Well decided to leave for Isle de Yeu with a reasonable forecast. It is only 23 miles from L'Herbaudiere so late afternoon winds of 5's witha morning forecast of 2 to 3's seemed really good. We were just about to cast off from the pontoon when the sky went very dark and a wind from nowhere blew 18 knots. Panic from crew. And a rather urgent enquiry as to whether we were going or not. The instruction was to hang on for a second and just see what would happen. This was because we were pointing the wrong way to get out and were going to have to turn in quite a narrow fairway so ramping about with 18 knots under our skirts would not be a good idea. The wind went as soon as it had come and skipper's decision was to leave. We were leaving at low tide and crossing le plateau de les boeuf. We knew we would have about a knot of tide against us but that was preferable to waiting till late afternoon if there really was wind on the way. It was very shallow and I was quite surprised to be told we had less than 2 metres under the keel. So we motored until the mark and then decided we had enough sea room to get up the main and unfurl the genoa. We decided as the point of sail was a bit rubbish not to put all the main up but let the genoa do the work. We slopped about a bit in 7 to 8 knots of wind but it gradually got up 10 to 12 knots and we zipped along at 7 to 7.5 knots but only 6 to 6.5 over the ground. It was very pleasant, bags of sun but big black clouds tracking across from left to right. Wind built and we went faster. Skipper really enjoying himself. Crew loving it but deciding she had better sit topside so the boat would be flatter. Wind rising and loud bangs from the sky. Crew disappeared below to put handheld radio and hand held GPS in to oven (basic physics - Faraday's cage) just in case. Then lightening on a grand scale but counting I put it at 4 miles away and going away from us.
Then we could see a wall of water on the sea ahead coming towards us so wet weather gear donned and crew asked how far away are we know? But was pretty sure we were nearly there as she could actually see the island. Any one who knows me will realise we were probably in spitting distance.
Wind direction changed and genoa was furled quickly and main taken in as we were now sailing with the wind directly on the nose. This made it really easy as we did not have to turn round. 25 knots seen but sails in so no hassle.. And then I was putting out lines and fenders. Just as we reached the harbour entrance a very large ship appeared across our bows. ( It turned out to be the island supply vessel Cassim 4.) Phil decided it was better to say after you so we did a 360 and followed him in. Cassim did one very long hoot before he went in as it is a blind corner so we knew we would be OK. We took the first free berth we came to and it was really quiet and still behind the wall. Rona and Nick followed us in about 15 minutes later. And all this by 12.30.
Lunch and then shopping. It was really hot. (The rain only lasted 10 minutes ) and then back to the boat to put up our boom tent and watch a multitude of boats coming in. Isle de Yeu is a bit like L'AberWrach as boats congregate here to cross Biscay or like us just heading South to Les Sable de O'lonne. Salad for tea , a good decision as so hot and then a shower before bed to cool off.
Today however the wind has gone North again and is howling round the Marina. It is still hot and thundery. The forecast offers a possibility of hailstones. Boom tent down and conservatory up!!!! What to do? Well we got on the ID bus, fairs 1.25€, and went to the end of the island and back. It only took 20 minutes to get there. We got off. Had a wander round, stared in to the distance at the USA and caught the next bus back,one hour later.
In to the marina with the wind building and lots of boats ramping about and clonking other boats. One French boat has the obligatory one fender which is now 3 cms deep. I kid you not.
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