21st June – St Ettiene – Bénodet
This was a straight forward sail across the bay to Phare D’eckmuhl, around the corner and into Bénodet. I left early for two reasons – I enjoy the quietness of the early morning and I was unsure how busy Bénodet would be. The disadvantage to this strategy was that I would be arriving at exactly the wrong time from a tidal perspective. The pilots had warned of very swift tides through the marinas – this was okay if you were berthing against the tide but tricky if with the tide. The day started well. Blue skies and light winds. There was one other boat just behind me who looked as if he was heading the same direction.
Throughout the early morning I was accompanied at various times by what looked to be different pods of dolphins. They would swim under the baot and ride thw bow wake of the boat. I had not realised how fast they can swim. It was wonderful to watch from the bow of the boat.
By about 1000hrs the wind started to pick up and by 1200 just before Phare D’eckmuhl (name of a famous Napoleon General) it was up to 20kts. Whilst I was on a run and therefore the apparent wind was less than 15-16kts, the boat was beginning to feel hard to handle. I therefore made the decision to reef.
Single handed reefing takes a little planning. Get out the reefing lines (No1 and No2), ensure the main halyard can run free when released, take the tension of the vang. Bring in the foresail – less to worry about and then turn 180 deg into wind. Lower the main to first reek, pull in reefing lines, tighten main halyard, tighten vang, let out sheet, come back onto course, pull out foresail. I do use the engine to give enable the autohelm to keep me head to wind whilst sorting our the mainsail.
Then as you might guess, 1 hour later the wind had dropped! So reef taken out! Throughout all of this the self-tacking foresail was in and out a number fo times as it will not fly if dead downwind. The wind did pick up as I entered the Bénodet bay but not too much. I took all sails down before entering L’Odet River. Fenders were out and lines for port and starboard berthing. The marina is not too far up river – starboard side, passed St Marine marina. The tide was flowing fast. I had hoped to be allocated a berth on the outside of the wave breaker and therefore come alongside into the tide. However a large chunk was reserved for the Douane. I was given a finger berth inside the wave breaker and had to berth with tide behind me. I did ask for help and someone came down and was on the pontoon to take lines. Knowing the speed of the tide, I had reverse on quite early. All worked out sell.
Rest of afternoon I tidied up the boat and went for a walk to get the layout of the town. Dinner was on board with a couple of glasses of wine and a beer at the marina bar.
Purrfect Tale 