"Die Biskaya, also known as the Bay of Biscay, is a bay of the Atlantic Ocean, extending from Galicia to Brittany along the north coast of Spain and the west coast of France. This sea area is for bad weather, severe storms and extreme sea conditions known. " (Zitat Wikipedia)

That sounds very promising times….. Exactly, what according to you wish for after a two-week sailing break so. In Brest we had enjoyed several days after my holiday home relaxing country holiday.

But on Sunday it was time: An optimal weather window for the Bay of Biscay opened up. Drei Tage bis vier staff rushes Nordwind, the even should turn to the East in a pleasant thickness of maximum 5 Beaufort, bis in Boo 6. In addition, plenty of sunshine and little rain. That sounded perfect to.

Saturday was so completely dominated by the travel preparations. Since we wanted to run together with the SY MENTOR, but Waltraud and Wolfgang would only arrive on Saturday night at eleven clock back to Brest we moved in the morning going, around this time two refrigerators fill properly. Brest's supermarkets offer the sailors as a special service: Just give us a call and you will be picked up for free with the car at the marina and returned again after shopping. So we could uncontrollably one last time stash French goodies. Let's see, whether at least part of it would catch sight of the Spanish coast, or at least fall already on the way to the skipper victim would.

After pre-cooked properly for three days the food was in the refrigerator, the last emails were answered and brought the website to stand. About eleven, the crew of SY MENTOR knocked briefly on our Rehling. The crew had come back well from Hamburg and we agreed to meet the next morning at half past eight.

So we went on a Sunday morning on the trip and left us on the current through the strait pull off Brest. Fast 10 Node above ground showed to our Sign. At 350 Mile path that lay before us, was of course a nice start. Out on the open water unfortunately left us the flow and also the promised wind dropped again in coming. In the morning we heard radio round, that the SY LONI III were with Eckhardt and Ilona already for nine clock on the way from Camaret to La Coruna. They were already 7,5 Nautical miles on the same course ahead. The naturally aroused the racers in my Captain. Now there was no stopping. So we put the Parasailor and took chase. However, since the detailed planning in the heat of battle had remained somewhat on the track, unfortunately a little too early. Because of the scale by the skipper course of 210 ° would have led us directly to a shoal off the French coast. So the poor Parasailor had to experience his first "close-hauled course", he who issued natured about yourself. But we want to mention about the achieved rate rather. 😉

350 Nautical miles are already a neat long distance. We hoped, them to sail with a good wind in two and a half days. The Biscay wave rocked us through pretty neat and the wind increased as promised continued to increase in strength.

Multiple visited us and dolphins playing in our bow wave.

Considered the whole, the crossing was very peaceful and stress-free (no major surprises). Through regular radio rounds we remained in contact with the SY LONI III, sailed still ahead of us. Contact with the SY MENTOR we unfortunately lost on the second day, than the distance between our was too large and the range of the VHF radio has been exceeded.

After we had made on the first night, despite numerous sail changes only little ground well, we were on the second night thanks to full sail wardrobe, much to the surprise of the SY LONI 3 Move up TWELVE miles closer! Our aim was approaching and about noon of the third day came the Spanish coast in sight.

Since the SUMMER ran smoothly and reliably under autopilot, we used the time, to our arrival to optimally prepare. So was the kitchen cleaned and rinsed, the beds freshly made and the two sailors went fine country to.

Took about nine clock our friends Martin and Violetta from the SY Ganesha in La Coruna on the lines. Freshly showered and amazingly relaxed we could really make an impression. Our first night on the Spanish mainland, we could end on board the SY Ganesha with delicious tuna salad and still cozy, until then but eventually the tiredness prevailed. Nice if you have good friends!

In the late morning I went out with Waltraud and Wolfgang, to explore the headland. Dietmar was glad, times to be me so easily rid of a few hours. Finally he was able to extensively tinkering with the boat or surf the web and answer emails.

I was looking forward to someone on the way to be, who had also fancy a trip. We walked almost to the end of the Headland along the cliffs.

When we got back to the boat in the early afternoon, Dietmar had been waiting for the engine and tightened the belt, unfortunately had enough play, that there had been neatly chips… Good, that he had seen soon enough. In addition, he had filled with the watermaker our tanks. We drank a leisurely coffee, before we left at five clock Properly Brest. I do not know, when we had the last time you traveled such a short sea crossing. At 10 Nautical miles it is worth it but not to set sail, or?

But as the weather and the wind were optimal, course was sailed. My racer grabbed once again the sporting ambition and gradually a boat was gelt verse after another. The SUMMER ran amazingly fast. Apparently she likes it well in the Atlantic. If it was up to the captain, we had even brought out the Parasailor for the short distance, but as the crew mutinied but then.

Almost too soon we arrived at the Marina “Moulin Blanc” on the outskirts of Brest. As hoped, proved our selection as the optimal place for a longer stay and offered optimal conditions even cheap prices. So you want it. Only the many chandlery are to be found here, make me a little scared. Whether I should really let Dietmar here alone?

After checking in, we treated ourselves to the end of the day with the crew of the MENTOR still a "investors beer" in the bar on the promenade.

If rings at a quarter past five of the clock and it's still dark outside really makes you wonder, why such a thing does to himself. But here now give the tide times the daily routine before. So grit your teeth and get out of the warm springs.

Actually, we had expected, that it should already be significantly brighter in the morning to six in summer. But fog and rain clouds hung over the coast and left little light to us through. So we dawdled a bit and there was as usual delicious breakfast. A little more light would have been nice and a little less rain also :-). But when it was already busy then walked to the bridge on the MENTOR before us, we made the SUMMER also clear and put together from.

Get out of the L'But we had although the flow already with us, reason, however, the wind, however, and had the “Races” fight back with confused and steep waves. But when we were able to create our course toward Camaret it went under sail and calm sea progressing well, to once again asleep the wind. I had the last night somehow not slept so great (Maybe it was the disco flickering beacon, which stood right next to the SUMMER at the harbor entrance?!) So let me skipper still catch up on some sleep. At ten clock I was also awake again and went back useful.

The MENTOR followed us on their heels and we use the time for extended photo shoots. Thanks to three node power from behind we still came good progress, even if subsequently the machine had to run along. We enjoyed the stunning and rugged coastal landscape with more and more holes in the cloud cover and then reached the harbor of Camaret in the sunshine.

The small town just outside of Brest seems to be a popular outing place. Many had used the long weekend and the lands were already unpleasant fully. Unfortunately no friendly Marinero was on the spot and therefore had himself looking for a suitable place for the thick SUMMER.

From the perspective, that this should possibly be the place, at the Dietmar was to spend the next week alone as a watchdog for the SUMMER and the MENTOR, we tried to choose our mooring as, that was near capacity for the second boat. Otherwise Dietmar would have had to ask for mileage allowance! When we moored, made himself another boat just across from us slowly ready. Optimal, now we just needed to wait and defend the place. The young people on board, but had no particular hurry. It takes almost one and a half hours to the Four her seven-meter sailboat ready had. Dietmar was near the heart attack. And the more he applied on to the web and ran from, more slowly ran the preparations for the other boat. But eventually it was also done and the MENTOR was against us.

I had already had a nice conversation with a French woman on the web (sie sprach hervorragend deutsch 🙂 ) and was informed about the place precisely. So there was always aged four clock fresh fish and shellfish directly opposite the fishing harbor. Evening party was then announced with big firework. That would not have been necessary! Beautiful, that the French national holiday so wonderful match fell on the day after the World Cup final.

We had not had any more fresh fish on the plate for Boulogne-sur-Mer, led us to our first trip to the fishing port. Unfortunately, there was now only crustaceans, this but in impressive quantities and impressive size. Even though I like to eat once in the restaurant sowetwas, I wanted my night's dinner not take alive with home. The fridge would give also something else.

After our tour of the city, past picturesque, totally rotted cutters back to the harbor we were actually safe, that Dietmar here wanted to spend a whole week. The port is also rather small, crowded and very noisy for us and was not an ideal place. So stand also schon bald fest, Tomorrow we move to Brest. This is only a stone's throw from 10 Nautical miles. One can thus easily be at half past seven in the evening flood in Brest and still explore the great coastal still all day.

Getting up early would be tomorrow does not come into question, no two days in a row :-). We also wanted to watch the final on the SUMMER with Wolfgang and Waltraud together tonight. Of course, we hoped, that there would be no penalty shoot-outs. But you do not always, how it goes and Götze has then also directed. With our concerns so we were not so wrong! When we were earned after extra time world champion, It was shortly before midnight. The fireworks of the French began unfortunately few minutes early. The goal for Germany was not made until shortly before the end, but it was definitely a sight. We had our ceremony to be slightly shorter and were tired in the bunks.

When the alarm rang, we were both excited. But punctually at seven clock we untied the lines. Next to us on the MENTOR Wolfgang and Waltraud were already in the starting blocks. They had the same goal as we do and we were looking forward to another nice evening with the two of them.

This morning there was around us general optimism. More than ten yachts were getting ready. We occupied in the deposition race a sovereign position 2 and were able to leave the port even before the incoming large passenger ferry. Outside awaits us once again a rough sea, because the wind was still against the current. We entered the bull by the horns, and gave full throttle, so that the rocking should come to an end soon. I also have not really trust my stomach on the way and was well-behaved on deck and noticed all the rules, which should help against seasickness. When we were finally removed so far from the coast, that we were able to create course toward L'But wrac'h and could also set the sails , it was equally enjoyable and the buzzer was quiet in the water. Although we had to cross, we were able to defend our second place and approached by noon the mouth of the L'Aber.

The landscape was breathtaking. Countless small and large island lying off the coast of scattered. As we reached the river at low tide, were the right and left of the fairway wide beach areas, Oyster beds and boulders in the sun. We carefully followed the well-stressed waters. This would have an abbreviation probably fatal consequences. Even the captain, the happy times schnibbelt a corner, hatte heute alle Zeit der Welt 🙂

In the harbor we were greeted warmly and led to a free space. Ein toller Service, we have ever enjoyed in France and also in Guernsey very. Without the hassle Want one is moved to a place with a rubber boat, is large and deep enough for the yacht. This saves one the hassle and embarrassing Wanted.

Es ist toll, to arrive so early in a new place. The whole afternoon was still ahead. First, Dietmar but made his way, to help on the MOLINE Christoph and Katja problems with the shortwave radio system. Then we visited, As is so often the first local supermarket. This was even further away than in Roscoff, hatte aber immerhin geöffnet 🙂 Wenn man mal seinen gesamten Wocheneinkauf zu Fuß nach Hause getragen hat, do you only really appreciate the luxury of a car. But this time we were lucky. A young woman took pity and drove us to the port. Had we known the, hätten wir doch noch eine paar Flaschen Wasser eingekauft 🙂

After a very late lunch with French sausages, we took the dinghy clear and made our first major trip to the neighboring islands. For safety's sake was only the small second camera, packed in a plastic bag along for the ride. You never know .... So practiced we are not yet. But we reached our destination safe and dry. The coastal landscape is really beautiful and impressive.

After the early morning start our evening ended early. After the dinghy was back safely stowed on the SUMMER and Dietmar had washed extensively with the large water hose all, anything not tied- and almost brand was (unfortunately, through a slightly open hatch my laptop, but which is actually waterproof), gab es noch leckere Crepes. I used the rest of the evening, to restore order in my photos and sort the images for the Internet and prepare. For tomorrow, Saturday Rain was announced: Time, to bring the website back to stand and to finally answer a few email.

The combination of seasickness on day and evening wine (even if there were only two glasses) have unfortunately led me to, that the next morning I had the kapitalsten hangover of my life. Since the bed had proved yesterday to be very comfortable in the salon, I decided, meinen Tag auch wieder doch zu verbringen 🙁

Dietmar thus had the whole day, to have fun at the chandlery and then try his purchases at our SUMMER. Thus, our autopilot has now new control cables made with Dyneema (The Ferrari of linen :-)). And otherwise are yes for the boat lovers always different things to do on board.

About three clock my spirits were then revived again in so far, I could imagine a trip. First stop should be the supermarket, to us the friendly harbor master had even kindly marked on the map. At the dock we met Antje and Ingo von AMAZONE, who were traveling to the same destination. So we went together on the journey. After a long time (felt) we finally reached the supermarket and had to find, that it had closed. Since I fell like scales from the eyes: Ralf from Lothlorien had told yesterday, that had flown away to the supermarket from Roscoff in the spring of the roof. Schade, that had not yet got round to the harbor master.

In the city center but we were successful, starve, we had not so. In a tiny grocery store we stopped with our bulk buying traffic on.

Nevertheless, we decided, after we had carried back the purchases to the boat, to enjoy our dinner at a nice French restaurant on the harbor. The French cuisine did not disappoint. The rest of the evening on board we used is the Internet connection, to the site to feed again with new reports. For images, the time was unfortunately not enough. The next morning an early start was in fact planned by seven clock, to achieve with the power our next destination L'But wrac'h in the shortest possible time.

With my idea again today loszugehen walk, I could not trigger a storm of enthusiasm at Dietmar. Good, one must not do everything together. We are still in safe climes, I can sometimes go out alone.

My plan I had done it last night. There are a lot of cliff paths, particularly on the picturesque south coast. So my goal was clear: March from the port, always in a clockwise direction along the water. Since you can not do much wrong yes.

About eleven clock I made my socks, although the weather still looked after rain. Around the port around was really something going on. Today day was the open house at the fire department and police with all emergency vehicles and training course for car- and motorcyclists. In addition, the classic car club showed some of his old baby. To the delight of my husband and diverse group C and Formula racers were on display. Guernsey directed various mountain race in the year of.

Soon I had left the hustle and bustle behind me and walked along the coast uphill always steep and steep downhill. Actually, I was hoping, that the clip path would run along the top of the cliff. If I had planned it, wäre das auf jeden Fall so gewesen 🙂

After a good two hours, I was also finally arrived on the south coast. My original plan, to hike the entire south coast, I had but since already been buried. Whoever in our guide of 4,5 Miles wrote cliff paths, should definitely check his details again. At the end of the trip my GPS shows almost 15 Kilometers and considerable 1500 Altitude. Tonight I'll dream in any case of stairs and probably I can no longer move tomorrow. Furthermore, one thing is certain: Morgen fahre zumindest ich Bus 🙂

Despite the hardships, it was a great trip. The island is scenic just a dream. The following pictures just say more than 1000 Words.

In the evening we had another visit, this time Waltraud and Wolfgang von der SY MENTOR. The two are in the same direction as we go, but later turn at Gibraltar into the Mediterranean. Comfortable we sat for white and Kabbereien together and chatted about everything under the sun. After this nice evening we hope, that our paths will cross more often.

Today we want to take a boat trip - we are strange and take the ferry to Sark. The SUMMER must remain in Guernsey, since there is no port on Sark. Of course we could anchor around the island, the bays should be very beautiful. But since the weather will be bad today evening (Rain and lots of wind), We choose this time, the simple and convenient alternative.

At eight clock passed the ferry. When the alarm rang at a quarter to seven, I introduced myself dead and was still quite musty, as Dietmar me finally schmieß out of bed just after seven. We quickly ate breakfast and we were on the way to the ferry port. The ferry on time verließt St. Peters Port. The hour-long crossing had my optimistic captain (traveling only in shorts and t-shirt) determine, that it is at sea was still quite fresh in the morning at eight. Especially when even thick gray clouds obscured the sun.

So we arrived on Sark had to first buy something warm to wear for the now-quite-frozen captain. So we sacrificed 35 £ for a warm fleece pullover. This sacrifice to the weather gods of Sark led to, that after 30 Minutes the sun came out and it was so warm within an hour, that the new sweater could wander into the backpack immediately.

On the island of Sark there are no cars. The locals use either tractor or horse-drawn carriages. So it's a bit like time travel into the past. Scattered on the island are individual houses, a real village but there is not. About 600 People living permanently on Sark. On arrival port we took the tractor bus up to the middle of the island. Then we went on foot to the north. Can run you can not really, the island, with its 5,5 Square kilometers yes manageable size. At the edge of the road are always small, pretty stone houses. The vegetation is lush, many flowers and palm trees. Unfortunately, each tractor swirls a huge cloud of dust from the sandy paths on. Rained it had probably disappeared long ago,. We passed the house of the island doctor and the police station.

Soon we reached the coast again, steep but beautifully green with many small islands. Looking for a cafe we ​​came across an old manor house "La Seigneurie" with exceptionally beautiful garden and many outbuildings. After a snack, we visited the entire property.

Then we wandered further south. A particular favorite is the link "La Coupée" between the island of Sark and the neighboring island of Little Sark. This narrow, paved path was only after the 2. World War created artificially. The view is impressive, right and left it goes 100 Meter steep in Depth. At the end of the day we are 15 Kilometers walked back and forth across the island. A great trip down memory lane.

About 16 Clock we were back in time back to the ferry and could this time thanks to the warm fleece pullover along the sunny crossing also enjoy on deck. Just before we reached Guernsey, the wind picked up considerably and also the sea was rough. Just before the harbor entrance still got the entire rear bench seat on the port side of a small shower off and shortly afterwards we were again safely on the quay. The rain clouds had almost caught up with us and shortly after we arrived on board our SUMMER, it started to rain. I would say, so sieht optimale Tagesplanung aus 🙂

Our trip we had planned exactly, that we have the World Cup game Germany - France can look at our web neighbors Antje and Ingo from the AMAZONE on board with us would. Unfortunately we had in our planning forget the one hour of time difference between Europe and Guernsey. Antje and Ingo was but our planning errors noticed and they were already at just after five with us on the boat. They gave us a half hour of time to prepare dinner and we watched the second half together with spaghetti, Salad and a delicious bottle of red wine. In the end, we celebrated the victory of the German team. As a precaution, Dietmar had obtained and hidden our German flag before the game. Now we are together with frustrated for obvious reasons French web neighbors and football fans on Guernsey. Sie scheinen aber gute Verlierer zu sein denn niemand hat unsere Festmacher heute Nacht durchgeschnitten 🙂