1-2 June: Passage details - Belle Ile to Vendee - Port Morin, Ile Noirmoutier
Gaudeo
John and Prue Quayle / John Quayle
Fri 8 Jun 2007 18:59
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8th June: Now in the Vendee; down comes the
Breton courtesy flag.
After Belle Ile, a glorious sail across the
Loire estuary - given the shallows and navigation hazards in this area, it seems
even more astonishing that the raid on St Nazaire in WW2
could have reached the target let alone mission succeed.
Just as the last time we were in this area, we were
boarded by the Douanes; this time they were not so
aggressive nor heavily armed but it is always
a disturbing experience. At least when the outboard motor of their
launch (RIB) failed to start, we were able to tease them that they may
have to come with us to Spain. Last year in Orkney, we were
boarded by British customs who found evidence of illegal substances on
door handles! Though we did not know it at the time and it was somewhat alarming
for us, the tests apparently are extremely sensitive - about 10% of £20
notes are contaminated - and this apparently is a common finding for
customs officers. Visits from these people always make one feel guilty
despite having nothing to hide.
Onwards then to Pornic, an old favourite of
ours with its lovely old town, charming harbour, superb market, and
grand holiday houses / mature gardens set back from gorgeous
beaches.
Next day and tiring following a surfeit of
langoustines, scallops and fish, and suffering from the heat, we moved on to
find a beach with a cool breeze and for a swim, and have anchored off an
empty, long, sandy beach near Port Morin on the W side of Ile
de Noirmoutier where we came with Anna on June Dawn 5 years ago -
again no other boats except for a few Hobie
cats. |