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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure

    Iron Heart Meet Ups & Travel
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    • GilesG
      Giles
      IHUK Crew
      Joined:

      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....

      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

      last edited by Giles 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
      • AetasA
        Aetas
        見習いボス
        Joined:

        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..

        IMG_6665.jpeg

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • GilesG
          Giles
          IHUK Crew
          Joined:

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          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.

          IMG_0957.JPG

          And my view atm....

          IMG_0969.JPG

          "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

          last edited by Giles goosehdG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 6
          • goosehdG
            goosehd
            Mod Squad
            @Giles
            Joined:

            @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 🙂

            "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • MattM
              Matt
              見習いボス
              Joined:

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

              last edited by goosehdG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
              • goosehdG
                goosehd
                Mod Squad
                @Matt
                Joined:

                @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….

                "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                last edited by goosehd 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • GilesG
                  Giles
                  IHUK Crew
                  Joined:

                  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.

                  "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                  last edited by Tago MagoT 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
                  • GilesG
                    Giles
                    IHUK Crew
                    Joined:

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

                    IMG_0972.jpeg

                    On in the background….

                    49f2f91d-db54-4540-ac05-e0f8b4dd95d0-image.jpeg

                    "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                    last edited by Giles AdamJA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 7
                    • Tago MagoT
                      Tago Mago
                      Mod Squad
                      @Giles
                      Joined:

                      @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

                      last edited by Tago Mago ROmanR 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • GilesG
                        Giles
                        IHUK Crew
                        Joined:

                        Now on
                        image.jpeg

                        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • goosehdG
                          goosehd
                          Mod Squad
                          Joined:

                          @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?

                          "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                          last edited by goosehd 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                          • ROmanR
                            ROman
                            Haraki san Prodigy
                            @Tago Mago
                            Joined:

                            @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.

                            last edited by ROman 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • GilesG
                              Giles
                              IHUK Crew
                              Joined:

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

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                              "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                              last edited by Giles 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
                              • GilesG
                                Giles
                                IHUK Crew
                                Joined:

                                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.

                                IMG_1006.JPG

                                "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
                                • AdamJA
                                  AdamJ
                                  IHUK Crew
                                  @Giles
                                  Joined:

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

                                  The devil is in the detail..

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • GilesG
                                    Giles
                                    IHUK Crew
                                    Joined:

                                    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.

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                                    "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 7
                                    • GilesG
                                      Giles
                                      IHUK Crew
                                      Joined:

                                      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....

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                                      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                      last edited by Tago MagoT FlavourFadeF 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 5
                                      • Tago MagoT
                                        Tago Mago
                                        Mod Squad
                                        @Giles
                                        Joined:

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

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • FlavourFadeF
                                          FlavourFade
                                          Raw and Unwashed
                                          @Giles
                                          Joined:

                                          @Giles very supervillainy

                                          Insta: free_the_fades

                                          wtb:
                                          The Pale Rider XXL

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • GilesG
                                            Giles
                                            IHUK Crew
                                            Joined:

                                            And we have the submarine pens to starboard:

                                            IMG_1031.JPG

                                            and a Vaubon fort to port:

                                            IMG_1032.JPG

                                            "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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