Take It Easy! En Bretagne.

Skipper: Steve Benham, Mate: Bob Williams

Sorry for the part French title, but I never know how many ‘t’s or ‘n’s in the English version!

To cut to the chase this cruise has a couple of long passages across the Chanelle [Ed: two ‘n’s, one ‘l’, one ‘e’ in English…Tch!], starting from Plymouth, then we are then definitely going to take it easy with some short passages along this magnificent coast line. Depending on wind and sea state, we’ll probably head to St Quay-Portrieux as it is accessible at any tide. Or we might not do that… and head to Roscoff in the west instead. Either way we’ll then potter along the coast to some of the following for the rest of the week. Assuming east to west:

Paimpol ( circa 15nm NW of St Quay) Historically a cod fishing town it is now a picturesque Breton town with quite a few festivals, probably involving ancient rituals and foreign sailors…Seriously looks like a good place for a bit of tourism and of course a couple of glasses of wine, with food of course!

 Ile de Brehat – anchorages – circa 7nm NE of Paimpol. These islands are beautiful and have a few walks round the low headlands and beaches. There are a couple of places we can anchor and take the rib ashore to the beach or just chill out on BB.

 Lezardrieux – circa 8nm SW of Ile de Brehat. A few miles up the Treguier river which has lots of deep water and visitor pontoons/buoys. We can take a short hike up the hill to the town to sample le rouge (or le blanc!). Nice little town, famous for its bridge and its church.

Trebeurden - circa 35 nm W of Ile de Brehat. According to the Channel pilot a well-run marina surrounded by spectacular coast line.

Finally, assuming we have time, weather and energy, Roscoff – circa 15nm W of Trebeurden. The Channel pilot talks of onion sellers of yore flocking over to England and entrancing our women folk. There’s a lot of things I don’t quite believe about this, but it’s a lively port and, more importantly, accessible in all tides as a start or end point.

So please join Bob, Stewart and me on this voyage, and make any libations you feel appropriate for favourable winds and sunshine!