We left La Palais (Belle Ile) mid-morning on the 9th Sept (!). The wind was strong and, of course comming from the direction in which we wanted to travell. We did some speedy close-hauled sailing untill the wind unexpectedly died and we had to motor the rest of the way with the tide to Pornichet. It was really nice to be tied up in a sheltered marina where the boat didn't move at all - we enjoyed some rum&cokes in the late afternoon sun.
It was an exceptionally high spring tide that evening and, after our experiences in La Palais, I checked the depth of water and realized that we would have about 0.25m too little water at low tide! We fitted the yacht legs as a precaution and watched the figures on the depth-sounder rapidly decrease. As the water got shallower I was able to prod the bottom with the boat-hook and was relieved to find that it was soft mud. As it turned out we did sink 0.2m into the mud but, as it was so soft, the legs were unnecessary. It certainly was nothing like Langeoog where, at LW we had about a foot of water all around with the boat being mostly "floating" in mud.
On the 12th Jackie arrived from London & we had a wine & cheese evening before heading off the next day to L'Herbaudiere on Ile de Noirmoutier. En route we did some fishing but, of course, caught nothing. We were lucky with the weather as, although it rained & vis was not too good, after we tied up it really pissed down and started to blow a hooley! Too wet to venture outside we stayed blow decks and played alcohol-fuelled "Stadt Land Fluss" with hilarious results. Snug in our berths at 0200.
Thu, Fri & Sat the wind continued to howl. We took a long walk, Jackie nearly broke her toe kicking a stone on the beach (I know....), we ate some crepes, found a supermarket and hitched back to the harbour with our shopping. The old dear who gave us a lift was great - we explained that we couldn't understand the lingo, but that didn't stop her chatting away the whole time!
By Saturday cabin-fever was begining to set in & we were pleased to get a break in the weather on Sunday and leave for Port Joinville, Ile de Yeu. We experienced a wide variety of wind direction and strength but were pleased to have sailed the whole way. Port Joinville seemed nice enough but, as the forecast was favourable, we decided to push on the following morning. I must mention the two lesbians though who, when we went for a coffee, entertained us (well, me) with their drunken canoodling.
A nice reach took us to St Gilles Croix-de-Vie & an interesting entry thru a narrow channel with quite a swell running. Inside it was well-sheltered though. We were all "Hank Marvin" & Jackie treated us to lunch: I had a cheese & egg crepe with more chips than you could shake a stick at!! Then to the beach where I slept off lunch & my chicks went for a walk & oggled the surfers. Next - again thanks to Ms Brown - we enjoyed some fancy icecreams with choccy sauce & cream & stuff.
Wed 20th saw the departure of JB back to the big smoke but it looks like we will be staing a while as it is blowing a hooley from the South (F9 on the forecast).
On the Thurs we put on our smart clothes and went to the casino: Not to gamble but because we had heard that there was a free buiffet! After plenty of tortilla & calamaris & (dissappointingly) only one glass of sangria each we called it a night and headed for home in the rain - I guess we were two of not many people who left the casino on top!
