It was a long slow motor on one engine around to Cedeira - our next port of call. We saw Splice sneak past us early in the day and though it looked a little choppy they assured us it wasn't when we saw them later. We headed out when we thought we'd get a bit of tide assist and the forecast promised wind. Though there was some swell it was very comfortable and beautiful weather but only a light breeze on the sodding nose!

So we spent a few days in Viviero finding our feet in Spain. Scoping out the supermarkets in a new country is always fun - what little foibles do they have? What new foods and what are the prices like?

It was good to be underway as we were getting a little bit stircrazy! The forecast wasn't too promising for a good sail. The forecast has been promising for a long time but with our slight delay, the weather took the chance to change to light or no wind. Well, as many sailors have said, that's better than far too much wind in Biscay! We did sail for a while though, and I was really enjoying it. It got even better when we pulled in the first of a decent haul of mackerel.

It was good to meet many of the people at Privilege Marine. They built Duplicat many years ago and whilst some of the things they did drive me crazy, they have improved things and learnt! We worked out a plan of action for the leaky window but due to workload it meant we'd be waiting a week, so they offered the free use of their pontoon. Sold! It was very close to a large supermarket, mid-way between the two marinas and their associated restaurants and pretty close to town. Very handy indeed.

It was back to no wind and motoring. We'd have stayed out but we wanted to meet up with some folks at Privilege Marine where Duplicat was originally built and we were deep into holiday season. So as the evenings raft broke up, both Majik and Duplicat struck out for the beach resort. Peter and Lynn gamely tried the sails, but we didn't think it was going to work for us, so it was on with both donkeys...

Wind! Though for the first 4 miles it was at our worst angle - almost directly behind. If it had been for longer, we'd have stuck the parasailor up but we were feeling lazy and eating breakfast that Mandy had fetched just before we left. However, we knew things would change and as we rounded the end of the Les Bouefs reef, the wind came onto the beam and off we shot.

There was no wind whatsoever. So we had a very long boring motor from Hoëdic to the small marina on the tip of Ile de Noirmoutier called L'Herbaudiere. We crossed the mighty Loire dodging a tug that looked like it was towing half a ship!

We left Sauzon to continue our Island tour. It was a very short sail to the small island of Houat. Given the wind direction we eschewed the tiny harbour of Port Saint-Glidas and headed for the popular anchorage Tréac'h er Goured. We hadn't quite understood the scale of "popular"! There must have been close to 150 boats anchored there for the July 14th weekend!

When we bought Duplicat, the broker waxed lyrical about a wonderful place we just had to visit. A mythical island called Belle Ile that was blessed with wonderful harbours just suited to catamarans. We put it on the list... <p>

Lorient was were we got stuck. We headed into Kernével as it was an easy location for Dad, Dave, Rebecca, Joe, Martha and Polly to get to and it was likely to have space - which they did. I also had some work to do - so we needed the reasonable wifi provided by the marina, as 3G wasn't going to be sufficient. <p>

We did have a sprinkle of rain one day whilst walking to Locmaria - a drying harbour on the south side of the island. We sat in a bus shelter whilst it passed, but it made for a very grey photo of the port. The semaphore station (as they are all still called in France - and still active for traffic reports and weather) was over near the lighthouse... We picnicked in the pine forests - something that's very vivid in my memories of holidays in France as a kid. <p>

We love islands and Brittany is spoilt for choice! Having visited Ushant and the Iles de Glénans already, Ile de Groix was the next obvious choice. We had a bit of time in hand as we were due to meet Dad, Dave and family in Lorient soon after. <p>

We'd heard a lot about Concarneau especially from Derek and his stories of having to manoeuvre Ocean Tigress alongside the fuel berth during a very busy weekend. We had to go! <p> We got there late afternoon, having sailed around from Benodet. Unfortunately there is limited space for catamarans in the marina, and due to the way a few boats had moored (fairly selfishly - thanks Rolling Swiss!), we couldn't find a spot. So we spent the first night anchored nearby in Anse de Kersoz. <p>

We left Iles de Glénans reasonably early and sailed all the way to Benodet, passing the lighthouse on Ile aux Moutons. We picked a spot on the outside end of the visitors pontoon and went alongside at slack water, given the dire warnings in the pilot guides! <p> We had a very pleasant time at Benodet, including a wonderful meal at Cafe Foutu. We also provisioned at the nearby supermarket. We met Brian and Ruth who invited us on board for a drink and comparing of notes. <p>

The weather conspired to make us lazy. Drifting around in the dinghy, heading ashore to our private beach just off our third anchorage. Stunning sunsets, long slow lunches watching the world pass by. It was hard to drag ourselves away, but Phil and Paulette were coming to see us and that meant we had to head to the mainland.

The weather conspired to make us lazy. Drifting around in the dinghy, heading ashore to our private beach just off our third anchorage. Stunning sunsets, long slow lunches watching the world pass by. It was hard to drag ourselves away, but Phil and Paulette were coming to see us and that meant we had to head to the mainland.

We left the anchorage outside Audierne reasonably promptly as we wanted to use the wind to try and get as far towards the Île edge Glénans as possible before it shifted. It was a bit bumpy but we made good progress and were entertained by some dolphins on the way. We rounded Pointe de Penmarc'h - a constant in the weather forecast as it's the end of the area from Cap de la Hague. Now we move on to the area from Penmarc'h to l'anse de l'Aiguillon.

Much is written about the Raz. In a storm, it's a fearsome place and wholly deserves it's reputation - but we have time on our side. We can pick our moment - but still you worry. Our 3 different almanacs/guides gave differing strategies and all advised not passing through in "fresh winds". <p>

The weather was still gorgeous and in particular the wind was NE, so we exited to stop in one of the bays on the western side of the Crozon peninsula. In truth, ewe were waiting to see if the wind would allow us a chance to stop at the Ile de Sein itself, but it wasn't looking like it would be comfortable. <p>

We left Ushant and made our way to Camaret. We'd be spending a bit of time there as Emma was joining us for a week, and we'd made good progress down from the UK. So time for a bit more relaxing. <p> On our way from Ushant, we passed the imposing La Jument lighthouse, made famous by Jean Guichard's photo of the wave encircling the lighthouse as the keeper waved from the door. Not that bad when we were out there...