07/07/2010, Loctudy
Left Camaret Sur Mer at 08.00 FST on the 5th July 2010after filling up with fuel, heading for Loctudy.
Passage went very well, including passing through the RAZ De SAIN in very calm conditions and with the tide in the right direction.
Made good time on trip to Loctudy, arriving at 17.00 FST.
Made what can only be described as a spectacular manoeuvre to get in to a very tight finger berth. The wind was at right angle to the berth and blowing fairly strong. I allowed the boat to drift sideways down in front of all the finger berths and then motored into the chosen berth.
Lots of very worried looking people as we had less than a foot in from of us and no more than 2 feet behind!!!
Next morning as the wind had calmed down we moved to the Wave Break pontoon so it will be easier to leave.
Loctudy is a very nice South Brittany village / small town with a large fishing fleet using the fishing port. This means that the fish sold around the quay is very fresh and tasty.
For the last two nights we have had Langoustines for supper. One kilo is just about right for two. They are so fresh that they are still moving as they are plunged in to the boiling water. But boy do they taste good.
We intend to spend one more day here before heading further South.
The next destination is still to be decided.
I have included some picture of the area in the Loctudy Album
03/07/2010
We left Dartmouth at 02.30 Saturday morning the 3 July. It is now 08.34 BST we are in the middle of the west going shipping lanes, the sun is shining and all is well. We have just had Bacon & Mushroom rolls. At last the wind is being kind allowing a nice sail towards the Channel De Four.
Arrived at Camaret Su Mer at 01.50 Sunday Morning 4th July. Could not get a berth in the marina so anchored for what was the rest night / morning.
Got a berth in the marina around about 10.00 am had a rest, then Rhu and i went for walk.
28/05/2010, 49 38.745N:001 37.228W
The second RAFYC Rally of 2010, this time Cherbourg, France, is our destination. Pictures can be found by clicking on Main Photo Gallery then RAFYC Cherbourg Rally.
We motor sailed down to Yarmouth Thursday evening 27th May, to meet up with four other RAFYC boats. The plan was to have an early supper and an early start Friday morning to catch the last of the slack tide through the Needles Channel.
We left Yarmouth IOW, at 04.00 as planned. All four RAFYC boats leaving around the same time. As we headed down towards the Needles the wind was on the nose.
When we rounded Bridge Buoy at the end of the Needles channel, the wind turned on to a nice beam reach.
Should be a good sail to our destination Cherbourg, France. .
Arrived in Cherbourg after about 10 to 11 hours of sailing around 15.00 hours French or was it British summer time. Bellini just beating us by about 10 to 15 minutes.
Not long after more and more RAFYC boats started to arrive, and party time begun.
18/05/2010, COWES Isle Of Wight
Hi All,
Pictures can be found by clicking on Main Photo Gallery then Scrub & Clean
Well we tried for the first time the lift and clean facility at Cowes on the Isle Of Wight, which is called SEALIFT 2. What a good experience it was.
We have always had our boats lifted out using a conventional travel hoists, to have our bottom cleaned. As any one will know who has used this method, you always end up with two un-cleaned strips where the lifting strops are.
Well for the first time we tried the SEALIFT 2 lifting device. If you look at the pictures in the album "Clean & Scrub", you will see that it uses a lifting platform with two clamping arms to hold the boat into position.
You motor the boat into position, in our case against the water flow, which made positioning very easy. As you get into position on the lift, the two clamping arms clamp the hull and hold you in position.
We then attached the bow and stern lines as instructed by the very helpful staff at SEALIFT 2, we turned off the engine, and the lift started.
Oyster Moon was raised without a hitch in about 5 to 10 minutes, in a very gentle manor as she deserves.
The boat is lifted by putting air into the base of the device, this caused it to have positive buoyancy and hence float, both lifting the boat and all the support mechanisms.
In principle a very simple idea, but as they explained a complex device to design and build.
The lift worked well, and when we were fully raised, we stepped a shore using the ladder provided.
What a site to see, Oyster Moon was Anti Fouled just under 12 months ago, we use the boat at least once every two to three weeks, so it was such a surprise to see how much growth we had on our bottom.
Well the guys started pressure washing her, and within less that 40 minutes they had cleaned her from stem to stern.
The return to the water was just as simple, without any feeling that you are being lowered.
What a job well done!!! Thanks guys,
We then sailed back to the Hamble, with much greater speed than when we sailed over during the day.
It looks like we are back to our full speed again.
Have a look at the Photo Gallery to see the whole process.
24/04/2010, Yarmouth IOW UK
This is just a short blog to test the system and our use of the position reporting software via the SSB.
As you will see on the position chart and Google Earth, the position reporting has worked. This is the first time I have used the SSB since having it fitted to the boat
The trip down to Yarmouth was just a great sail. With very little wind, it was a slow passage, but very enjoyable.
For the first time we tried the Blue Crab for dinner. Although the looks of the place is a bit dated and plain, the food which is mainly fish, was some of the best we have had in Yarmouth over many years. We will use it again.
Paul
