Sailing aboard Lola of Skagen
Photos from trips aboard an old gaffer called Lola of Skagen.
From Belle-Île-en-Mer to Douarnenez
The second leg of a trip from Oléron to Douarnenez. The trip from Oléron to Belle-Île-en-Mer is described in the Europe page.
Bay of Biscay
On the evening of the second day, we arrived in view of Belle-Île-en-Mer and moored for a warm starry night.
On the third day’s morning, we go along the southwestern coast of Belle-Île-en-Mer. In the evening, we meet young northern gannets before getting to Groix island.
On the fourth day the weather turned grey and we cruised along Groix island northern shore. In the afternoon we stop in the Glénan islands and joined two other old sailboats.
The fifth day we left Bénodet and enjoyed a very beautiful sunrise. We went under sheets of water created by squalls and were overtaken by the sailboat Pen Duick III.
Iroise sea
After navigating the impressive Raz de Sein, we meet the schooner Étoile de France and sailed to Camaret.
On the sixth day we left Camaret and headed towards the Tas de Pois rocks and the Chèvre cape.
Douarnenez
We got to Douarnenez in the afternoon.
On the seventh day we settle in Douarnenez, use Lola’s dinghy Momo to get to the quays and explore, visiting the St Denys, a steam tugboat. Then we enjoy a close view of the small steam-powered boats.
In the afternoon we go sailing in Douarnenez bay along with other boats.
The eighth day is also spent sailing, enjoying the view of the bisquines La Cancalaise et La Granvillaise.
On the last day, the sky turns blue and we sail along the coast of the Crozon peninsula then go back to Port-Rhu harbour.
Around Brittany
We meet up with Lola in Lorient to start sailing around Brittany, headed to Saint-Malo.
On the first day, we sail in the Glénan islands under big grey clouds interspersed by rays of sunlight.
On the second day, we leave Lesconil harbour at sunrise, then sail west. A pod of common dolphins joins us, swimming along the boat and emerging through bubbles.
As Sein island gets into view, a whirl of clouds forms above it. We moor in front of the Île de Sein lighthouse before the weather gets rough.
The next morning, we wake up in the fog, we explore the island then we leave our mooring, headed for Aber Wrac’h.
The fourth day, the fog doesn’t lift and we stay in Aber Wrac’h harbour, taking time to visit and learn how to scuttle aboard Momo.
The next day, we take advantage of a short improvement in the weather to leave Aber Wrac’h, the fog closes on us after we leave and only lifts before we reach Batz island, and we explore it on bicycle.
While cycling down from the lighthouse, we get to a pond with coots, ducks and a swan. We get back to Lola and enjoy a nice evening ending in a sunset over the island.
On the sixth day, we head towards the Sept-Îles archipelago, then we gon on east to the Tréguier river, where we cast anchor and enjoy superb sunset.
As we head north the next day, a common chiffchaff lands on the boat. We arrive in Jersey and enjoy the sunset.
On the eighth day, we wake up in Saint Helier harbour, observe its multi-storey quays and Elizabeth castle. We decide to move and moor in Saint Aubin’s bay.
On the last day, we head for Saint-Malo, seing the Grand Jardin lighthouse first. We sail into the Rance river then enter the harbour.