13 July 2010 - Port Tudy to Lorient

Forecast is still for horrible weather on Wednesday afternoon and night. We would be quite secure here in the middle harbour at Ile de Groix, but it's not a great island to visit and the harbour is a bit noisy with ferries coming and going all day. The ferries for this island and For Belle Ile are pint-sized ro-ro ferries with proper big stern door and forward side door. They look quite small on the water but huge in the small harbours. They like to make as much noise as possible, announcing arrival with one long blast on the hooter, departure with 3 short ones, and presence in the harbour with a lot of noisy loading and unloading.

Port Tudy - rafting on moorings in the outer harbour (we were inside)

We decided to go to Lorient, which is a big place with lots of stuff to see. Straightforward trip across - only a few miles and we then followed the buoys up to Lorient, which is not too difficult as the place can take big ships. However there is a narrows which looks tricky for a ship of any size and is guarded by the citadel, complete with cannons and the modern traffic control station and IPTS. Went into Lorient marina (there are about 5 others) which had been recommended to us. After a lazy lunch we did a bit of essential shopping and returned to find that the HM had moved the boat to a finger berth (which we had been asking for). We were glad to be in a less busy spot.

Big evening firework display (part of the Bastille Day celebrations - it might as well be called Firework Day). The whole harbour area, and a lot more of the town I think, was full of people. We had a good view from the boat.

Tomorrow we will stay here and visit some touristical stuff.