This is just to bore Uncle Robin!!!!!!!.............. Roscoff is the port that receives the ferries from Plymouth and the new Marina de Bloscon which was built last year is ideal for visiting yachts as it is easy to access and has a free bus service into the town about one kilometre away.
On the second day there we took a small ferry to Ile de Batz which is a small island about 1.5 Km long and o.7Km wide. Its main feature is that it has a huge lighthouse on its highest promontory and we walked there to have a look at it.
Ile De Batz light house
Carla decided that she was going to climb the winding staircase to the top, about 230 steps so not to be outdone I decided to go as well. C started the ascent like a mountain goat while I plodded along behind. I had to stop and sit down at 100 steps while my body caught up with my heart rate but the view once we got to the top was breath-taking!! Chris and Pete were very sensible and decided to sit on a lovely picnic bench and watch the boats go by and a drink a very nice glass of beer.
The weather in Roscoff had been sunny but we ended up staying there owing to strong winds and rain. We finally left Roscoff to sail towards L'aberwrach on 31st July.
We left Roscoff to round the Ile De Batz keeping well clear of all the rocky outcrops. The wind was favourable and the weather fine and we hoped for a great sail. However after a while the wind went into the SW - right in our face and at the same time dropped and became variable between no wind at all and as much as 20 knots. We sailed when we could and we motored when we couldn't but it turned out to be a frustrating day for sailing.
Approaching the Aber Wrach river there is a large and very dangerous reef which is identified to sailors by a huge lighthouse on Ile Vierge that can be seen for miles. Its height above sea level is charted at 77m high and they reckon you can see the light at night from 27 miles away!!
In English waters we have some prominent lighthouses such as Bishop Rock, Portland Bill and St Catherines but they are small when you compare it with this stone structure standing at well over 200 feet high.
\we found our way into Aber Wrach (so called because historically they gathered the Wrach seaweed there) and made our way up river to the marina. A beautiful evening with a picture postcard sunset.
The following morning we rose to a misty and foggy start which forced us to decide to stay in L'Aber Wrach for the day and set off for the Chanel Du Four in the morning.
A foggy morning in L'Aberwrach
To date Chris has worked out that we have done approximately 320 miles
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