Exercise BRITTANY BREEZE 2008
Exercise BRITTANY BREEZE 2008 ran between 14 April and 25 May. The Exercise was crewed
by personnel from stations throughout the Royal Air Force and was open to all levels of sailor from
novice to highly experienced. A number of challenging passages took place during the Exercise
and the Leg narratives below give an account of the sailing encountered. Each Leg had a new
crew and the narratives report their experiences.
LEG 1 NARRATIVE
14 Apr 08. We got underway at 1100A in a westerly F3. The mate carried out brief helming practice
picking up a buoy for the first sail of the season and then we practised tacking, Man Overboard
Drills under sail, and reefing in Plymouth Sound in calm waters. By 1230A we had set heading for
the first 12 hrs of the Channel crossing anticipating a turn to port to cross the shipping lanes closer
to 90° which the Skipper considered good seamanship. For 10 hours we had a W/NW F4 and
made good progress making 7.2 nm between log readings but by 2359A the wind had decreased
to F3 and with the heading change on the northern edge of the shipping lane the headsail was
blanketed by the main. The option of booming out the headsail was not a safe option for crossing
the shipping lanes in the dark. Therefore, we motor sailed under full main. The wind continued to
drop and it became clear that we would miss the tidal gate in the Chanel du Four; at 0720A we
headed for L'Aberwrach which we reached on a gentle sunny morning to be alongside at 151120B.
15 Apr 08. After a delightful lunch in the L'Escailliers des Abers we got underway at 1530B and
motor sailed from L'Aberwrach down the Chanel du Four in light airs. Interestingly, the tidal stream
in the north of the Chanel du Four was much weaker and slower to set in than expected. We could
not sail because of the necessity to make the tidal gate off Pointe Mathieu; but as we entered the
Goulet de Brest the wind picked up to N'ly F2 and we sailed across to Cameret under full sail
arriving alongside at 2250B in a marina somewhat short of facilities.
16 Apr 08. The port office in the visitors marina was closed so getting showers and paying took
rather longer than expected. Nevertheless, we slipped at 1100B for a pleasant beat up to Brest
arriving at the Moulin Blanc Marina at 1400 B for re-fuelling and re-provisioning. Leaving Brest we
had a SE F4/5 to bowl us along with a fair tide to Point Mathieu. Rounding Pointe Mathieu we had
a brilliant sail goose winged clocking 8.5 kts through the water against the last of the ebb towards
Le Conquet where we picked up a buoy. However, we were ordered off the first buoy because it
belonged to a fishing boat. The facilities for visiting yachts in Le Conquet are limited. We were
settled by 2030B.
17 Apr 08. After the Skipper's attempts to pay were politely declined by the Bureau du Port, we
sailed at 0930B under full main and genoa in a E'ly F4 but with F6 forecast. The engine was
difficult to start but later we diagnosed the problem as being not enough throttle. At 1015B we put
in the first rolls and the first slab in the main but a short while later we had 6 rolls in the genoa and
were thrashing to windward in fine style with a strong fair tide pushing up steep seas. At 11258 the
genoa furling line parted off the Le Four tower and RP and KL doused the sail and got it below. At
that stage the yacht had not been over pressed but the wind continued to increase so that by
1230B we were motor sailing under 3 reefs at 2.5 kts in mountainous seas with the wind steadily
increasing. The wind reached a maximum of 42 kts true (F9), 46 kts apparent, as we continued to
punch into the seas much helped by the fair tide. SH estimated the seas at 20ft crest to trough
which the Skipper dismissed as hyperbole! We were in the entrance of the L'Aberwrach by 1400B
in the company of another smaller yacht (which was clearly struggling) and were alongside in the
marina by 1500B. Berthing was difficult in the strong wind with the result that the Skipper had no
option other than to offer the stern to wind. We bought a replacement furling line, and had another
excellent meal in our favourite restaurant. Interestingly the written Meteo at L'Aberwrach gave the
houle (swell) as 4.1 metres; the wind over the tide in the conditions would have created waves of at
least 20 ft !
18 Apr 08. After showers and admin, we re-stowed the storm jib and de-rigged the baby stay which
had been set up as a precaution. Also we rehoisted the genoa but it took a couple of attempts and
considerable diagnosis, including RP going to the top of the mast, before we identified that the
Skipper's stopper knot was occasionally fouling the base of the furling drum. As a result we sailed
an hour later than planned at 1400B in a F4 but anticipating E'ly F6. We briefly experienced F7
during the afternoon. Once again, despite the fair tide we made slow progress along the north
Brittany coast with the huge seas taking the way off. The Skipper was not confident about using
the Canal de Batz between the mainland and the Isle de Batz in the conditions of wind and tide.
Therefore, by 1800B it was evident that we would not make Roscoff on that tide and we set
heading for Moguereic, a bay 5 nm west of Roscoff. Moguereic has excellent leading marks by day
and night. It took three attempts to get the anchor set to the Skipper's satisfaction; with a NE F9
forecast overnight full precautions seemed appropriate. Moguereic Bay is well sheltered from the
east and northeast but open to the nor'west. The bottom is sand. By 2040B we were settled but
had a restless night to some extent because of the swell rolling into the bay and because the
Skipper ran the engine for 30 minutes on two occasions so that it was warm and ready to go when
the F9 arrived.
19 Apr 08. The wind overnight never exceeded F4. The Skipper had everyone up at 0700B but
after weather checks we turned in again. We motor sailed out of Moguereic at 1130B in E'ly F2
heading for Primel-Tregastel to refuel and re-provision. We were alongside at 1445B Primel
against the quay which towered 30 ft above us and underway again by 1600B with a full tank of
diesel and cream cakes. The wind was now a gentle E'ly F3 but with a 2 deadline to make tacking
inside Les Sept Isles was not a good option and once again we motor sailed. At 2359B the slant of
the wind changed slightly and for two hours we made 5 to 6 kts close-hauled under full sail not
always on track but making good to windward.
20 Apr 08. The visibility started to deteriorate in the early hours which might have been a warning
of the SW F7/8 which had been forecast for Portland/Plymouth. Having been overnight in
Moguereic and stopped briefly in Primel, the Skipper did not have access to a written French
forecast and was relying on UK forecasts on text, Navtext and Longwave. The UK forecasts did not
seem to have a great deal of relevance to conditions close to the French coast but it would have
been unwise to completely ignore them. As it turned out we had a good sail and then motor sail to
St Malo; the visibility was never an issue. We entered the channel into St Malo in company with the
incoming Brittany Ferry and were moored in the marina at 0830B. After a snooze, we spent the day
fuelling, watering, cleaning and doing admin and minor repairs.
LEG 2 NARRATIVE
21 Apr 08. After the overnight ferry crossing we embarked on Subra at Marina des Sablons.
Having had difficulties in victualling previously, we had brought sufficient rations to cover the first 3
days. After a comprehensive brief we used the last of the tide to carry out some boat handling and
man overboard drills under power in the marina and out towards Dinard.
22 Apr 08. We departed at 0920 to motor out and carried out some sail training. With a Force 4-5
from WSW we set sail from the fairway mark towards St Helier at 11.15. We managed to carry the
tide almost all the way, averaging 6.5kts over the ground and arrived off Jersey late afternoon.
After some anchoring drills and boat handling in the outer harbour we crossed the sill and spent
the night alongside.
23 Apr 08. An easy day was planned with a short passage to Guernsey. The major factor on this
leg being completing the route with sufficient water at each end, a good planning exercise for the
Day Skipper. The opportunity was taken to buy some rations and have a short tour around the
waterfront. We departed after lunch with a F4 allowing us to beam reach most of the way. We
practised picking up buoys in the outer harbour at St Peter Port before going alongside for the
night in the marina.
24 Apr 08. To maximise the tide we departed at 1030 for St Malo. An uneventful passage with the
wind 40 – 50 degrees off at F 3-4. Overnight on the visitors pontoon at St Malo.
25 Apr 08. Flt Lt Hoaen disembarked to catch the ferry home for family reasons. We departed for
Paimpol on the tide at 1000. Into wind most of the way but with an average fair tide.
26 Apr 08. We attempted to plan for Binic but the tides didn’t work so pressed for St Malo. A long
day, but alongside for a meal and drinks by 2000.
27 Apr 08. Constrained by the tide times and the need for some fuel we went across to Dinard and
had lunch ashore. We were advised that the quayside has more depth than on the chart and we
managed to get alongside on the northern extremity of the quay, causing no obstruction. Having
refuelled, we returned to St Malo to clean the boat.
28 Apr 08. Caught taxis to the ferry terminal and met the on-coming crew. Departed at 1110 for
Portsmouth.
LEG 3 NARRATIVE
27 Apr 08. The scratch crew for Leg 3 of Brittany Breeze 2008 all met up for the first time in the
ferry terminal at Portsmouth. Here we boarded the overnight ferry crossing to St Malo, but it was
collectively decided that we would prefer the added comfort of a bunk for the night instead of
reclining chairs, so we upgraded! The ferry crossing was spent watching the onboard
entertainment and sleeping.
28 Apr 08. Arrived in St Malo and walked to the terminal from the ferry as the French coach drivers
were, believe it or not, on strike! We met the off going crew and received a verbal handover. This
included a brief about the engine not always starting and if this occurred you needed to tap the
starter relay and try again. Throughout the week we found this technique needed to be used on
more than one occasion.
Due to the bad weather it was decided to spend the day onboard at St Malo doing boat
familiarisation and briefs and safety briefs, this was all in between dodging the many heavy
rainfalls throughout the day. Also the tidal conditions only gave us a small window to leave the port
and come back again otherwise we were committed to an overnight passage in unfamiliar waters.
Some of the crew were deployed late afternoon to victual the Yacht for the forthcoming week.
29 Apr 08. St Malo to St Quay Portrieux. Today we had a sociable breakfast and early morning
depart for our destination of St Quay Portrieux the weather was not what we had ordered for
Brittany Breeze. We had lots of rain and Force 7 sustained gusts showing on the instruments,
every one was fully wet weather equipped, life jacketed and harnessed up for safety. It was not the
ideal first day sailing for our novice David Holmes who at times admitted to being a bit concerned
about what was going on around him but was put at ease by the relaxed nature of the more
experienced members of the crew. It was also an insight into some rough sailing for some of the
other members who had sailed before. Towards the end of the day the weather eased, allowing for
a more settled approach into St Quay Portrieux where we relaxed with a meal on board and local
French red wine talking and laughing about the days events.
30 Apr 08 St Quay Portrieux to Lezardieux. After resupplying with fresh French bread, croissants
and pain au chocolates we had breakfast then left for our next destination, Lezardieux. It was only
round the headland but there was a long river to navigate down. Doing this gave us all another
insight into sailing, the pleasures of meandering and navigating down a river under sail and
eventually engine. This turned out to be a very picturesque route indeed. Raining again today, but
not as much, and the sailing was a lot smoother with everybody enjoying helming and hands on
sailing. Eventually we tied up, ate, and had a look around the town.
01 May 08. Lezardieux to Treguier. Today’s planned trip involved the long journey back up the
river, along the coast a short way and then back down the next river to Treguier. Thankfully the
tides were in our favour for the whole day making the trip possible, as this was a place that was
recommended to us for a definite visit. Again the days sailing was good and wet with rain giving
fantastic rainbows on the river shorelines. Unfortunately we had to do a fair bit of motoring and not
very much sailing.
02 May 08. Treguier to St Malo. The long run back. After a long time consulting the almanac, tidal
atlas and guides the previous evening it was decided that today we had to head back to St Malo.
This was down to clearing the sill at St Malo on Saturday being late afternoon and the limited ports
that we could get into that were close by.
Anyway, a long day was ahead of us so with fresh provisions on board we set of for the best and
longest day yet. We had a dawn departure and breakfast on route. Fantastic! Excellent scenery
and good fast sailing under full sail, everybody had a big grin, this is what we came for. The crew
were bonded leaving the skipper almost redundant just keeping a watchful eye on what was going
on. They were self sufficient from plotting the route to sailing the yacht back, only helming after
prising the skipper of the wheel.
03 May 08. Boat cleaning. The obligatory cleaning of the boat was done first thing, and the refuel
carried out. David Holmes, the novice member, was in shock when the skipper said he could move
the boat from its mooring and head towards the refuel berth. This he did very well under the
skippers’ guidance when needed.
The boat was cleaned and the rest of the day was spent in St Malo around the old town
sightseeing in the glorious baking sun. In the evening we had a crew meal at one of the many local
restaurants.
04 May 08. Return to UK. We boarded Brittany Ferries for a day sailing back to Portsmouth. At the
ferry terminal we all said our goodbyes and returned to our respective units.
LEG 4 NARRATIVE
04 May 08. The Road to St Malo. The first day of the exped saw us getting used to life aboard,
albeit on a vessel somewhat larger than Subra! Having met up within the waiting lounge for
Brittany Ferries, we sat down for a drink, sharing tips on which sea sickness pills work best and
how to avoid being thrown overboard. At 1945 it was time to board Bretagne, our home for the next
12 hours.
Topped up on Entrecote steak, we headed to discover what entertainments were in store for us
that evening. Unfortunately we missed Brittany’s answer to Chaz and Dave but were later treated
to a magic show which would have put Paul Daniels to shame. Following the evening’s festivities,
we headed off for an early night, conscious of the fact that our accommodation for the next week
would not be quite so salubrious!
05 May 08. All Aboard, Batten Down the Hatches, Anchors Aweigh... On arrival at the harbor in St
Malo, we were greeted by our Skipper, Phil Berrecloth and our on board PEdO, Jim, there to
ensure that none of us fell lazy during the week! The weather was unfortunately rather like Britain,
rainy, dull but with very little wind. First job of the day was to get supplies and after prizing our
Group Captain Alan away from the Chateau Neuf des Papes, we managed to convince him that
you can buy 5L of drinkable wine in a box for 11 Euros. In amongst the shopping were plenty of
snacks to keep us going, fresh fruit and veg (no doubt to stave off scurvy) and enough food to cook
a couple of square meals and tide us over until our next stop off.
We quickly discovered that one difficulty with the harbours around St Malo, was that they invariably
have a sill at their entrance. This therefore restricted our start and finish times and it became
apparent that we would be setting sail late morning and coming into harbour late at night,
particularly towards the end of the week.
After packing away our supplies and a full safety brief, we set sail with trepidation and excitement,
fully dosed up on sea sickness pills and ready for the high seas. What we had not anticipated was
that there was a severe lack of wind and the phrase “mill pond” would have been too harsh to
describe the sea state. With the chug chugging of the engine in the background, we motored along
at a steady 5 knots. As we approached Barrage de Rance, the weather started to pick up and with
a slight breeze blowing, we decided to have a go at sailing.
Some hours later, we made our approach to Ploeur, with random currents around the harbour
attempting to push us towards the harbour wall. Luckily, thanks to our Skipper’s excellent boat
handling skills (and in no way did he pay me to say that...) we found a place to tie up alongside
someone’s gin palace, who stood and scrutinized every move of our approach and tutted at the
gaul of anyone parking up alongside his pride and joy. As the sun set and the owls hooted, we
settled down to a turkey curry, expertly prepared and reflected on the day’s events.
06 May 08. Granville, Besieged by the Navy in 1695 & 1803 and by the RAF in 2008... Besides the
Skipper’s snoring, we had an uninterrupted night’s sleep, ready to set off the following day for
Granville. One thing we learned quickly was that the harbour facilities everywhere were very good
indeed, with hot showers and excellent washing facilities. Well let’s be honest, you could hardly
expect someone who spends hundreds of thousands of pounds on a boat to slum it!
The weather was excellent, with a decent breeze and glorious sunshine so up went the sails!
During the morning, we all had a go at the helm. Mark was clearly brushing up on his technique for
avoiding enemy torpedoes, snaking around the water on a fixed heading give or take 20 degrees!
The afternoon saw us wrestling with the sails, trying to keep up a decent speed with the rapidly
dwindling wind. As evening approached, a couple of us headed below to whip up a culinary delight
for the evening meal. We headed into harbour just as the spaghetti was ready and were soon
moored up enjoying an excellent bolognaise.
07 May 08. Back to Blighty (Well Sort Of...) Awakening, I discovered that I had been eaten alive
during the night by a form of mutant mosquito, which had conveniently ignored everyone else on
the ship. I therefore set off to the showers to sulk, whilst the others laughed into their cereal.
With the sun on our backs and the wind most definitely not in our sails, we departed Granville for
Jersey. As we got out to sea, the wind picked up and we experienced 17 knots, the strongest of the
week. Taking full advantage of this, we adjusted the sails to get 8 knots with the tide, well for at
least 10 minutes... Arriving into Jersey that afternoon, we headed into town in order to soak up the
Jersey culture. It was at this point that we saw possibly the most absurd sight of the week, a £200K
Lamborghini on an island 10 miles long by 5 miles wide. That evening, we decided to head into
town to sample the local cuisine and for an island, it took a remarkably long time to find a seafood
restaurant!
08 May 08. The Other, Other Britain... The longest day (and no I don’t mean we took a trip to
Normandy), we set sail for Sark with a plan to sail on to Guernsey. With a 14 knot wind in our sails,
we set off at 7 knots towards Sark. Unfortunately, 30 minutes later and the wind died so it was on
with the motor and onwards towards the small island. Starting the engine on Subra was in itself an
adventure as one of the relays had bitten the dust. Therefore, whilst one person pressed the starter
button, the other had to reach into the engine compartment and tap the top of the relay box with a
screwdriver head. Frequent yells of “tap harder”, could be heard as the motor spluttered into life.
As we approached Sark, we decided to take on a buoy (apparently acceptable in yachting circles)
and go for an explore. This meant either a long swim or inflating the tender. Opting for the rowing
option, four of us piled into the tender and set off. A precise military operation it was not, with Adam
nearly falling in on a number of occasions! Once on the island, Mark tested the radio and in true
comms engineer style, couldn't seem to get it to work! An hour later and feeling like I had been
visiting the set of a cross between a spaghetti western and Pride and Prejudice, we returned to
Subra for our onward journey to Guernsey.
Typically, the glorious sunshine turned and we were treated to rain, but unfortunately still no wind!
The First Mate, Alan, took the helm, whilst the Skipper concentrated on navigating in the arduous
conditions. At around midnight we drew into harbour and had a well earned beer.
09 May 08. St Quay-Portrieux, Apparently a Result of the Reunion of St Quay and Portrieux,
There’s a Surprise... We were awoken the following morning by brass bands and drums and went
on deck to find the armed forces parading for VE Day. Having stocked up on supplies and been
treated to a Nimrod flypast, we set sail (well, engine) once again.
Choppier weather today, and we even had some wind (albeit not a great deal!). As the day wore
on, the rain subsided for sunshine but unfortunately so did the wind and we headed onward. The
port of St Quay Portrieux was a busy place and as we drew into harbour that evening, we found
that half of France had clearly also decided to visit and so the salmon pink chinos and deck shoes
were out in full force. In addition to the salmon trouser brigade, the harbour was host to an all
female regatta and this made for a nervous arrival, trying to look suave and sophisticated and most
importantly not fall in when stepping ashore to moor!
09 May 08. St Malo, the Second Coming... Due to high tide becoming later by the day and the 2m
sill at entrance to the harbour at St Malo, we had to return to our start point a day early. That
morning, we discovered that the glow plug and engine relays were in fact the same and therefore
we swapped them over in order to avoid the starting problems we had been plagued with all week.
After all, we would hardly need the glow plug in 28 degrees celsius!
Whilst waiting for the tides to be correct, we all had a go at manoeuvring Subra around the harbour
and discovered how much faster 2 knots seems when you are in an enclosed space rather than at
sea!
Once again baked in glorious sunshine, but with a severe lack of wind, we motored out of the
harbour in search of a breeze. We succeeded a number of times throughout the day, but never for
longer than an hour or so and so we were intermittently packing away the headsail and starting the
engine.
Having stocked up on supplies at St Quay Portrieux, we were treated to a fantastic meal cooked by
our resident Group Captain, which was enjoyed with the wind (well slight breeze) in our sails on
deck with the sun setting in the background. We were even treated to a little wind after dinner,
enabling us to sail towards St Malo with the peace and quiet of no engine. Unfortunately this did
not last long and we were soon reaching for the engine starter button. We drew into the harbour
just after sunset and spent the rest of the evening sat in the evening heat, reflecting on the week’s
events.
10 May 08. Swab the Decks ye Scallys... Cleaning day. After a few hours cleaning the decks,
topping up the water, tidying the cabin, scrubbing the galley and hosing down the heads, Subra
was ship shape and Bristol fashion, ready for handover to the next crew. We spent the remainder
of the day in search of gas bottles and engine relays, ensuring that the following crew would not
have to go tap tapping to get underway. I think Mark thought he was handing over a married
quarter after 45 minutes scrubbing at the oven! The time then came to send someone up the mast
to check the lights etc. I volunteered much to the dismay of my colleagues, who were not exactly
relishing the prospect of hoisting my bulk up the mast. However, hoist they did and I took
advantage of the situation and got some photos for the album.
A relaxing evening was followed by an early rise to catch the ferry the following morning, leaving
the Skipper and Jim to hand the boat over to the next crew. Despite the light conditions, we
recorded 187 miles and 4 night hours and met all the basis training requirements for novice
crewmembers. We had no incidents or near misses although Mark took the opportunity to test the
hardness of all parts of the yacht with his head, purely in the interest of medical science. The tidal
conditions also provided sufficient challenge for the Skipper and Mates. The Skipper was content
that we met the core requirements of the expedition in that the medium of offshore sailing provided
the opportunity for us to get out of our comfort zones and develop in the areas of teamwork and
self-reliance.
LEG 5 NARRATIVE
11 May 08. Flew into Dinard with Ryan Air and over night in St Malo to facilitate an early departure
following day. Able to find boat in Les Sablons marina in the afternoon and gave crew safety and
sail pre brief. Able to cover warps fenders, knots and stowing lines. Limited victualling carried out
at local store due to public holiday.
12 May 08. Brisk handover and underway by 0900Z. Slack winds so motored out off St Malo and
once in safe area performed MOB drills under power. Once complete set off to St Helier via East
Les Minquiers. En route sail raising and reefing ex performed. Two hours out and wind picked up
North Easterly Force 2 so raised main and full Genoa and motor sailed. Approx one hour later wind
picked up and veered East-North-Easterly Force F4 so cut motor and enjoyed a pleasant 5 kts
close hauled. Once around Les Minquiers set a beam reach and with a fair tide raced along to St
Helier. Once off St Helier performed a MOB exercise under sail. Once inside St Helier completed
the victualling for the whole week at a decent supermarket, had our evening meal and relaxed. Set
off again at 0900Z with favourable tide, an Easterly Force 4/5 with one reef and reduced Genoa to
first mark. Initially wind was almost dead astern so set preventer. Once off the SW corner of Jersey
able to steer stb 40 degrees onto a pleasant broad reach. Blasted along at 8 kts ground speed and
arrived at the pontoon outside Victoria harbour St Peter Port and bed by midnight.
13 May 08. Launched the inflatable tender for a lazy day sightseeing in St Peter Port, back on
board by 1500Z. Set off 1600Z for an evening sail to Sark. Slack water and NE F4 so able to sail
direct close hauled. En route did some visual navigation with back bearings and plotting.
Approaching Sark could see the wind picking up between Sark and Little Sark. Reduced the
Genoa to 2nd mark and main down to 2nd reef. Experienced a predicable gust of Force 5/6 and
once close in, lost the wind. Motor on, sails down and picked up a mooring in Havre Gosselin on
Sark by 1900Z. Enjoyed a pleasant night under the stars, no wind with clear skies.
14 May 08. Set off mid morning to overcast and NE F4 for Braye on Alderney. Set one reef as a
precaution with full Genoa. By sailing close hauled and with tide pushing could go direct to the
Swinge in the Alderney race. Not too impressive as just coming off neaps. Once clear of Sark
could see the sea ahead indicating white horses and reduced the main to two reefs and furled the
Genoa appropriately. Glad we did it as the wind picked up and saw a French boat ahead nearly
broach with full sails. He subsequently downsized and followed in our wake. Approaching the
Swinge is always exciting with boiling seas and tide against wind. But on this occasion it was extra
exciting as the furling line snapped as we were about to tack approaching rocks. The resulting full
Genoa meant we could not go about until easing the main adding to the fun. I elected to start the
engine to head into wind and hand furl the Genoa. The engine chose to become electrically dead
at that moment. By easing the jib sheet all the way and by going forward pulling on the remaining
furling line we were able to stow the Genoa. The crew were then briefed on picking up a mooring
under sail. We discussed the call to make to Braye harbour to warn them of our plight. Meanwhile
the crewman with his own boat set about the rear engine control panel while the skipper checked
the recently changed relays. The culprit was a disconnected spade connector behind the engine
control panel. Engine on, drama over I elected to continue the exercise under sail but with engine
on as a precaution. Picked up second time round and then let others practice. Moored up and sails
down by 1400Z. Repaired furling line and discovered it had been chaffing on the spinnaker pole.
By twisting the pole 180 degrees it sat lower and thus removed the problem. Inflatable tender
launched and explored Alderney.
15 May 08. Lazy morning, some sight seeing, victualling, seeing to personal needs etc. Deflated
and stowed the portable landing facility and set off on a fair tide midday for Carteret. Easterly Force
3, full sail and tacked around the east side of Alderney and then set a beam reach as the wind
died. Engine on and poor visibility ahead. Planned to get closer to mainland to avoid shipping,
prepared fog horn and briefed crew on actions in fog. The met forecast did not mention fog but the
visibility was poor. Once close in the low cloud disappeared the wind backed and sun did shine.
With only 5 kts raised the spinnaker but wind very fluckey and a boat speed of under 2 kts dropped
the spinnaker and motor sailed to Carteret. While waiting for the tide off Carteret, dries to -5m,
dropped anchor under sail. Weighed anchor and the practiced anchoring under power. Had dinner
and then motored into Carteret marina onto our first finger pontoon.
16 May 08. Sight seeing en France then ready for afternoon departure. As we set off hit by a squall
and the heavens opened. While waiting for the tidal gate to open demonstrated manoeuvring under
power and coming alongside. All the crew able to have a practice before setting off for St Helier. As
we exited the harbour mouth the Sun came out and the wind picked up Easterly Force 4/5. Subra
then enjoyed a broad reach with full sail and a following tide all the way to Jersey. The eastern
approaches to St Helier require some attention so a close lookout for navigation marks was
essential to ensure safety. Able to get over the sill into St Helier marina and moored up by 2000Z.
17 May 08. Away to get over sill by 0700Z and once clear up with full sails, engine off. Plan to
return to St Malo via Les Minquiers. A fine day with clear skies and an Easterly Force 4. Once clear
of Les Minquiers bore off and poled out Genoa to demonstrate to crew. Wind remained good until
midday but forced to motor sail until 1330. Approaching St Malo wind increased to Force 4 and
sailed once again. Uneventful day and moored up in Les Sablons marina by 1600Z.
18 May 08. Cleaned boat, refuelled, gas bottle changed and topped up water. Left handover notes
for next skipper, detached ground power, locked up and departed 1000Z.
LEG 6 NARRATIVE
18 May 08. 18th May saw the start of the return leg of Expedition Brittany Breeze 2008. Six willing
crew members arrived at East Midlands airport for the short flight to Dinard Airport, Brittany. The
linguistic skills of the crew were soon tested at the taxi rank as Flt Lt Tracey Parrot and SAC Scott
Englefield eventually managed to arrange a lift to St Malo, Marina. Other crew members were Sqn
Ldr Andy Wright (Mate), Flt Lt Bob Frazer and SAC Dave Hodgson.
Once aboard the RAFSA Yacht Subra (a Starlight 35) the skipper, Sqn Ldr Carl Rich laid out the
aim for the week which was to develop our teamwork and interpersonal skills and self-reliance
through the experience of offshore sailing. For 2 of our crew (Scott and Dave) this would include
completing the RYA Competent Crew syllabus and to develop the skills of the more experienced
crew members. This overview was quickly followed by various yacht related health and Safety tips
which included an extremely detailed brief on use of the complicated heads (toilet).
The first job for the ‘Purser’ (Tracey) and Bob was to plan the meals for the week and buy food for
lunch. At the same time the skipper and Mate checked the yacht inventory and serviceability of
equipment. This resulted in the need to buy a new furling line for the Genoa sail (whatever that is?)
and the need to replace a bulb halfway up the mast. ‘Engineer’ Scott, was soon being hoisted into
action up the mast using the bosun’s chair. He was welcomed back on the deck by the arrival of
lunch - the selection of the crew members to victual the boat (a thankless task) appeared to have
been a very good one! We were treated to a glass of Rosé, French baguettes, brie and camembert
– what a nice start. Lunch was followed with separate tours of above and below decks pointing out
the finer points of living onboard. Dinner was taken ashore and an early night had by all.
19 May 08. Reveille at 0700L, 0500Z or 0600L there was some confusion! A breakfast of Goats
sausage and cake bread was enjoyed by all. Tracey and Bob embarked on another shopping trip,
this time to the supermache using public transport. Unfortunately, enroute, they realised that
neither of them had taken their wallets; however, food was still bought, but at the expense of some
luxuries. Breakfast was followed by Scott and the author being taught the basics of handling ropes
and coming alongside. Before we knew it, we were motoring out of the marina and hoisting sails.
The more experienced crew members leapt about pulling and pushing and grinding, whilst Scott
and I looked on in awe. We were now sailing in St Malo estuary on a mild day in approximately 20
knots of wind. The Skipper ensured the boat was tested and that the crew were made familiar with
reefing sails and tacking the yacht. After a few hours we returned to the marina for a where Scott
and I had our first attempt at securing a yacht as it came alongside. This resulted in me being left
on board with the bow line still in hand….needless to say more practice was needed. When we
were safely alongside we learnt how to put the yacht to ‘bed’. Tracey cooked a delightfully meal of
Spaghetti Bolognese and an early night was had by all.
20 May 08. Day three saw the crew’s first passage and this was to be to St Helier in Jersey.
Reveille was 0630Z to catch the tide. Scott and I slipped the lines and a quick, quiet and faultless
departure followed. The morning was very calm and surprisingly mild with little wind. Nevertheless,
the dreaded sea sickness took its first casualty within an hour as Scott was seen to be closely
examining the stern of the yacht. For most, a cooked Goat sausage breakfast followed and it was
not long before all settled in to the routine. After a quick brief Scott and I soon became masters (a
loosely used term) of the helm. A practical demonstration of the Man Over Board (MOB) drill was
talked through and practised several times to make sure we all knew what to do in case of losing
someone overboard. The passage to Jersey in 10-15 knots of wind gave the opportunity for tacking
practice as we sailed with the tide taking us initially northeast between the shallows of Plateau Des
Minquiers and the Iles de Chausey, before turning Northwest direct to St Helier. By early afternoon
the wind had dropped to 1-5 knots and Andy and Bob took charge of executing the safe pilotage
into St Helier. The old forts protecting the harbour entrance made a picturesque entry and soon the
high walls of the commercial port were towering above us. We moored alongside a waiting pontoon
and found ourselves next to the Jubilee Sailing Trust yacht Lord Nelson, a 42m long square-rigger.
Some crew took the opportunity to have a personal tour around the yacht by the Bosun and learnt
much about how the Trust encouraged mixed able bodied and disabled crews to sail all over the
world. After passing into the marina, it was the ‘young lads’ turn to cook and to everyone’s surprise,
a very palatable Sweet and Sour dish followed.
21 May 08. Day four saw Andy as ‘Skipper of the day’ for the journey from Jersey to Guernsey (St
Peter Port). The sea was very calm with a light wind and this enabled the skipper to talk through
and demonstrate the use of a boom preventer during whilst sailing goose-winged, this gave an
opportunity for the more experienced members to learn new techniques. Nevertheless, as we
progressed towards Guernsey the wind dropped and we had to motor the final miles to our interim
destination of a small sandy bay 3 miles South of St Peter Port. As the water level in St Peter Port
was low and the tide was against us, the plan was to anchor in the small bay and row ashore to the
beach cafe. This gave a great opportunity for Andy to practice how to navigate through a tight
rocky area with a strong tide. All the crew were involved in taking bearings and using transits (2
towers to be aligned ashore) whilst the Skipper kept a careful, if not nervous, over-watch of us all.
Scott, Tracey and I learnt the use of a prism sighting compass to take bearings and Bob gave a
detailed lesson on preparation of the anchor and how to deploy it. The sun was shining; there was
no wind and not a cloud in the sky. Once the yacht was secure the dinghy was inflated for some
much needed rowing practise for the aspiring Competent Crew members to ferry the crew to the
beach. With the tide now turned we had a short motor into St Peter Port where Andy had more
practice of bringing the yacht alongside – the crew were now also now getting quite proficient. We
arrived in Victoria Marina and went out to sample the local fish dishes in a very up market
restaurant.
21 May 08. Day five saw Tracey as Skipper of the Day’ (oh yes and a special mention to Andy as
mother who cooked a fine breakfast, as I feel he felt under valued). As there was just enough wind
to sail and tide times were tight, the decision was made to let Scott and Dave practise different
techniques for picking up a buoy as part of their training. We also practised sailing and motoring
onto and off a buoy in a small bay south of the Harbour entrance. Whilst sailing back into St Peter
Port for a second night alongside we practised gibing techniques for crew and helm training. With
the afternoon to ourselves Carl, Andy and Bob took the opportunity to plan the route across the
Channel to Plymouth. Meanwhile, Scott, Tracey and Dave went ashore to sample the local culture.
After a few hours on shore we returned to the yacht for a sumptuous turkey meal cooked to
perfection (we had to say that!) by the Skipper, Carl.
23/24 May 08. Day six/seven was the Channel passage and provide the opportunity for us to put
all we learnt into practice. To use the tides effectively, an 1100L departure was planned giving us
the opportunity to find a little café to have a big fry up (last meal) prior to the off. Bob was acting
Skipper for the journey to Plymouth and motored us out of harbour in nice calm weather, although
in the pre –passage brief he had warned us of 25 knot winds forecast for the latter part of our
passage. We expected to reach Plymouth by 0700L the next day. As we ran North up the Little
Russell (channel that separates the 2 main islands of Guernsey) we had a 3 knot tide with us;
however, we soon encountered dense fog with only 400-600m visibility. As we approached the wall
of fog the Skipper briefed various actions and we were soon set with life jackets on, lights on and
an air horn being sounded at the bow to alert others of our position. Other ships were not our only
danger, as we could not see any land marks and buoys to take bearings and check where we
were. Bob and Andy began using speed and time calculations to verify our position and plot GPS
positions; meanwhile, Carl stayed atop with his handheld GPS as a backup. This was the first
experience of sailing in fog for most of the crew and the lack of visibility as we changed headings
to avoid unseen rocks was quite unnerving. Nevertheless, we could hear the fog horn at the
Northern tip of the Little Russell getting closer and eventually it passed behind us and we were
now in open water.
Carl had expected the fog to clear after we headed out to sea, but after almost 2 hours we were
still in thick fog. At this point the Skipper briefed us on an option to return to St Peter Port by
contouring (following depth contours) around the West side of the Island; this would allow us
another hour before we would have to turn back in order to utilise the tides. Nevertheless, after he
contacted Brixham Coastguard by phone, we were able to gain confirmation from ships in the
Channel that the visibility was good. At this point the decision was made to press on to Plymouth.
The fog eventually cleared and we split up into 2 watches of 2 hours 30 minutes each. The first
watch was taken by Bob, Andy and Tracey, during which they managed to hoist the spinnaker and
maintain a steady 4-5 knots. As shift change came around, it gave Scott and I the chance to learn
to trim the spinnaker and helm with it flying. As forecast, the wind began to rise and the spinnaker
was lowered; a slightly complex procedure that left Bob almost para-cending over the side with a
wet sail. A reef was now put into the foresail and mainsail.
As night fell, Scott and I masterfully learnt to control the helm (under Carl’s instruction of course) by
steering with no horizon, just using the compass heading and wind angle. The wind continued to
rise and with 25 to 30 knots of wind, after reefing the foresail further, the mainsail needed to be
reefed to its third reef. So here we were, a watch of 3 (Skipper and 2 novice sailors), at night in 30
knots of wind and rain, with me on the helm and Scott going forward on a rolling deck to reef the
mainsail. We had certainly come a long way in confidence and ability since that first sail in St Malo
estuary! Carl was confident that we could complete the reef as a watch and thus Scott was given
the task of going forward to reef the mainsail. With the yacht healing heavily and waves crashing
on the deck, Scott looked a natural as he battled with the sail “breaking out his guns” to control it.
Thanks to our team effort the yacht became more controllable and we sailed on confidently into the
night.
During the next watch (Bob, Andy and Tracey) the wind fell back to about 15 knots allowing them
to use full Genoa sail; however; the wind once again began to increase eventually achieving 34
knots (Force 7). Unfortunately, as the foresail was being reefed it jammed, and Bob went forward
to manually wind the sail in. During this action, the preventer on the mainsail failed and an
inadvertent gibe followed a failed preventer shackle. By now the Skipper had been roused from his
bed and it took some time before the yacht was safely configured once more and a watch change
was completed. We were now running with the tide westward along the south coast to Plymouth.
All was calm once again as we sailed on a broad reach under mainsail only. However, the
calmness was broken when the Skipper spotted a black shape pass down the starboard side. It
turned out to be a lobster pot buoy, the result of which was for me to be sent forward with a
‘Steamer Scarer’ (bright light) for the next 2 hours to watch for other buoys! As we approached
Plymouth, it was ‘all hands on deck’ and Bob used the coloured sector lights to guide us safely into
Plymouth Yacht Haven for a quick refuel and a well deserved sleep – it was 0630L.
RAFSA Expedition Member
Flt Lt M A Wilson
Rm 34 Bldg 801
QinetiQ Boscombe Down
Salisbury
SP4 0JF
Tel:
07808 764461
9214 807 4104
Email:
expeditions@offshore.rafsa.org.uk
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