Raz de Sein passage

[Lightwave395]

Interested in comment from the many more experienced than I here (that’s to say those who have sailed through here)…

I’ve sailed through the Raz a dozen times including solo, mostly in relatively benign weather with never any real problem

Coming back from the south in June we were a little early for the tide change but with an 8-10 knot Northerly and I thought even though the last of the tide was still against us, with wind and tide together it should be relatively smooth

We’d been loosely following two French boats across from Penmarc’h that sailed well over towards Ile de Sein continuing west of Trevennec, whilst I, stupid matelot it later seemed, put a hitch in to go east of Trevennec up towards Camaret.

We were OK for a little while (2 onboard) until we entered a horrendous area and were thrown every which way for maybe 20 minutes until we emerged into calmer waters being thankful we were on a seaworthy 12M sailboat with a decent engine

I'm assuming we likely had several knots of tide against 8-10 knots of breeze - bit of a wake up call

 

[john_morris_uk]

Interested in comment from the many more experienced than I here (that’s to say those who have sailed through here)…

I’ve sailed through the Raz a dozen times including solo, mostly in relatively benign weather with never any real problem

Coming back from the south in June we were a little early for the tide change but with an 8-10 knot Northerly and I thought even though the last of the tide was still against us, with wind and tide together it should be relatively smooth

We’d been loosely following two French boats across from Penmarc’h that sailed well over towards Ile de Sein continuing west of Trevennec, whilst I, stupid matelot it later seemed, put a hitch in to go east of Trevennec up towards Camaret.

We were OK for a little while (2 onboard) until we entered a horrendous area and were thrown every which way for maybe 20 minutes until we emerged into calmer waters being thankful we were on a seaworthy 12M sailboat with a decent engine

I'm assuming we likely had several knots of tide against 8-10 knots of breeze - bit of a wake up call

That sounds like a familiar experience. Best to keep well away in bad weather and especially with strong winds against tide but even in fairly benign conditions as you’ve described, you can get thrown around a bit. We’ve usually just gone straight through and put up with any temporary uncomfortable motion. I confess that once we did misjudge things a bit although there was no danger. Our daughter was sleeping in the forepeak, and my wife went to warn her we were about to enter choppy water when The boat buried itself into a standing wave and water swept straight over the deck overwhelmed a dorade vent and ended up mostly down my wife’s neck. Fortunately, she can still laugh about it!

For real buttock clinching moments try shooting Trouz Yar. It’s a passage through the rocks inside the Raz. I’ve chickened out several times, but steeled my nerves and managed to shoot through it once. A very experienced French sailor friend who was sailing with us said he would never sail with me again if I repeated the action.

 

[DownWest]

I'll drift a bit here and remember going inside the rocks off Cap Trafalgar. The two of us were absolutely shagged out and aiming to get to Barbat to crash out. Only prob it was 01.00 and little moon, pre GPS... Short tacks by listening to the waves off the rocks and staring into the gloom. Didn't take long and we dropped the hook in Barbat. Then on, refreshed, to Gib. Boat was a classic cold moulded 36ft long keeler once owned by Andrew Bray.
Sometime later the skipper phoned me up to confirm what passed, as he was talking to a bloke that didn't believe him. Remember? It was etched into my memory with a blow torch.

 

[john_morris_uk]

I'll drift a bit here and remember going inside the rocks off Cap Trafalgar. The two of us were absolutely shagged out and aiming to get to Barbat to crash out. Only prob it was 01.00 and little moon, pre GPS... Short tacks by listening to the waves off the rocks and staring into the gloom. Didn't take long and we dropped the hook in Barbat. Then on, refreshed, to Gib. Boat was a classic cold moulded 36ft long keeler once owned by Andrew Bray.
Sometime later the skipper phoned me up to confirm what passed, as he was talking to a bloke that didn't believe him. Remember? It was etched into my memory with a blow torch.

We’re making passage round Trafalgar in a couple of days time.!! I’ll raise a glass to your exploits.

 

[capnsensible]

In daylight, imagine the lighthouse laid horizontally and double it. Safe and easy.

If your are planning rounding on the 21st, well, you know that's simply awesome. Have had that pleasure!

 

[LadyInBed]

Luckily, I suppose, being a slow boat I'm always at the back of the pack, so picking up foul tide if any happens at the end of a tide gate.

 

[DownWest]

We’re making passage round Trafalgar in a couple of days time.!! I’ll raise a glass to your exploits.

Thank you! But, really, don't think of the inside passage. I think being a 'bit' tired might have warped our priorities.
We set off from Vilamoura with an easterly and were careless about watches. After tidying up, we remembered that F1 was on, so dragged out a 12v TV and watched the race as we were still in reach of the signal. Then cooked a meal. One of us should have kipped a bit. Our previous on the same trip had been strong winds behind us, so exciting both ways with short times.

 

[capnsensible]

Thank you! But, really, don't think of the inside passage. I think being a 'bit' tired might have warped our priorities.
We set off from Vilamoura with an easterly and were careless about watches. After tidying up, we remembered that F1 was on, so dragged out a 12v TV and watched the race as we were still in reach of the signal. Then cooked a meal. One of us should have kipped a bit. Our previous on the same trip had been strong winds behind us, so exciting both ways with short times.

Sorry to disagree but I've taken that route scores of times. In all sorts of weather. Know your own playground, I suppose...

 

[john_morris_uk]

Sorry to disagree but I've taken that route scores of times. In all sorts of weather. Know your own playground, I suppose...

After Downwest’s comments I went and looked at the chart. It gets a bit shallow in places but I don’t see what the problem is. We’ll almost certainly take the inshore route.

 

[capnsensible]

After Downwest’s comments I went and looked at the chart. It gets a bit shallow in places but I don’t see what the problem is. We’ll almost certainly take the inshore route.

I only ever avoided in strong westerlies. Then nipped outside Hoya Banks. Don't want to drift op any more!

 

[Graham376]

Done the Raz a few times and all fairly benign sea state but, were in pea soupers a couple of times which thankfully cleared before we were close to Camaret.

 

[zoidberg]

The one that concerns me is the Passage du Fromveur....

'Chante ta chanson, chante bonne vieille
La lune se leve et la mer s'eveille....'

 

[Beelzebub]

On one trip from Guernsey to Baiona in mid-December, I do confess to turning the boat around at the top of the Raz in order to wait for daylight. Although we were on neap tides, the sea was decidedly bumpy and I preferred to see the waves that we were due to encounter.

It was a brand new boat on a delivery trip and the last thing I wanted was to break the boat before the owner got to sail it! As it happened, everything went swimmingly but I do not regret adding a couple of hours to our trip.

 

[Lightwave395]

If your are planning rounding on the 21st, well, you know that's simply awesome. Have had that pleasure!

No thanks !

 

[Scillypete]

The one that concerns me is the Passage du Fromveur....

'Chante ta chanson, chante bonne vieille
La lune se leve et la mer s'eveille....'

Did the passage du Fromveur north to south after a windless crossing from Scilly, stopped in Lampaul for the night and next morning headed off to go through the Raz, both went reasonably well considering that the almanac had printed the wrong tide times for that month and we didn’t pick up on it until we returned through the Raz to Camaret and plenty of others were moaning about the mistake in the almanac.

 

[capnsensible]

No thanks !

I can understand how that date is mebbe overlooked a bit in France and Spain.

 

[Frogmogman]

I can understand how that date is mebbe overlooked a bit in France and Spain.

On 21st October 1991, with our first baby imminent (and we were already living in France), I said to my wife that if the baby were to arrive that day and was a boy, I’d have him christened Horatio Lord Nelson…..

Fortunately for all concerned, my first-born arrived the following day, and was a girl, so the matter didn’t arise….

 

[capnsensible]

Viscount Nelsons daughter with Lady Emma Hamilton was named Horatia. She went on to have ten children.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

The one that concerns me is the Passage du Fromveur....

'Chante ta chanson, chante bonne vieille
La lune se leve et la mer s'eveille....'

Even through several times both ways, it's not a problem. Once having overnighted in Lampaul on my way back north I decided to go outside of Ushant at the turn of the tide the overfalls were spectacular and the start of the trip whilst quick was not to be repeated.

 

[Roberto]

There is also a webcam on the point

Webcam Pointe du Raz - AUDIERNE INFO