Dawn on the final Day Pornic

The Chaps Pornic

Pornic the Town

Pornic at low water

090624 Port L’Herbaudiere to Pornic.

We sailed from Port L’Herbaudiere with the wind on the nose and their it stayed the whole trip.   We arrived at Pornic just before low water and decided to anchor of for a couple of hours.   Naturally the weather being so good we had to have a swim.    We trailed out a fender on a line just in case there was a current about the yacht that we were not aware off.     The water was lovely once you got over the initial shock and by the time we were finished it was time to head into the port.

Got an inside berth at the visitor’s pontoon and again the ritual of looking after the yacht and the berthing beer was under taken.

John Muckian lead an expedition to he local super market but did not tell us in advance how far it was away.   The outgoing leg was broken for Ice creams and the return leg was broken with more that one stop for refreshments.

The Marina is situated with a very good beach and cafés at the western end and a lovely board walk into the town on the eastern end.  The facilities with in the marina area are excellent and John Muckian prepared an excellent meal on board under interesting circumstances.

We organised our boarding passes in the Marina office and booked our Taxi for the Friday journey home.    These things done we went for another swim and John watched over Jim Slater and Heber’s gear from the comfort of a Café umbrella.

We returned to La Dolce Vita after our swim and collected John Crilly for lunch.   This proved to be a lovely meal the only problem was that we had scheduled to have dinner out that evening.  Oh! The hardships we sailors have to put up with.    After our siesta this was another challenge that the crew of La Dolce Vita were not found wanting at.

The continuing saga of the Dastardly Dongle.

The Dastardly Dongle is now working and we have set up John Crilly’s laptop.   The Dastardly Dongle loaded itself up with out a problem and we purchased an additional 6 hours of internet access.  The Dastardly Dongle has now been left on La Dolce Vita.

In fairness to Orange France their internet coverage is very good and could be accessed on most occasions even at sea while in France. Their staff were as helpful as they could have been given my inability to speak French.

The current state of play is that 2 lots of credit purchased with an Irish Credit Card have not been activated and nobody has been able to give me an explanation as to why.

The reason for bringing a laptop was to allow me to support my clients while on holiday.  Luckily I did not have to do this while away but the facility to do so is the issue of importance here.

The Dastardly Dongle episode has really messed up my intentions for doing an on going log of the trip.  It has taken up a huge amount of time just to resolve the issue and we are still missing €39 of credit.

Enough of that.  Hopefully I will manage to up load some of this and a few pictures to go with it.

Heber of La Dolce Vita.

Thanks John for a wonderful trip.

Port Herbaudiere

090623 La Turballe to Port L’Herbaudiere.

 Every now and then you have a days sailing that is just right and this was it.

 On leaving La Turballe we set sail and set the Autohelm to standby and that is where it stayed for the next 6 hours.    Top speed on the day went to John Muckian with 8.3 knots not assisted by tide or wave surfing etc.

The approach to Port L’Herbaudiere is interesting to say the least of it. This was also the first place that we had seen locals fishing of quay walls.

Again the customary birthing beers and organisation of meals.    A high level of laid back creeping into the crew.

A decision was made that we should head for Pronichet the following day and that we should have a non sailing day before heading back home.

Belle Ile The Beach

Belle Ile the Citadelle

Belle Ile before the crush

090621 Vannes to Belle-Ile

On leaving Vannes we again travelled the Gulf of Morbihan and reached 11 knots over the ground.

Again this involved negotiating our way through the Passage de la Teignouse with it’s rocks and light houses and navigation marks.  The sail to Belle Ile was smooth and sunny and we approached the port of Le Palais anticipating having to moor off but with in the body of the harbour, we would have to use the inflatable.    The mooring person was off great assistance while we tried to moor stern into the harbour wall and bow to a mooring buoy.   We were close to a ladder but we still had to use the inflatable to reach the ladder but we at least had not to use the engine.   The area was fairly tight so the crew could not demonstrate their rowing skills.

Had to walk the Citadel walls for some distance until we could access the beach for a swim but the walk was worth the effort.

La Dolce Vita in Vannes

Vannes Orange Cat

Van The City John & Jim

090619 – Port du Crouesty to Vannes

This is described in the sailing guides as an interesting passage and it lived up to it’s reputation.   Between having the cockpit table up and the Chart spread out on it and the team keeping track of where we were on it and the skipper watching his Raymarine C80 plotter we were not likely to go wrong.

The trip proved to be as interesting as expected and the weather was lovely. There was lots of where the * are we.

On entering the canal for the final approach to Vannes we found out where the lost monies, which had been spent on the Dastardly Dongle, had been spent by orange.  Their Mega Catamaran was an impressive sight and looked like it could eat (my) money., Crew and Oceans.

We tied up in Vannes and the heat was intense. Walked the city and on occasion we felt that Jim Slater was going native, as he declared his desire to set up residence.  He said something about being a painter but we suggested that this could be a difficult way for him to make a living.

The Dastardly Dongle. – The Vannes experience .

So far every effort to get the Orange Everywhere Internet Dongle to work had failed badly.    I visited the Orange shop in Vannes and the Chap there could not have done more for me.   We eventually re-registered the actual Dongle and the Orange Phone assistant stated that it would be active from 09:00 the following morning Sunday 21/06/09.

At 09:05 21/06/09 I again tried to access the Orange Internet – but to no avail.

On Monday 22/06/09 I purchases €14 of additional credit and this immediately kicked in.

I tried to re-enter the original passwords and login names and they did not work and have not worked since.

090618 Port Haliguren to Port Du Crouesty.

Cuileann parted company with La Dolce Vita on leaving port Haliguren with their target as La Rochelle where they were to pick up Ciara.

La Dolce Vita headed for Port Du Crouesty in anticipation of a navigation to Vannes and the Gulf of Morbihan and it challenges.   The skipper plotted his course to Vannes and had Jim Slater check it.  Jim Slater was missing at the chart table for not an inconsiderable time.

Sheila Working on her Routes

Figero Solo Yachts

Erwan Taberly Figero

17^th June 09 – Concarneau to Port Haliguen on the eastern side of the Quiberon peninsula.

Left Concarneau with the intention of landing on Ile de Groix had to motor sail most of the way.   Unfortunately when we arrived in Port Tudy on Ile De Groix the marina was full and we got waved away.     Cuileann declared that we should head for La Trinite sur mer and La Dolce Vita proposed Port Haliguen.    We proceeded to Port Haliguen and had an interesting motor sail through La Teignouse and it’s many rocks and light houses.

Tried to catch some fish but like the Dastardly Dongle they to were elusive, but at 6.5 knots you cant blame them.

The marina in Port Haliguen is impressive and the facilities are very good.

The Figero Solo yacht race was in port for the week.

 Had a walk around Port Haliguen at 23:00 hours and not a sinner was to be seen especially in a pub.

18^th. June 09 – Leaving Port Haliguen in transit for Port de Crouesty.

Ta Ta for now. Nearly time to put out fenders etc.

 Heber

Crew entering Audierne

Pointe Du Raz Phare de la Vieille

Audierne port

Musiceans Concarneau

The Yellow Cuileann

Concarneau Departure

14^th. June 09

 Morgat to Audierne

Audierne – The Dongle works but the Credit Card does not.   Contacted my bank in Ireland and they informed me that there was no HOLD on the Visa account from their end.    Have 8 Minutes left out of the original 2 hours that came with the Dongle.  AS at 23:32 15/06/09 no money has been taken from the Visa Account. The struggle continues.  I am in Concarneau this evening and we will not be travelling “Early” tomorrow.   I will have to see if it is possible to purchase credit with cash!!!

Any way enough of that – Breakfast on the boat Tea, Cornflakes, Fruit Salad and glorious sunshine.

Left Margot at 11:05 14/06/09 and headed for the “RAZ” that’s the Raz du Sein and it is a glorious sail if the weather is right and you time your approach correctly.   Naturally John organised both requirements just right.  Obviously if you do not organise it correctly you find out why the Light Houses come in flocks of 3 on this stretch of the French coast.

La Dolce Vita sailed impeccably well under autohelm and later under Jim Slaters steady hands.   They were so steady that he forgot to offer any body else a turn as he Goose Winded into Audierne. A cherub’s grin on his face and squinting concentration sun burnt into his face.  It was a glorious day both sailing and sun – they don’t come much better.

15^th. June 09

Audierne to Concarneau

The main headland in this transit is the Pointe de Penmarc’h and again the sailing and weather were fair.

A mutual photographic society developed as the yachts departed Pointe De Penmarc’h as close quarter sailing developed.  By mutual consensus it was decided that the conditions required a bit more safe water distance.

On arrival in Concarneau, Cuileann invited the crew of La Dolce Vita on board for drinks.  After creating a hole in Cuileann’s drink supplies the crew retired for dinner in a local restaurant.   John Crilly ate all his dinner up with great gusto declaring it the best he has had since leaving Ireland.   The Cooks did not query weather that included their presentations on board.

The quest will continue for the elusive internet access, now dubbed the Dastardly Dongle.  But I am concerned there is a serious case of “Relaxation” setting in. Is it not that that I came for, it must be working.

Heber

Rocks Circa Point De Pen-Hir 01

Rocks Circa Point De Pen-Hir 02

Margot and a place for swim

13/06/09 – The search for the elusive dongle goes on.    Arrived in Morgat 12:00 Jim suggested that a beer would be in order. 3 cans of ice cold smithwicks were produced, and drank in, the first bit of sun shine that the crew had seen for days.  Declared that I would go in search of the elusive dongle and would return at 18:00 hours.

Walked a few kilometres up hill and found the Orange Shop. Unfortunately he would not have one available until Monday at the earliest.   He stated the they could only be got in Quimper or Brest.    This now represents a problem Quimper is in land and very difficult to reach by boat and Brest is in the wrong direction.  While writing this I am sitting in the Central Ville of Crozon / Kriez-Ker, having a beer and a green American salad.   The Quest has been difficult.but one must make do in the face of adversity, food, beer and sunshine.

About to leave bar and asked the barman if there was another location where I night get the Dongel of life.  He said try the commercial units up the road.    Another walk, not far, and came to another orange store this time populated by an English speaking Angel.   A half an hour later I was the proud possessor of an Orange prepaid internet dongle. I also purchased additional €25 credit for 6 hours internet access. The Dongle came with 2 Hours credit.

So far the additional credit has not appeared on the Orange account neither has the money come out of the visa account – We will see.

Despite the above saga the real story of the day was the final repair of Cuileann heads.  This has been an on going sage apparently since the Silly Isles.

Tomorrow we head for the Raz Du Sein a number of the crew will be much reder as a result of over indulgence in rare sun shine.

A Good Day was had by all.

Joined “La Dolce Vita” in breast. Le Moulin Blanc Marina. Talk off broken Toilets (heads) not on our vessel.

Crew John Crilly – Skipper,  Jim Slater, John Muckian and Heber Mac Guinness.

Crew, even the new one’s were given time off to visit Oceanopilis (the local aquarium) very impressive unfortunately call received to return to boat as we were heading for sea and Camaret sur Mer “NOW”.   After dinner walked the town, Camaret sur Mer, no sign of any Orange shops.   Naturally when faced with a dilemma one goes to the local Irish bar “Donegans”.  The sign stated “English spoken here” so enquired about the elusive Dongle.  Long story but in the end the manager offered to drive me up the road to the local PC shop which was about 2 Km away.  This did not open until 10:00 the following morning, he was taking his daughter to tennis at 10:05.  I explained that if I was not there then the skipper would have declared a “Time and Tide” situation. He understood (I hope).  He offered free internet access in the bar but he said he had to charge for the beer. 

Heineken in Murphy glasses €4.50.

Very Irish weather but warm. Jim cooked the 2 remaining steaks from Ireland and fed them to himself and the skipper. The new arrivals received the fresh French stakes, just a bit tuff.  Jim stated that he was concerned that the Irish stakes would not have been good enough to eat.  I noticed that Jim and John C did not use sharp knives.

I made a green tossed salad using green stuff and red stuff and lashings of Colm Smiths salad dressing .   It was definitely the salad dressing that made the meal but I wonder about the bits that were sloshing about in the bottom of the dispenser.  I wonder if I can buy a bottle of it locally.

Naturally as we were in France we had to have Tart Fresse to round off the meal not to mention a glass of Bobby Bell’s red wind which he did not finish before he left it for us.

I have not been away for 24 hours yet and it feels like for ever, in the best possible way – The quest for the Dongle goes on.

Wee Technology – I hope to god it works and I don’t have to use it apart from doing this Blog and getting weather forecasts etc.

If this gets into the Blog it will be a miracle. The Blog could be one serious challenge.

I hope the folks in Ireland are getting good weather for we are not. 

How much can you cram into one day.  Let’s see.

The Team

090611 -

La Dolce Vita – The Team for two weeks starting 12/06/09.

From left to right.

John Crilly – Skipper

The Grunts – John Muckian, Jim Slater and Heber Mac Guinness (Me)