Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Hugh, Anne and Hector's Sailing Adventures
Hi folks
After a rough anchorage at Milford Haven, we crept into the marina at 7am when the locks opened and enjoyed catching up on our sleep. Next day was thick fog so we stayed over another night and awoke to much better weather the following day. We departed for the Scillies at 11am in bright sunshine. The wind had moved to the east and we had a fabulous sail broad reaching at up to 8 knots in much kinder seas. The wind died off in the evening and we motored through the night, reaching St Mary's Isle in the Scillies at 8am the next morning.
We picked up a mooring in Hugh Town, slept, and then went exploring the town later on. It's a lovely place, much bigger than expected; I had imagined somewhere like Tobermory, only warmer, but it was much more 'up market'. We spotted two bakeries and looked forward to going ashore for fresh bread in the morning. To my disgust, the boys returned with a loaf of Hovis and some bottled water - apparently the bakeries did not bake bread! The did however make Cornish pasties which were distinctly ok (Tobermory has a much better bakery)
After a night in the Scillies, we set off for France, but yet again the wind was force 5 occasionally 6 from the south and the sea was fairly rough. We were at least sailing and it was bright and sunny conditions. The wind was supposed to abate in the evening, but didn't and we had a fairly rough channel crossing - back to breaking seas and frequent cold water drenching.
The next morning things calmed down and the sun shone from clear blue skies. Just as we were approaching the French coast, about 30 miles off land, a customs boat appeared and hailed us to stop. They sent over a high-speed launch and two officers boarded us. Just a formality, we handed over our paper work, declared the cat and one of the officers had a look over the boat. (he is a keen sailor and wants a ketch). They wished us a good day and left and we continued on our way to Douarnenez in Brittany.
We were boarded by customs last year in Campbelltown and I am beginning to think that the boat just might be a magnet for customs officials. No sooner had we arrived in Douarnenez, a high-speed launch containing 6 customs officers appeared at our side and requested permission to come on board. Hugh explained that their colleagues had already checked us offshore and they kindly departed.
Douarnenez is lovely; we are sitting at a pontoon opposite a little island that has a classic small French chateau on it - that looks in need of renovation. Great cider and crepes - and glorious weather. There is a very active sailing school here and we have been watching a continuous stream of happy school kids (8 to 12 year olds) being taught to sail in little boats like optimists and in little catamarans. - it looks idyllic.
Tomorrow we depart for the Bay of Biscay. The weather forecast looks very promising - wind from the north force 4 or 5 and continuing with more of the same for the next couple of days, which will suit as perfectly as it will take us 3 days and nights to reach La Corunna in Spain. Hopefully the sea state will be smooth and we will have an easy crossing.
Anne
- comments