Stopover Visit at Bloscon

04.07.14 – 09.07.14. Our daughter Gemma, with grandchildren Eva and Ben joined us for a visit to check on Destiny halfway through the stay at Bloscon. The car was taken over to allow us to explore the next few stages in the trip and visit the beautiful white sandy beaches of Brittany. Also very useful in stocking up Destiny for the next leg!

Eva and Ben taking charge!

Eva shell hunting

1st Mate with Ben

2 Mermaids!

Might give this channel a miss and go around the top!

Chenal de I’lle de Batz looking north

Chenal de I’lle de Batz looking south

End of leg 1. Summary: 260 Nm O.G., 277 Nm O.W Cumulative log reading for Destiny now 2,713.2 Nm ( but well short as many miles sailed with log fouled.) The plan is to leave her now in Bloscon until leg 2 in early August. However, we will be returning with family for a week at the beginning of July to use her as a ”caravan” and explore some of the Brittany coast by car.

31.05.14 – Paimpol to Roscoff (Bloscon)

True distance 58 Nm, final log reading 49.34 Nm. Departed Paimpol 0907 and arrived at Bloscon 1855. Av O.G. 5.9 knots. Av O.W. 5.1 knots. Weather NNE 2. Very sunny and hot. Motor sailed whole trip as no real wind of any strength. Original plan was to make for an overnight stop at Trebeurden, however, the tide was so strong from the Ile de Brehat to Les Sept Isles that we would have arrived at Trebeurden 3.5 / 4 hrs too early, so decision was made to press on to Roscoff even though the tide would be against us for the last two hours. Indistinct advice from marina control on berthing, and nobody to direct us or help in berthing. The marina is open at both ends to prevent silting which means that the tide rips straight through the pontoons resulting in some spectacular berthing ”antics” as we found the following day when we moved Destiny to another berth ready to leave her for a month, and lost the 1st mate overboard in a classical springboard dive from a French very bouncy ”catway”! Bloscon is still being finished off in terms of building and facilities, and as yet does not have any laundrette, although one exists in Roscoff which is a 15 minute walk. Small friendly food store, and many restaurants in Roscoff which is very pretty. Good chandler at Marina and excellent sailmaker close by who did a very reasonable and efficient repair on the mainsail. Ferry port to Plymouth is 5 minutes walk from the marina.

Les Sept Isles

Roscoff old port

Breton band welcoming us in to Bloscon!

Bloscon entrance

Returning to our starting port of Plymouth as foot passengers, in pouring rain!

30.05.14 – St Quay to Paimpol

True distance 15 Nm, final log reading 21.6 Nm. Departed St Quay 1520 and arrived in lock, Paimpol 1930. Berthed 1950. Av O.G. 3.6 knots. Av O.W. 5.1 knots. Weather NNE 6-9 knots (Meteo France) Sunny. Sea state slight. Viz good. Marina person waiting to guide us to a berth. However, it was (unknown to us), Paimpol fair week and the whole marina was surrounded by a very large and noisy fairground that started at 2100 and finished at 0100.  Winter rate of €17.40 charged because of the fair. Had planned to stay two nights, but left with the morning tide!. Interesting approach and exit!

Paimpol lock

Couldn’t have got much closer to the fair!

28.05.14 – St Cast to St Quay de Portrieux

Rocyn, David and Pia left this morning to travel back to Dinard airport and onward flights home to London. Now just two crew, Skipper and first mate! True distance 25 Nm, final log reading 26.95. Departed St Cast 1110 and arrived at St Quay 1655 (all times now French local time = FT). Av O.G 4.2 knots. Av O.W. 4.7 knots. Weather NNW 3/4. Sunny int / Shwrs. Sea state Mod/Sl, viz good. Excellent welcome with two staff on a rib guiding us into the visitors berths, and actually mooring up to go ashore and catch our lines. Staff ashore very keen to help and Manager Jean Michel went out of his way to make us at home. €26 plus showers extra. 50% discount for Trans Europe Marina Gp. No major supermarket near and 15 minute walk into the town. Good restaurants on site. Refuelled 21L for approx 17hrs motoring. Stayed two nights in hope of getting mainsail repaired, but French holiday weekend!

St Quay de Portrieux
Vistors pontoon

27.05.14 – St Helier to St Cast

True distance 35 Nm, final log reading 42.8 Nm. Departed St Helier marina at 0730 and breakfasted on waiting pontoon outside. Finally left at 0820 and arrived St Cast at 1630 BST (1730 FT). Av O.G. 4.3 knots. Av O.W. 5.35 knots. Weather NW 3/4. sunny int.  Sea state mod, viz good. No welcome party and marina understaffed, but very helpful up to 1830 and after 0945! €25 all incl. Excellent restaurants and very scenic walk into town (10 minutes)

Entering French waters

St Cast mMarina from the town

26.05.14 – St Peter Port to St Helier (Jersey).

True distance 28.0 Nm, final log reading 31.0 Nm. Departed St Peter Port 0630 arrived St Helier waiting pontoon 1230. Av O.G.4.7 knots. Av O.W 5.2 knots. Weather W4, shwrs, sea state mod, viz Good. Left to clear cill with plan to have breakfast on the Swan pontoons outside, but there was no space, so pressed on against the tide for a couple of hours. There should have been enough water to get into St Helier at  1450, however, we were greeted on arrival by the sight of an unfortunate yacht dried out on top of the cill gates. Apparently he had tried getting in just too late! By the time they related him with the incoming tide, and towed him away to be lifted out for inspection, we finally berthed in the marina at 1530. Pricey at £28.50 plus £2.50 electricity. Discovered mainsail ripped below 3rd reef point after passage from Salcombe. Temp repair effected.

Oop’s!

St Helier Marina

24.05.14 – Salcombe to St Peter Port (Guernsey)

True distance 75 Nm, final log reading 84.5 Nm. Departed Salcombe 1440, arrived St Peter Port 0530. Av O.G 5.14 knots. Av O.W 5.9 knots. Weather W/Sw 4/5 occ 6, shwrs. Sea state mod. Actual wind speeds were higher and sea state mod/rough. During the night we had log readings of 8.0 knots over the water and gusts of 28 knots. Destiny was on a beam reach and surfing down the waves like a dinghy, but very stable and safe, however, it was probably a good job that the female crew couldn’t see the sea around them! Went into Victoria marina for a deserved rest. £25 + £2 electricity. Wind and sea state were higher than forecast, and on reflection the passage was unfair to the two female members who were unable to get below to take some rest, and in hindsight we should have diverted to Dartmouth and crossed the next day. We also left far too early so were up against a strong tide in the Little Russel which slowed us at times in the last two hours down to only 2.0 knots O.W. Had we got that tide right it would have been a very fast crossing!

St Peter Port
Victoria Marina

St Peter Port moorings

23.05.14 – Plymouth to Salcombe

True distance 24 Nm, final log reading 21 Nm. Departed 0925, arrived 1320. Av O.G. 6.0 knots.  Av O.W. 5.25 knots. Weather 3/4 > 5/6 Cyclonic. Fair with occ shwrs. Sea state Sl/Mod, viz Good. ‘Shakedown’ sail with settled beam reach. Very reasonable fee of £15.40 on a mooring. Enjoyed the hostelries ashore!

Salcombe Moorings

Salcombe ashore

Leg 1. Plymouth (Mayflower) to Roscoff (Bloscon)

22.05.14 – Mayflower

Joined in Mayflower, Plymouth, by David and Pia Williams, and Rocyn Williams. David, Rocyn and I were in scouts together in our teens and Rocyn and I shared many early sailing experiences in a 420 dinghy, racing in regatta’s from Weston Super Mare to Lymington