Logbook – Ile D’Yeu to Les Sable 5 Aug 19

After the early boat move, we settled our bill, refuelled and departed for the next leg to Les Sables.  This is the starting point fo the Vendee Globe race and somewhere I was interested in visiting. 

Despite early damp and drizzly conditions the day’s sail was good with building winds and a steady run south east. We were joined by several other boats going in the same general direction and although not a race, the competitive edge does make you tune your sails a little better, despite the boat being built for cruising not racing.

The original plan was to anchor off the beach but it proved so busy in the area that we decided to proceed up the river to Quai de Garnier.  This proved more fraught than expected with ferries, pleasure craft and random fishermen popping out from everywhere and anywhere to thwart your plans.  The final straw was when Andy turned towards the marina and was faced with 3 boats all coming her way and not one of them wanted to follow the Rules of the Road. 

They sorted themselves out around the waiting yacht and then we proceeded to the marina.

Town was very touristy and is also the home of the French water sports university, so it has both a holiday and party town atmosphere. 

Dinner was Moules and Frites, the sailor’s standard fair and damn fine this feast was.  After dinner a stroll demonstrated the cosmopolitan nature of the town.

 Every Monday in August was open mike night for a local band, free for all. The street market is extensive and offers most things you need, and lots you don’t.  Walking the less frequented streets provided a surprize art exhibition. A local artist had created dozens of murals from shells and various flotsam and jetsam. A great feature in this already eclectic town.

We had a long push the next morning ready to place ourselves in a convenient place to cross Biscay with a favourable weather window, so it was pack up the boat and be ready for an early start.

The one thing you note about Europeans is their passion for fishing, even extreme fishing!