Sun 1.7.12: Ile d'Oleron, Boyardville. It's 11.00 and there's enough tide to set sail...for us and the rest of La Rochelle's thriving sailing community.
We jockey with the best of them on the beat out; and overtake a, rather surprised, First 310 to leeward.
Stargazer arrives off Ile d'Oleron early for her tide. We sail over to have a look at Fort Boyard. I take Stargazer into Boyardville 15 minutes before high water.
No quarter is given (in a good humoured French way!) in the channel. Everyone wants to be on the South side; where the water is.
The gate into the harbour opens to Starboard, a Vedette fills the channel ahead, a voice from the quay directs me to a space on the pontoon, the crew of British Rassy "Musketeer" take my lines. We're in.
It feels as if we're in a painting: Whitewashed cottages; Water of the truest blue; Fishing boats of vibrant hues. Colour and light.
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