Just Nuts!

It's Official

2011-10-19T15:27:00.002+01:00

Today I received this email.....

Hi Hugo

We are delighted that you have decided to join us for ARC 2012 with your yacht Just Nuts. We acknowledge receipt of your online entry form and payment by card for your yacht entry fee.

An Atlantic Crossing is on so St. Lucia here we come!!

It's all over

2011-08-16T08:16:00.004+01:00

Well that's it for this year but plans are already afoot for 2012.... There are quite a few repairs to do on the boat, the sails need some attention, the external VHF needs replacing, the navtext antenna is kaput, the AIS needs to be checked for transmissions, a water tank lid is broken, one tank guage is malfunctioning, the lazy bag is torn, some of the running rigging needs replacing, the windlass trip switch has to be replaced, the toilet pump leaks slightly, the engine needs a service and so on it goes.

We will also have to do a precautionary lift out to check the anodes and cutlass bearing as well as copper coat a couple of patches that couldn't be done in June due to the cradle we were using.

So there is plenty to do to keep us busy....

As the sun sets...

2011-08-14T10:46:00.002+01:00

We all reflect on the next adventure aboard Just Nuts!

Thanks to all our followers, it was great to have you along for the trip...so long, Axel, Louvisa, Annica & Hugo

And Hugo...

2011-08-14T10:42:00.001+01:00

Is just more of a crusty old sea dog looking a bit battered around the edges...

Annica is a more experienced sailor

2011-08-14T10:40:00.001+01:00

And is as beautiful as ever

Louvisa keeps an eye on what's going on

2011-08-14T10:38:00.001+01:00

She proved a great watch mate and was able to complete several grave yard shifts with Annica, always staying positive...

We've all changed a little

2011-08-14T10:33:00.001+01:00

Axel has grown and is more self assured

Tired Sailors

2011-08-14T10:29:00.001+01:00

The last passage took over sixty hours and we covered three hundred and sixty five nautical miles from L'Aber Wrac'h to Capbreton. We arrived safely as intended, happy to have achieved our goal, sad it's all over...

Almost over, nearly home

2011-08-14T10:25:00.001+01:00

So long, it was a great trip

2011-08-14T10:24:00.001+01:00

Final pilotage prep

2011-08-14T10:23:00.001+01:00

For a narrow entrance, cross tide situation in the dark with 5kts of tide... Better get this one right!

Our final sunset at sea for this trip

2011-08-14T10:20:00.001+01:00

ETA Capbreton 03.30 on Saturday the 13th August 2011 six weeks and two days after our departure from Sikao Hamn

Direction Capbreton

2011-08-14T10:17:00.001+01:00

The final passage

Peaceful Sailing

2011-08-14T10:16:00.001+01:00

Rolling to the motion of the Atlantic's gentle swell

The Captain's table

2011-08-14T10:14:00.001+01:00

An evening meal of hot melted camenbert, strawbery jam and fresh baguette

Dolphins keep us company

2011-08-14T10:09:00.001+01:00

With several visits during the day and night

The fortress of Le Palais

2011-08-14T10:06:00.001+01:00

The French thought it was impossible to loose but the English took it from them in 1681...

Approaching Le Palais

2011-08-14T10:03:00.001+01:00

The capital of Belle Ile

Colourful Belle Ile

2011-08-14T10:00:00.001+01:00

Boats drying out in Belle Ile

2011-08-14T09:59:00.001+01:00

The shore party makes a break for the boulangerie

2011-08-14T09:58:00.001+01:00

Belle Ile from the fore deck

2011-08-14T09:57:00.001+01:00

Belle Isle

2011-08-14T09:55:00.001+01:00

We threw out the hook for an hour to get some fresh bread and croissants

It's a moonlight night

2011-08-14T09:48:00.001+01:00

America is out there somewhere

2011-08-14T09:47:00.001+01:00

Le Raz de Sein fades away as the sun sets to the west

2011-08-14T09:46:00.001+01:00

Max celebrating our entry into to the Biscay by howling at the moon

2011-08-14T09:44:00.001+01:00

Biscay at last

2011-08-14T09:43:00.001+01:00

We're past the Raz de Sein and into Biscay heading south south east direction Les Isles de Glenans, le baie de Quiberon and Belle Isle during the night

Le Raz de Sein light

2011-08-14T09:39:00.001+01:00

As evening falls we make the next tidal gate just before slack and the tide is still running strong

Biscay becons beyond

2011-08-14T09:37:00.001+01:00

Le Raz de Sein approaches

2011-08-14T09:36:00.001+01:00

The French Navy keeps an eye on us

2011-08-14T09:34:00.001+01:00

We're through the Four

2011-08-14T09:33:00.001+01:00

And passing La pointe de St. Mattieu which marks the entrance to the bay of Brest

9.8 kts over the ground in the Chanel du Four

2011-08-14T09:31:00.001+01:00

And that's on neaps!

We're going south

2011-08-14T09:28:00.001+01:00

Le Four light house

2011-08-14T09:27:00.001+01:00

An important tidal gate and we arrive bang on time at slack water ready to catch the south west going tide all the way to the Raz de Sein and into the Biscay.

Niki standing by on the main sheet

2011-08-14T09:24:00.001+01:00

Don't chew it what ever you do Noodle!

Everybody is feeling happy

2011-08-14T09:21:00.001+01:00

And looking forward to the final leg of the journey

Max and Loulou resting

2011-08-14T09:19:00.001+01:00

Leaving L'Aber Wrac'h

2011-08-14T09:18:00.001+01:00

Heading out for the Chanel du Four at last...

Upgrading firmware on the plotter

2011-08-14T09:15:00.001+01:00

L'Aber Wrac'h Marina

2011-08-14T09:14:00.001+01:00

Entering L'Aber Wrac'h

2011-08-14T09:13:00.001+01:00

Our final port on the north coast of Brittany

Passing Isle de Batz

2011-08-14T09:11:00.001+01:00

Getting closer to the corner

Upgrading the firmware of the plotter

2011-08-10T11:51:00.001+01:00

Arrival at L' Aber Wrac'h

2011-08-10T06:53:00.004+01:00

Our last stop in Northern Brittany before turning the corner through the Chanel du Four

Axel climbing

2011-08-08T18:27:00.001+01:00

Doing Something Useful

2011-08-08T15:59:00.002+01:00

While waiting for the bad weather to blow over we serviced the impeller and sea water pump, replaced the alternator belt and checked the anti-siphon valve.

Lovely jubley, and how clean is that engine bay?

Search & Rescue UPDATE

2011-08-08T11:34:00.002+01:00

Axel and Louvisa went to investigate... (Sunday)

Today (Monday) we hear from the police that eight people were taken from the water, among them young children. One adult died....

Search & Rescue

2011-08-08T11:28:00.002+01:00

Last night our decision not to put to sea was vindicated. Four people were plucked from the water after their boat got into difficulties. The SAR response included the offshore lifeboat, two inshore life boats, five ambulances and a helicopter which pulled someone out of the water as we watched.

There was no loss of life but according to reports the family's two dogs were lost....

Ummm.....

Another Panormaic

2011-08-07T15:24:00.001+01:00

More from Trebeurden

2011-08-07T15:06:00.000+01:00

And traditional Breton Cider

2011-08-07T15:04:00.001+01:00

Oh! Les Moules

2011-08-07T15:02:00.000+01:00

Supper for hungry sailors!

The sill at Trebeurden

2011-08-06T18:44:00.000+01:00

Port de Plaisance de Trebeurden

2011-08-06T18:38:00.003+01:00

Locked into the man made basin... the tidal heights vary more than seven meters here!

Make sure you click on the image and see if you can spot Just Nuts!

Sunday's Weather

2011-08-06T18:30:00.000+01:00

Looks like we'll be taking the day off!

Checking the weather offshore

2011-08-06T18:29:00.000+01:00

You can see from the image that a low pressure is headed our way with strong winds predicted for Saturday and Sunday. Treberuden seems a good place to hide away for a while before we shoot for the corner and can start going south once again.

Leaving St Peter Port

2011-08-06T18:28:00.000+01:00

This is all we saw of St Peter Port on Guernsey due to their dog restrictions. We ate, prepared another meal and pushed off again for a night passage to Trebeurden within two hours of arriving without even going ashore.

St Peters Port, Guernsey Island

2011-08-06T18:27:00.001+01:00

Arriving at St Peters Port, we were told that the dogs were not allowed to step ashore due to the Brittish customs regulations. The dogs had to stay down below deck for the duration of our stay!!! This was not a nice welcome...

Changing flag for Guernsey Island

2011-08-06T18:16:00.002+01:00

Annica & Max enjoying the Alderney Race

2011-08-06T18:15:00.000+01:00

Which turned out be be a bit on an anticlimax!

See any resemblance?

2011-08-06T18:13:00.002+01:00

Look how far we've come...

2011-08-04T20:43:00.000+01:00

Waiting

2011-08-04T20:34:00.002+01:00

And Louvisa catches up with some overdue reading the Kindle way with Stieg Larsson's "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest".... very suitable for a thirteen year old wouldn't you say!

Waiting

2011-08-04T20:33:00.003+01:00

Axel gets to the next level of Mine Craft....God knows what that is...something to do with a work bench he tells me?!"*)(

Waiting

2011-08-04T20:29:00.002+01:00

Nicki noodle takes it easy in her travel bag...

Waiting

2011-08-04T20:28:00.003+01:00

Hugo plans the route and tidal gate timings....

Waiting

2011-08-04T20:26:00.000+01:00

Annica catches up on some work while Max catches up on some snooze time...

Awaiting better weather

2011-08-04T20:21:00.002+01:00

We are stuck here until the weather improves. It' not very windy but even so there is too much to attempt the next passage to St Peter Port on Guernsey. The tidal race off Alderney is so strong that even modest wind over tide can create dangerous over falling waves, and to boot we are only a day after springs meaning the tide will be at its strongest, up to 8 kts at times.

It's a waiting game...

Entry to Cherbourg

2011-08-04T20:20:00.000+01:00

Ruined fortifications are impressive!

Chilling Out on the way to Cherbourg

2011-08-04T20:19:00.000+01:00

Cherbourg Marina

2011-08-04T20:05:00.001+01:00

St Vaast par Nuit

2011-08-04T20:01:00.003+01:00

Fleur de Lampaul

2011-08-02T20:41:00.001+01:00

Last time I was here this was being restored, now the job's a good'un...

We're locked in

2011-08-02T20:39:00.001+01:00

Where's the water gone

2011-08-02T20:37:00.002+01:00

It's hard to think we sailed in here this morning, now the water's gone...

St. Vaast at low tide

2011-08-02T20:35:00.001+01:00

Believe it or not, this ferry has got wheels so it can still go where it's too shallow!

2011-08-02T18:24:00.002+01:00

Annica Blogging in St. Vaast

2011-08-02T18:23:00.001+01:00

Saint-Vaaste-La Hougue

2011-08-02T18:20:00.002+01:00

The captain's beard is growing...

2011-08-02T18:17:00.001+01:00

More deck cleaning...

2011-08-02T18:15:00.001+01:00

Enjoying sunset on the way to Saint-Vasste-La Hougue

2011-08-02T18:08:00.001+01:00

Customs patrol

2011-08-02T18:04:00.001+01:00

We were checked out by a French customs patrol while en route to St. Vaast. It was funny to hear them say Jouste Noouts over the radio. Ha!

Fortifications

2011-08-02T18:01:00.001+01:00

Build by the Germans on the outer breakwater

Boulogne Sur Mer

2011-08-02T17:59:00.002+01:00

7 meters of tide... That's a lot! Annica is standing on the Pontoon at low water.

Boulogne-Sur-Mer

2011-08-02T17:50:00.002+01:00

Calais

2011-08-02T17:46:00.001+01:00

I'm so tired Pappa!

2011-08-02T17:43:00.001+01:00

La France!!!

2011-08-02T17:37:00.000+01:00

Changement de drapeau en passant la frontiere francais. Et il fait finalement beau!!!

Crossing into France

2011-08-02T17:36:00.001+01:00

Where the sun started to shine for the first time in a week

Cleaning decks

2011-08-02T17:35:00.001+01:00

Louvisa navigating

2011-08-02T17:34:00.001+01:00

Axel taking a bearing

2011-08-02T17:33:00.001+01:00

Up go the Belgian colours

2011-08-02T17:28:00.001+01:00

Oostend here we come

Axel doing what a man has to do...

2011-08-02T17:26:00.002+01:00

Clipped on of course!

Rotterdam

2011-08-02T17:25:00.001+01:00

No place for a holiday!

Doing the business!

2011-08-02T17:23:00.002+01:00

Crossing the entrance to Rotterdam

2011-08-02T17:22:00.001+01:00

We had to call up Europort control for clearance to cross the shipping channel.