Nimrod Oceanlord

Woke up to a stunning morning in Lampaul with a bit of a breeze and sunshine. Sailed most of the way towards Brest before coming into Camaret, a small town just outside that has three marinas. The wind was building all day so pleased to get into the shelter of the marina tucked behind the headland. Timed it well as it started to rain just as we had finished sorting the boat – tidying ropes, sails, electricity connected, instrument covers on. It seems to take at least half an hour once you are moored up to get her ship shape and ready for the night. Went off for a shower and can only describe them as revolting. We were desperate to get clean and glad we were wearing our crocs.

The wind died today so it was a motor to L’Ouessant (Ushant). The tides across and between the islands are similar to the Alderney Race with 5 knots in our favour even at Neaps. The pilotage was relatively simple – keep away from the rocks!

The islands are very similar to the Isles of Scilly – only to be attempted in good weather and when the wind isn’t coming from the SW. We are now sitting on a mooring buoy having tea and cake with the promise of a stunning evening watching the sun set. There is nothing between here and America yet it is incredibly tranquil and a wonderful setting.

Left Trebeurden just before high water in order to traverse the channel between Roscoff and the Ile de Batz. This took at least a couple of hours off the journey. We then had a lovely sail with the right amount of wind (15-20 knots). Arrived in L’Aber Wrach around 1830 and once the boat was sorted and washed down, we treated ourselves to a meal in a restaurant called Le 400 Ap near the marina. It took us a while to get our land legs but the bottle of wine probably helped stabilise us.

We are planning to spend tomorrow exploring the area and also reprovision our fresh food.

We left Treguier this morning with a forecast of a storm coming through tonight and wanted to get further west. Also, having looked around Treguier yesterday evening, we decided that we didn’t want to spend two days there storm bound. We were greeted in the entrance to the river by another or perhaps it was the same dolphin. The sail to Trebeurden is under 40 nautical miles and for once we had wind. It turned out to be F5/6 gusting 7 at times but Nimrod took it all in her stride. We always feel very safe in her with her deep centre cockpit. We also used the Hydrovane, which is wind powered auto pilot that can steer the boat much better than we humans!

The Trebeurden marina has a cill to protect its depth inside so we had to wait on a buoy just outside until there was enough water to get in. We will spend tomorrow here as well, doing chores, replenishing our food stocks and washing clothes. It’ll be nice  to spend a day just doing “stuff”.

Left Paimpol in drizzle and no wind with limited visibility. Cautiously making our way out with the tide ebbing with us. It should have been a very scenic hop round to Treguier but, to be honest, we could only see for about a mile at best. The sun broke through for a couple of hours and a dolphin greeted our entrance to the river.

Treguier is a good few miles (c8) up the river and although it should be navigable at all states of the tide, it wasn’t today. Just outside the marina it is only 1.5m so a bit tight for a 1.86m boat. Luckily there is a waiting pontoon for such situations.

Arrived in Paimpol on the north Brittany Coast. An interesting entrance as it dries to over 4 metres so you need a big tide to get safely through. However, the scenery is stunning and we are now safely in a locked marina in the centre of town. Mooring up was fun as there was a gap just big enough to get into but boats rafted off each side so a bit like parallel parking a 12m car! There is much hooting of cars in the town so I don’t know whether there has been a declaration about the French presidential elections or that they are just happy to see us.

Pictures of Paimpol including the channel to the marina at low tide!