France - Biscay crossing
15 August 2013
Ian
France - its finished
Well I'm finished with it any way, so turn out the lights and lock the door , just a quick overview of our experiences since arriving here.
The anchorages have been VERY busy and many are filled with moorings making it almost impossible to get into shelter without using a marina which in July and August is painfully expensive.
The marinas are good quality in general, but just like an easy jet flight you have to pay for the extra things that you need and this pushes up the price - Concarneau especially took the piss charging €5 for a shower - we voted with our feet, didn't shower and left early closely followed by flies.
The marina staff as a whole have been courteous and helpfully , printing airline boarding passes when needed and taking lines or pushing us in and out of tight berths with a dory - St Catherines marina in Lorient were WAY WAY WAY out on top with customer service, doing meet and greet in a RIB, pushing us into a berth, the shower block was fantastic, staff always helpful, plenty to do and see nearby.
The coastline is as rugged and unforgiving as the people, craggy and miserable at times, but when the sunshines you can forgive them anything( well somethings) as the area is simply stunning.
We have visited 9 different harbours along the way, mostly we have favoured marinas rather than anchoring, due mainly to convenience and having had numerous guests visit along the way, we have anchored off beaches and islands that wouldn't look out of place on a post card.
Expenses have been high, most marinas have charged around forty to fifty euros per night, some have charged a couple of euros for a shower, some have provided free washing machines and electricity.
The low point was seeing the kids go home after only a week here, most memorable place was Il D' Yeu which we cycled all the way around in a couple of hours.
Im looking forward to leaving France now - Spain is calling in the distance - two days of sailing and we will make land fall, not sure where and not sure I much care, the forecast is good for most of the week in Biscay, we have stocked up with food and the dog is burnt out ready for zero shore leave.
What will I miss about most France (if anything) - The bread - The cafe culture (expensive) - The 12:00-14:30 closing time - the smiley happy faces and of course the helpful shop keepers (thats sarcasm)
So avid readers ( mum and dad ) tomorrow morning at first light we go offshore for 48 hours and wont be contactable by mobile and wont have any form of communication other than a vhf radio and a distress beacon (still not got a sim card for the sat phone), both life rafts are good to go and all the safety equipment is checked and double checked.
So fear not, all precautions are in place and you will get a phone call from sunny Spain as soon as we see dirt.
Au Revoir France.