TripSailor.com® Sailing Blogs

We left L`Herbaudiere with the milk train and with the town still and in a peaceful slumber. Out of the marina entrance and with not a huge trip, only 20 miles, we decided to sail the whole way to La Croisic, come what may. The sails were hoisted and the engine turned off and Erimar was left at the mercy of wind and tide.

Dawn cautiously peeked through the horizon`s blinds as though it was surreptitiously spying on us, before being at ease with our presence and revealing itself in all its majestic glory. The sun, initially a weak watercolour imitation of itself, grew in splendour, offering a bold statement of intent for the dawn of a new day. With brazen power it rose in the sky in a blaze of an orange yellow, domineering yet not threatening. A blazing friendly fire. We watched in awe of nature at her finest and quietly blessed fate for letting us witness nature`s latest birth.

A fresh breeze had pushed Erimar steadily onwards but it was becoming obvious that it`s lungs were fading fast and this was not going to be a quick sail. Any wind became less and less and so did our progress and this was going to be a test of our patience. Three hours in and we noticed a mist slowly descending in front of us and besides reducing the visiblity, it meant little or no wind too.

As the fog eventually shrouded Erimar in a damp cloak and with the wind fleeing it`s dreaded enemy, – a choking grey unscented smoke – all that was left to coax Erimar towards La Croisic was a timid 1.1/2 knot tide and the promise of a hose down on arrival.

I engaged the radar to check on any looming dangers steaming out of St. Nazaire and the blips lit the screen like a looming armada. I kept the comfort blanket on but most of the shipping was on anchor and the notorious trawlers were on safe courses.

Have you ever tried to sail with no wind and little tide? It`s tough!Tough on patience and tough on the soul. How they endured “sailing” in yesteryear with no wind and the tide taking you somewhere other than your goal must have been soul destroying. But I suppose the sailors wouldn`t have known any different back then. Then there was Arthur “Tristan” Jones who would have thought it sacriledge to fire the engine up in all but a life threatening situation. Bugger that!Yes, we succumbed to the impatience of modern life and for the last hour we motored at 5 knots, which felt like we were flying in a Princess V class! We were also enticed in the knowledge that the kettle would be merrily whistling away on Silent Falcon. We had planned to meet up in La Croisic as we hadn`t seen Dave and Adrienne for 12 days and there was some serious catching up to be done.

Passage:20.70nm                             Distance run so far: 1379.32