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Post by sheila on Jun 23, 2012 6:28:42 GMT
Volition & Chausey left Newlyn on Sunday 17th June 0800 having waited out the bad weather and had an excelent crossing (under motor, no wind) to Ile de Sein taking 26 1/2 hours. We were joined by Bright Flyer later in the morning and after a rest we all ventured ashore on this tiny island where we enjoyed French cider served in large teacups! We had an evening at anchor and a good nights sleep and up early again 0500 the following morning to cross the Raz de Sein and go further south,
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Post by sheila on Jun 23, 2012 6:38:58 GMT
No wind this morning, so it was a motor for the day, and we went to a lovely bay where there was good anchorage. We all went ashore to have a look around, we in particular were in need of getting a new water pump. There was nothing ashore but some very nice houses. Later in the afternoon everyone came on board Volition and and we motored up a river to the town of Audierne, in a fruitless search for a pump. However, we had a lovely time, found a nice bar where we had a couple of dirnks and managed to do a bit of shopping for food supplies. Lovely croissants and French bread!
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Post by sheila on Jun 23, 2012 7:09:24 GMT
Another night at anchor and another early up, to sail down to Benodet, a harbour up the River Odet. We were aware that the following day there was going to be some serious bad weather. The morning dawned quite nice, but once out of the bay the wind dropped completely and a serious fishing competition started to take place. Vince caught 9 mackerel, Allan caught 5, and Martyn caught about 20. I think he is still eating them!
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Post by vikingsmb on Jun 23, 2012 10:24:24 GMT
Good Pictures Sheila, Glad the trip is going well, the town looks beautiful.
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Matt
Member of CYC
Ocean Factor
Posts: 620
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Post by Matt on Jun 24, 2012 10:57:52 GMT
Interesting trip so far!
Matt
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Post by sheila on Jun 24, 2012 12:22:38 GMT
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Post by sheila on Jun 24, 2012 12:27:55 GMT
The weather was terrible, although later in the evening the rain did stop, by the following morning it was absolutely deluging. We phoned the local marina and were allowed to go down river and moor up on pontoons, and avail ourselves of the facilities, what a relief to be able to have a shower. It really was blowing a gale and tipping with rain as we managed to moor alongside with the tide running pretty quickly as well, but we did a brilliant job. Tiy can see here how much the tide is pushing us against the pontoon, by our flattened fenders!
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Post by sheila on Jun 24, 2012 12:30:58 GMT
the building in the background is the Yacht Clube de Benodet. We treid to visit there, but they were having a regatta, classic yachts, and there was a private dinner going on so we could not go in. Instead we had a very nice time in another local bar while we were waiting for our laundry to be done in the nearby "Laverie".
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Post by sheila on Jun 24, 2012 12:39:15 GMT
While we had been at Benodet, /vince has managed to get a new pump, so we now have the luxury of running water on board - hooray! Friday morning, after the storm had passed we all set off for the 28 odd miles to Ile de Groix. This was the best sail of the holiday so far, with winds around 13 knots, Volition was flying almost (good skipper - Vince). There were huge waves after the previous days storms, but they were going the same way as us, so we were surfing some of them. Martyn had the pleasure of the company of some dolphins for a while. Ile do Groix is a small island of around 4 miles long, and there is a ferry that runs very frequently from the mainland, which is only a couple of miles away, and it brings all the French weekenders. On Saturday morning when we were leaving the ferry was absolutely choc-a-bloc! Presumably the rich French coming for their weekend retreats! It's a lovely harbour, with an outer harbour and an inner harbour that is accessible only +/- 2 hours of HW. We were lucky to get in on some visiters pontoons as it is a very busy place.
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Post by sheila on Jun 24, 2012 12:51:33 GMT
On Saturday the weather was beautiful, warm and sunny with a lovely breeze. Chausay and Bright Flyer were going on to Belle Ile, but Vince and I had decided that we would start our return journey home, as we have to be back a couple of days before everyone else, and also we want to do some shorter hops rather than the big long sails that we have been doing. So, lacking a lovely white hanky, we waived bye-bye to Edwina on Chausey with our pink dish-cloth and a tear in our eyes! Vince and I departed shortly afterwards and returned to Benodet, as we need fuel for our return and also because the weather for Sunday was forecast to be awful. And as I write, it is blowing hard and pouring with rain. Glad they have wi-fi here. On a plus side, last night we tried again to go to the Yacht Club. The monsieur was very offish, saying that it is not a YC like we have in UK, and they don't have a bar, and it's for the regatta people only. However, Vince and I were wearing our CYC polo shirts, and the lady behind the bar must have taken a shine to us and she offered us a glass of wine from the house (this out of wine boxes provided for the regatta people). My French is holding up quite well and coming back to me so I was able to converse with her a little and of course told her hwo very kind she was etc.etc. So that is it from us for now, we are going to brave the wind and rain and go for a little walk to the sea-sidey bit of this charming little place. I did have a text from Allan Chausey yesterday saying they are moored up in Sauzon harbour in Belle Ile next to a boat called Senara from Barry! Oh and by the way, before I finish for now saw this little yacht that has been taking part in the regatta here, Oh, and i must tell you as well, when we were coming in yesterday suddenly there was a gun shot from a nearby boat, which frightened me to death. Three great big men on this little boat, I thought they were shooting birds, but that was their starting gun, but a proper shotgun!
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Post by vikingsmb on Jun 24, 2012 18:37:56 GMT
excellent pictures sheila, love the corisande bit, our very own coresande I think is making her way down as we speak, you are looking all relaxed, we are looking forward to seeing you all when you get back to CYC
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Post by Cardiff Yacht Club on Jun 25, 2012 15:20:53 GMT
Many thanks for the pictures and write up Sheila. I'll try and find the places you refer to and update the 'Where have you been' charts soon.
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Post by brian (Blue Bear) on Jun 25, 2012 18:52:02 GMT
I notice you fly both the French and Brittany flags with the French flag above the Brittany flag.. In Brittany? what do the locals think of that?......
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Post by tigertim on Jun 25, 2012 21:04:59 GMT
I notice you fly both the French and Brittany flags with the French flag above the Brittany flag.. In Brittany? what do the locals think of that?...... Thats why thet did get a drink in the clubhouse
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Post by Romantica on Jun 26, 2012 17:18:31 GMT
Nice write up and photo's. Good to see you all in the sunshine, after the terrible weather that delayed the beginning of your trip. Stay safe and hope you all have good return passages. Jacky & Steve
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Post by simpleered on Jul 1, 2012 8:27:35 GMT
Just had news that Volition has arrived safely back at Newlyn at 04.00 this morning.Well done Vince and Sheila.There should be many stories to tell.
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Post by sheila on Jul 1, 2012 14:10:20 GMT
Yeah, we're back at Newlyn. Oh what a crossing! Other Cruisers, from yacht Misty Lady out of Ireland, called to see us on the pontoon in Newlyn this morning to regale us of their experience! We were hanging clothes out to dry like them. We had heard Misty Lady call Falmouth coast guard around 04.00 this morning but they went to channel 67 so didn't know what happened. This morning they told us their baby stay snapped off from the deck mounting also their topping lift came adrift. We had seen them on our AIS as we were coming out of France but then lost them. Any way, hope to be back with you all soon!
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Post by sheila on Jul 1, 2012 14:15:32 GMT
I notice you fly both the French and Brittany flags with the French flag above the Brittany flag.. In Brittany? what do the locals think of that?...... As to flying the flag, we just think that this is what they do. Maybe we are wrong. We were given the French flag from Carol & Graham which we put up first then we bought the Brittany flag and Vince stuck it on the bottom. As to sunshine and good weather, just to make everyone feel better, we have spent a lot of time looking at thick fog, being a bit scary, waiting for winds to die down and generally just sitting waiting. But we did have a nice time! Even went on a bike ride.
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Post by allan on Jul 1, 2012 15:22:56 GMT
Bright Flyer and Chausey are sat on moorings off Ushant. The fish are not playing today but I will keep trying. Allan
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Post by allan on Jul 1, 2012 20:30:09 GMT
I may not have caught any fish but having a dolphin dive under the dinghy made up for that! What an experience. My video is probably too shaky but Sarah will have some too. Allan
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2012 21:28:32 GMT
Nice pictures we are bound in that direction this coming week .. weather permitting..we should make it as we have 4 weeks !
We have made a doghouse cover that we can keep up while sailing. Hopefully to try and keep the out of the rain.!
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Post by sheila on Jul 6, 2012 22:04:04 GMT
Hope you have a good trip Fergiemac. Let us know how you get on, and where you get to.
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Post by sheila on Jul 6, 2012 22:04:55 GMT
Spent all evening uploading all the rest of our photos, so I'll finish off our story of our trip. I left off when we had parted company from Chausey & Bright Flyer and we had headed back to Benodet where we were able to refuel and also managed a visit to the Yacht Club, Sunday 24th June. On Monday morning we headed off back to the anchorage at Ste. Evette, where we had been previously. It seems that this is the place where you go to wait for the right time to pass through the Raz de Sein. The morning had started off OK but very soon the rain was back, and very poor visibility,as we headed up the rocky coastline. A night at anchor and we woke the following morning to find that it was still very foggy. We decided that we would keep an eye on the other boats that were obviously waiting to make the same passage as us, and so mid morning about four boats set off in to the fog. It was quite comforting that one or two of the yachts were transmitting on AIS so we could see on the computer exactly where they were, even though we could not see them by eye. The passage through the Raz was actually fine, very calm and smooth, we just couldn't see any of it! Through the fog we headed up to Camaret, Fortunately the fog did lift somewhat by the time we reached Camaret at about 7 in the evening, and for the first time in the whole holiday we went ashore for a meal! I just had to have some Moules marinieres! It was a fairly early night again for us, ready for an earlyish start the following morning. Whilst still drizzly, mizzly and generally damp, there was a bit of visibility as we left harbour, but that was not to last for long. this was one of our scariest passages, with large shipping around, and we could hear the fog horn, and the sound signal at one point where the vessel sounded "turning to starboard" and at that point we had lost the AIS signals and I just knew that he was coming up behind us somewhere. After some little while, almost like a miracle, suddenly the fog lifted for just a few moments, and we were able to clearly see one ship overtaking us to starboard, and coming towards us on our port side another largish vessel. The fog disappeared long enough for us to see that we were quite safe and everything had passed us by, and then down it came again! We were heading for a little harbour called Aber Ildut, or Lanildut.
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Post by sheila on Jul 6, 2012 23:08:32 GMT
Eventually we took a visitors mooring on the trots, and prepared to wait for another couple of days of bad weather. Aber Ildut is a beautiful place, with just a tiny village with only one tiny little shop, a hotel that was closed for holidays, and a small coffee shop/cafe. At the harbour however, there is a very nice Force 4 type shop, a Tourist Information centre, (the girl who works there has friends in Lampeter!)and a bar restaurant. On this very rocky coast, seaweed proved a useful crop down the centuries. Now, Lanildut claims the distinction of being the largest algae producer in Europe. Serving first as fertiliser, then for making glass, and from the 19th century in the production of iodine, extracted by burning the seaweed on the strands. In modern times, it’s used for everything from cookery to pharmaceuticals. From May to October, you can see tonnes of seaweed being unloaded at the waterside. We were fascinated to stand on the terrace of the bar/restaurant and watch the seaweed being unloaded from the boats into waiting lorries. there would be about 8 lorries waiting to be loaded each day. Look at this video and see the lorry bounce as the seaweed is dumped in (click on the picture to see the video) Note the position of this lorry's tyre on the harbour wall! While we were there Vince suddenly pointed this gentleman out to me having recognised him as possibly having been a newsreader or something on the TV. Can anyone recognise him? The elderley man, not the one with the camera. Is it Reggie Bosanquet? i was trying to take very sneaky photos!
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Post by sheila on Jul 6, 2012 23:20:30 GMT
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Post by sheila on Jul 6, 2012 23:33:55 GMT
After spending 3 nights in this delightful place we set out for our homeward crossing on the Saturday 28th June. It started out as a lovely sunny day, with a perfect wind and great sailing. After about 4 hours though, things started to liven up such that I could not take my turn at the helm, the wind had picked up so much and the waves were so big that i was actually quite scared so then poor Vince was stuck at the helm for the whole of the rest of the journey, which just got worse and worse. We eventually made Newlyn, in pouring rain and winds gusting up to 30 knots, at 4 in the morning. And how glad we were to see Dave, the harbour master's assistant, standing waiting on the pontoon for us. We stayed in Newlyn for that Sunday night and left on Monday morning, in yet more foggy conditions, heading up for Padstow. I was at the helm as we went round Land's End Eventually during the day the weather improved and we arrived in Padstow after a 9 hour sail, catching the full 9 hours of tide on the northbound passage. We saw this boat, Finesse, which had been a CBYC boat, but now I think is at Cardiff Marina. The first time Vince ever went to Padstow was on this boat, which he had helped bring back from Guernsey. This was my first visit to Padstow, and we had to go to Andrew Ball's recommended pub, The London Inn. Very nice too! Tuesday we set out for Ilfracombe, and we were very fortunate to be visited by dolphins on our way up. We had had a visit on our trip down, between Padstow and St. Ives, and that was the first time I've ever experienced dolphins around the boat, so now here they were again. I was thrilled. The weather started to get a bit miserable with rain as we crossed Bideford Bay, but the wind picked up quite nicely which helped us nicely on our way. Vince was busy videoing again! The rain just eased off a little as we arrived at Ilfracombe and picked up a buoy in the outer harbour. We dinghied ashore and went to the Yacht Club, although there was only 3 other people there. In the morning, when we went to pay the harbour master, he was telling us how bad things are tourist wise, where he said normally there would be about 10 visiting boats at this time, and only 2 had come in lately, us being one of them. I had been surprised to find that the fish and chip shops were both closed at 8.00 pm the previous evening. And so, Ilfracombe being our last port of call, we set out on Wednesday morning, in the rain again, for a motor back to home. We left at almost 10.00 am, two hours before HW and tried to pick up the back eddies close in, but we were still punching quite a lot of tide for almost 3 hours, it being springs as well. Once we'd started to cross over and the tide had turned, we managed to really get a move on, with the help of about three and a half knots of tide to help us on our way. We were very glad to catch the 17.45 lock in and be back home at last! The end.
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Post by duncanhall on Jul 7, 2012 5:54:57 GMT
You must have been on a heavenly holiday. Reginald Bosanquest he died in the 1980s.
Good to see you are back safe.
Duncan
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2012 10:37:46 GMT
It's Hugh Scully!
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Post by rbhorti on Jul 7, 2012 13:20:42 GMT
Finesse is now berthed at Falmouth, the owners home is over on the south east coast and they are doing the coast of uk. I hope he's not coming back - I'm on his pontoon. Nice story Sheila.
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Post by spidercrab on Jul 7, 2012 18:09:24 GMT
Great story and pictures and especially the dolphin video.
Surprised to hear you had so much fog. That must have been a scary crossing.
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