VIDE BATEAUX in MARANS (Boat jumble with music, cider, crepes & sausages)

Our new temporary home

Another modest event at Marans.  We had to move off our pontoon yesterday to make way for the visiting boats coming in.  As it turned out, the weather was so bad that only half of the expected boats turned up - anyway, we get a different view for a while.  We are lying 4th boat out at the bend.  The weather is very blustery with strong gusts of wind & showers - not really what the town had hoped for in late June, I'm sure.

The brave little boats coming in.

 We had one slightly embarrassing event - after spending however long up the mast untangling the new, too-thin aft flag halyard (failure to think ahead when the mast was down), and tying it into place for its maiden voyage along the harbour, it escaped its moorings and is now flying free in a F6.  Usually the wind drops in the evening, so we're hoping we can at least hook it with the extending buoy-catching implement (familiar to some off you in its usual role.)

We have an embarrassing incident with the new flag halyard

 The high spot of the day was the demonstration of water rescue with Newfoundland dogs.  Al's body count was up to about 13 'fatalities' and 2 successful rescues!  They are beautiful dogs and clearly keen to participate!  One towed a dinghy full of 5 people against a strong wind - they are amazing.

Newfoundland rescue dogs on their way to work

Too strange to resist - rescue dog's  toy

 

 

 

 

The weather forecast looks pretty nice for an early start for La Rochelle on Tuesday morning.  We have to pick up some charts and see if we can scrape together the courage to set out for Spain if there's a favourable forecast.  If not, we'll be cycling around the islands - as usual.