43:27.0N 4:25.3E

 

9 June – Lovely sail to bullfight town

Depart Cap d`Adge 0830

Arrive Port Gardian, the marina for Les Saintes Maries de la Mer, 1730 36 nm

 

f4 E, then freeing nicely (to S) Sun all day – looked cloudy ashore

 

Hey, have just posted details of stepping mast (7 June). Got really frustrated trying to attach photos with eversoslow connectivity and eventually timed out of free time.

 

Motored for 90 mins dead into gentle breeze, not certain of our destination as wind “on the nose”. Needed to clear a “no entry” area (no idea why no entry) parallel to the shore. 1000 engine off headed NE as close to wind as poss with 2 reefs doing a comfy 5/6knts well heeled over. Wind went more S, could lay Port Guardian. Shook out reefs later. Med chop, died to a flat sea as crossed very distinctive tide line about 4 miles off shore – and we hit adverse current – must be all the freshwater pouring out of Le Petit Rhone. Capetanerie closed but one member of staff still about to allocate a stern to & line and chain berth. Plenty of  beam wind when berthing, so came alongside pontoon to pick up chain, Jan worked bow out keeping clear of next downwind boat and warped down stern keeping rudder clear of quay.Tighten bow line, then sweat down stern lines with Jason`s buff protecting rudder. All snug as suggestion of overnight beam blow. Great little town – signs (I think) showing beware of the bulls in the streets ( they must have one of those mad festivals). See bullfight stadium – next fight 21 June! Have missed the Gypsy Festival – that was last month.See famous fortified church.Mary Magdalene and some other girls were cast off in a cockelshell boat and drifted ashore here in about AD40. Sat in bar for beer – a few spots of rain. Good timing!