Houat to Ile de Groix?

The promised thunder storms rolled in after we got to bed last night, accompanied by rain that made the cabin ceiling leaks reappear. Far fewer than before we had the work done!

Le Palais, Belle Ile

The previously calm anchorage also acquired a swell that made Robinetta roll. As a consequence Julian was hauling up the anchor by 08:00 and we ate breakfast under way with George on the helm. The weather forecast contained no wind, so we left the main down and did not unfurl the jib, The staysail went up as normal though. The idea of a day of motoring in the sweltering heat made both of us a little depressed, but at least the first hour was pleasantly cool. There were also a few clouds about which meant the sun was not continuously beating down.

Top end of Belle Ile

We headed for the east side of Belle Ile, and motored along it admiring the coast before heading for the Ile de Groix, which we had chosen as our first destination on the trip back towards Douarnenez. Belle Ile faded into the distance as we rigged the parasol, then ate lunch, motoring along in the oily calm.

At 14:00 I realised I felt cool for a change. Julian was below, dozing and keeping out of the sun, and it took me a couple of minutes to discover that the lack of heat was not just down to the sun being behind a cloud. There was actually a breeze.

Rather than disturb Julian I raised sail alone, and once I turned back on course Robinetta began to bowl along at 3½ knots. The sea surface still looked windless, but she was moving well. Julian popped his head up, and we had a beautiful sail all the way to the Ile de Groix, with the wind increasing smoothly.

We were slightly reluctant to stop sailing once we reached Groix, so we began to beat into the entrance channel of Port Tudy, our chosen destination. This was rather busy, with a ferry going out, a dive boat very close to the entrance channel, and a number of yachts and speed boats coming and going. We realised that sailing any further would cause more problems than enjoyment, so got the sails down and the bowsprit in.

The harbour at Port Tudy was heaving with boats, but we got Robinetta onto the final place on the hammer head, just by the entrance. She fitted perfectly, not overhanging the way the other boats did, and once Worm was moored up on the outside we were set. Julian went to plug in the power lead, and discovered a problem. No empty power sockets, and we needed power so he could work tomorrow.

Another 40' boat came in and moored up on the boat ahead of us on the pontoon. They were rafted three out now, and I began to feel guilty about our use of space. Another 2 bigger boats were milling around, trying to find somewhere to moor. It all felt a bit crowded and cramped.

45 minutes after berthing we decided to leave. It was only 17:00, and there would be space and power in Port Louis. The only drawback was that we had put everything away.

We left the bowsprit stowed, but the sailing breeze was too good to ignore for the three mile sail into Lorient, so up went the main and staysail, and we had a lovely (if slightly unbalanced rig wise) reach across to Port Louis.

The marina was pretty full, and we ended up rafted outside a large Bavaria on the visitor pontoon, but it felt much more relaxed than Port Tudy, and we were glad to be back.