PASSAGE TO PORT SAUZON AND PORT LOUIS
Aquila
Alan and Sarah Bennett
Wed 16 Jul 2014 05:41
Tuesday 15 July. The crew of Judy and Alan departed Piriac at 0600 on Monday (after enjoying a drink the evening before with Jill and Richard Baker aboard their lovely Nicholson; what a small world it is!). The wind gods had clearly read the forecast, and did what they had been told: the NNW2 wafted us in bright sunshine (that 24 hour delay in sailing was worth the wait) to the vicinity of Hoedic before it started to both back and fade. In no hurry whatsoever, we steadily tacked our way west, leaving Hoedic very close to port (phot); the new arrangement for temporarily shifting the furled staysail really came into its own and is now working a treat.
Not sure the new crew was fully aware just how many rocks were about us (phot) - both visible and invisible! As we rounded the sentinels of Drevantac Vraz and Drevantec Vihan, leaving the hazards behind us, the wind filled in from the west, giving us a couple of hours gentle tacking up the east coast of Belle Isle before picking up a buoy off Port Sauzon. Rowing ashore, we discovered a lovely place (phots) – it could be a Cornish village. And despite it being Bastille day, we found a couple of stores open, which allowed Judy to create her spaghetti bolognaise ‘with a difference’ - it was delicious!
After a very tranquil night and a row ashore for the croissants etc, we departed at a civilised hour for the 22m passage towards Lorient. The donk had to do its stuff for the first hour, but then a zephyr filled in from the NW – so on the nose again! But the seas were so calm and the sky so bright it did not matter. In due time it backed to WSW, allowing the helmswoman to lay the course (phot). At one stage, only 100 metres on our port beam for 4-5 minutes, we were treated to a splendid sight as we sailed by: some 100 gannets circling tightly and frequently diving, with a pod of dolphins participating at the epicentre. Clearly a shoal of mackerel were having a bad day!
We found a spot in Port Louis’ marina, on the east side of the Lorient estuary. And as planned, Seb arrived just as we were ready to open the bar – marvellous! Needless to say, we were not short of chat over the meal ashore and a wonder through the Tuesday evening market afterwards. Tomorrow, we head for Les Isles Glenan.
