Boat maintenance in exotic locations

...One definition of cruising!

Camaret proved no exception. We had repaired a hole in one of the water tanks when we arrived in Roscoff. Filling the tank in Camaret, once our epoxy repair work had hardened off, we were dismayed to discover another new hole and yet another soon to be hole! Approx 1cm round holes in the water tank all along the same horizontal level, 4 in all. Maybe a faulty weld?

We had a chance to finesse the repair technique,  making a little iced gem out of epoxy on a rubber disc, and pushing it into the hole. 

I hope next time we fill the tank it will hold up well!

Chenal du Four to Camaret

Today's treat was that we could see where we were going! A straightforward motor through the Chenal du Four with the tide brought us to Camaret, just south of Brest on the Western edge of Brittany.

Rain that annouced our arrival cleared in the afternoon. The colours changed from grey sky and grey sea and dull land to bright blue skies and sparling blue water, green fields and trees, and a colourful waterfront at Camaret like Tobermory.

It was proper summer holiday weather, a swim at the beach and ice cream : )

And a happy Father's Day for Rob.

Finally this evening the promise of some sailing arrived, a breeze from the south setting ensigns and courtesy flags fluttering and halyards tinging on neighbouring boats.

A foggy quiet day

Thick fog again this morning and not a breath of wind. We crept out of our  anchorage dodging fishing pot buoys and turned west to follow the coast round to L'Aber Benoit, 30 miles away. 

Under motor we went slowly as the visibility was down to just a boat- length. We used the fog horn to let anyone out there know we were coming! And heard a reply from a yacht just 1/4 mile away, who we picked up with radar and AIS but never saw. Luckily we saw no more fishing pots in our path.

A glimpse of the French coast after 3 hours was reassuring. As we made our way in to L'Aber Benoit the fog lifted and we could breathe more easily, able to see both the scattered rocky islets and the beacons, then the channel markers, the sandy beaches and a welcoming mooring buoy.

A sunny and beautiful evening again, followed an afternoon spent messing about on the river. 

Roscoff and Isle de Batz

Customs formalities done (notwithstanding slightly bemused comment from the Douanes gendarmes re the yellow duster being used as our Q flag) and boat maintenance done (leak in water tank addressed) and chatting to friendly marina neighbours done (who had sailed with Boreal Coyote, with Parisienne hotelier Michel who we met in a Norwegian fjord 5 years ago) it was time for birthday lunch in Roscoff. 

The most delicious onion tart ever at Le Local followed by a visit to a chocolaterie, a real treat!

We then slipped away bound for Port Retter, Isle De Batz. Fog made for an interesting arrival but once our nose was in the bay, it cleared. We had a very peaceful evening, swim, supper and then ashore at 10:30pm for a stunning sunset over the western of the island. 

The Isle de Batz lighthouse swept its beam round above us all night.

Off to Brittany

It was a quiet crossing yesterday from Salcombe to Roscoff, with blue skies almost all the way. Isle de Batz, off Roscoff, only revealed itself through the haze when we were a few miles off. Then the solid friendly beacons of the French coast fell into place and led us in past rocky islets to the marina. Arriving at low tide (the range here is several metres) the harbour walls look colossal.

Tintin's engine had a good warm up to start the season and didn't miss a beat. We hope for more wind in due course but the settled calm weather will allow us to explore the islands along this coast more.

Today, birthday lunch in Roscoff

Change of Plan

Those of you who've been paying attention to our track might have noticed some horrible kinks in our course. The headwinds, which have forecast for several days, duly arrived. At first they were light, allowing us to make decent speed under engine. Now, however, they are F5-6 with 3m waves and pretty much stop the boat dead if we try to motor directly into it. So, we've been tacking towards Tristan de Cunha, with a horrible VMG. This morning, the starboard tack had plenty of westerly component, which is a bit discouraging. Our arrival at TdC, and therefore Cape Town has been gradually pushed back and back.

Ken has therefore decided to by-pass Tristan and head straight for Cape Town. We will attempt to pass close to, and view, Gough Island, some 250 S of TdC and pretty much on our new amended route. We're close-hauled on port tack and hope that from tomorrow am the wind will back to our beam and then stern, allowing us to make better progress. In the meantime, the forecast is for 35knots + on the nose tonight – but at least I'm not on cooking duty.

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