Our visit to La Rochelle has been productive and a chance to relax. Several jobs have been done by the boys, including rigging long washing lines for all the laundry we have done. Clean sheets and towels, bliss! 

Our step count has increased significantly with 2 walks into town, just under 3km away. Yesterday we just wandered; today Simon found the fresh produce market (pictured below). An amazing amount of fresh fish, meat, fruit, cheese etc., so we took the opportunity to stock up for the trip to Spain tomorrow.  

Back to the boat and whilst I went to the launderette again, Sally was very busy cooking several meals in the Ninja for the next few days underway. It has proved to be a really worthwhile purchase. 

Boys rigged our ‘fifth crew-member’, the Hydrovane (pictured), which uses a sail (bright red) to drive a separate rudder to the main one and keep us on course; takes no power to drive (saving electricity that we’d otherwise use in the autopilot) and can just steer non-stop. Fingers crossed it can put in some nice long hours over the next few days.

Quiet time now, resting up before our long passage to Spain. 

Keeping everything crossed, hoping and praying for good weather with winds of the right direction and speed.

Catherine