Suck it and Sea

 

Study, of the Ile de Brehat chart, has provided an embarrassment of anchorage options to ponder. The forecasts are for westerly winds with a hint of either north or south to them. If there's much south, it will render the deeper parts of La Chambre, the classic Brehat spot, uncomfortably rolly with swell. In fact it is not possible to anchor a full draft keel boat in there atall. The available space is taken with moorings. But four of these are available to visitors. Boats come from far and wide to stay. I have rowed in to admire the, splendidly craggy, setting - but never found a vacant mooring. A marginal day may be Stargazer's opportunity, to set that omission right.

If not, there is an anchorage, visited by both Goblin and Stargazer, which is sheltered from the west by several miles of reefs. At low water they stand high, their rock pools and pinnacles acting as a wind break. With big tides, like this week's, they will cover by a metre or so at high water - but still act as an effective wave break. There is room for one boat. Two if they are anchored sympathetically. 

As I stroll the streets of Paimpol, taking in its variety, I consider a fallback anchoring option. Our best bet seems to lie on the mainland shore, a mile or so to the south of the Ile de Brehat. From the chart, once a low reef is crossed on a suitable rise of tide, the Anse de Launay looks as if it would provide both shelter and depth. Or turn out to be occupied by a shellfish farm, for which it would also be ideal: shallow and sheltered. Encouragingly, there are no signs of encumbrances on the Google Maps satellite picture.

I am through the leafy suburbs now and back at the bustling harbour.

About to plunge off into the old town.

With its busy alleys and eateries.

There are enough options, for tomorrow night's stopover, that we ought to be able to find one which is both available and suits the prevailing conditions.

We shall suck it and sea.