48:16.677N

4:35.260W

 

We've just had an exchange of views over the title of today's blog.  Roger is very clear that "crusty" in no way represents his views.  I continue to argue that civility must continue to be observed, however difficult the circumstances.

 

Bloodied but unbowed - we suffered damage this morning.  Magnetic Attraction was moored taking on water on the outside of the wavebreak (le brise clapot.)  I was in the village getting a paper.  A French boat, head to wind to raise its sails, ploughed into the stern quarter of Magnetic Attraction, tearing off a significant chunk of the teak toe rail and scraping the paint down to bare metal (there is a picture for Pantanaeus but as we are to upload by the Irridium Satphone tonight it won't be attached to this blog.  Maybe later.)  Roger was on his own and the first he knew of the incident was a lot of shouting in French (well, that's pretty normal,) followed by a big crunch (which isn't.)  As Roger tells the story, as he pushed the boat away, he said to the helmsman "We need to parley" to which the delinquent man could only respond "Yes."  There was no argument: insurance details were exchanged and the Tir Na Moe then went on her way.  By this time I was just back and got witness details from a Frenchman who was sitting in his cockpit with the most enormous basset hound who was fond of barking at all comers; and a Brit out of Gosport who was kind enough to make a written statement.  Nothing life threatening, and we are able to continue in safety; but distressing none the less.

 

In consequence, we returned to buoy 39, where we remain tonight.  We went ashore again to buy some epoxy paint to cover the bare metal and wood, but otherwise the day has been enlivened only by Saturday's Daily Torygraph (what a dreadful paper - and 4.30 euros to boot) and the French Douanes coming to view us.  But clearly we looked sufficiently innocent, although it might have been the defaced red ensign.... as they moved on to board another boat further up the trot, and then a Brit boat in the marina.  They'd have been welcome to search - nothing here other than some very pungently expressed views about the quality of french seamanship generally, and of the Tir Na Moe in particular!