Days 7 and 8, from l’Aber Wrac’h to Newlyn – crossing the Channel

Wednesday 28^th and Thursday 29^th August

The Channel crossing between l’Aber Wrac’h and Newlyn is about a hundred miles.

This must be our second night sail.

After getting up late and having breakfast on the terrace, that is to say in the cockpit, we cast off at 12:00.

North-Northwest Cape… Heading for England!

Under sail towards Newlyn

A nice surprise, as soon as we leave the access channel, the wind offers us its support.

A speed slightly slower than sailing with the engine, a few extra miles to enjoy the wind, are nothing compared to the pleasure of being under sail, the sound of the hull racing over the waves, the magnificent weather and the starry sky that make us happy to be on the water.

A few dolphins appear during the night, and accompany us during the watches.

We see for the first time the phosphorescence of the plankton in our wake, which gives the impression that we have put a light under the stern of the boat.

Traffic in the Channel

Night sailing is never boring.

We spend a lot of time spotting the lights of cargo ships, ferries and trawlers, assessing their routes and distances, it’s a full-time occupation!

Jack is not afraid of Bruno

The next afternoon, we have a visit from a little lost bird, which Christian names Jack. We give him some strength with sugar water, which I present to him with a syringe from my toolbox.

Jack is very friendly, probably too tired to be afraid of us.

Unfortunately, after 2 attempts to fly behind the boat, he finally disappears. I think nature has done its work, and the sea has gotten the better of him.

Approaching de Newlyn, we cross tracks with the Waverley, the world’s last paddle-wheel steamer, dating from 1946 and restored in the 2000s.

The Waverley

Today it operates regularly between Glasgow and London for tourist cruises.

As the photo shows, a crowd of people was gathered on the bridge.

I don’t want to brag, but a lot of cameras and smartphones were pointed at our beautiful blue sails!

We arrive on August 29 at 17:00 local time, 29 hours later.

Entrance to Newlyn Harbour

From Newlyn, where I had come with my crewmate John during the delivery of China Blue, I had remembered the pub where we had spent an evening, and met the painter Ben Gunn and his wife Jacqueline (see https://leblanc.pl/china_blue/index.php/the-whole-story/chapter-10-last-sail-in-england/).
Nostalgic by nature, I want to take my friends to this place.

That same evening, we go through the door of the Red Lion. Although it is a highly recommended pub, where we enjoy our first and emblematic fish and chips (the first of a long series !), I do not recognize the place visited in September 2021. After the beers and the meal, I try to get my crewmates to look for this pub whose name I had forgotten, but fatigue takes over and we return to the boat, after an exceptionally busy day.