Position:  47:42.68N 03:21.34W

Port Louis, France

Today’s sail was about 34 miles down the coast to Lorient, which is opposite Ille de Groix.  This was a long one-tack beat.  The weather forecasts are all getting a little more downbeat; there is obviously a depression looming in the Atlantic but it is clear that it is not clear when or what it will bring.  The long swell means that you watch your SOG (Speed over Ground) change from 7 knots down to 4 knots as the waves surge then suck their way past you.  We tried fishing but the fish have obviously got our card marked after yesterday.

Having read the pilot books we were expecting Lorient to be a little like Portsmouth – very busy to enter, and pretty soulless when you get there.  However, we berthed on the East side of the harbour in Port Louis, which is the old French East India port, and were pleasantly surprised at this slightly run-down but relaxed place.  The Capitain (ie the man in the Capitainerie) was relaxed – on finding out that the rates for berthing were 29 euro for boats 11.5m or more, and 23 euro for 11.49m or less, he raised his eyebrows and nodded when I suggested our boat might have shrunk a little!

Berthing in general has varied from 16 up to 34 euro a night for marina berths – cheaper than the UK but not much!  If I remember, I will write a little “key facts” note on France, as there are a few things that may be of use to anyone following us – things that would have been useful to know before we came.