25 July 2010 - Anse de Terenez to Trieux River

Gannets at Sept Iles

Cool, damp and misty. Weighed anchor and moved to the outermost spare buoy so we did not dry out. Bad move as it was more exposed and in wind against tide so we rocked and rolled for a while and soon decided to leave right away, thinking that sailing against tide was better than this uncomfortable buoy. As soon as we had motored out of the bay and set sail I demanded ginger tea and ginger biscuit to help settle my stomach. We then put up the cruising chute and had an excellent sail, passing by Sept Iles, which is a bird reserve, so that we could see the gannets. The other birds, such as puffins seem to have left after the end of the breeding season. However we had a good view (and smell!) of the gannets and saw lots of them returning to the island. They all seemed to be coming from the East.

Around Les Heaux lighthouse we found ourselves in strong tide, as on our last visit to this corner a few weeks ago. However this time the tide was with us, increasing our feeble 4.5 knots through the water to 8+ over the ground.

Les Heaux lighthouse (and gannets)

Went down the Moisie channel and then into the Grand Chenal, which leads to the Trieux river and Lezardrieux. All a bit hectic trying to pick out the buoys whilst being carried along on the tide. Once in the Grand Chenal we put in a reef and not long afterwards found we were in a sheltered channel with flukey wind, so decided to motor to a suitable anchorage. However we found no engine cooling water so picked up a nearby buoy and tinkered with the engine. Eventually decided, after checking the filter, impeller etc, that the drive belt to the pump was not tight enough (easily fixed), but by then it awas too late to go anywhere.

Tomorrow: Paimpol Bay or Paimpol Marina