Dandelion 91

 

Bel Espoir stands in, from the Chenal du Four.

As the tide turns slack, off the Pointe de Saint-Mathieu.

And Stargazer beats out. Trading tacks with a fiesty French thirty footer.

Stargazer caught this morning's ebb. Riding it out past the cargo wharves of Brest.

Tacking wide, to clear an inbound ship. A tug at her stern, braking her for a final approach.

Whilst Le Francais lay peacefully at anchor, in the Rade.

The spring tide seizes Stargazer. Propelling her through the Goulet narrows at nine knots.

Two miles later, normal five knot progress resumes. In Stargazer's tacking duel, out to the Chenal du Four.

Where the stately Bel Espoir has her sails spread before the wind. Indicating that we we not be reaching, but beating, north.

Luckily, Stargazer and her tenacious challenger are granted a significant 'gaining' tack. Reaching Le Four in six or eight boards.

Where we ease sheets. For a ten mile reach to L'Aber Wrac'h. Steering by the lofty Ile Vierge light.

Arriving in the still of a Breton summer's evening.