First Sail of the Season

La Turballe is a city whose main activity is fishing and it's key catch now is anchovies., and up to 1987 it had a sardine canning factory. It did have  It also has a lovely beach so is attractive to tourists. It is 27 km from St. Nazaire

We had tried to come here last September but was turned away as it was full of visiting yachts from Vannes, so we had to go up to Piriac.

We got through the Arzal lock at the 0900hrs opening and had a lovely sail all the way, arriving in the marina 1420 so a nice day sailing. This short 3 minute video shows some aspects of this.





Our Dutch friends, Jan and Corrie arrived with us but had to berth on another pontoon as they are a 45 footer. We had drinks together in the evening and after a day or two they set of south. There plans are a lot more adventurous. They are hoping to get to the Cap Verde by November and then cross to the Caribbean.

We found another water leak in the cold water supply to the hot water tank, so had to fix this. Turned out to be a pin hole in the pipe, after I had messed about buying new fittings.

Over the next 5 days we had a rest, stocked up with food and groceries, as well as fuel. The weather was not good enough to go on the beach, but we managed a walk around the town.

Last Berth in the Villaine

Our friends from last year Jenny & John,  have a berth at Arzal and they had left it just before we arrived. They offered us the use of it, but by the time we got there, it was occupied. So, the Capitainerie put us on the visitors pontoon.

Next day was Dimanche, sorry Sunday, we have got so used to speaking French these days!!!! It was my birthday, so spent it relaxing and chatting to family and friends at home via SKYPE. oh, and had the odd swig of a 12 year old Cardhu whiskey Pauline had bought as a present.

Arzal Lock

Monday we took the mainsail down to get a slit in the foot repaired. Our fellow hibernators from Redon, Maggie & Paul, were on the hard at Arzal doing the usual annual maintenance work on their boat. Maggie gave us a lift with the sail.

We also discovered water in the bilges and this turned out to be a leaking fresh water pump. If you have never found yourself with your head stuck in a dark hole under a sink, with little room to manoeuvre, trying to connect pipes and electrical cables; its great fun.







Discover the depths of boating in this short 30 second video.

Wednesday, we collected the repaired sail after handing over €25 (no doubt it would have cost three times as much at home). Maggie and Paul gave us hand at fitting it back. We had a meal with them in the evening and then said our goodbyes.

Finally, after 6 months in the River Villaine, we were heading back to sea.

Tomorrow, Thursday 28th April, we will join the morning queue for the 0900hrs opening of the Arzal lock to head off to La Turballe, the only port we got turned away from last year. Hopefully there will be a place this year.

Arzal Lock

Leaving Redon

 At last came the time to leave Redon, our winter berth since October. This short video gives you some idea of the nature of the river and shows some of its beauty.

Returning to France

We had a great winter in Spain, but that is another story. We then went back to England visiting family and friends. Then we caught the Portsmouth Caen Ferry in Sunday 3rd April. Earlier than we had planned. We could not stand the cold and the traffic any more.

I had booked us into a hotel just outside Redon which turned out to be so great we booked a second night so we could have a swim in their pool. It was an Yves Rocher Eco hotel in La Gacilly called La Gree des Landes.  This was the view from our room.

This was the view of the boat when we arrived back.

Looked a bit grim, with lots of "Redon Rain"accumulated in the cover.

Surprisingly the inside was just as we left it, thanks to some low wattage heaters and the cover.

We had to make another trip to Spain to sort out the apartment we had bought (this is part of the other story), but on our return we took the first break in the wind and rain to get our new sail cover up, and Scallywag was starting to look good again.

We were nearly ready to go South and find the sun.