La Rochelle — Nantes - Honfleur
Boarding in: La RochelleBoarding on: 10.09.2017 12:00
Departure: 11.09.2017 08:30
Port of destination: Nantes - Honfleur
Arrival: 23.09.2017 11:00
Debarkation before: 23.09.2017 13:00
Days on board: 14
Participation fee: 690€
550 nautical miles
A last glance at the walls of the legendary fortress of La-Rochelle and we head for ancient Nantes hiding in the estuary of famous Loire. The treacherous Bay of Biscay passage won’t be too long, but will be intensive both adventure- and sailing experience-wise.
Itinerary:
We’ll visit a number of small cozy harbors in ancient Breton towns lush and green. We’re going to have plenty of time to walk French lands, rest, enjoy the scenery and the deep dark sky above our heads during the night watches.
And what can be better than anchoring by a small flowering island off the beaten tourist path?
For instance, Noirmoutier island along our route used to be accessible only by water. Pierre-Auguste Renoir, the famous French artist, once said about Noirmoutier: "It's a fascinating area, as beautiful as the South of France but with an ocean as beautiful as the Mediterranean." Soft climate, pine-trees by the sea, flower fields surrounding a monastery and an impregnable 9th century fortress make this island a unique and delightful place.
They can’t wait to see us in Copenhagen!
Itinerary:
Leaving behind the homeland of Jules Verne, we’ll enter the Bay of Biscay and sail along the Breton coast, looking for ancient petroglyphs still extant in the area.
We’ll go by Belle Isle well known to both connoisseurs of art – for being a favorite spot of many famous artists and French intellectual elite - and sailors – for its’ unusually complicated tidal currents. We’ll pass Ushant island surrounded by dark ancient tales, but with a bright lighthouse at the point showing the way to the English Channel. And then we’ll see the largest of the Channel Islands: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey and experience their 8-knot tidal currents, but we won’t stop there.
Finally, we could visit Cherbourg-Octeville, the second largest port in France, and dock in the estuary of Seine in our familiar Honfleur port.
Training:
We’ll do solid 550 nautical miles, tame the wild temper of the Bay of Biscay, get familiar with the littoral zones and join the heavy sea-traffic of the English Channel. We’ll get used to night sailing and full-pledged night watches. An impressive addition to your Yachtmaster logbook!
Just like any other leg, you’ll gain seamanship experience and learn to operate a square rigged vessel. This time, however, you can also challenge yourself to more difficult tasks and reach a new level in ship handling. You’ll learn to make tide calculations as well as to figure out speed and direction of currents, so that you can keep the ship safe from the rocks hidden in the fog. You’ll discover the dangers of tides combined with swell and winds and how to turn their great powers to your advantage.
Additionally you can complete the following courses and earn the certificates:
IYT International Crew (basic skills and knowledge of a qualified crew member): extra 120 Euro;
VHF short range radio operator: extra 180 Euro.
Getting to La-Rochelle:
- By train from Paris: 3 hour ride. Schedule and tickets:
- By bus from Paris: 7 to 9 hour ride. Schedule and tickets:
- By plane from the Paris airport Orly. It’s possible to fly from other French and European cities.
Getting out of Honfleur:
- First take the Bus Verts du Calvados #20 or #50 to the railway station. Any of the following will do: Deauville/Trouville, Lisieux or Pont-l’Evêque. Then a train to Paris (Saint-Lazare hub). For a total of a 3-4 hour trip.
Schedule and tickets: buses: http://www.busverts.fr/
