PASSAGE TO ANSE DE MARTRAY

Aquila
Alan and Sarah Bennett
Fri 13 Jun 2014 16:45
46:11.2N 1:27.9W

Thursday 12 June. A relaxing morning ashore in St-Denis-d’Oleron, visiting markets (photo), attempting to swim (failed, due to the LW Springs expanse of mud) etc, followed by another ‘it’s a hot day’ lunch in the cockpit while we awaited the tide to make (phot). In due course we moved to the fuelling berth to take on 67 litres of diesel (the boat was last topped up 31 August 2013 – no wonder the donk is complaining about lack of employment!), before departing on a NW heading for the southern coast of Isle de Re, with anchoring overnight the intent.

An hours drifting in a fitful breeze before a NNE 1-2 filled in to give us a sparling sail. We felt our into Anse de Martray: a very gently shelving sea bed and a spring tide meant that when we set the Manson Supreme in sufficient water, we were still 1nm from the beach (photo). Various crew members had a dip (photo - 16˚C now); the skipper cleaned the echo sounder’s transducer, and removed weed from the prop., before doing the customary ‘waterline scrub lap of honour’. Oysters and another unknown fish from the market for supper, as we watched the sun set in a clear sky.

The skipper wants it to be known that he really misses the office…

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