Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure

[Giles]

We have made it to anse de pen-hir. We are anchored up. I'll cook a curry and P will watch the footie (internet allowing). To get here we had to get through the chenal du four, one of the nastiest bits of water in Europe. When we bought the boat back from Menorca, we had to abort one passage through the chenal, and I had a bit of a monkey on my back about doing it, just the two of us. I need not have worried, we (mainly P) spent a lot of time working out winds/current/wave heights/timings etc, and we got it perfect, it was like a mill pond....

And at anchor....

[Nik]

Beautiful

[Giles]

When we woke up yesterday, the weather was dull but windless. With the wind picking up towards the weekend, and having to pass through the raz de sein, we decided to crack on. We made it to Port-la-Forêt late yesterday afternoon, another 60 miles under our belts.

Woke up to see Foussier, an Imoca 60, being 90 degree rig tested.....

Photos when I get a half-decent connection....

[Aetas]

Can’t believe that nearly four years waiting are over in 120 days. Next Vendée Globe starts 11.10.2024.
Curious for the pictures of the Foussier..

[Giles]

And Oliver Heer's boat is here too. A close friend of Alex and David Thomson (and a former boat captain for Alex on one of the Hugo Boss's when Alex did some two-handed races), I would have met him tomorrow at the wedding of Alex's twin sister Sarah. But we are here instead They did the 90 degree rig test on Olivers boat before we got here yesterday.

And my view atm....

[goosehd]

@Giles Just a reminder that your boat does not have a keel like the ones being tested. Do not attempt that test on your own or under the recommendation of Alex and crew. I do not think your insurance will cover that, but I am not expert. Maybe @Matt can advise better

[Matt]

As we used to say in the business, “We cover stupidity.”

[goosehd]

@Matt Funny you mention that…while picking my boat up from the marina the other day, one of the guys working there mentioned that someone drove their new boat across a shallow shoal destroying two 400 outboard motors.

It was the guy’s first boat and his first day out….

[Giles]

Last night, we had one of the eating experiences I was hoping to find. We found a little bar run by husband and wife, she did the booze, he cooked in a kitchen effectively open to the seating area. We sat down got served some wine and waited for the menu. After about tens mins Mme came to the table planted both palms firmly on the table top and just announced, “Calamar, Lotte ou Entrecote”. No starters or puds. We both had Lotte and it was amazing, proper food. We left the greatest of friends. Heaven.

[Giles]

We are now on our way to Lorient, a passage of about 30 miles. It ain't rough out here…

On in the background….

[Tago Mago]

@Giles sounds fantastic. I would have gone for the entrecote for two reasons: firstly, not the biggest fan of squid, secondly, had to google what lotte is

I'd imagine that Moon Safari is a great accompaniment to your trip

[Giles]

Now on

[goosehd]

@Giles @Tago-Mago Lotte is a fish stew cooked in a tomato base? Typically I drink white with fish, but assume that you had a red since it was a tomato based stew?

[ROman]

@Tago-Mago said in Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure:

@Giles sounds fantastic. I would have gone for the entrecote for two reasons: firstly, not the biggest fan of squid, secondly, had to google what lotte is

I'd imagine that Moon Safari is a great accompaniment to your trip

Agreed with the entrecote. Googled lotte as well, Giles has told me that monkfish is excellent.

[Giles]

Pimped Up Nishi Katona Piri Piri Rice on the go.....

[Giles]

So last night, Paula managed to get the best seats in one of the local restaurants (the only one that realised that Euro 2024 was still happening apparently).
They sold a wide variety of Saucisson, and after chatting to our waiter I resolved to buy a "Classic" and a "Fumé" when I picked up the bill.

When I did ask for the bill (which was after the final whistle), I asked the owner to add the Saucisson to the bill. He said, "Have them on me, it looks like you need cheering up".

God I fucking love this place.

[AdamJ]

@Giles @SamD introduced me to that record last year, great choice!

[Giles]

What a treat this morning.

I saw what is I believe, the largest sailing trimaran in the world leave the harbour, she had a couple of ribs with her too. She is absolutely enormous. I wish I could get out into the bay to see her under sail, though there is no way we could keep up with her.

[Giles]

We are staying in Lorient for a few more days. This is our view today. For those of you with any interest in WWII, this is the Chateau where Admiral Karl Doenitz ran the U Boat campaigns against the allied convoys. A tad ostentatious....

[Tago Mago]

@Giles the Nazis were not known for low-key or subtle