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Doteyboaty

July 2021 - April 2024
Family sailing around Europe Read more
Currently traveling
  • 155footprints
  • 8countries
  • 1,017days
  • 1.0kphotos
  • 79videos
  • 10.7kkilometers
  • 72kilometers
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  • Doteyboaty
    Day 8

    Iles de Glenan

    July 19, 2021 in France ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    We spend two more hot days in the Glenans. We do an unsuccessful repair to the dingy floor and so have to motor slowly from the boat to the islands with our soggy bottom. This setback doesn’t stop us from exploring and we go on a tour of the islands… then we run out of fuel. We laugh as we row back to the boat and when the laughter runs out we just row.
    We wake up with a renewed spirit of adventure the next day and head off to one of the further most islands. We have had our eye on it the whole time we have been here. The island is one long white sandy beach with a tiny grassy and rocky at one side. The only way to this desert island is with a small boat and this island is surrounded by boats and full people. We are the palest people on the beach and the only ones without a parasol or beach tent for shade. We have a little black rain umbrella that does the job nicely.    Read more

  • Doteyboaty
    1
    Day 11

    Back to the mainland

    July 22, 2021 in France ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    The tides are moving steadily from neaps to springs and we have less and less water under our keel at every low tide. We saw two boats ground and go over on their sides at low water. The weather forecast isn’t good for the coming days and we have run out of fresh food. All good things must come to an end and so we leave the îles de Glenans.
    It’s another hot day as we make our way to Concarneau. We put up sails and turn off the engine travelling at about 3 knots. A good speed for fishing and we catch two mackerel. Try and we might for two more to feed the other half of the family, none bite.
    As we arrive into Concarneau we are met by the marina rib who tell us they are full up and that we will have to go elsewhere. By now we are uncomfortably hot and aware that bad weather is due tomorrow. Over the noise of both our engines, the marina man shouts a few suggestions of marinas we could try across the bay. Over the next hour and a half we motor across the bay and try on and off to make radio contact with the marina in Port-la-Forêt where we are headed. We hear other boats making contact and booking and we finally succeed about 15 minutes- ah they have a spot for us. The marina is huge and a rib escorts us all the way into our berth - one boat down from Arkea Paprec, a Vendée Globe participant. The team is working on her when we arrive and she gets a steady stream of fans taking photos of her. There are several other amazing racing boats in the Marina and Ruby takes a real shine to a Trimaran.    Read more

  • Doteyboaty
    Day 13

    Port la Forêt

    July 24, 2021 in France ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    We have decided we will make our passage to Spain on Monday as there is a weather window. We would love to have more time in France but if we are to get into the Mediterranean before winter we have to push on and get further South. This is a jam-packed weekend with passage-planning, dingy- repairing, provisioning, refuelling, 5 loads of Laundry, car rental, stocking up in decathlon and two trips to take in the sights of the old town of Concarneau. When we return home at 10pm one evening Ruby says the experience reminds her of our trip to London 2 years ago - fun and go go go!
    The car rental company is in the next town over so in order to get there Ronan and I walk, with scooters thrown over our shoulders, through lovely old pathways by the sea and through woods . We scoot from one side of town to the other, rent the Car and return home to a lovely lunch prepared by Colm and Ruby.
    During our first visit to Concarneau we take in the sights of the beautiful old town on the fortified island and go for dinner. We spend very little time in any tourist shops but Colm and Ruby have just enough time to spot some fancy daggers and Swords. We manage to leave empty handed. There is so much chat about this amazing shop and we just can’t leave for Spain without seeing it. We return on Sunday and Colm buys a fake dagger. Ronan goes to the cafe and continues passage planning while the Colm, Ruby and I proceed to visit all the tourist shops buying postcards, tea towels, biscuits and very very expensive kids sweets - we were had.
    Ronan and Ruby do most of the provisioning in Lidl on Saturday but conclude that Lidl in France is nothing compared to her Irish cousin. We plan to top up in one of the larger supermarkets on Sunday only to discover they are closed on Sundays. We make do with our little local shop and get enough lettuce to last us until we get to Spain.    Read more

  • Doteyboaty
    Day 15

    Passage from Brittany to Galicia

    July 26, 2021 ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    We say goodbye to the lovely Port la Fôret, turn on our engine and put us up the sails. We have more than 50 hours of passage to make across the bay of Biscay.
    Donal O Driscoll has given us many wise words over the years and they frequently come to mind and guide us. His advice on passage making is make it as fast as is comfortable. Weather and conditions can change on passage and in the Bay of Biscay there is no where to go but through it. Based on this we leave the engine on, while we sail and make 7 knots rather than slowing back to 5 knots without it,
    This passage, like our last, is rolly. The kids are dosed up with seasick medication and yet still feel a bit queasy and sleepy. They are troupers and always perk up with any bit of distraction. They can’t read or write because of the motion but they have podcasts downloaded and it’s lovely to see them laugh away to themselves when they are wearing their headphones. We also enjoy playing music on the speakers and we are all loving Queen at the moment. Later on night-watch it seems all I have downloaded to Spotify on my phone is Prince - so I listen to Purple rain about 5 times!
    Colm joins Ronan on the first watch after dinner when day turns to night. he brings a blanket and his band of toys up with him and they all have a lovely few hours together. Later in the night Ronan spots the ‘Green Isle’ fishing boat he on the AIS and talks to a Donegal man on the VHF. Later a Cork fisherman nearby contacts Ronan for a chat on the radio.
    When the first night is turning into the second day on passage, the wind comes up and there are squalls and dark clouds about. I have to bear away to prevent Régal becoming overpowered and rounding up into the wind. We put two reefs in and the boats settles back down and is comfortable on her course again. Colm is up with me when I see the blows from a Whale in front of us. I think she is sleeping because the 4 blows come from the same spot. I bear away to Port and as we come closer her huge back and fin come up and before she dives down. I hold my breath until I am sure we and she are out of harms way. I let out a ‘holy …..’ when I breath out, she was a big one - Probably a fin whale.

    We continue on our journey through the vast infinity pool, which is how Ruby describes where we are. Hour after hour all we see is sea and a 360 degree horizon.
    Later on, on day two there is a bit of excitement as our AIS screen becomes dotted with boats. We are out in the middle of the Bay of Biscay when all of a sudden we seem to be surrounded by traffic. We investigate the chart and see we are near the Gascogne Knoll, a shallower part of the bay and near the French/ Spanish boarder. We avoid getting too close to anyone but see some of the boats in the distance.
    The swell is dropping by the hour we all welcome the reduction in roll and the improvement in sleep.
    At 8am on day three, Colm declares ‘Land ahoy’ - He is the first to spot the Spanish Coast, dead ahead. As we get closer the heat comes up and we have a sun -filled 7 hours before we drop our Anchor in Cedeira.    Read more

  • Doteyboaty
    Day 16

    A Biscay sky

    July 27, 2021, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    One of the things I love about being on watch is that sometimes you have the most spectacular sky all to yourself. I had this gorgeous sunset the very next morning the beautiful sunrise while everyone on board was asleep. I did get some sleep in between.Read more

  • Doteyboaty
    1
    Day 17

    Dropping Anchor

    July 28, 2021 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Over the years we have always gone to a Marina after a long passage so going to Anchor in Cedeira is a new experience and a much better feeling. Rather than usual stress of ropes, fenders, coming along side, checking in, hosing down, showers,orienteering the town - all done through a fog of tiredness, when we drop Anchor we were instantly relaxed. The four of us jump off the boat for a swim- it feels amazing to have arrived in Spain.
    The next day is the 29th of July and is special because it is our wedding anniversary. It is great to be in Galicia on Régal 15 years after we arrived here on Re Shuanta at the start of our honeymoon trip on the ARC to the Caribbean. It is hard not to bore the kids with memories of our wedding and honeymoon on our anniversary and they are good enough to indulge us on our trip down memory lane. Colm prepares a lovely post swim breakfast for us,    Read more

  • Doteyboaty
    1
    Day 18

    Cedeira

    July 29, 2021 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    It is so lovely to wake up at anchor and smell the eucalyptus. We are surrounded by hills that are covered in forests of eucalyptus and pine. At the foot these hills are long sandy beaches and the town of Cedeira. We dingy into the town to explore the beaches and Restaurants. After a feed of Pizza, Ruby and I go on a walk up the hill out of Cedeira and through the woods to get to the viewing point and lighthouse. We soak in the views of the sea and the trees as much as we can but it is hard to take it all in.
    We find that most of people in the town and indeed on this remote walk are wearing face masks and so we do the same. We remove it to breath in the fresh air and beautiful eucalyptus smells and to cool down when no one is around. Later we see a man wearing a mask while fishing off the pier alone, we see a whole rowing crew, rowing in this heat - all wearing masks. This is the norm here in Spain and so we adapt and are happy to comply.
    We return to the town in time for our booking in the free water bouncy castle.The Bouncy castle we are told has been provided for by a political party - we just hope it isn’t the fascist one that the locals have organised marches against! We go for our first taste of tapas in a local restaurant and sample some of our favourites - Calamari and Pimentos de Padron.
    The next day I tackle some daunting plumbing while Colm Ruby and Ronan go to a lovely remote beach under the eucalyptus forest. When they get back we all jump into the water for a swim. There is nothing like it to wash away the previous few hours of frustrating and dirty work.    Read more

  • Doteyboaty
    Day 19

    Getting back home

    July 30, 2021 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    This is a little photo sequence of our trip out to Régal after our day in Cedeira town - a sample of what its like getting home from the shore when we are at anchor. The dingy has to be untied and carried down the slip to the water - she is heavy and even heavier with the outboard attached. Ronan guides her around the slip for easy access. We load the bags and passengers while a group of rowers delay coming along the slip to allow us get off. Our outboard doesn’t kick into action when Ronan pulls the cord so we deploy the oars to move off out of the rowers way. We are an amusement for the people walking and fishing along the pier. Ronan gets the outboard started and soon are insight of home - and she is beautiful.Read more

  • Doteyboaty
    1
    Day 21

    A Coruna

    August 1, 2021 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    We travel south to A Coruna and stay at the marina. Ruby wakes up early and snaps a beautiful sunrise.We have a lovely morning in the Aquarium followed by a walk up to and around Hercules - the oldest existing lighthouse in the world (20B.C.)
    We have a gorgeous afternoon meal in the old part of the city. Spain requires a Covid passport for indoor dining which we haven’t got yet. The owner is kind enough to let us eat inside after I use Spanish, english and my charades skills to show we were both doubley vaccinated.
    When we wander after dinner we see the usual gorgeous buildings and green areas as well as a big market down by the water. We follow the sound of music to find a band sound-checking for a concert and Ruby and Colm become instant AC/DC fans.    Read more

  • Doteyboaty
    Day 22

    Leaving under cover of Darkness

    August 2, 2021 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    We leave A Coruna at 6 am as we have about 14 hours of journey to make down to the Ria of Muros. We expect the sun to be rising as we leave but it doesn’t show itself until well after 7. Spain is an hour ahead of Ireland but we are in Galicia, which is on the same longitude as West Cork hence the late sunrise. In a few weeks time when we are just a little south of here the sun will rise to our expectations at around 6am -Portugal is in the same time zone as Ireland.
    Colm is a great help with getting off the Marina and watching out for bouys . Ruby isn’t feeling and only comes up for a short while.
    Later in the afternoon we pass Cabo Finisterre. It is a nautical milestone and this is the closest we have ever been to it.    Read more

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