Camaret

We departed at around 8am without fitting the new pump I could do that on arrival, the most important thing was to get the tides right for the Chenal du Four so we were off. We started off with head winds so we had to motor for about an hour but soon the winds shifted into the North West and we also started to bear about to the south. So out came the sales and the engine went off, joy. We had 13 knots on the beam, no one could ask for better conditions than that. All the bad weather that had hit the Fastnet race was well away from us and the seas were just fine. As we rounded the point and headed East towards Brest the boat started to increase speed, faster and faster we went and it was abundantly clear that the winds had really picked up. Soon we were dropping the sails as we prepared to enter the marina at Camaret only we were not to enter the marina we had to sit outside of the breakwater. Luckily David and Susan had seen up coming and were on hand to take our lines, we were docking with 26 knots of wind blowing us off the dock. I got the boat right along side and Linda managed to hand over the lines quickly but before they were made secure we we at least 3 feet from the pontoon. It took a lots of effort to sweat the boat in but it was soon done and Susan suggested we all go out for some food as soon as we were ready, we were soon ready.

I fitted the new pump, oh my what a difference, the old pump was so loud that the difference was immediate when the new pump was installed. Susan and David departed the harbour to head south, they had told us that if we went far enough south the weather would improve unfortunately it has taken us so long to get here we don't really have to get much further south.

Ayaya had raced to L'Aberwach so they were a day behind us and we could see their progress. Camaret is a lovely seaside town and it was obvious that if they didn't have a restaurant booked they would be eating in the worst place in town. I sent Matthew a text asking if he would like us to book a restaurant for the six of us, it turns out that they had been discussing this very thing. The French competitors had their families driving ahead able to book for them. We went into a recommended restaurant only to be told that they were very busy that night (Surprise surprise), but we managed to get a great table and what a fine meal we had with great company.