All at Sea with Stargazer

Thursday, 23 August 2012

Living the Dream Cruise 2012 live update 117

Thr 23.8.12. Rade de Brest. Le Fret.

There's a gale coming in. The morning forecast gives SSW 6 tonight into Friday and SW 8 Saturday into Sunday.

Inside the Rade de Brest we're sheltered to some extent. Tinduff anchorage isn't ideal though; it's open to the South.

The evening flood gives us water to leave. Up comes the anchor. We pick our way out, through the shoals, to the south shore of the Rade.

The Anse de Le Fret embraces us from the West, South and East. We re-anchor in 4m inside the breakwater off Le Fret village. I veer 40m of chain and rig Stargazer's longest snubbing line.

The pictures are from a row around Tinduff this morning - whilst the mist was burning off. "The calm before the storm?"
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Location:France

Wednesday, 22 August 2012

Living the Dream Cruise live update 116

Wed 22.8.12. Rade de Brest. Tinduff.

The view is dramatic as we beat north under the cliffs of the Crozon peninsula....

... up to the dragon's teeth known as the Tas de Pois.

Next comes the Toulinguet gap. Its E side is a headland; its W side an arch, sculpted by the Atlantic swell (header picture). The deep water channel is perhaps six or eight boat lengths wide.

It's a run through the Goulet de Brest. We hurtle through, at 8 knots over the ground,in a 12 knot breeze, with the flood under us.

Ahead of us, to the east, is the port city of Brest. Its forest of cranes and skyscrapers a grey haze on the skyline.

We harden up and head SE, deep into the Rade de Brest. Past the naval yards the water begins to shoal. The cliffs drop away and the landscape opens out.

We sound in cautiously, feeling our way over the sandbanks and anchor in the lee of Tinduff. Its a drying fishing port and is home to a fleet of Breton Sailing Luggers.
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Location:Route de la Grève,Logonna-Daoulas,France

Tuesday, 21 August 2012

Living the Dream Cruise live update 115

Tue 21.8.12. Cap de la Chèvre. Anse de Saint-Nicholas.

The tide ebbs. It reveals a pebble beach, in front of the sea cave, that Stargazer is anchored off.

The light plays on the cliffs. It accentuates their rich textures and hues. The sea below is a languid, syrupy, green.

Its a wild and craggy place. A Celtic place. It could be Brittany, Cornwall, Wales, Scotland or Ireland. A place where the mighty Atlantic Ocean gnaws the living rock.

Tomorrow the tides work for a sail along the cliffs, through the Toulinguet Gap, along the Goulet de Brest and on to explore the Rade de Brest.
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Location:Chemin du Krinnoc,Telgruc-sur-Mer,France

Monday, 20 August 2012

Living the Dream Cruise 2012 live update 114

Mon 20.8.12. Cap de la Chèvre (SW of Morgat)
Slack water in the Raz is 13.00. We leave Audierne at 09.00 with a light breeze on the nose and some adverse tide to push. We should have enough time....

Inshore the E bound tide is weaker - but so is the breeze. We tack off.

The breeze fills and lifts us. The Pointe du Raz slowly comes abeam. It's 12.40.

Another tack. We can just lay La Plate. We're in the Raz. It's 13.05. The tide is with us now.

It gives us a helping hand into the Bay of Douarnanez.

Cap de la Chèvre is soon off the port bow. I take Stargazer in for a closer look.

A sheltered bay beckons: Still green water; cliffs slashed with purple, red and orange. We sound in and anchor for the night.
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Location:Rostudel,Crozon,France