48:23.551N 004:25.005W

Whisper
Noel Dilly
Thu 26 Jul 2012 19:54
Croissant and coffee for breakfast followed by a lazy drift back down the canal to the first lock of the Nantes a Brest Canal and into the river Aulne again.  The journey was just as beautifully tranquil as it had been on the way up, the only difference being the greater depth of water under our keel as we left an hour before high water.  We were looking forward to a gentle sail across the Rade de Brest once out of the river.  However, where was the wind - on the nose!  Not only was it on the nose but there was little of it.  It is some considerable distance to the marina so we just pottered along under engine.  I knew that we should have bought that canal boat!  
 
Supper was enjoyed onboard in the marina, whilst we waited the arrival of friends from the south coast.  This meeting had not been planned, although we did know that they were planning to come to Brest.  An earlier trip of theirs to Spain had been canceled due to the dreadful weather pattern and they could not get away south from the Channel Islands and had to return home.  We did not think that they would arrive here before our departure to Spain.  They have sailed from Portsmouth via the Channel Islands to Brest.  This is the route which we had originally planned but the continuing bad weather, that they experienced, did not allow us to take this route.  Tony and Olivia arrived and once tied up alongside us came on board to share a bottle of wine and catch up on our various travel plans and arrangements.  It was a very pleasant evening and a nice end to gentle day. 
 
Just in case I don't get to make an entry on our blog tomorrow!
 
Tomorrow, will be launderette, shopping in company, Sandro's arrival and an evening meal ashore with friends.  The weather conditions are looking favourable and we plan to leave for Biscay and the deep ocean on Saturday afternoon.  I shall try and post our position for the map when we are at sea.  Now, that really will challenge the satellite phone communications and probably me too!  So don't worry if the "air waves" goes blank, I shall return as soon as I can.