We were still in Morgat watching the tides as our next trip was around another notorious headland – the Raz de Seine!
Our journey around through the Raz du Seine
It was recommended to only go round at slack water, as the tides could race quickly around there, but also in strange directions as they came from the West Atlantic and were broken up by the Ile du Seine – a group of islands.
It’s always strange just waiting to leave – just watching the time go by and tracking the tide and other boats to see if anyone is heading to the same location and asking ourselves, have you got your calculations right?
Happily we had, and we were one of a few boats eventually leaving after lunch on 9 July. The Raz was kind to us and we motored most of the way (there wasn’t much wind), only putting the gennaker up after we had rounded.
We got to the next anchorage at Audierne, called Sainte Evette early evening, and gosh, it was busy. We identified a space to tuck ourselves into and settled for the night. Starfish Enterprise were also at Sainte-Evette and they made contact to see if Chris could help them with some technical challenges and possibly a trip up the mast.
Ever happy to help out, we spent the day chatting and working with them and a resolution was found. We spent some time with Mike, Mel, Mikey and Lachlan and enjoyed Cajun style wraps from a street vendor by the bay.
The best thing about this anchorage – the staff from the little harbour came out in the evening to take bread and croissant orders for delivery the next morning. How amazing is that!?
We spent a very enjoyable 5 days there, and again should probably have left earlier! We set off on 14 July early morning, toward Loctudy, after another sleepless and rocky night, weighing anchor in swells and rain.
Chris told Jen that the sea would be classed as ‘moderate’ – but it was very swelly to Jen, especially after a big squall came over and brought 29 knots of wind!! But it soon disappeared and we were sailing downwind with the preventer on in rolling seas – but the fish seemed to like it and were jumping on the line – 4 mackerel were caught!
On to our next stop, and to explore the Baie de Foret. We were keen to try more Transeurope Marinas and Loctudy was first on the list. This was a lovely little marina – little being the operative word as it was quite tight – especially arriving at low tide with quite some wind. We were fortunate to get into an end berth – with a little help from a neighbour. There was a slightly bigger boat further down who was very worried about getting out (which they did easily in the end!)
For some reason we were very tired so decided to stay a few nights and explore. We took a ferry across to Ile Tudy, met a British couple and their crew in the bar in the bar at the end of the pier where we got drenched as a shower passed and Chris found a cheap trolling fishing rod in the local Comptoir de la Mare.
Ile tudy is a pensinsula rather than an island and took a long walk around the area and ate our sandwiches overlooking the harbour. There isn’t much more to the area so after re- provisioning we set off again into the bay and to another anchorage.
Baie de Foret is a big home of the Imoca fleet of racing boats, so it was very cool seeing them all out practicing, and even one on a buoy. After finding our anchor spot we dinghied over to have a closer look – they are so impressive!!
We spent a few days at anchor exploring this beautiful area and walking along the coastal paths – Jenni even bought a new hat, and had one of the most expensive glasses of wine ever!
But the weather was changing and the fogs were coming in so we lifted the anchor early one morning and quickly motored to Port le Foret – a huge marina where the Imocas live.
