We enjoyed a relaxing lay day on Thursday, each engaged in our chosen activity - reading, watching tv, lying in the sun or catching up with paperwork - and were ready by the evening to savour the delights of the Brasserie Victoria and the Nemo nightclub, both within the marina complex. Whilst the meal surpassed our expectations, the nightclub was a little more modest in its ambitions, but we still enjoyed some lively dancing, occupying most of the space on the tiny dance floor.

On Friday we had decided to head back to St Malo, to give ourselves a good day's exploring before the girls had to head back home on Sunday. We had managed to get detailed charts of the Baie St Brieuc whilst in Lazardrieux and were able to plan a scenic inshore passage along the Brittany coast, close to the Cap d'Erquy and Cap Frehel. We were maintaining fairly modest speeds, trying to eke out the fuel until we got back to Guernsey with its favourable tax policy. Unfortunately our passage had us in a beam-on swell for most of the way, and at the slower speed the boat wallowed around giving a rather uncomfortable ride. The dramatic views made up for it though, and we passed lots of sheltered sandy coves and tiny villages nestling amongst the cliffs.

We were soon making our approach into St Malo along the Chenal de la Grand Porte, passing the distinctive Grand Jardin lighthouse. The buoyed approach channel seems to be a favourite anchoring spot for local fishing boats and with a high speed catamaran heading towards us it was a nervous moment as we proved there was room for all three of us. The small boats must enjoy the wash they get, or maybe they find it a productive fishing ground.

The lock into Bassin Vaubin was open as we entered the outer harbour, and we could motor straight in and raft up to wait for the HW +1/2 locking.

The afternoon was spent exploring the old town - the highlight a half hour narrated tour of the walled city on St Malo's Petit Train. Our favourite find was a casual looking seafood stall near the Porte de Saint Vincent which sells amazing crab, lobster and crevettes and seems to be open most hours of the day and night, even on Sundays.

Cruising Statistics

Distance: 34 nm

Total to date: 1162 nm

Avg Speed: 10 knots

Duration: 3:50 hours

Diesel: 180 litres (est)

Wind: NNW 2-3

Mooring: €37/night

Electricity:Free

Waypoints
(European datum)

Saint Quay Marina
48 38.88N 02 48.84W

Mouillage de Binic
48 36.86N 02 45.96W

Basse d'Erquy
48 37.92N 02 31.74W

Roche Plage des Coudrais
48 39.73N 02 27.86W

Cap Frehel
48 41.72N 02 19.54W

Chenal de la Grand Porte
48 40.22N 02 08.42W

Le Grand Jardin
48 40.26N 02 05.10W

Mole des Noires
48 38.54N 02 01.87W

Bassin Vaubin Lock
48 38.62N 02 01.50W

Charts

SHOM 7128

SHOM 7310

AC 2700

AC 2669