or veering but it spun us around keeping the mast pinned to the water. My natural cowardice probably saved us a dismasting and we were snugly anchored 20 minutes or so later, as I recall.

We were on a 40ft Buchanan long keeled wooden sloop which was tough as old boots.

And yes, the crew did appear very quickly! I do hope SWMBO (and I) don't have to cope with similar, although we earned our colours in a 58 knot squall in the Solent last year together.

Regards
Tom

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[brianhumber]

Did this a few years ago and definitely want to repeat so am green with envy
Have also since had several trips down to South Brittany and would reccomend Ile de Sein and Penerf if the weather is calm ( but get the French charts), and going up the Villiane as places that are not on the usual visitors list.

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