Back in the Channel!

Leaving L'Aber Benoît, we came across our first dolphins since the Channel crossing. We have noticed much less wildlife, a few solitary gannets and occasional flock of shearwaters, although many cormorants.   We are now back in the English Channel and it is noticibly colder in the NNW wind but the weather remains fine and clear.

Our plan was to arrive at the Canal de Batz 3 hours before HW, which meant 6 hours motor sailing against up to 3.5 knots of tide. Surprisingly, this used little over 5 litres of fuel.  The plan worked and we watched many yachts fly by going westwards!  The photos show us cautiously leaving the canal.

Arriving at Bloscon marina, Julie berthed Susan J perfectly,despite the absence of any promised, mandatory, direction from the harbour master or lights.  The visitor berths were rather short, so we managed to ship the bowsprit in 12 minutes - a record!

Finally, as some keen observers have already noticed, the AIS finally transmits.  The dedicated GPS aerial cable had to be cut and the fancy connectors needed soldering after all! A humble chocolate block connection, fitted under way, was the last resort but clearly effective!

Le Channel du Four

Virtually no wind other than our own making.  Lovely warm summer day, blue skies and Julie in shorts!

The southern entrance to Channel du Four

Le Four light at the northern end.

"Susan J" motored for more than seven hours past the spectacular western end of Brittany. As the wind picked up we sailed back into L'Aber Benoît for a peaceful night on a mooring.

Baie de L'Auberlach

Anchored here in the Rade de Brest after a gentle sail to the entrance to the Aulne, serenaded by flocks of helicopters and schools of milatary Ribs.  While trying to tack back into this bay, we were hasselled by an unmarked, possibly military, motor launch.  She hooted at us, one long blast, circled us, even though we had tacked out of her way. The second time we hove to and shrugged our shoulders, nil on Ch16. We carried on, avoiding further antagonism by not taking a photo! Several, presumably local yachts were left alone!

Regrettably, Le Tapecul bar, at L'Aberlauch, was closed on Tuesdays, so we contented ourselves with a walk through the lovely woods. 

We met an American couple, Daryl and Jean, and their young dog, off "Skagerat" a largish bermudan sloop.  Live aboards, they were making their way to Ardrossan for the winter, via the Channel Islands, to introduce their passported dog to the UK by ferry!

Sunset over Rade de Brest 

I guess "Skagerat" was "setting off into the sunrise! 

Crew leaves and a day in Brest

A pleasant evening ashore taking cable cars to and fro across the docks and enjoying a remarkably pleasant French meal. 

Fiona left "Susan J" in Brest, catching an early Ryanair to Southend for a fiver. She had been with us for eleven days, crossing the English Channel under sail and exploring most of the Pointe de Bretagne.  A very useful crew and good company.

Here she is contemplating the comfort of her Bristol flat! 

A short walk found a boulangerie but Julie had to walk to the city to find a magasin for milk and stores. An efficient laundry, including free ice and excellent ablutions were all put to good use!

Julie had the rest of the day ashore and visited the excellent maritime museum in the Château. 

While David replaced the elderly VHF wireless set and separate DSC units with one modern unit, so the DSC will now work, using our new aerial!  It turns out there is as much wireless traffic, albeit incompressible, as in any UK port we just couldn't hear it!

As some keen observers will have noticed the AIS briefly works again.  The dedicated GPS aerial cable had to be cut and the connectors need soldering after all! Chocolate block connection may be the last resort and more effective! 

Second tide lucky!

Strategically anchored behind Pointe de Chèvre, we left in good time to take the remaining ebb around the point and into the early north flowing tide, by tacking inshore and dodging various rocks and reefs, using the plotter.

As the tidal stream increased this photo shows us having passed between two sections of Pointe de Pen-Hir.

We then rounded inside Pointe du Toulonget and close reached at 8.5 knots through the water and at one point 10 knots over the ground, as we were whisked through the Goulat de Brest.

Along with "La Recouvrance", for whom we decided to spill wind and slow down, affording Julie a photo opportunity!

The Châteaux Marina's long visitors pontoon was taken by a fleet of racing yachts so we were led deep into the pontoons where we managed to berth with no loss of paint.

10,000 Miles and Make & Mend!

Rain showers, poor visibility, a north wind and uncomfortable berth. After several hours of sailing and motoring into an increasing swell, we were struggling to leave the Baie du Douarnenez and would miss the tide into Brest. As the sun came out we ran back into the bay and found a delightful anchorage under the cliffs of Pointe de Chèvre. 

One bright spot was seeing "Susan J" 's log pass 10,000 M.  Almost entirely under her previous owners and an underestimate of her total distance run as the log impeller is usually stopped by marine growth. 

We confirmed that the large bang while beating to windward was the bobstay parting. The photo shows the pin and mousing wire and half the thread, which was still in situ in the becket of the block at the gammon iron.  Fortunately the shackle was easily replaced but raises doubts a about all the other stainless steel shackles which would be at least 16 years old?

Anchored in 12 meters at high tide the opportunity was taken to Splice 40 metres of nylon octoplait to our 35 meters of chain and replace a sheered SMS bolt on the spray hood.

Hopefully, an earlier start tomorrow will enable us to take the tide into the Rade de Brest.

Sardines and tradition

Friday was spent ashore in Douarnenez, a short walk from Treboule, where we were berthed.

A delightful town with an interesting history of canning originating in the sardine glut of the 19th century and then just about anything that could be preserved after the sardines left the bay. The hardships that ensued gave rise to the birth of communism in France in 1921 and an early example of women's working rights being improved.

The Boat Museum had several floating exhibits, including the Falmouth tug "Saint Denys", with the only example of a triple expansion steam engine in France.  A restored fishing vessel "Santa Anna" was interesting for her rigging, which has at last shown us a better way to organise "Susan J" 's topping lift and lazy jacks.

This photo shows a steel trading schooner that trades wine and olive oil as well as volunteer crews. She is alongside a stone Quay in the floating harbour reserved for working traditional vessels.