A week sailing in Brittany and the south coast of England

We had both got to the point whereby we knew we needed a break and some sunshine. Let’s go to Spain! That soon became let’s have a week on Adina and get to know her better.

Passing the Casquets

So Friday night found us sailing past the Needles bound for Guernsey. All the tidal calculations completed, passage plan written up, pilotage for the transits into Guernsey ready. Why bother with those tidal calculations when you get ahead of schedule and get swept more in one direction. Past the Casquets and coming into Guernsey the pilot book was spot on when it said rough seas will kick up with strong winds against tide! Wow!

The same pilot book tells you how friendly St Peter Port harbour is and you will be met and guided in. No such thing, not even an answer on the radio so we targeted a floating pontoon with a 55ft Discovery yacht on it, feeling we would be safe.We’ve just ordered a Hypalon dinghy and are awaiting its delivery. Guernsey land was a mere 50m away. But no water taxi. The harbour man duly arrived to charge £35 for sitting on his pontoon without electricity but he wasn’t going to offer us a lift. Thanks St Peter Port marina!

Sitting on a waiting pontoon in Guernsey

The next day’s weather was abysmal but we wanted to be off to Lezardieux in France. So after a big storm, we headed out trusting the forecast that the winds would gradually relent. Having left late we found ourselves charging down the beautiful Lezardieux river to make it in the nick of time before the sun set. And there we spent two nights treating ourselves to the gourmet delights and sights of Brittany.

The lovely town of Lezardieux

But soon enough it was time to leave and our course was head to wind 17-24kts. No fear Adina does well upwind and we headed out navigating the shorter routes between the rocks. Once into open seas it was really bumpy stuff and left us queasy and wondering what the heck we were doing. And furthermore we couldn’t lay our rhumb line and had to tack. But we persisted and got around the rocks to arrive in Trebeurdan with its sill and traffic light barrier which tells you if you can enter or not.

Sailing out of the River Lezardieuz

In Lezardieux we found several restaurants closed on Monday and in Trebeurdan it was Tuesday and Wednesday. Same days as our visit. Odd people the French! We spent an extra day in Trebeurdan due to weather conditions not being in our favour and passed time walking, shopping, eating and doing work on the boat. When you have French food to hand you can’t be happier.

The lock to the marina that had Tom fixated – Red is No Go!

Next destination was back across the channel to Salcombe. Dodging the rocks, the dreaded diesel bug struck the filters again. Always, always at an inconvenient time! But the night went well and Susie enjoyed crossing the shipping lanes on her watch while Tom woke with the AIS going off all the time.

We got to Salcombe at 5am and having read about its famed sandbar entrance elected to sail around until we had a bit of light. Shortly before 7 we were on a mooring buoy with lovely views of the town. And then time for more walking around eating and shopping!

Adina in Salcombe

A good night’s sleep and Saturday 10am we headed out for our final leg home. The wind went up and down and we either enjoyed some pleasant sailing or motored as we ticked off the south coast lighthouses. A highlight was getting to Portland with the tide behind us screaming past at 10kts over the ground. This was our third night passage in a week, and getting up to the Needles fightimg tide and with the wind going right behind us was more of a challenge. But by 7am we were heading up the River Hamble. Job done, a good week of sailing and more experience on Adina.

Susie helming along the South Coast