Thursday 13 June
We made the most of the afternoon opening of the lock to indulge in a lazy morning, offsetting this with a long walk to find supermarket shopping on the opposite side of town. The road was being rebuilt, and was recently tarmacked and still sticky, edged with unmade pavement of loose hardcore, dotted with pallets of paving slabs completely obstructing the way. Failing to find the expected Intermarché, Mate was pleasantly surprised by a clean, well-stocked and cheap Netto, and backpacks were soon laden with lovely fresh produce and the makings of the next few suppers.
As it was now lunchtime, a classic French crêpe was sought, but we were too late, and fell back on the bar at the marina, which we had been assured (by marina staff) offered very good food. Delighted to report – they are right! Skipper enjoyed a delicious beef casserole with figs and Roquefort sauce, while Mate tucked into a fabulous deep filled tarte of layers of courgette, tomato and feta. Needless to say, these were washed down with samples of local microbrewery ale, Coreff, and Breton cider.
Being nearest the lock, with the top gates conveniently left open, we slipped in after a pretty local traditional gaffer, with plenty of time to sort ourselves out for the high tide opening. This would give us maximum water to wind our way back down channel to Skipper’s assessment of a “sheltered anchorage, free of swell” just South of Roscoff marina, which was full of yachts for the Figaro event. This is one of the big French races, where solo sailors compete in a one design race without assistance, over four timed legs. This year the route covered 1500-2000 Miles in around twelve days, between Nantes, Kinsale, Baie de Morlaix and Dieppe. We were close enough to the marina to see hundreds of flags and banners dancing in the evening breeze, and hear faint music from the onshore celebrations.