Raz de Sein passage

[Robin]

We once went through northbound under engine in flat calm but with big swell breaking on the lighthouse which I was photographing, had just asked milady to put my camera down below and make coffee when a vertical wall of water appeared from nowhere. I yelled hang on sweetie' and the wall broke over the deck, over the Avon strapped on the coachroof , demolished the sprayhood and poured like Niagara down the main hatch over milady who was not best pleased but stoically hung on to my camera and finished making the filter coffee.

We were frequent Razzers and went through many times, under sail, under engine, in daylight, at night, clear visibility and in thick fogs. Embarrassingly were once towed into Audierne by French lifeboat, when southbound on last of tide, to avoid being sucked onto the rocks as tide had turned and us having no wind and engine dumped all its coolant Cost us a fortune too. Too long a tale and one already told here multiple times anyways.

NO ONE PASSES WITHOUT FEAR OR SORROW! in my case mostly sorrow leastwise when going north.

 

[zoidberg]

'Buffalo gals go round the outside...'

 

[Lightwave395]

'Buffalo gals go round the outside...'

I wondered about that but its over 20NM further from Camaret if you're heading to Southern Brittany...

 

[zoidberg]

I wondered about that but its over 20NM further from Camaret if you're heading to Southern Brittany...

....but not NW Spain and beyond.

 

[doug748]

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

So, if I have this right, you thought you were early but the tide had already turned north against the 10kt breeze? Worth noting, though it would have been tricky to do anything else, bar putting into Ste Evette or going miles out.

Rounding the Raz may be more flexible than the UK pilots make out. You see French boats at all states of the tide . I have been around, going north, at half tide, with maybe 10 kts from the W/SW. A fast ride, but no particular problems, I would have chickened out but several local boats were in front of me and stiffened my backbone. One carried a coloured sail the whole way.

Perhaps the lesson is, that the real killer is any breeze directly from the north or south against even the mildest tide. Would be interesting to know if any others have been around outside of the null times.

.

 

[Robin]

....but not NW Spain and beyond.

in which case why bother going through the Four just go north of Ushant and avoid it all.

 

[Robin]

So, if I have this right, you thought you were early but the tide had already turned north against the 10kt breeze? Worth noting, though it would have been tricky to do anything else, bar putting into Ste Evette or going miles out.

Rounding the Raz may be more flexible than the UK pilots make out. You see French boats at all states of the tide . I have been around, going north, at half tide, with maybe 10 kts from the W/SW. A fast ride, but no particular problems, I would have chickened out but several local boats were in front of me and stiffened my backbone. One carried a coloured sail the whole way.

Perhaps the lesson is, that the real killer is any breeze directly from the north or south against even the mildest tide. Would be interesting to know if any others have been around outside of the null times.

.

There are ways and means with local knowledge as we found once when arriving an hour too late on north going tide and could make zilch over the ground whilst motors ailing at 8knots , little froggy sailboats boats with just outboards went close in to the light (VERY close) and had no probs as did we when we cottoned on and ferry glided over there too, We were late on our plan because we were in company with another boat that were late getting up in the morning and then needed our help to get them out of their berth in Benodet The lady wife then had the nerve to say 'well you got that passage plan wrong didn't you.' grrrrrrrr.

 

[LadyInBed]

in which case why bother going through the Four just go north of Ushant and avoid it all.

And miss out on Camaret! That's my prep point, stock up on fresh veg, top up fuel if necessary, enjoy the local delights and wait for a weather window.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

And miss out on Camaret! That's my prep point, stock up on fresh veg, top up fuel if necessary, enjoy the local delights and wait for a weather window.

I suppose it depends on where you are coming from, anywhere west of and including Plymouth or Ireland and it's saving a day on a 3 or 4 day passage so no need to reprovision. OK if you are planning to take your time and visit the local area but if the objective is to start the cruise in NW Spain then you might as well just go straight across.

 

[LadyInBed]

The lady wife then had the nerve to say 'well you got that passage plan wrong didn't you.' grrrrrrrr.

But you did get it wrong! You didn't allow for how long it would take to get them on the move ?

 

[LadyInBed]

I suppose it depends on where you are coming from, anywhere west of and including Plymouth or Ireland and it's saving a day on a 3 or 4 day passage so no need to reprovision. OK if you are planning to take your time and visit the local area but if the objective is to start the cruise in NW Spain then you might as well just go straight across.

Sail solo, so I coast hop to Camaret.
I prefer to hop Guernsey and French coast rather than UK coast.

 

[Daydream believer]

Sail solo, so I coast hop to Camaret.
I prefer to hop Guernsey and French coast rather than UK coast.

Far more fun. Feels more like a holiday

 

[westhinder]

Been through the Raz several times, in both directions, always without undue drama. I always time my trip so that I have the current with me most of the way, which means I do not go through the Raz at the turn of the tide. I have to add I try to avoid 5 bft and over, which is no problem in the summer . Going through with a big swell from the day before definitely makes for a bouncy passage

 

[john_morris_uk]

So, if I have this right, you thought you were early but the tide had already turned north against the 10kt breeze? Worth noting, though it would have been tricky to do anything else, bar putting into Ste Evette or going miles out.

Going south we missed the tide and as it was getting late we cut in and anchored inside the point for a very peaceful night.

 

[Robin]

But you did get it wrong! You didn't allow for how long it would take to get them on the move ?

They followed us the whole cruisefrom Poole to La Rochelle without doing owt themselves to contribute plus the HM in Benodet had told them not to use the berth they went back into after a trip upriver because they would be pinned in it by a strong ebb and he knew they were planning to leave next morning but they knew better . It took 3 of us using the sheet winches to get them to a point where they coul risk a flat out astern exit attempt, To cap it all they had not paid and the HM stopped us as we left in our boat and asked us for their dues, another contributory timewaster so all in all we started over an hour behind the (My) plan. Later when in L'Aberwrac'h we overheard them talking to a British tourist couple in a bar who asked how they navigated -'easy peasy skipper replied, we're with friends and we just follow them...'

 

[Fr J Hackett]

They followed us the whole cruisefrom Poole to La Rochelle without doing owt themselves to contribute plus the HM in Benodet had told them not to use the berth they went back into after a trip upriver because they would be pinned in it by a strong ebb and he knew they were planning to leave next morning but they knew better . It took 3 of us using the sheet winches to get them to a point where they coul risk a flat out astern exit attempt, To cap it all they had not paid and the HM stopped us as we left in our boat and asked us for their dues, another contributory timewaster so all in all we started over an hour behind the (My) plan. Later when in L'Aberwrac'h we overheard them talking to a British tourist couple in a bar who asked how they navigated -'easy peasy skipper replied, we're with friends and we just follow them...'

You should have stuck to your plan and left on time saying see you in Camaret.

 

[Robin]

You should have stuck to your plan and left on time saying see you in Camaret.

especially as we were headed for Morgat.

 

[zoidberg]

we were in company with another boat that were late getting up in the morning and then needed our help to get them out of their berth

Was it a Moody, perchance?

 

[Robin]

Was it a Moody, perchance?

nope Westerly Seahawk.