10.05.15 – La Roche Bernard to Arzal
The plan was to visit the islands of Hoedic and Houat with a possible overnight anchor in Treach’H Goured off Ile Houat. Very leisurely run down to Arzal to make the 1830 lock, (don’t arrive too early as there is nowhere to easily wait). Berthed on the waiting pontoon on the seaward side at 1900 for the night. (Officially 12 hrs allowed but suspect that this is not enforced out of high season)
Some spare room
They leave the road bridge until the last minute!
11.05.15 – Arzal to Hoedic
Woke to find the river covered in grey brown foam. Realised that there had been a discharge from the dam overnight so decided to move down river for breakfast. Mistake! as any bow wave just pushes the foam over the hull. If this happens, clean the hull immediately, otherwise the gelcoat is stained a telling shed of brown (which confirms what the foam is!). Picked up the visitor mooring off Trehiguier for a leisurely breakfast whilst waiting for the tide. (Wish I had scrubbed the hull!)
Breakfast stop
Exited the Vilaine via the Passe de la Grande Accroche, entering at 1.5 hrs BHW and 25 minutes to run down to the seaward entrance. Arrived in the anchorage of Treah’H Goured for a late lunch and intention of staying overnight. However, the wind (forecast SE2>V2) started to increase and conditions became lumpy so for the crews sake we made a decision to head for Crouesty with a brisk sail hitting 7.5 knots with 1 reef in the main and 3/4 genoa amongst a fleet of ”older” craft. Final log reading 40.81 Nm
Old Gaffer
Another ‘Old Gaffer’
12.05.16 – Crouesty to Piriac
With the islands abandoned, we decided to head to Piriac for lunch and an overnight stop. Pleasant sail in light winds but on shaking out the reef from the previous day, the slider jammed inside the boom. Decided to leave reef in and sort on return to LRB. Crossed sill into Piriac 1.5 hrs BHW. Log reading 23.09
Shellfish farm on route to Piriac
Quayside restaurants. Piriac
Piriac harbour
Piriac beach
Piriac town
13.05.16 Piriac – La Roche Bernard
Left Piriac 2.25 hrs BHW with cill gauge showing 2.7m. Entered the Vilaine via the Varlingue passage at 1.25 hrs BHW. Exited lock at Arzal 4.0 hrs after leaving Piriac and berthed B15 at LRB with difficulty as very windy. Log reading 17.93. Cumulative reading 3051.8 (but under reading as mentioned previously)
Making new friends
And many more!
Out again!
And back in shore berth.