L'Aber Wrac'h

We find there is something very special about waking up in the morning anchored in a peaceful river. The orange light casts a warm glow and the still water adds reflections to the already pretty scenery. The river slowly comes to life for the day and it seems miles away from the hustle and bustle of normal life.

On this day, Thursday 13 September, we enjoyed the start to the day but would have to be pressing on. Our intention had been to use the light westerly wind to lazily make our way along the north Brittany coast in east-going tidal hops. This would have allowed us the chance to, once again, enjoy some of our favourite haunts such as Ploumenac'h on the Côte de Granite Rose.

Sadly, however, we had received a phone call the previous evening telling us of a bereavement in the immediate family. We elected to motor-sail directly to Guernsey where we would be better placed to leave BV and get flights back to England if we needed to move fast for the funeral.

Looking east as we crept through the Chenal de la Malouine

We left L'Aber Wrac'h at 10 am and decided that the weather was settled enough to depart through the Chenal de la Malouine. It wasn't a first for us but I have to admit to holding my breath as we crept between the closest rocks and shallowest water. A French Ovni yacht leaving at the same time bravely let us lead the way; probably a good thing as it's a dangerous game trying to follow an Ovni as they can lift their keels and sneak through very shallow passages where our fixed 2-metre keel would definitely go 'bump'.

We motor-sailed for 8 hours and then the wind got up so we had a fast sail for the rest of the 17-hour passage, getting into St Peter Port at 3 o'clock (French time) in the morning. After a glass of wine it was definitely time for bed as we wanted to be up at 7 o'clock (UK time) to get fuel and move into the Victoria Marina.