En France 10

Stargazer sweeps into the Anse de Brest. The afternoon sea breeze building. The last of the ebb spurring her south.

This morning, the tide, more than the faint zephyrs of breeze available, carried Stargazer out of the, dragon toothed approaches, to L’Aber Wrac’h.

The swell rolls in, dashing itself ashore onto the Roches de Portsall, as Stargazer turns her bows south west.

Past the castellated Le Four light. Perched on its crag. Warning shipping away from the reefs inshore. La houle sucking and surging at its feet.

 L'Ouessant (Ushant) is a low green hump, on the horizon to starboard. Topped by the birthday candle Le Stiff light.

Stargazer’s speed builds, as the tide takes her. Drawing her into the Chenal du Four. Its northern end marked by the Trezien tower.

Stargazer is making fully eight knots over the ground. Riding the tide, down the red and green alley of channel markers.

Past Le Conquet. Marked by its salt cellar sentry, standing smartly to attention, at the harbour mouth.

Coming up onto the wind, beneath the Pointe de St Mathieu.

For a reach across the Brest approaches. The Goulet de Brest on her port beam.

In under the wind shadow, of the crazily dipping cliffs, of the Crozon peninsula. The russet red Vauban (as industrious, on the French side of the Channel, as Martello was on the British) tower guiding us in.

Stargazer secures, alongside the quay, in Camaret. Astern of the Breton langoustier Le Grand Bleu.