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| Wind Singer |
Day 51
We're home. We left Studland Bay this morning with a fair breeze on the beam. After having the satisfaction of passing a couple of other boats the same size as us we passed through the Hurst narrows at 13:00 just as the tide turned in our favour and headed for Lymington. We filled up with diesel, the first time since Gijon in Spain, and motored around to our berth.
22M today and a total of 1,750M over the last seven weeks taking in the north and west coasts of France, the north west of Spain, and the Bay of Biscay.
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| The last supper |
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| The final track |
Day 49 & 50
Yesterday, after croissants and coffee we got the boat ready and completed all the (new) exit formalities for the EU ready for the crossing back to the UK.
Today dawned grey and murky as we made our way out of Cherbourg but there was a reasonable breeze on the beam. The large cruising shute was soon hoisted and we started to. make good speed.
The shipping lanes for the big ships going up and down the Channel were busy. While crossing the west bound lane we had to call up a ship to check they had seen us - they had, and altered course and speed so that we could pass astern of them. At that moment the wind picked up and we put on a spurt of speed so we also had to alter course to pass a few hundred meters behind them.
For the crossing we had set a heading of 355° that would allow the tide to sweep us one way and then the other to eventually bring us to our destination. It worked and ten hours later we were roaring across Swanage bay towards Studland having flown the cruising shute for the entire passage.
Having picked up one of the new "eco" buoys (designed to save the seagrass in the area) we contacted the Border Force and were given permission to lower our "Q" flag. We were officially back in the UK. Tomorrow is the final leg back to Lymington.
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| Nick hands free steering |
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| Busy traffic |
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| Leaving french waters |
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| Old Harry’s Rocks |
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| Our track |
Day 48
The predicted wind blew up, the boat was lying across the wind with the strong tide which was due to change at two in the morning so I was worrying about the anchor dragging. The anchor alarm was on but it still made for an uneasy sleep. By the morning the wind was dropping off and we were still in the same place!
Today we had to get the tide through the Alderney Race and around to Cherbourg. It was a lovely clear and bright morning with good views of Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and Alderney and their offlying rocks. Not much wind to start with and a swell which kept the sails banging and flapping as we rolled along but once round the rather unpleasant looking overfalls of the race we were away with a good breeze and three knots of tide behind us and in no time the outer harbour of Cherbourg was in sight. A hot shower, the first in five days, followed shortly afterwards.
Distance: 34M
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| Track |
Day 46
A shorter day's sail today with an early 06:30 start to catch the east going tide. The wind was good though from the east and reminded us we were getting closer to home as light clothes were quickly overlaid with warmer layers.
We anchored shortly after midday in a bay sheltered behind a line of rocks just to the west of Ile de Batz (the other side from Roscof). The tide rises and falls by 4.2m here so there was some careful considerations on where to anchor - too far out and the anchor may catch on rocks, too far in and we might be aground at low water. We found the sand and low water has just passed and we are still afloat - tidal calculations confirmed.
Out of the wind we are back with roasting temperatures prompting Paul to go for another swim to cool off. As the skipper I have to stay with the boat - 18°C is still not warm enough for me.
Anchorage near Ile de Batz
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| Our track |
Day 45
After a quiet night the morning mist cleared with the sun and we were off out of the Rade de Brest heading northwest and then north through the Chanal de Four.
With a pleasant breeze and an unexpected counter current we reached the channel between the mainland and Ushant an hour early and sat going nowhere (well 0.7 knots) until the tide turned.
Unfortunately the wind dropped off at the same time and we ended up having to motor along with about 20 other yachts all going the same way.
Full sun and no breeze - it got very hot! It was an easy passage despite the rocks all around.
The two free mooring buoys at L"Aber Wrac"h were a welcome sight after a long day in the hot sun.
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| Brest fortifications |
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| Rocks all around |
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| Mooring n L’Aver Wrac’h |
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| Our track |
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