Hallberg Rassy 44: Biscay Crossing. Sailing Breezy Ep 9 4K

Tim and I depart Hamble toward Brest for a crew change. After 3 days of foul weather creating gale force headwind in the channel, a rest stop was wise. We motored most of the way through the Solent as the tide schedule would not allow for any playtime. As a Patrick O'Brien fan, seeing the Needles in person was a dream come true. I imagined Jack Aubrey, sailing HMS Surprise along the same route in search of the French navy. My second crossing of the English Channel was more routine but with better wind and much more traffic. Once past the shipping lanes we sailed the inshore route and encountered rain and mild winds and made a foolhardy decision to try out the Bluewater runner for the very first time. It only lasted about 30 minutes before we realized it was too much sail and then struggled to furl in the Blue monster. The Furling point is far up on the bowsprit and difficult to reach. We thought maybe a soft shackle with a line might be an easier way to secure the tack of this sail in the future. Later attempts in the Mediterranean will prove this to be a mistake.

We rode the current through the Chenal du Four, the navigational channel located off the western coast of France near Brittney. It is a key maritime passage that lies between the île d'Ouessant and the mainland. It's known for its strong tidal currents and potential for rough seas. During the Napoleonic wars, British and French ships operated in the area and the channel was a key focus of the British blockade of the French in Brest.

Sailing through the Chenal du four was nothing short of exhilarating. The winds were a beam and we were able to push Breezy with full sail. As we enter the estuary outside of Brest we finally encountered the French who, seeing our American flag gave chase. The Brittany sailors are among the best in the world and it took every bit of sailcloth to stay ahead of them.

My stop in Brest was brief and I to said goodbye to Tim and and checked into customs. The new crew: Mark, Harold and I restocked our supplies and quickly left to catch the tide through the Rez De Sein into the Bay of Biscay. Although the wind and conditions were perfect, the Southwesterly wind did not allow us enough westing and we had to pound into the wind and sea from A Coruña to Cape Finisterre. We then found ourselves looking for diesel on the Portuguese coast. Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal was listed as having fuel but we could not find a fuel dock and quickly exited the shallow and rocky harbor.

Dates of passage June 19-22