Originally we thought that we would be motoring all the way to La Rochelle as the weather predicted light winds, but they got it totally wrong this time and we sailed with one reef in the main and 22 knots of wind (that's a Force 6) all the way to La Rochelle.

We had a bumpy ride whilst leaving Bourgenay where we actually scooped a wave over the bows - we only just ducked behind the canopy in time to avoid getting soaked!

En-route we spotted a couple of large ugly jellyfish, just below the surface. Seeing jellyfish this size definitely puts you off swimming. The highlight of the trip was sailing (yes Mike, sailing) under the Île de Ré Bridge (this joins the island of Île de Ré to the mainland).

Arriving at La Rochelle at high water (it's all pretty shallow around here), we stopped at the 'accueil pontoon' at Les Minimes Marina to book in for 3 nights, taking advantage of their buy 2, get 1 free offer before relocating onto the visitor's pontoon.

Total distance this season: 644.39 nautical miles