Brian Blue Bear

[brian (Blue Bear)]

I will be leaving Brest early hours of tomorrow morning, It seems that timing is crucial to sail through Raz de Sein, I have planned three courses dependant on sea state wind direction etc. the first will be to stop at Locturdy a days sail, the second would follow the French Coast, many "Bolt Holes" in close range but Five days If I chose not to stop. or the third sail south just over two days across Biscay. any safe haven would be more than a days sail away, but for the next week any stops made will Probably be at anchor so for that amount of time at least I will not have internet. hopefully I will get a few Photo opportunity's

[allan]

I understand that you want to get south and into somewhere warmer but you will be missing some wonderful places. Les Glenans, Concareau, Carteret, Belle Isle, Isle de Guair, Vanne, Quimper, the Morbian. If you don't get to explore on the way down, you should on the way back.
I recently found myself starting to plan a trip, just to keep the cup, which would be stupid!
Good luck, Brian and Sue.
Allan

[brian (Blue Bear)]

Oct 17, 2010 10:37:23 GMT allan said:

I understand that you want to get south and into somewhere warmer but you will be missing some wonderful places. Les Glenans, Concareau, Carteret, Belle Isle, Isle de Guair, Vanne, Quimper, the Morbian. If you don't get to explore on the way down, you should on the way back.
I recently found myself starting to plan a trip, just to keep the cup, which would be stupid!
Good luck, Brian and Sue.
Allan

Yes, I was thinking along those lines and the Idea is not ruled out, if We Choose Loctudy (My first Course) we will Probably visit all the places you mention, but this will limit us to Daylight sailing (prudent) time consuming, involving a weather factor,,, Our intention is smooth sailing, it seems what's the point of sailing so far when all you see is sea, but I must admit it is temperature, and settled weather which appeals, I will only do what we feel we would enjoy, a cup would become a poor second and today October, It's too warm to sit in the sun??the choice will come tomorrow.. at raz de Sein.

[brian (Blue Bear)]

Just a few images of the Raz de Sein before I leave sailing season is definitely not over in this area.
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[ishtar]

Keep the reports coming, Bri, I'm updating the chart showing where people have been.

Sound like you and Sue are really enjoying yourselves on the Raz in France.

[brian (Blue Bear)]

Raz??? It's hard work but we'll hold a stiff upper lip till about lunch

[vikingsmb]

looks like you are having the best weather by the looks of it, keep up the reports
I'm enjoying reading them

[ishtar]

He's looking for crew, Rob, but you have to be at Ushant by 16:00 with your seachest. He's a fair skipper, but First Lieutenant Sue is ovefond of the whip. I'm sure you'll manage though.

[allan]

Martin, at first I thought you were being helpfull to Rob. When I read it again I realised you were just trying to get rid of him and slow down Blue Bear!
The weather in the Bay of Biscay looks quite settled, with a high which should keep things calm for the next few days. The only problems I can see would be lack of wind and any there is will be chilly.
Allan

[vikingsmb]

I will just ignore that comment lol,
Talking of which, I haven't seen the Coresande for a couple of days (she is not in her berth)
I wonder where tony has gone to on his travels?

[brian (Blue Bear)]

Well haven't Crossed to Spain yet, The wind leaving brest gave me less than 2knots through the water and Drissle made visibility poor which continued for several hours. I felt I would be wiser to get more accustomed to the weather patterns here. I stopped at Loctudy, and now at Concarneau, I must say It was luck to not have missed Concarneau it is an incredibly wonderful friendly place, which is also the major fishing Port for France, but is Pleasantly Peaceful and Quiet. I will write more about it later since the weather is better than most of a British Summer and the sailing season is Definitely not over here yet.

[brian (Blue Bear)]

Summer In October, Weathers so settled we find other things to do the picture says it all.

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wind still not really up to much
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On to Concarneau, still settled time for tourist type tasks.
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[ishtar]

Enjoy, Bri. Half the club must be jealous of you and Sue now.

Are you planning on living of your seafood catch for the duration of your trip, and if so, shall we arrange to have red cross food parcels sent out?

[brian (Blue Bear)]

Just had a thought!!! it's Thursday I'll be sipping wine, Jealous, of you Guys in the Clubhouse drinking all sorts of lovely ale and Lagers, having friendly chat,

[brian (Blue Bear)]

Oct 21, 2010 14:19:59 GMT ishtar said:

Enjoy, Bri. Half the club must be jealous of you and Sue now.

Are you planning on living of your seafood catch for the duration of your trip, and if so, shall we arrange to have red cross food parcels sent out?

They are just the Bait. Sue Caught here Biggest Fish to date Yesterday weighing in at about 6oz

[allan]

If, in a drunken moment, I have ever told you how I got into sailing, it all happened in Concarneau. Along the seafront west of the marina you will find the sailing school I went to, called Le Glenans, named after some islands ofshore. As I said in a previous post, you are in one of the real centres for world yachting. I think you did the right thing, not heading south, the Velux boat have struggled over towards La Coruna. I would love to tell you some of the places I have been in Concareau but for some reason my memories are blurred! Anyway, I found some great places, so you should be able to find them too.
Allan

[brian (Blue Bear)]

Yes the Le Glenans Boats for the most part are moored on the visitors pontoon D they have a large range of Boats. I was also amazed how they move some of the smaller boats without engines and wind in the marina. it is great to see so many new youngsters training,

[brian (Blue Bear)]

The French Sailing Students Moving an engine less Boat by rocking it from side to side, would work better with the mainsail up Though I think.
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[vikingsmb]

thats a good idea by the looks of it though, (and must be fun as well........)

[allan]

The Glenans boat we were on had a motor but they insisted we went into a couple of marinas without using it. Did Sue see them doing that? Does she realise that it will be her pulling on the shrouds? Hope all is going well, can you write down the name of any good (cheap) places to eat you find. I think a few people may be interested in hearing prices for moorings and marinas.
Since reading your posts I have started to plan my cruise for next year.
Allan

[ishtar]

Ask them if they'd rock you across Biscay, Bri, if the winds are still light. You could give them a crab each for their trouble.

[brian (Blue Bear)]

Oct 22, 2010 16:11:52 GMT ishtar said:

Ask them if they'd rock you across Biscay, Bri, if the winds are still light. You could give them a crab each for their trouble.

Sue has already agreed to the task, ;D the winds are still light but gales greater than force 8 were forecast, for north biscay on the BBC4 World service last night, we're sat in warm Sunshine with less than 3knots of wind. the weather is really giving me an uncertain time,

[brian (Blue Bear)]

Oct 22, 2010 15:26:44 GMT allan said:

The Glenans boat we were on had a motor but they insisted we went into a couple of marinas without using it. Did Sue see them doing that? Does she realise that it will be her pulling on the shrouds? Hope all is going well, can you write down the name of any good (cheap) places to eat you find. I think a few people may be interested in hearing prices for moorings and marinas.
Since reading your posts I have started to plan my cruise for next year.
Allan

The Marina fees, have been good off Season fees.. 11 euros in Brest Showers, internet and electric included, 17,40 euros Concarneau internet and electric included but showers are 2 euros which compared to falmouth off season? £22pn electric extra, internet £3.40 per day (different rates for weekly and Monthly)showers were free though and the entry card I failed to return in may worked fine. Beer!!! 4.20 euros upwards for 500ml the local ale 4.60 Euros but they call it a pint at all the Bars and restaurants which are generally empty.... wine reasonable though, food we are lucky most offer 3 Course Menus for 9 euros upwards but for a Steak 17 euros (3 Course) is around the normal 250gm, A small take away Kebab,4 Euros, Steak from the butchers 19.90 euros per kg a small ham the size of my fist from a street market 6.50 euros. loaf of bread 1.60 euros, all is cheaper at the Supermarket (carrefour) wine especially good value at all outlets a good wine is around 3/4 euros but starting from 1.12 euros, even from specialist wine shops.. there's one on the quay side ;D ;D ;D As mentioned earlier in the posts I had to change to Gaz the Bottle cost 54 euros the salesman explaining that it's because of the surcharge on the Bottle, exchange, it will be 20 euros, 2.7kgs in Uk a 4.5kg costs about £15, at home I have a few Identical bottles in the shed.

[brian (Blue Bear)]

While I'm waiting for the promised Gale F8 I thought I'd wander around in the sun taking Photo's so after an early evening of Preparations.
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I started, firstly the new landmark noted in the Reeds Almanac for the approach
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The most interesting thing about this picture other than it in daylight the Red and White Landmark is not Prominent, is if you can zoom to see the little Circles in the sea wall... Barrels of concrete taken from an abandoned Russian Cargo vessel, the Concrete had become contaminated with water and had set solid just as the people of Concarneau were struggling to finance sea defences... the wall is named after Russia..

The original landmark was a small Church which during poor visibility would ring its bell to warn boats this was financed by Napoleon's brother,
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The new landmark is prominent from the land though
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I then found some French birds who didn't fly when I came close
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and finally I needed refreshment so off to Brettons restaurants on the way I took the final picture. that was usable
[a href=""][/a] on the way back for some reason the Pictures became blurred and off centre

[brian (Blue Bear)]

Well it's 5 in the morning Local time and my F8 is well and truly here, A French Boat owner warned me last night the Marina is exposed and will become uncomfortable, I have used all my fenders and doubled my ropes but tossing about in such a small space is unnerving, still looking at the sea state in the Channel I'm really glad not to be at Sea,

[brian (Blue Bear)]

Woke up this Morning after a Horrendous night, the Marina office recorded Gusts of 66kph!

[brian (Blue Bear)]

Finally reached Spain couldn t stick the French weather

[sheila]

That's great news Brian. Where in Spain? So jealous of you!

[brian (Blue Bear)]

We spent a terrible night in the Marina due to South westerlies, so when it's too rough in the Marina find another, we left in the morning decided it was too risky to cross the biscay (heavy swell) so headed for Lorient waited outside Port Louis for 2 Nights then we Crossed the bay the weather sea state variable F4/6 SW which made It difficult my Course Changed several times due to wind direction at one stage it was difficult to plot a course to hit any part of Spain. but to now well worth the effort sea 18C air temp 22 very pleasant In a Marina at Gijon The Marina itself is expensive and empty of visitors, 18% tax, the surrounding area is lively reasonably cheap, excellent wine food and beer, smoking allowed in all bars. can't remember such an atmosphere. shame the marina is so expensive

[brian (Blue Bear)]

The swell was a little high but an elderly couple showed first their sail
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and then a lovely boat
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then they were gone
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