The Chateau Costares comes abeam. Framed by luxuriant green woodland, in full leaf. Built among, and of, pink stone. Its shimmering reflection lies before it. The high palace of the Cote de Granit Rose.
Stargazer wove her way through the wave-worn, time-worn, enchanted rockscape of the outer channel.
We pass a Breton Lugger, bending sail onto her raked masts.
Then we are crossing the cill, that tide calculation frisson there for a moment, and into the harbour proper.
Space is tight, inside the natural rock bowl. No room for swinging moorings. Instead strings of dumbell moorings are employed.
The trick, if singlehanded, is to come in towing the dinghy. This enables lines to be run out to the fore and aft buoys, whilst laying alongside the central threesome - without fouling the floating lines, linking them all, on the propeller. We came in prepared - but the friendly harbour master takes matters in hand, from his launch. The perfect arrival.
I envy you the romance & freedom to skillfully navigate your way around La France. Don't fancy playing chicken crossing the channel though!
ReplyDeleteIf it’s the thought of the shipping lanes that’s troubling you, AIS has transformed the situation. With a receiver You can see what’s coming and where the gaps are. Better still if you have a transmitter - makes it easier for ships to take you into account. It’s surprising how often they alter bus degree or so to clear you.
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