Hi all,

9.10.07

Well I am a bit late as we have already bumped into a few of you, but we are now at home, safe after our summer cruise. Strange to be back in a house, but the flushing toilet helps.

As you know we came home in September for a couple of weeks to attend a wedding and a weeks holiday in Spain. 

Spain was very good we went to places I had only heard of, and the sun shone. Visited a couple of the big marinas round Marbella, that was an experience not to forget.   Some of those boats were massive.   They cant be happy!!

Took the ferry as foot passengers back to Morlaix to rejoin the boat without any problems. The weather had changed and it was very cold at nights, so we decided to forget the north coast and as soon as a window appeared head back to the UK  hoping for Falmouth.

We were lucky and an opportunity saw us heading back across the channel on the morning of Sat 28 Sept.   What can I saw the crossing was uneventful, just like Diane likes them.   We motor sailed in brilliant sunshine, but cold during the day and a full moon at night, arriving back to a pontoon at Trelissick at 4.30 am on the Sunday.

We spent three nights in Falmouth just relaxing.   Tried to leave on the Tuesday morning 2 Oct, but the easterlies were too strong also we took a wave over the bow which, because a window had been left open flooded into the galley.   Sod it!   We headed back and went into St Mawes for the night. It was a very pleasant day with a beautiful sunset.

Next day the south westerlies failed to appear and we had to motor sail yet again. We got back into Huggins yard at the Mill about 11 pm that night and so came to the end of our summer vacation.

Will we do it again?   You bet, we cannot wait for next year to head off.

The weather as you have heard has not been great but it has given us the time to explore many places that you normally only stay for a night.

We did about 300 miles on the bikes with poor Rusty in his trailer. He always seemed happy with a wagging tail and ears straight up.

We sailed just under 800 miles, probably a 50-50 mix of sailing and under motor.

Well so long.

Now you just have to put up with us being at home .

Take care

Ray, Diane and, the wee shite, Rusty.

Super Nova.

 Sent: 09 September 2007 17:06
Subject: Super Nova

Sunday 9 Sept

At Home

Hi all

Not a lot to say really.   We are presently at home for a wedding and fly to Spain on Tues for a week. 

We return to Morlaix to rejoin Super Nova on Fri 21. If weather is settled we intend to continue along north coast to Channel Isles and cross from there.   If not as soon as we get a window we will return to the UK.

Attached for those interested,  is an account of our antics whilst anchored due south of Penn en Lann off of Carantec.  

 A night not to be repeated.  

Hi all,

We are now in Morlaix having motor sailed from l’Aber Wrach on Monday 20 August.   It was a very wet trip with next to no wind which was not the forecast!   We had to jump that day as the forecast for the next week would have kept us there for who knows??

We anchored up just behind Penn en Lann off Carantec, in the entrance to the Morlaix River for the night.   The forecast was for a northerly 8 that night.   There was only ever going to be 6m of water and tucked in behind the headland we thought fine!!!

As the afternoon wore on, we could see the whitecaps well clear to the east of our position and the clouds were fair scudding above us.   Later a smallish coastal tanker type ship came into the river!!  (It had to be over 200 feet as it had deck lights on at night.)   What is he doing in here?    Not only that, how did he get in?   Sudden thought?   Why has he come in?   Oh dear, we are really in for a blow!

The tide started to flow late after noon.    We also saw the white caps appear to get closer.   Then, they were around us!    OK!    So I let out 35m of chain in 3m of water, far, far, too much!   Ha!  About six o’clock the wind really started to blow and the alarm went off on the wind instrument.   It was now blowing steadily in excess of 30 kts.   Not a lot we could do.   There was no where to go!   Seven o’clockish, and the gusts are now into the high 30’s.     I noted that we are in about 3 to 4m of water and the boat is pitching quite badly, the bridle is rod like.   We are comfortable and not too bothered.   The wind now goes round to the north east.   Opps, that nice headland is now longer protecting us.   We then logged a prolonged gust just over 40 kts. 

Suddenly the anchor tripped and in the space of a couple of seconds we lost 20 to 30m of ground before it re bedded and we were snatched up, back to face the wind.   Some gusts were we believe ever higher than the 40 kts we had had, but we did not record them.

  Now we are not so happy and there is still no where to go, we could not run up river as it was still dry.   Lots of thoughts but no way out.   Then thought, what about an ‘angel?’  Better that that a second anchor.   No way could we have motored to set it.   A sudden inspiration, what about connecting two anchors in series, they mention it in the books and mags.   It took Di and I, 30 mins to pull in 3m off octoplad to get too the anchor chain.   I was then able to shackle the 10k Delta anchor with 25m of chain to the end of a 15k Bruce with 35m of chain.   It seemed to take us ages, stuck up in the bow, pitching and tossing, with the wind howling, but eventually we managed to get it all into the water and when it was  down and secure I could fell that the Delta was also bedded.   We were now sitting to a Bruce, 35m of chain, a Delta and a further 25m of chain, in only 4.5m of water!!!!

The wind continued to blow in the high 30’s and touching 40kts and it is now dark.   I had already decided if anything parted then is was, engines on and run her up the nearest beach.   But we were not going anywhere with what was on the seabed.

Diane went to bed, I dressed up in my warmest and readied myself for a long night in the cockpit.   The howling was so loud that we had to plug the stainless steel  air vents with towelling to try and cut down on the noise.

Between 10 and 11 the tide turned and the wind was in the high 20’s now and again just over 30kts.   From 11 to midnight the wind was in the mid to late 20’s.   I eventually went to bed about 1230, the tide was ebbing fast and we were not going anywhere.

The next morning we were up at 6am, all was well and the wind was only, hah only 20kts.   It took us about 20 minutes to retrieve the Delta and chain and that was engine assisted.   We then had breakfast and set off, with the rising tide up the Morlaix River for the first lock.

We both slept rather soundly that night, secure to a pontoon in Morlaix.

Future plans.   Well major.   We intend to downsize the house, sell Super Nova and buy a bigger cat.   Perhaps, but I dont think we are mad.   Even with the weather we have encountered this summer we have had a great time and will continue for the forseable future to spend our summers on the boat.

Looking forward to seeing you all when we return at the end of October.

Take care

Ray and Diane

Sent: 18 August 2007 12:49
Subject: Super Nova at Sea

Samedi 18 Auot 2007.

L’Aber Wrach

Hi All,

Well if you get this message, in this format, it will mean that for the first time since leaving home we have managed to get Wifi and we have been able to sit onboard and type out mail etc without having to rush at an internet café. Fingers crossed. Basically if it works, there is a bar here where you take along your laptop and go for it.

We are presently stormbound in lAber Wrach having arrived yesterday. Knowing that the weather was about to close in on us we pushed on yesterday from Audierne where we had been for the past four nights.  We had intended just to go to Camaret but as mentioned above pushed on.   It was a long day with little wind therefore it was a motor sail.   However with good tides we knocked 10 miles off the 56 mile jump.   Hit huge overfalls in Le Four due to wind against tide conditions. So back in the channel and the weather is crap, blowing a hooligan and will do so for the next few days.

We are making our way to Morlaix where we will stay for four weeks.   Diane has to come home, this Friday afternoon, to pick up the car and Penny for a weeks holiday and to get the Wee Shite, ‘Rusty the Wonder Dog’ home.

Since my last boring report from Port Louis we had a nice sail up the coast to the Belon River.   What a place, it is really nice.   We picked up a mooring and ended up rafter three deep but no problems.   The river is picturesque with everything you would want, well what we want.   There are good walks both sides of the river, beaches, swimming etc.   We had a great two days there and it was hard to leave.

We sailed then onto the Glenans.   Tried to anchor east of Penfret but not nice so moved onto south side of St Nicholas.   Far better, good swimming and ashore for a walk.   Next day due to weather we moved early to the north

side ready to run north if required.   It was a wise move, the weather was not so good and at least we were protected by the sand bar when the tide was out.Lundi 13 Auot, we heeded north towards Audierne, motor sailing for a while

then a good sail round Penmarch and up the coast.

Anchored off the marina for three very windy nights then needing water a launderette and electricity for ironing spent a night alongside.

We are getting to like Audierne, probably due to having spent so much time stormbound there, the staff are so helpful and friendly and once you start exploring there are lovely walks and beaches to visit.

Well that’s it for now.   We will be home on Wed 5 Sept for three weeks to attend a wedding and a weeks holiday in Spain.  Hellish aint it??   Then back to Super Nova for October and to bring her home.

Love to all.   Super Nova.

Sent: 08 August 2007 09:29
 

Hi Folks,

After Redon, we stayed in the Vilaine for another 9 nights, including Rieux, Beganne and Le Roche Bernard, before we braved the ecluse at Arzal. That is fun not, as we arrived everyone was milling about, so as the book says if

open then enter, so we did and went right to the front and left the rest of the 30 odd boats to sort themselves out. Any of you who have been in the lock will know what we mean!! Then followed a great sail all the way to Houat, where we anchored in Treach Salus Bay, and yes after 62 days the sun was out and we were straight in for a swim, at long last. Next day all change again with the weather so off we sailed to Sauzon where we had a great time. The sun was out we cycled all over the island 28 miles one day; left with sore arses after that. Found a lovely rocky cove in the north of the island and went snorkling; Poor we shite is knackered after all his chariot rides. Yesterday 7th we sailed most of the way tp Port Louis, Lorient where we will restock before heading on; the Glennans of River Bellon. Sun is out so must get on.

Take care.

Supernova

Sent: 17 July 2007 10:12

 

Hi all,

At long last we have found an internet cafe, we are not geeting the wireless we expected in the marinas. We have just had a great week in Vannes with all the Bastille Day celebrations. We met up again with Dave and Dor, also John and Shazar with us. Dianes sister and brother in law have been with us for a few days which has been good fun. Leaving this evening for the Morbihan and then down to the Valaine for a while. We left Audierne and had a very rough passage to Loctudy where we met up again with Samphire.

Spent a few days there, got the bikes out and took the wee shite out for his chariiot ride along paths towards

Pont l'Abbe, they were not for bikes let alone a trailer, carrying over trees, rocks and up a set of stairs, we had fun and it was better than the road. Meridian joined us and we set off up river to Pont l,Abbe, that was fun, we both hit the putty at different stagess but got there in the end and it was worth it for a couple of days, BBQ under the trees next to the boats with Johns Ipod blasting away. Weather still not settled, with lots of rain and strong winds.

We next went to the Odet river, spending a very bumpy night on a buoy at Porz Meilou, before heading up to Quimper, it rained all the time we were there so only spent the night, before heading back to the quay at Porz Meilou where we decided to dry the cats out along side the quay. Seemed a good idea at the time having looked at the bottom previously.

 Ha! We dryed out at such an angle that even Rusty had trouble walking on the boat but at least wee could get him off for a walk, and just for a change it was raining!!!!! Word got out re the mad English and we seemed to get a lot of locals pop down for a quick look and go. We decided against staying for the night so as soon as we floated set off down to Sainte Marine for a few days due to the weather before setting off for Pont Aven. Had a good trip up the river and managed to tie up alongsdie the wall, and yes you got it it was raining. Every time we moved port it poured and Meridian got the wet weather gear out. We had a good time and took timeout to explore the town and also got the canoes out and paddled, yes in the rain, down to Rosbraz. It was closed!!!! Had to wait three hours in rain for the tide to get back up river. There is now a 10 euro per night community port tax!!!

Left Port Manech for the Glennans it was a big sea on the nose and we started slamming and thought, hang on a minute we have got 5 months to get there so called Meridian and suggested that with thie wind we had we should head south to Belle Ile, we promptly turned left got the cruising chute up and set off on a brill fast sail to Sauzon. Along the way the cruising chute head rope parted and we watched is gently peel away an slide under the boat. Oops!!!! Di sat at the wheel wondering how to do a mayday call as I was in the bow trying to get the sail back on board expecting me to be dragged into the water by the sail, luckily there was no damage and all back together again. On the same trip Meridian put a

tear into their cruising chute.

Good fun in Sauzon, we had a good BBQ that night, dried out and next day it was, yes, raining so we took dog for a long coastal walk. We will not be beaten!!! Got back to the boat and at last got the mud and mess off her from the boatyard, we then put the antifoul up another inch. Next day the sun came out as did the bikes and we were off to explore the

island and down into La Palais. Back to the boat and polished the hulls, looking good. TYhen followed two days of wild downwind sailing in F6's to Port Haligian

where yet again the bikes came out, then over and into the Morbihan. We sailed all the way to Ile de Conlou where we waited on a buoy for the lock at Vannes to close so we could spend the night on the waiting pontoon and not pay.

Next day into Vannes and the sun came out!!!! Thats all for now

Ray Diane and of course the Wee Shite;

Tue 19/06/2007 14:33

Hi everyone.

after leaving a realy good week in Port Launay, we anchored overnight off a beach in the Rade that Tony had pointed out to us. In the blowing onshore wind and driving rain at 5am we wrapped a lobster pot line round one of our engines, so we very slowly limped off towards Camaret, towing the pot as I noticed a few mins later, ha not for long a sharp knife and the pot was lost.

On arrival in Camaret wet suited up and into the bloody cold waetr to cut the line and buoy off, two mins work. Then we waited for the afternoon tide and had a very slow crawl to the Raz, we got within 2 miles ane did half a knot for two hours, is was a slow passage;

Then followed a very bumpy ride into Audierne, very rough in the entrance blowing t like mad and pouring rain. Since then we have met up with Dave and Dor, they are both well. We have been here since last Thurs and are now stormbound, prob not get away till Fri earlist, then on to Luctudy.

We have walked miles with the dog he is zonked out on the boat at pres. He has been great. Yesterday it was D_Day for Dis hair, twas a bit of a spectacle, we did the colouring (red) in the cockpit and hozed off on the foredeck over the bow, what the neighbours thought, but it has turned out realy well. Will close now and contact you all when we can;

PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY ANSWER PHONE MESSAGES ON THE MOBILE, WE ARE NOT

PICKING THEM UP. TEXT INSTEAD.

Love to all

Ray Diane and the Wee Shite.