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).

Ile d'Aix

Fort Boyard

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.