We achieved Customs clearance into France and with it, gained the all-important stamps into our passports.  No problem at all and nothing like the onerous procedure we had feared! Then we set about exploring Brest.  The area near to our Marina du Chateau was largely occupied by the naval port and we could see a range of naval warships alongside, with staff scurrying about their duties nearby - all closed off to us public of course.   We followed our noses and found ourselves in parts of town where the shops and businesses were mostly closed down, a depressing sight.  Then we found a strange "cultural centre" called Les Ateliers des Capucins.  This prides itself in being the largest undercover public space in Europe and was built into an old shipbuilding shed.  It has a few incongruous businesses such as a climbing wall, a bookshop and some dark underground food outlets plus a small art exhibition.  Otherwise it has become a space for youngsters to...

It was the picture of tranquillity and calm as we awoke at anchor in New Grimsby Sound (between Tresco and Bryher) on Sunday morning.   New Grimsby Sound This was the day we planned to set off for France, headed for Brest (127 miles away) to check-in to the European Schengen Zone and start our progress southwards. However, looking towards the seas north of us, we were surprised to see a mass of white breaking waves - indicating windy conditions and a rough sea..  In view of this, we put a reef in the main and gingerly motored out into this rough water to take the west-going tide and the passage around Bryher leading to St Mary's Sound that would take us away from the Scillies. We were shocked at the violence of the sea and we had a hard beat in WSW F5-6 winds as we edged round the clusters of rocks to the west of Bryher with the Bishop Rock lighthouse standing guard to seaward of us.  Both Doug and I privately wondered if it might be better to seek shelter in the Cov...

Luckily the Isles of Scilly are a very beautiful place to wait for fair winds because we are still here.  Somehow we have Westerly swells combined with calms and then Southerly winds.  Things are happening out in the Atlantic, probably near Phil and Liz. Tresco Beach looking towards St Helen's Pool Yesterday was our time to scrub off the Tamar weed and baby barnacles that were already growing on our Coppercoat.  We went alongside the harbour wall in Hugh Town and waded waist deep at low tide with scrubbing brushes.  It would have been easier at spring tides but the wall was too busy back then.  They mostly came off quite easily.  The harbour regulations prohibit scrubbing off but we were granted special permission due to not having anti-foul paint on our hull.  Hence the local eelgrass would be unaffected. Drying out alongside, Hugh Town, St Mary's Another small matter to attend to was the chart card for France and Spain.  These are easily updated...

This sailing season, Doug had decreed that we should seek the warmer, southerly climes in contrast to our decidedly chilly sail northwards to the Orkneys last year! So, having spent the past week preparing and packing everything onto the boat, we left our mooring at Weir Quay on Tuesday 13th June, bound for Falmouth - for Doug to firstly take part in the 2023 Sea Shanty Festival with the "Tavy Tars". On the way, we moored between 2 buoys for lunch next to the tiny fishing harbour of Polperro - something we had wanted to do for a while but needed this really settled fine weather for. Then on to Falmouth to join the crowds gathered for the Classic Yachts and Sea Shanty Festival weekend of 16-18th June. Tavy Tars performing at the Indidog Stage The Parade of Sail The Tars completed their fifth and final shanty performance on Saturday evening.  Then on Sunday, we climbed up to the viewing point on Pendennis Point to admire the parade of sail for the classic yachts. Next day, we s...