La Hirondelle 75

 

Stargazer finds herself amongst the best of company, for the evening.

The day had started with a surprise: the wind blowing north of west (instead of the forecast west). Leaving Stargazer no gaining tack, as we leave Belle Ile.

By mid morning, the wind has veered west and built. Spray flies as Stargazer's speed climbs.

By lunch time, we are able to free off onto a fetch. Romping across a foam specked sea. Bow firmly on the rhumb line.

We scud past the north east tip of the Ile de Groix. 

Stargazer has made far better time than anticipated. The weight of breeze allowing us to overcome an adverse current.

Our choice is to take the shallower, but shorter, east channel at low water; Or to take the deep water channel, adding upwind distance.

I furl Stargazer's jib, the better to pick out the channel marks; and bear off down the east channel. Thundering upriver, the wind on the beam. A single reef in the main.

Into the still heart of Lorient.

Making fast on the bustling visitor's pontoon. Beneath a bar fashioned from a repurposed shipping container.

A short stroll from the futuristically sculpted capitainerie. Before which boats both modern. . . .

. . . . .and classic are convivially clustered.