La Hirondelle 56

 

The metallic tones, of an excitable sports commentator, float incongruously over the water. Carried fully a mile out to sea, on the wind. Coming in fits and starts. So that I had begun to question if I was hearing voices.

Stargazer had sailed with the sunrise. Slipping out of La Rochelle, the docks at La Pallice aglow.

The wind light (eight to nine knots true), but accelerated by the fact that Stargazer is sailing into it. Giving a relaxed eleven to twelve knots apparent.

However, there is to be no ‘free lunch.’ For every mile of the rhumb line course made good, Stargazer must sail one point four miles.

Tacking her way along the low sandy shoreline. First standing out to sea.

Then returning inshore. Waiting for the forecast westerly wind shift, which will bring the breeze onto the beam. That does not arrive.

Fifty one nautical miles of beating brings Stargazer to her landfall. Thirty six miles, on the rhumb line, from La Rochelle. The breeze finally backing westerly, beneath the grey clouds, of the long awaited front.

Which sweeps us into Les Sables d'Olonne.

The acknowledged home of solo offshore sailing. . . . .

. . . . .and, on a balmy Sunday evening, host to the Iron Man bike challenge.