Tucked into a snug cove, at the entrance to the Golfe du Morbihan, Port Navalo is the calm eye at the centre of a watery vortex. Twice daily, within view of its walls, an urgent incoming tide collides with the Petit Vezid rock (Out of shot, top left, level with tree lined banks). Before rebounding and dividing forces. One body races up the Auray river (beyond yellow & black cardinal marker). The other forks abruptly right, toward the body of the Inland Sea (at green tower). The scale of the stone markers testify to the forces which they must withstand.
For boats transiting the bottleneck mouth, the ride is always fast and sometimes (as on Stargazer's entry, see Ad Lib 74) furious. A well trod cliff path winds above the sailors as they pass. With benches, set beneath shady trees, from which ambling onlookers are able to spectate.
Near to the head of the Auray river, in the rustic peace of Le Bono's churchyard, the bones of Eric Tabarly rest. After a lifetime of pioneering ocean voyaging, aboard his various Pen Duick's. Making it a place of sailing pilgrimage. The tradition being to leave a seashell, on the drystone wall beside his simple headstone.
The cliff path follows a small headland round to the seaward facing side of Port Navalo. Where a shimmering silver sand beach dips its toes in cooling indigo waters.
The heatwave high-pressure brings light winds to Quiberon Bay. Once the sun sets, however, a usable night breeze has set in for the past couple of days. Stargazer plans to set out early tomorrow, to see where it may carry us.
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