PASSAGE TO ROCHEFORT VIA BOYARDVILLE
Aquila
Alan and Sarah Bennett
Tue 3 Jun 2014 05:18
Monday 2 June. We departed La Rochelle inner basin at 0900, with the lock gates closing behind us as the tide fell. Bright sunshine and a total calm accompanied us as said ‘au revoir’ to the twin towers, but within 15 minutes the mainsail was filling with a northerly zephyr. The plan was to make for Boyardville on the eastern coast of Isle d’Oleron, spending the remainder of the ebb and the first of the flood anchored off for lunch, and then catch the flood up La Charente estuary to the old French naval port of Rochefort.
After a gentle sail, by 1120 we were tucked into what lee we could benefit from off Boyardville; while the Manson Supreme did its stuff, the dinghy was launched and we duly landed on the beach (as per photo) a cable away from the boat. Pristine sand, a soft breeze and a pine forest ashore made it feel almost tropical (although the water is still only 14deg C). Having recce’d the drying approach and ‘locking-in’ marina in preparation for a lengthier stay in future, we then returned to Aquila for a leisurely lunch while we awaited the return of the flood.
The passage up Le Charente estuary was enchanting, albeit shallow – CD gives only 1.0m over the extended bar. Rochefort is thereafter some 12.5nm up river, but with 2 kts of tide under us and the main doing its stuff, the navigational marks were ticked off at an entertaining speed. Under the old transporter bridge (still in operation (see phot), but now accompanied by a modern road bridge too); despite the charted 10+m clearance for Aquila’s mast, we collectively held our breaths as we passed under the spans. Then an hour on the waiting pontoon until the lock gates opened as scheduled at 2000; we allowed the bun-fight of other waiting boats to go in ahead of us, and secured to our allocated berth inside (courtesy of the most helpful marina staff) by 2045. All in all, another lovely day; the new crew ‘done good’.
A personal message to Peter, Stuart and Ken from the skipper’s mate: a special BZ for leaving the boat so beautifully clean and ship-shape; a heart-felt thank you.
