Hi Folks,
I'm recently back from a trip to Brittany during which I did
Route du Sable. This was a two day trip up the R. Aulne. Day 1 from Rosnoen to Port Launay is 17km and is sailable most of the way. We set off in a fleet of over 70 boats and were going well until disaster struck when we were beating up a narrow section and we were "T-boned" by a Drascombe Scaffie (we were on starboard). There was a horrible sound of splintering wood and I thought one of our oars had been smashed but when we stopped to investigate, the oar was fine but a lump of the gunwale had been ripped off. I think his bowsprit and bobstay went over the oar (that was lashed up on its thole pin) a created a large twisting moment that did the damage. We decided to drop the rig and row the rest of the way. Notwithstanding the little bump, we had a great time and we were well entertained by the Breton bagpipes and accordion players in the lock. We stopped for the night tied up right outside our B&B. There was a crew supper and more music and dancing in the marquee in the village square in the evening. Next day we rowed upstream through Chateaulin for a picnic lunch and then back to Port Launay (9 km). Above the first sea lock, the river is canalised and it becomes the Nantes - Brest canal. I am not sure how far it is navigable for but is a beautiful stretch of water - just the thing for an HBBR style raid.
Best regards,
David.
Locked
