24 degrees C

Our passage to the River Aulne was started in virtually zero visibility but we programmed in a load of waypoints (positions to which our electronics will guide the boat) around the Crozon peninsular and into the Rade de Brest. Once in the Aulne the fog lifted and the beauty of the scene emerged. How odd to be sailing up a River with trees and fields in a seagoing yacht.

Having negotiated a lock where the keeper looked so nonchalent that he might have seen British yachts pass through every hour we spent the night 20 miles inland at Chateaulin where the Mairie granted us a free night. A lovely day on the river said Ratty!!!!

Woke up the next day to cherry blossom in the cockpit and the sounds of the market nearby where there was beautiful fresh fruit, veg and fish. There was an English telephone box here painted in proper red.

Next day we motored a mile downstream to Port Launay, a tiny and very pretty village. We had to go to the Mairie to pay our dues and electricity charges of 4.50€ total where we were greeted by the Mayor. Some time later the electricity broke down, as it tends to do in this part of the world, despite all their nuclear power and wind farms, and Miggy trundled off to see the Mayor to get it fixed which he duly did! We were moored on a grassy bank opposite an English B&B just renovated and set up by Susan (Hyacynth) and Ivan.

On the way back down the river early the next morning we spotted an Otter which was as surprised as we were. We had planned to go to Brest this day but changed our minds for a fantastic sail and a prettier destination further south, Morgat. It is actually a posh holiday resort
which is not yet open for the season. After being assured there was Gas a kilometre or two distant up the hill we found none - good excersise though!

An 0700 start next morning we set off south to face the Raz de Sein, a narrow passage between devillish rocks in which the tide runs at up to 7 knots, and where it is said there be dragons! We picked up a bouy at the end of a 55 mile passage at Sainte Marine on the opposite side of the River Odet to Benodet. The following day was May Day and, surprise surprise, France was closed. Miggy negotiated the task of preparing the dinghy and outboard all of which went very smoothly.

We had decided previously that we wanted to sail inland up the River Odet the next day and it was just as well we did because the wind got up from the south which made our mooring untenable. After going aground at our intended anchorage of Anse de Combrit we went further up river and dropped our hook at Porz Meilou. We were the only boat in a beautiful setting with high wooded banks and birdlife - peace!
On our way back to Sainte Marine we saw Miggy's old Sigma 33, now named 'Ysbryd Antur' moored just up river of the bridge at Benodet. We had a visit from Customs in their rib who wanted to see our passports and the ship's papers. They appeared grumpily satisfied and gave us an official bit of paper.

We are now in Port La Foret aftyer a great sail from Benodet. We had not intended to come here but our 'log' (mileometer) is playing up and we need a new unit. The electrician who can supply the new bit has his office here and has undertaken to help us. It will take one week, at least we expect, for the old unit to be sent to Paris and the new unit the to arrive from Paris!! We should be thankful for the efficiency we take for granted in England.