43:12.9N 5:32.1E

 

10 June Windy (correct) forecast, but we get in good downwind miles and see cool place names on the chart

 

Depart Port Guardian 0930

Arrive Cassis 2030, 69nm max speed 11.67knts

Sun all day, NWf4, then WNW5&6 (not gusty so manageable)

 

Jan did early morning shop (and we later discovered located the best ever (and not much fat) merguezs). V good marina loos/showers. Again, not certain of destination. Nice f3 then 4 and gentle sea, so downwind with all white out, luffing up to get max downwind speed. Tiny bit of deck in sun for jane. Prob kept going a bit too long before sticking in 2 reefs.Can then go neared  dead downwind as genny still gets some air. Waves easy to manage but occasional blighter tries to throw stern away. Plan on stopping in one of the many attractive narrow calanques (French limestone mini fjords) beyond Marseille.  Now on Imray M15 chart, showing St Tropez, Cannes, Nice, Monaco further E. How cool is that! After a couple of near broaches having to let go kicker decide third reef a good idea, and before we gybe. 15 miles offshore as that is the lowest could safely head on stbd to ensure no accidental gybe. Have purposefully overrun this leg so after gybe have reach in to land.  Good gybe, 3 reefs and not a lot of genny – an upright 6/7knts heading N into shore. Stunning white limestone cliffs to W of Cassis and red (?) to E – highest cliffs in France at 399m (1310ft in old money). Some good slaps from big uns give us a soaking. (No leggings on so wet undies for a couple of hours!) Pretty harbour – not many V places – have to book 3 wks in advance in season. Men in boat to point us to another line and stern to place (at 2030hrs – impressive). Frenchy comes in after and takes the last place alongside us. Spectacular illumination of hillside castle. Jan ecstatic after many hours on helm with  lots of tricky downwind surfin and fast reach in. (Jane not so ecstatic as bit too exciting for last few hours.) D`fly at her best.Beer on deck in warmth at 9pm at last (as it should be) ,merguezs (and the sweeteners catch fire being not where they should be when cooker lit) and deep sleep. Must have a lookround tomorrow.

 

11  June – rest day ashore

Decide to have  a day ashore and set off first light tomorrow. Still Wf5 out there – done enough surfin for now. NNW 3/4 forecast tonight and tomorrow AM – perfect, if it materialises. Walk to castle – find it’s a hotel and entrance is miles round the back. Trek on to nearest calanque – glad we came straight here. PM Jane to beach, Jan going for a swim, skip gettin blogs up to date and some boat bits. Need to break out the bimini-hooray.