Finally, the opportunity to get some sailing time! The skippers back has shown improvement, and whilst walking is still difficult (although he could cycle) he feels it’s safe enough to go to sea. So with a fair forecast and two folding bikes………..

03.09.18 – Arzal to Piriac. Fcst. Wind E 10 (14) kts and dropping. Sunny. HW 0930.      Dep W.Pontoon below lock 0735. 0910 exit Varlingue pass. 1020 berthed Piriac long pontoon C inner side. (D2,4,6,8 or C good for dogs). No charge (Passeport Escales).           15.19 Nm. EH 2.75.

04.09.18 – Piriac to Pornic. Fcst. Wind NE 10 (17) kts and easing W.Ht 0.5 No rain P/cl.     Hw 1200. Cill  ok 1010-1610 app. Dep 1047. 1103 motorsailing, main only. 1500 passed 0.25 Nm from wreck site of RMS Lancastria, sunk by German aircraft in the entrance to the Loire river 17.06.40. Up to 6500 killed. Biggest loss of life in British maritime history. RIP. Berthed 1730. Very helpful staff. No cost (Passeport Escales).                                             36.76 Nm EH 5.8.                                                                                                               Notes: marina side bars and restaurants ‘faded’, good restaurant on the beach. Nice riverside walk into town with more bars and restaurants, but close shops in poor supply.

Riverside walk into Pornic

06.09.18 – Pornic to L’Herbaudiere – Fcst. Wind NE 12(17) building 15(19). Cl. no rain.       Dep. 1207. 1345 motorsailing as wind dropped. 1435 berthed N522.                                 12.58 Nm. EH 1.4 €21.5 pn (not PEsc). Very pretty port. Visitors berths exposed to wind through entrance. Sociable time with fellow LRB boats.

Looking out from Capitiniere.

view into marina

Beach next to marina

At LW.

Contented crew

Aperitif’s on adjacent boat.

09.09.18 – L’Herbaudiere to Port Joinville, Ile de Yeu. – Fcst. Wind N 5(7) kts building to 13(15) later. Sunny, no rain. LW 1110. Tide with us through Passé de Grisse until 1100. 0835 dep. 0908 Passe de la Grisé cardinal, 1006 Reamur Wpt, end of Passe.                 1310 berthed B21.                                                                                                                     24.66 Nm. EH 4.7. Cum 3629.1 Nm. EH 126.4+                                                                 Notes: pleasant but busy town, many ferries in and out, few cars but loads of bicycles. Good restaurants and the best fishmonger we have ever seen. Superb Tuna steaks!

Port Joinville marina, with washing!

Port Joinville entrance.

11.09.18 – Port Joinville to Piriac – Fcst: Sunny 22 oC. Wind <1knt. Original plan was to sail for L’Haubaudiere but Fcst for 12.09.18 gave a possible F5 which would have made the entrance to Piriac bit lumpy, so plan changed to go to Piriac on this leg.                             Dep. 0928. 1156 Wpt ‘Les Boeufs. 1319 St Nazaire ent. channel. 1611 Wpt. Le Croisic W.   1645 berthed D2 next to Wizard of Paget. CA ‘docktail’ party @1830 (inc Monty).                     46.06 Nm. EH 7.3

St Nazaire ent. channel

14.09.18 – Piriac to La Roche Bernard. – The Vilaine lock has been closed for 3 days due to high salinity levels. Due to open today with the prospect of the first two locks being very full.  Planned to arrive for third lock (1100). HW 0805 therefore latest crossing of Vilaine bar with least depth 3.5 (1.5 u/k) 1140.                                                                                     Dep. 0734. 0836 Ent. Passed de Varlingue. 0901 exit PdV. 1010 arrived Arzal, lock open so straight in. 1100 locked up half full. 1210 berthed LRB.                                                        19.74 Nm. EH 3.8                                                                                                           End of Autumn cruise. Distance covered 159.5 Nm

Monty at play in Piriac

1st and 2nd Mates …………