We start early in order to get to the Carrefour supermarket that should open at 9:00. It is nice to have a car so we can buy what we want without have to carry it home. We drive back to the marina and I go to the airport to leave the car. Now my dear GPS lady “Fifi” takes her revenge on my bad behavior the day before. As I find the nearest gas station she recommends, it does not take foreign credit cards. The next one is closed for good. The third station is converted to a workshop. The fourth is a commercial truck station where you need an ID to fill up. The fifth is a square where it probably has been a gas station. As I turn into the sixth destination I swear that I can hear an amused tone in her voice.

One of the gas station recommended by Fifi

Having lost a precious hour, we steam out of the Castle Marina into the fog. A good thing is that the tidal stream shoots us out of Brest and we gain over 10 knots over ground. After the inlet, we set sail and it looks like it is going to be perfect timing to the Raz. We get a visit by some dolphins on the way over and the day is very calm.

Leaving the marina office

Leaving Brest

New crew on deck – note the calm sea behind

Sadly, it gets too calm, the wind subsides and we need to motorsail in order to make it to the point in time. We get there a bit too late so we need to steam hard through the beginning tidal stream. This is an infamous tidal race and the many wrecks in the charts tells the story. Even if we have very light wind, the sea gets wild and I can imagine how it must be in strong winds and at maximal tidal current. We go from good sight, light wind and calm sea to upset sea and dense fog in a couple of minutes.

A couple of minutes later at Raz de Sein

The lighthouses at Point de Raz

The fog thickens after Point de Raz

After getting around the point, the sea gets extremely calm again. Only a light breeze remains so we need to steam against the current. Another group of dolphins come and plays around the boat and it is fascinating to see these fast and playful animals in the right environment. We also meet another Lagoon 380 also steaming through the fog.

Meeting a sister to Melody

The fog clears just as we come into Benodet. This is clearly a major yachting centre with two large marinas on each side of the river Odet. We find a spot in the marina and settle down for the night after a long day.

Lighthouse at the entrance to Benodet