Friday 24^th August – Concarneau - Lorient

47:43.165N 3:22.044W

This morning we got up early and walked around Concarneau.  If you are in the area, don’t miss it.  It is a lovely town; clean streets, colourful fronts to the buildings, loads of sea front restaurants and, the ‘piece de resistance’ for me, the fabulous markets, one indoor and one outdoor.  The markets were replete with fresh fruit and vegetables; fresh, cooked and cooking meats (chickens on a rotisserie that smelled delicious enough to make one think about turning in one’s veggie card), and fabulous fresh fish too.  Of course I ended up buying things that I probably didn’t need!

At lunchtime we set sail again and caught the afternoon breeze down to Lorient, about 30 miles away – pleased to say that once again we had a really good sail. 

The approach to Lorient was reminiscent of the Solent, with the Isle of Wight replaced by the Isle de Groix – complete with ferries and yachts all over the place.  The run into Lorient itself was like entering Southampton Water (albeit slightly smaller).

We arrived before the evening lull and so I had to raft alongside as 45’ Sun Odyssey by the corner of the marina whilst being blown off in 16 knots of wind – that didn’t happen easily.  It took a couple of attempts and help from a very nice French couple on the yacht in front.

Lorient is not as pretty as Concarneau but is good for internet access so we can catch up with some administration.  Tonight we went out for moules frites – it’s important to compare them as we go along the coast we feel!