Gulf of Biscaye, faithful to its reputation, 3-6 September 2022

The Gulf of Biscaye has a reputation and is intimidating for any sailor who considers going through. Rochefort to A Coruña is a 370 nautical miles ride. In early September in 2022, the weather has switched already to autumn, with depressions emerging from south-west Atlantic and heading north-east through the Atlantic. "Danielle" its on her way, as is named the tropical hurricane announced. We had just left Rochefort when we heard about her...

Rising sun in the Biscaye Gulf

Rochefort, preparing for the Mediterranean, 29/08 - 3/09/2022

After two months in Croatia following the start of the season in Southern Brittany and having dropped Belisama in Rochefort for the summer, I made it back to Rochefort to prepare for the conveying of Belisama to the Mediterranean. Rochefort is a place to be visited by any sailor as it used to be the centre of sailing activities for centuries in France. And it shows in the city!

This painting is located in the Corderie of Rochefort, but was it painted by a sailor?

 I could not figure out where the wind is supposed to be coming in relation with the position of the sails on the various boats...

Île-de-Ré to Rochefort, 30 June-3rd July, 2022

From Noirmoutier, we sail to Île-de-Ré, a 65 nautical mile/12 hour ride on the way to Rochefort under light northwest winds. We moor in Ars-en-Ré, being the largest boat in the harbour, and the first in line at the end of the pontoon. Very comfortable night indeed once you have manoeuvred in the channel the width of which is smaller than the size of the boat to carry-out the perfect reverse parallel park!

Noirmoutier, 28-30 June

We depart from Houat at 6:00 AM for Noirmoutier, a 35 miles southeast ride. We are accompanied on the way by a shoal of dolphins jumping around obviously happy. 

So pleasant...

What? Houat? 26-28 June 2022

From Vannes, we had a window of opportunity to moor for two days in Houat at 20 nautical miles, in Tréach Er Gourhed. Given the tides, we could only depart around 16:00 from Vannes, and reach Houat by 20:00. There were already around 40 ships mooring in this bay, but it was not a problem given our 1metre draft to find a place very close to the shore. Keep in mind that we are still in June, and the sailing season starts in mid-July, where you are likely to be in the hundred of sailing boat around here.

Despite winds from the West in the 8 to 10m m/s, from which we were protected, the night was a bit shaky because of a northern swell. 

Yeu - Le Crouesty - Vannes, 23-25 June 2022

 The Golfe du Morbihan is intimidating at first. It is known for its strong currents, tides and tricks. But in fact, as I asked my neighbours in the Le Crouesty marina, you just need to let yourself flow by the current in order to avoid obstacles. 

The wind against the current can result in relatively rough seas et the entrance of the Gulf.

Vagaries on the way to Yeu

Finally we were able to set sails. But not to Ré island as expected on previous post, but rather to Yeu island. And this, for two reasons, a lack of wind expected in coming days while we need to be in Vannes on Saturday to collect a crew member, and a one day delay in departing because of a failure of the drinking water pump that we had to change. 

But this was by no means the end of the vagaries...