A nice gentle sail from Les Sable d'Olonne with just enough wind for the skipper to fish and us to arrive here at high tide. Only 16 miles so hardly strenuous and 3 mackerel for tea!!We saw 5 huge jelly fish on the way here and obviously there could be more out there and they were big. ( Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water!)
We have to arrive here at high tide on the flood. a) because it is shallowish and b) because the flood runs at 2 knots but the ebb runs at 6knts. We were chased in to port by a fishing boat in a hurry. well we were chased out of Les Sable by Casan the supply ferry to Isle de Yeu so we are good at being chased. Unfortunately there were loads of us coming out of Les Sable at low tide, centre channel and a man on a body board was in front of all of us in the middle. I ask you does he need the water?
We decided to stay for 6 days as I did not fancy getting up at some unearthly hour to get out and it is springs on Monday with a high coefficient so could be really swift. It could also be really shallow. We have been assured we will have plenty of water but we had 0.4 metres beneath our keel last night so who knows. Hopefully it is mud and we shall be asleep any way.!!! The skipper is beginning to mutter. But Madame has assured him everything is fine.
The town is really two towns. St. Gilles which is a fishing port and Croix de Vie which is a sort of upmarket Blackpool. I am sure it is better out of season but this is the start of the French holidays. The port itself is very pretty but Rue Charles de Gaulle would make him turn in his grave. The beach however is beautiful and 16 miles of it all the way to Les Sable. Much better than the town itself.
La Vie ( No more Lavie jokes please) divides the two towns with a bridge and a passeur for cyclists and pedestrians only (another bridge). This town is where Bejamin Beneteau started his Chantiers. (Boat builders). He designed innovative fishing boats. There is a huge Beneteau presence here and the technical team were readying 3 boats for Southampton boat show one of them the new 48 at the end of our pontoon.
We went to the market on Saturday morning in front of the church. It wasn't there. It was in front of the other church (Duh!!!) and this morning the market was in front of the church, the other church.
High tide is with us so I can use the internet. At low tide the signal disappears.)
We are quite a way from the promenade. There is a stream and boats between us and the quay but some drunken yobs were throwing stones at the boats on Friday morning at 03.20am. They do have a security guard here and I think we share it with the boat builders.
We have just watched a French boat come in and get stuck on a low patch in the river. It is marked with 10 yellow buoys and 2 red ones and three chaps from the Capitainairie are hauling them off. ( Well they are French). Also no boat cleaning due to lack of water unless you are chantier. All the French boat owners are obviously chantiers as they are all cleaning their boats. We are the only English people here on a boat and it is quite odd to hear English spoken in town by British tourists from campings.
Pictures soon when I can down load them.
TiGrA
Waiting for weather in Cherbourg
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
26th July 2011 Happy Birthday Ewen!!!
We did mean to leave La Rochelle yesterday honest but we woke up at 6am to very loud rain. Should we go or should we stay. Decided not to get wet and stayed in bed. It was a very strange day warm but cloudy and rain stopped about 10am.
So we left today heading back to Sable D'Olonne on our way home. It was dry when we left but we knew it would be tide against all the way and wind with tide so against too. Forecast was for some rain with fog in the rain. Passing La Pallice we saw a very large P & O cruise ship called Ventura and a police rib. It got a bit foggy but no rain and then we were under the Re Bridge. The fog cleared and the wind was very slight but on the nose. 2 to 4 knots. The sea was belle mer and we settled down to 6 hours of motoring. We enjoyed our view of Ile de Re but what a long island!!!! Then it got very black and we put on wet weather gear and it chucked it down. The wind went round to our rear and we now had wind against tide and the sea got up. First of all we had swell which we were expecting but it was meant to be insignificant at less than .5m but it was at least 1.5m. Then we came to the end of the Ile de Re and the wind started to get up and we had white horses on top of the swell. The sun came out. Dried wet weather gear and put something else on.The wind continued to rise and eventually we had 15 knots and again it had move to our nose. So the wind had gone round a complete 360 degrees. I do not think I have seen that before. When we crossed the bay the wind was howling at us and I was quite cross because it was only 14.00 hours and this brise de terre arrives at 16.00 sharp. But high tide here so lots of water and we managed to find a slot in Quai Garnier so I was very happy but just a little windy getting in. But the heat. Helped in by Stelle Rose and a kind French man as pontoons very low and we were being blown back. Skipper as usual did a great job and I must have done OK because we didn't have our usual arrival argument. May be not getting off the boat is the answer!!!!
As soon as we were sorted I decided a spot of sunbathing was de rigeur and shovelled the fat in to my bikini and promptly fell asleep. I am turning in to Rip Van Winkle as I had already had about an hours zizz on the way here. Obviously a relaxing time. Skipper says I need more photographs but I haven't got any different ones from this trip. Must try harder next time we move.
So we left today heading back to Sable D'Olonne on our way home. It was dry when we left but we knew it would be tide against all the way and wind with tide so against too. Forecast was for some rain with fog in the rain. Passing La Pallice we saw a very large P & O cruise ship called Ventura and a police rib. It got a bit foggy but no rain and then we were under the Re Bridge. The fog cleared and the wind was very slight but on the nose. 2 to 4 knots. The sea was belle mer and we settled down to 6 hours of motoring. We enjoyed our view of Ile de Re but what a long island!!!! Then it got very black and we put on wet weather gear and it chucked it down. The wind went round to our rear and we now had wind against tide and the sea got up. First of all we had swell which we were expecting but it was meant to be insignificant at less than .5m but it was at least 1.5m. Then we came to the end of the Ile de Re and the wind started to get up and we had white horses on top of the swell. The sun came out. Dried wet weather gear and put something else on.The wind continued to rise and eventually we had 15 knots and again it had move to our nose. So the wind had gone round a complete 360 degrees. I do not think I have seen that before. When we crossed the bay the wind was howling at us and I was quite cross because it was only 14.00 hours and this brise de terre arrives at 16.00 sharp. But high tide here so lots of water and we managed to find a slot in Quai Garnier so I was very happy but just a little windy getting in. But the heat. Helped in by Stelle Rose and a kind French man as pontoons very low and we were being blown back. Skipper as usual did a great job and I must have done OK because we didn't have our usual arrival argument. May be not getting off the boat is the answer!!!!
As soon as we were sorted I decided a spot of sunbathing was de rigeur and shovelled the fat in to my bikini and promptly fell asleep. I am turning in to Rip Van Winkle as I had already had about an hours zizz on the way here. Obviously a relaxing time. Skipper says I need more photographs but I haven't got any different ones from this trip. Must try harder next time we move.
Sunday, 24 July 2011
In La Rochelle
Came to La Rochelle on Friday 22nd with very little wind and a lively sea left over from the storms. We spent 11 days in Rochefort because of weather and were beginning to think we had taken root.
The Marina is very difficult to get in to and I was very glad to get out without incident. Stressbreaker left the pontoon first and did a magnificent job and it also meant we didn't have to get round his back end so made our job a trifle easier.We managed to extricate ourselves but a stray towed dinghy was not helpful. However turning to the lock Nick almost went down the wrong aisle, it is that complicated and I came very close to falling in our anchor locker as I put fenders away. I had visions of being upside down with my head on the chain and my feet waving in the air and Phil wondering where I had gone. Well perhaps not.It has not been very warm since the high winds and we have heard from the Capitainairie that winds like this are not normal in this season and the last time it was like this was 1970.
We hope to move on from hear to La Sable D'Olonne.
We will not have anchored off d'Aix or visited the Isle d'Oloronne or Isle d'Re but we will come again all being well. We must start to work our way back.
The Marina is very difficult to get in to and I was very glad to get out without incident. Stressbreaker left the pontoon first and did a magnificent job and it also meant we didn't have to get round his back end so made our job a trifle easier.We managed to extricate ourselves but a stray towed dinghy was not helpful. However turning to the lock Nick almost went down the wrong aisle, it is that complicated and I came very close to falling in our anchor locker as I put fenders away. I had visions of being upside down with my head on the chain and my feet waving in the air and Phil wondering where I had gone. Well perhaps not.It has not been very warm since the high winds and we have heard from the Capitainairie that winds like this are not normal in this season and the last time it was like this was 1970.
We hope to move on from hear to La Sable D'Olonne.
We will not have anchored off d'Aix or visited the Isle d'Oloronne or Isle d'Re but we will come again all being well. We must start to work our way back.
Thursday, 21 July 2011
21st July Still in Rochefort
 |
| TiGrA in her berth in Rochefort with conservatory as raining. |
 |
| The chicane. Sharp left and then right. Mind the wall. |
 |
| The lock |
 |
| On the right as you enter the lock. Oh the excitement. |
 |
| These two boats live in the lock so not a lot of room to get through |
 |
| The muddy waiting pontoon in the river. The other dries completely |
 |
| The canal |
 |
| Lots of obstruction |
Sunday, 17 July 2011
Still in Rochefort
 |
| Hermione |
Fire works for Bastille Day were held on 13th July here and were magnificent. They were held at the Corderie Royale which is the longest ropeworks in Europe and has been rebuilt as the Germans torched it at the end of the war. It is now a museum and council offices.
 |
| TiGrA dressed overall for the rally The French thought it was for Bastille Day and some followed our example. |
 |
| Judith Grimwade from CA( who organised everything) with Rona |
 |
| Phil , Nick and Mark (Judith's husband) |
Weather was good throughout but is now very poor. High winds and rain so we are probably here until Thursday 21st July. I will try and take some lock and Marina pictures if and when the rain stops.
In to Rochefort
The lock is very narrow and boats were moored along one side. I stood on the bows and tried to avoid looking about as everything is narrow and crowded. We were to go into the inner basin under the (raised) road bridge and along a canal which had boats moored in it.And Phil had to make some 90 degree turns,not easy with a boat.I refused to look left or right and just breathed in at appropriate moments. We are on a pontoon next to an old wreck with a yard of metal sticking out. Phil did a magnificent job of getting us in but as we are in a dead end and cannot reverse out he says there will be a lot of bow thruster and I shall be French and have a boat hook at the ready.
Rochefort is a charming town as it was built all at the same time as a naval base and is on a grid pattern. It has also been a spa since Roman times but charming as it is I think we will not be here again. After all it is a long way from the sea.
 |
| The road bridge with the transporter bridge beyond |
 |
| A fishing hut for which the Charante is famous. The large nets are lowered from the deck. |
 |
| The prettiest part of the river which for the most part is flat like the fens. And more fishing huts |
La Rochelle to Rochefort 11th July
We left La Rochelle to head for Rochefort our intended final destination for the Cruising Association Rally. The first rally of the newly formed Biscay Section. La Rochelle had been hosting a series of races by 505's and of course they had gone out every afternoon. Being their last day they started early at 10 o'clock just as we had to leave! Interesting.Our journey had to be very precisely timed as the lock at Rochefort is only open for a very short time. usually about 30 minutes at the height of tide in the Charente river. There are two waiting pontoons in the river but they both dry out so useless to us.
We had a really nice sail in light airs 10 to 12 knots of wind which gave us about 5 to 6 knots speed. We needed a constant 5 knts to get to our destination on time. However off the Ile d'Aix (where Napoleon stayed before being shipped out of France ) the wind died. So sails down and motoring but not far from the mouth of the Charente which is so wide I didn't realise we had started up it. About half tide and 2 and a half hours before high water at Rochefort. It got hotter and hotter and no breeze as at all. In fact it was the hottest day of the year so far and we began to fry. We kept removing layers and adding hats and long sleeves etc. I even caught the Skipper applying sun cream just a pity it was my expensive facial one he was smearing on his hairy legs instead of Boots own brand. ( Well he said you moan when I don't and you moan when I show initiative). temperatures were about 28 to 30 degrees. No wind at all with the occasional 15 knot gust just so you didn't relax too much. Lots of Obstacles along the banks either side. Old half hidden piles and some very strange fishing huts on stilts which are apparently a local feature. Very early on in the trip Phil pointed out a bridge and said that was our destination. It was always about but took us ages to reach. First a road bridge with 30 metres clearance and then the transporter bridge which has a cabin slung beneath which moves backwards and forwards across the river. Which you have to wait for if it takes off in front of you. ( Like the one in Middlesborough).
We arrived exactly at the published opening time but the lock did not open immediately so we had to stooge around in the river for a while. Eventually boats started to come out and that took an age and then a small boat arrived and took our details and gave us a berth number.
Fort Boyard was built off shore to protect the naval base at La Rochelle. By the time it was finished it was redundant as more modern guns could fire further from the shore so it was used as a prison. It stands on its own in the sea.
We had a really nice sail in light airs 10 to 12 knots of wind which gave us about 5 to 6 knots speed. We needed a constant 5 knts to get to our destination on time. However off the Ile d'Aix (where Napoleon stayed before being shipped out of France ) the wind died. So sails down and motoring but not far from the mouth of the Charente which is so wide I didn't realise we had started up it. About half tide and 2 and a half hours before high water at Rochefort. It got hotter and hotter and no breeze as at all. In fact it was the hottest day of the year so far and we began to fry. We kept removing layers and adding hats and long sleeves etc. I even caught the Skipper applying sun cream just a pity it was my expensive facial one he was smearing on his hairy legs instead of Boots own brand. ( Well he said you moan when I don't and you moan when I show initiative). temperatures were about 28 to 30 degrees. No wind at all with the occasional 15 knot gust just so you didn't relax too much. Lots of Obstacles along the banks either side. Old half hidden piles and some very strange fishing huts on stilts which are apparently a local feature. Very early on in the trip Phil pointed out a bridge and said that was our destination. It was always about but took us ages to reach. First a road bridge with 30 metres clearance and then the transporter bridge which has a cabin slung beneath which moves backwards and forwards across the river. Which you have to wait for if it takes off in front of you. ( Like the one in Middlesborough).
 |
| Ile d'Aix |
 |
| Fort Boyard |
Fort Boyard was built off shore to protect the naval base at La Rochelle. By the time it was finished it was redundant as more modern guns could fire further from the shore so it was used as a prison. It stands on its own in the sea.
Friday, 8 July 2011
6th July La Sable to La Rochelle. (Decisions, Decisions)
Well weather coming in over the next few days looked unpleasant to say the least. Forecast for Wednesday good with lowish houle and 12 to 14 Knots in the morning diminishing to 8 to 10 in the afternoon further south where we were going and a little light rain. So do we stay or do we go now? Next chance to move would be Sunday with possible big seas after stormy conditions. We needed to leave about 10 O'clock to get out of the bay on a highish tide as bouncy otherwise but that would mean fighting some tide to La Rochelle to arrive on a rising tide. Is nothing simple.
Crew sat in bed as long as possible and then got up and out on deck just as we had a rain shower. ( Rain later then.)
Helped neighbours off the pontoon next door. They are going South and in full wet weather gear. Boat is only about 28 foot long. Very nice people.
Made a really good exit backwards and motored out to the end of the first channel avoiding the waterbus and turning the corner we had Cassim ( the Isle de Yeu supply boat) and an Arab or Turkish gunboat coming towards us. Really glad it is high tide.)
Bouncing merrily across the swell which was bigger than forecast, a piece of metal fell on my head1!!!!!! It was a hole and looked a bit worse for wear. Phil said it couldn't have fallen from a rope or a shroud as it was detached and was probably something a bird had dropped on my head. Ho Hum.
We started to get the main up and the main halyard with all the rocking and rolling managed to wrap itself round the shroud and the spreader and get stuck in a groove. So head to wind and me demanding the skipper hang on for dear life and bouncing up and down on 2 to 3 metre swell, the crockery chattering to itself irritably and a few loud bumps from below, Phil had to take the halyard off the main and untangle it and put it back on again after going backwards and forwards across the deck several times. All this time just yelling at me to shut up and do what I was told to do. (Slacken the rope , tighten the rope , slacken the rope, pull it in etc etc.) Me saying big wave coming ,hang on etc. Where was this point 8 metre houle. (Swell) It seemed giant size. Is it because the bay is shallow? Shallow, a good job its high tide.
Any way once we were sorted we could pull up the main again, turn in the right direction and get the genoa out. Guess what? The wind dropped. We had to motor. But we left out the genoa and decided to motor sail. Sea still pitching us about and I was glad lunch had been prepared earlier as this was a long trip by standards down here. (35 miles).
Soon across the bay towards the Isle de Re. Then the wind got up. Engine off and we were doing 9.5 knots (but only through the water says the skipper) I actually saw 10 knots at one point and decided it was all too fast so whinged a bit and was ignored until Skipper decided the genoa should be reefed in a bit.( Not as much a screw would have liked) We now had 23 knots of wind and rising which is OK except if something should happen. Skipper loving it and I realise he thinks I am a wimp and this is how we should always sail. Why was wind still rising. How wrong can all the forecasts be together? And no rain which was nice but a huge black fleet of clouds did track behind us but that was OK. Glad we were not going north in to it.
I thought the Isle de Re would give us a bit of shelter but it is so low lying it was pathetic. And the water was very very shallow so plenty of bounce. ( Lowest seen was point 4 of a metre below our keel.) I suppose in better weather I could have paddled off the boat!
Decision made not to sail under the Re bridge as very shallow and wind pushing hard so rolled in genoa and motored through and round the corner in to La Minimes marina La Rochelle. It was so shallow even on a rising tide with big surf and we saw a man peddling a canoe? This marina is huge. You have to tie up to the acceuil (reception) pontoon to be allocated a berth and directed to it by the small boat. All crew details and boat details are required including registration number and insurance details and they needed to see the documents. Otherwise they were very efficient.
Crew sat in bed as long as possible and then got up and out on deck just as we had a rain shower. ( Rain later then.)
Helped neighbours off the pontoon next door. They are going South and in full wet weather gear. Boat is only about 28 foot long. Very nice people.
Made a really good exit backwards and motored out to the end of the first channel avoiding the waterbus and turning the corner we had Cassim ( the Isle de Yeu supply boat) and an Arab or Turkish gunboat coming towards us. Really glad it is high tide.)
Bouncing merrily across the swell which was bigger than forecast, a piece of metal fell on my head1!!!!!! It was a hole and looked a bit worse for wear. Phil said it couldn't have fallen from a rope or a shroud as it was detached and was probably something a bird had dropped on my head. Ho Hum.
We started to get the main up and the main halyard with all the rocking and rolling managed to wrap itself round the shroud and the spreader and get stuck in a groove. So head to wind and me demanding the skipper hang on for dear life and bouncing up and down on 2 to 3 metre swell, the crockery chattering to itself irritably and a few loud bumps from below, Phil had to take the halyard off the main and untangle it and put it back on again after going backwards and forwards across the deck several times. All this time just yelling at me to shut up and do what I was told to do. (Slacken the rope , tighten the rope , slacken the rope, pull it in etc etc.) Me saying big wave coming ,hang on etc. Where was this point 8 metre houle. (Swell) It seemed giant size. Is it because the bay is shallow? Shallow, a good job its high tide.
Any way once we were sorted we could pull up the main again, turn in the right direction and get the genoa out. Guess what? The wind dropped. We had to motor. But we left out the genoa and decided to motor sail. Sea still pitching us about and I was glad lunch had been prepared earlier as this was a long trip by standards down here. (35 miles).
Soon across the bay towards the Isle de Re. Then the wind got up. Engine off and we were doing 9.5 knots (but only through the water says the skipper) I actually saw 10 knots at one point and decided it was all too fast so whinged a bit and was ignored until Skipper decided the genoa should be reefed in a bit.( Not as much a screw would have liked) We now had 23 knots of wind and rising which is OK except if something should happen. Skipper loving it and I realise he thinks I am a wimp and this is how we should always sail. Why was wind still rising. How wrong can all the forecasts be together? And no rain which was nice but a huge black fleet of clouds did track behind us but that was OK. Glad we were not going north in to it.
I thought the Isle de Re would give us a bit of shelter but it is so low lying it was pathetic. And the water was very very shallow so plenty of bounce. ( Lowest seen was point 4 of a metre below our keel.) I suppose in better weather I could have paddled off the boat!
Decision made not to sail under the Re bridge as very shallow and wind pushing hard so rolled in genoa and motored through and round the corner in to La Minimes marina La Rochelle. It was so shallow even on a rising tide with big surf and we saw a man peddling a canoe? This marina is huge. You have to tie up to the acceuil (reception) pontoon to be allocated a berth and directed to it by the small boat. All crew details and boat details are required including registration number and insurance details and they needed to see the documents. Otherwise they were very efficient.
 |
| St. Martin de Re |
 |
| A bit of TiGrA and the Re Bridge |
 |
| Brown shallow water. A bit like the QE2 Bridge without the nose to tail traffic!! |
This weekend it is the 505 international championships and next week the Laser championship. So very busy here. About one mile into La Rochelle proper and we have an electric water bus to do the trip in every half hour. So we are in the Charente Maritime and have left the Vendee.
In to La Rochelle yesterday but forgot my camera so pictures of the twin towers and the oldest lighthouse in the world will need to wait for our next trip.
Weather has got worse as expected so last night was a cinema night with the Jordans. ( Quiet in the one and nines please). Heavy rain and high winds this morning so 505's will have fun.
I was Mrs grumpy sailing here so have decided to mend my ways and be nice and kind to the skipper. No caustic comments or sarcasm for 24 hours. Unfortunately I am now 3 days in to this and the clock keeps starting again. I must try harder as Skipper says he will be nice to me for 24 hours if I make it. (Pigs can fly)
Weather has got worse as expected so last night was a cinema night with the Jordans. ( Quiet in the one and nines please). Heavy rain and high winds this morning so 505's will have fun.
I was Mrs grumpy sailing here so have decided to mend my ways and be nice and kind to the skipper. No caustic comments or sarcasm for 24 hours. Unfortunately I am now 3 days in to this and the clock keeps starting again. I must try harder as Skipper says he will be nice to me for 24 hours if I make it. (Pigs can fly)
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
5th July
 |
| Gosh I am fat. |
 |
| A better picture of me. I am not in it!!!!! |
 |
| Vauban again. The Arundel Tower. |
 |
| Entering La Sable d'Olonne. You can just see the ferry on the right in the distance scooting backwards and forwards. The Skipper is about to be court marshalled for abuse of lettuce. I know salad is not his thing but to pile every bottle in the fridge on top of the lettuce is not a good idea. And it has started to rain. Might just clean the boat as no water for yacht cleaning since La Turballe. |
Monday, 4 July 2011
4th July (American Independence Day)
Some photos. The reason you often have to wait for photos is computer so new before we left that I forgot I needed camera software on it. So I have to download on other computer and transfer them on a data stick!! I do make life easy for myself.
We are absolutely unindated (as auntie Madge used to say, bless her) with ladybirds. They are absolutely all around and under foot (extremely crunchy ) and doing the backstroke in the toilet. The last time we saw this quantity was in Norfolk when the boys were small and they were convinced they were being bitten by them. I have just been to the beach and been bitten by one. ( I must look like an aphid). They are everywhere. I have also been bitten on my face by a mosquito so am lumpy and look like Quasimodo.
I am afraid you will only get one photo today as this internet connection is like watching paint dry. And I am BORED with it. More soon.
And I am going out for a trip on the night Dotto. Hopefully it is not like the ghost train. It only runs on Monday so tonights the night!!!
 |
| This is the lighthouse which was shut |
I am afraid you will only get one photo today as this internet connection is like watching paint dry. And I am BORED with it. More soon.
And I am going out for a trip on the night Dotto. Hopefully it is not like the ghost train. It only runs on Monday so tonights the night!!!
Sunday, 3 July 2011
1st July ( A pinch and a punch) and 2nd
Same weather pattern. Very windy when we awoke but we were ready when the wind dropped. Fenders sorted , crew organised (sort of) and 3 really nice French people came to help us off ( obviously sorry for us after their country man couldn't even offer an apology. And then the lights changed to red. So there we were diddling up and down when we could have been tied to the pontoon. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together!!! Fortunately Phil was able to yell at Nick before he cast off or there would have been two of us trying to avoid each other.
A fast ferry bombed across the harbour and then the lights changed to go - with caution. The sea in the harbour mouth was pretty grim and Phil had to give the engine a boost to keep us moving against it. And then the skipper swore and said he had forgotten to put the halyard on the main. God preserve us from skippers with alzheimers. So I said wait until it quieted a bit - but no - risk life and limb and stress crew out totally before the day has started and go and hop about on the deck with the boom swinging and big rolly seas. I would have done it bit I am too feeble in the finger department to twit the shackle key. Any way much bollocking for Captain from crew for extra stress level.
And once we reached the end of the island the sea turned in to a pussy cat. We had between 8 to 14 knots of wind nearly all the way to Sable d'Olonne but the wind dropped and went down to 2 in the last hour so we finished the day on a motor after a really fast sail with everything up.
We are in Quai Garnier. There is a little street opposite and a short walk up it takes you to a superb beach. We spent all afternoon there yesterday and are taking a holiday in fantastic heat. Sea bathing (still a bit chilly) but town en fete as the Tour de France is started in the Vendee and goes through here.
A fast ferry bombed across the harbour and then the lights changed to go - with caution. The sea in the harbour mouth was pretty grim and Phil had to give the engine a boost to keep us moving against it. And then the skipper swore and said he had forgotten to put the halyard on the main. God preserve us from skippers with alzheimers. So I said wait until it quieted a bit - but no - risk life and limb and stress crew out totally before the day has started and go and hop about on the deck with the boom swinging and big rolly seas. I would have done it bit I am too feeble in the finger department to twit the shackle key. Any way much bollocking for Captain from crew for extra stress level.
And once we reached the end of the island the sea turned in to a pussy cat. We had between 8 to 14 knots of wind nearly all the way to Sable d'Olonne but the wind dropped and went down to 2 in the last hour so we finished the day on a motor after a really fast sail with everything up.
We are in Quai Garnier. There is a little street opposite and a short walk up it takes you to a superb beach. We spent all afternoon there yesterday and are taking a holiday in fantastic heat. Sea bathing (still a bit chilly) but town en fete as the Tour de France is started in the Vendee and goes through here.
30th June in Isle de Yeu (to the lighthouse)
After another windy and noisy night the crew refused to get out of bed. master of the ship was not amused, a bit like Queen Victoria then, so we did not leave at 08.00 hrs as expected. But it was still blowing. Any way the lighthouse called so I made a picnic and we went for the bus. Small island , small buses. It was packed. We had a seat and tried to count the bus stops before our stop but no chance of getting off!!!! So we went all the way to the beach on the other side of the island where everyone else got off and we moved to the front of the bus and told the driver where we wanted to go. A raised eyebrow later and we were off. He threw us out at a nice village bar so we stopped for coffee and then began our walk. Before too long we knew we were on the right road as we could see the lighthouse ( which just happens to be next to the island aerodrome.)
On arrival at said lighthouse we were greeted by the ferme notice. It is only open on Wednesday and Saturday and the bus doesn't run on Wednesday. Very French. So we found a nice field and ate our picnc and decided to walk back to Joinville. Phil managed to find a track non ballisez(?) and we had a pleasant walk back to the coast. ( Who needs buses?) Our reward was a good beer in a small cafe at the port.
That evening the wind got up again and a large boat tried to come in alongside us.Phil , Nick and Rona went to take their lines but I had one of my feelings and stayed on the boat and got a fender. The chap seemed very capable as he had reversed in to the marina but he started to show off, using his foot to operate the controls and missed. He got confused and turned too late and the wind took him. I managed to get a fender between our sugar scoop and him and then a stanchion and him but he still managed to hit and dent our toe rail and scratch our paintwork and he wrecked his horseshoe buoy and there were bits of it everywhere. He also almost had Nick's outboard the other side.
He never appeared again. His very embarrassed wife came and apologised and gave us her insurance details and Phil was very nice to her and every one felt very sorry but I realised I couldn't move my hand or grip with my fingers and when I looked my arm seemed bent. I had a small black line. Any way ice cubes and a pressure bandage overnight seemed to help and all I have now is a bruise which is getting larger by theday. It was obviously a crush injury and I was pleased not to have broken it but I have no idea at what point I damaged it but I can only presume it was when the chap leaned over to push our boat and I could no longer get myself out of the way because he was holding the boat against me.
The crew is very sorry that it refused to get out of bed in view of what happened at the later hour.
On arrival at said lighthouse we were greeted by the ferme notice. It is only open on Wednesday and Saturday and the bus doesn't run on Wednesday. Very French. So we found a nice field and ate our picnc and decided to walk back to Joinville. Phil managed to find a track non ballisez(?) and we had a pleasant walk back to the coast. ( Who needs buses?) Our reward was a good beer in a small cafe at the port.
That evening the wind got up again and a large boat tried to come in alongside us.Phil , Nick and Rona went to take their lines but I had one of my feelings and stayed on the boat and got a fender. The chap seemed very capable as he had reversed in to the marina but he started to show off, using his foot to operate the controls and missed. He got confused and turned too late and the wind took him. I managed to get a fender between our sugar scoop and him and then a stanchion and him but he still managed to hit and dent our toe rail and scratch our paintwork and he wrecked his horseshoe buoy and there were bits of it everywhere. He also almost had Nick's outboard the other side.
He never appeared again. His very embarrassed wife came and apologised and gave us her insurance details and Phil was very nice to her and every one felt very sorry but I realised I couldn't move my hand or grip with my fingers and when I looked my arm seemed bent. I had a small black line. Any way ice cubes and a pressure bandage overnight seemed to help and all I have now is a bruise which is getting larger by theday. It was obviously a crush injury and I was pleased not to have broken it but I have no idea at what point I damaged it but I can only presume it was when the chap leaned over to push our boat and I could no longer get myself out of the way because he was holding the boat against me.
The crew is very sorry that it refused to get out of bed in view of what happened at the later hour.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)