Dandelion 79

 

The giant racing trimaran, veteran of this year's Brest Global Challenge, whistles across Stargazer's bow. Disappearing rapidly toward the horizon.

This morning, a zephyr of breeze greeted Stargazer, at the mouth of the Riviere de Crac'h. Just sufficient, with a little tidal assistance, to carry us to the Teignouse Passage, on a beat.

We thread our way through its jutting islets. Following the chart, rather than the buoyed channel. To bring forward the moment, when Stargazer can ease sheets.

And hoist the chute. Its extra acreage, and the faster point of sailing, propels Stargazer to full cruising speed. As we aim our bows for the grey bump, of Groix, on the skyline.

Albeit, Stargazer is still not in the, twice windspeed, league of Thomas Coville's ULTIM. Which sizzles effortlessly to and fro, across our track. Not yet up, on her foils. But making twelve to fourteen knots never the less.

Tonight Stargazer is pit stopping in Lorient. With a dawn wind check, to decide our next move. A stormy day, on Friday, appeared in this morning's forecast. When I had thought to sail for Benodet Bay, after a day in port. To be in place for a run of fair tides, through the Raz de Sein, between Bastille Day (the fourteenth) and the sixteenth.