Tregier to Morlaix

Our plan was to move further West and to ultimately get into a position to go through the Chanel du Four between Brest and Ushant. With the wind firmly from the West this was going to have to be motoring, or beating up the coast, neither prospect very enticing. We would need to use the tides.

We set off at 10 being early enough to make he distance we wanted and late enough to maximise the use of the tide. We were aiming for Roscoff (more precisely the Morlaix river some 40 nm away) with an option to overnight at Port Blanc (20nm).

The sea state was quite choppy, but with motoring reasonably slowly at 4kts there was not too much bashing.

We decided to give Port Blanc a miss (not a very comfortable location in westerly winds) and we were there by lunchtime and wanted to press on to Roscoff. Les Sept Isles were off to the right, David and I had anchored there the previous year, but this year we were on a mission.

Getting very bored with motoring we decided to sail which would mean being close hauled in about 17kts. We put out the main with a single reef, and all the headsail – probably too much. She was flying along. All of a sudden the foot of the sail was flapping violently, the tack had given way (the corner of the sail that is attached to the bow of the boat). We quickly furled the headsail to prevent any further damage, furled the main and put the engine back on. So much for having a bot of fun. Now we had the problem of finding a sail maker or making our own repairs. Otherwise we would have a real problem sailing her home.

We followed our track from the previous year into the Morlaix estuary through rather impressive rocks. It suddenly changes as you come in. The sea state goes fro bouncy to flat calm, the wind disappears and the temperature (or apparent temperature) goes up. With all the gear on suddenly you are overdressed.

There were several yachts at the various mooring buoys, but there was one buoy un-used so we made for that. Very shallow but David edged up to it very carefully and Bob and I snagged it. We were secured. This is great spot, tucked in behind a hill and sheltered from the westerly winds and as calm as a millpond. As if the previous year is repeated no one to come and charge you for its use.

We opened the beers, and settled down for the evening. The inspection of the sail indicated it might be repairable, but we would have to take the sail off to sew it. That would have to wait until the following day. Crab salad for tea, white wine, very nice. We had achieved our objective. We were at the end of Chapter 2 and poised for Chapter 3!

Morlaix