Les Sables d'Olonne - La Rochelle

Pyxis
Karen & Richard
Thu 30 Aug 2007 22:37

Thursday 30th August – Les Sables d’Olonne – La Rochelle

46:08.611N 1:10.146W

 

We said farewell to Les Sables d’Olonne mid morning, after Richard had done a couple of more trips to the chandlery.  We really enjoyed our stay there and the welcoming atmosphere.

 

We set sail for La Rochelle and had a great sail down here (F3-F5) – the gusting F5 made setting the sails challenging at times in terms of how much sail to put out.

 

We sailed down between the mainland and Ile de Re rather than go around the outside, passing under the major bridge which spans them - having first checked that we would fit! 

 

We had great winds on the way down but they decided to abate just as we came onto a run to get under the bridge, combined with the tide starting to turn, so it was quite a feat to get through without donking, but we made it, ghosting through.  However, once through we decided to donk on the short way to the marina.

 

The last time we were at La Rochelle we were on a cruise on the Oriana for my Father’s birthday celebration, and really enjoyed walking round the old town.

 

This time we have come to the big marina outside La Rochelle.  Unfortunately, our experience here has not been as positive as that at Les Sable d’Olonne and my advice so far would be ‘Don’t bother’.  When we were finally berthed we discovered that the electricity was unlike any we have met so far and our standard plug wouldn’t fit.  Having walked around to the harbour master office reception, I tried to ask about this (in French) with the man at reception.  He told me that as it was an English boat, I wouldn’t be able to get electricity.  He then turned his back and left me just standing there; rather surprised and taken aback by his manner, I wandered back to Pyxis thinking how unfriendly this place is.  Richard was up to the challenge and wandered off to the chandlery and found an adaptor – don’t understand why the guy couldn’t have suggested that.

 

In the meantime, I had flagged down one of the harbour master dinghies, and the guy was explaining the situation to me and being extremely friendly.  They are in the process of modernising the pontoons – unfortunately they haven’t started with the visitors. So, if you do visit and have a problem, talk to the guys on the dories.

 

After clearing up, had fabulous dinner of prawns and baguette washed down with a few glasses of the local merlot to chill out.