A Coruña to Muros, 11-12 September 2022

On the picture below, I summarise our ride from Rochefort to Muros. As you can see, on the way from Rochefort to A Coruña, we had to divert when we encountered the tail of Danielle and the wind shifted northwest driven by a tropical hurricane going across the North Atlantic. When we reached the coast, a head wind of 30 knots and the swell were so high that we had to use the engine to support our move towards Burela. 

A most welcome stopover in A Coruña, 7-11 September

We depart 7:00 in the morning for a day ride from Burela to A Coruña. Nice weather expected, but very low head winds requiring using the engine all the way in order not to arrive at night.

Fishermen getting at sea at 6:30 in Burela, picture by Stéphane Lucchini

Burela, the unexpected stopover, 5-7 September 2022

Belisama in Burela harbour

One could most probably only end-up in Burela to escape some sort of storm as we tried to escape when we ended-up in this fishing boat harbour. Zero place for visiting ships, and only a rough outside jetty to moor on. But most welcome in any case given the weather forecast in the aftermath of the Danielle tropical hurricane!

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...