Trip Update - 5th August 2008 Piriac, France

Nutmeg of Shoreham
Ollie Holden
Wed 13 Aug 2008 14:29
Position:  47:22.94N 02:32.68W

 

Piriac, France

 

We left La Trinite and sailed East towards the island of Houat, which has reputedly the best beach in Britanny.  We anchored off it and went ashore in the dinghy.  It is a long, sandy bay, with probably over 100 yachts anchored off – bit like East Head but more beach and more space to anchor!  Unfortunately it was cold and grey and by the time we had dragged the dinghy up the beach it had started to drizzle (is this really August?) so after being British for an hour or so, we motored back to the warmth of Nutmeg, hauled up the anchor and headed onwards to Piriac.

 

Piriac is a lovely place which can only be entered above half-tide.  The town is very picturesque and there are flowers in hanging baskets everywhere.  We moored alongside with plenty of room and the sun came out.  The kids were in bed, so Sarah went for a stroll along the harbour front, which was bustling with people and had a great atmosphere, while I sat on the aft deck with a bottle of wine and the Sunday papers.  What bliss!

 

We had a mooch round in the morning and went to the excellent market, but decided to push onto Pornic, on the back of the weather forecast which indicated strong winds were on their way again.  We were sorry to leave (and even sorrier when we got to Pornic!)

 

Those who know this area will probably question our choices of port and the omission of a trip into the Golfe du Morbihan.  We have been somewhat dictated to by the weather, and we are aware that time is ticking in terms of getting South before the weather gets worse (? Can it?).  Even on a year’s trip, you find yourself running out of time, and needing to stick to a fairly strict timetable in order to stay within the wider weather windows (ie not being in Biscay in September, for example).  So we decided to leave Morbihan for another time, and “do” it properly over a couple of weeks on another trip.

 

In terms of our rough itinerary, it is basically to get to NW Spain for the end of August, so we can spend some time in the Spanish Rias.  We will have spent a month in France – possibly a bit longer than I had originally anticipated, but it has been a far more rewarding and interesting location than I had expected.  I could definitely spend a lot more time out here. 

 

I have to say, I love the way the French approach sailing.  Almost every boat has the tell-tale orange lifejacket of a baby or toddler – far more kids on boats than in the UK.  Every pontoon will have at least a couple of dogs who are taking their owners sailing.  And every town has a sailing school where they are towing 8-yr olds out into a F6 in a line of Oppies.  The boats they cruise in range from your standard Beneteau through to Open 40s and Pogo 8.50s – this is just for cruising!

 

Talking of Open 40s, I think I would like one.