10th-17th July 1999
Five club members and skipper Bill Johnson set sail from Plymouth on board Aztec, due South, for a perfect channel crossing; calm seas, crystal clear sky, starlit night and running with the wind all the way, to arrive in Aber-Wrac’h, a rugged fishing harbour on the NW coast of Brittany. We celebrated our arrival with a seafood feast, followed by crêpes flambéés, watching the most stunning sunset over a dramatic, rocky seascape.
An early start the next morning was needed to gather our wits and catch the tide for the ‘Chanal du Four’, a narrow channel between the western edge of Brittany and outlying rocky islands, marked by the famous ‘Four’ lighthouse. With treacherous rocks and wrecks everywhere, some serious navigation was put into practice, with Skipper Bill keeping a watchful eye. We arrived safely in Camaret, a delightful fishing port and seaside town, and went sunbathing on the beach to relax.
Pushing further round the wild and rugged westerm coast, past a very dramatic celtic-style cross high on the cliffs, marking the edge of the ancient known world ‘Finisterre’, we arrived at Morgat.
This very Breton seaside town was preparing to celebrate the ’14 Juillet’ Bastille Day, and having almost provoked an international incident by telling the ‘patron’ of our restaurant that his ‘moules’ were less than fresh, we made a rapid exit, and ended the evening dancing on the beach to a Salsa band.
We then headed back in stages to Camaret, then straight back across the Channel, in very good conditions, to arrive in Fowey, Cornwall, where we indulged in yet more seafood, and cream teas, to round off an excellent, action-packed voyage.
Felicity Hunt
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