16th June – Monday–Pornichet to Ile d’Yeu

33 miles and 6 and a half hours sailing.  The weather was sunny and windy, just lovely, not too sunny that we needed the canopy and windy enough to sail for a few hours.

I spoke to the harbour master on the phone – IN FRENCH – and booked us a mooring for the night prior to departure.  I then radioed on Channel 9 as advise on our arrival – IN FRENCH.  We were told to go to berth ‘ECHO 28’ in perfect English, went to moor up.

It is always a treat trying to spot the number on the jetty before you pass it and not after. They are not always very well marked.

Ile d’Yeu appeared on the horizon as we sailed to it and looked lovely even before we landed.  It is the first place so far that has had terracotta roofed houses and gave the impression of a Mediterranean destination.

The marina was around the corner in a separate dock to the Fishing boats which were picture perfect and very well cared for.  The outer most dock held the ferry boats and formed the picturesque harbour front of Port Joinville.

The Marina had good free facilities and was 20.90 Euros per night.

17th June – Tuesday

Walked to the other end of town and purchased a 30 Euro sim card for the spare phone. 

We ate out at a harbourside bistro, I had Moules and Frites and Michael had a Pizza.

Found good wifi in a bar and was introduced to ‘Leffe Ruby’, beers answer to Rose Wine.

18th June – Wednesday

Mick got out the folding bikes and we attempted an Island ride.  There are hundreds of bikes on the Island and many hire shops.  Our folding bikes have small wheels, so we were passed by several pensioners on bikes with big wheels.  We took some butties and ate them half way.  Once you have seen one of the houses with the blue shutters you have seen every house on the island, they just come in different sizes, and are eye-wateringly expensive.  Orientation is therefore quite tricky as every street looks the same.  There are lots of street names and the map shows most of them!  The other ‘town’ was nothing more than a few houses and a Tabac.  There were however miles of beaches and we saw 2 decent camp sites, but very few hotels.  Many of the houses are for rent during the ‘season’ July and August.  The books say the prices are going to rise in ‘The Season’.

Popped to the supermarket to top up.  There are 2 supermarkets a ‘Casino’ just off the Promenade across the first crossroads and a ‘SuperU’ at the other end of the harbour hidden a few streets back.

19th June – Thursday

I made a sunshade to cover the cockpit sliding door which is perspex and lets in light but also heat.  I had brought a large piece of plain white drill, which I thought I might need for the quilt which I simply hemmed and it works a treat.

Very hot day, so hid inside for a while until it was cooler.  Good chance to get on with the Work-Shirt Quilt.  I had previously pieced together 25 squares.  Today I joined the 25 large squares in a 5 x 5 pattern.  I had 13 mostly dark and 12 mostly light.  I had drawn it out but the pattern only emerged when it was complete.  The dark squares match up nicely.  I now have to find a large piece of cloth, maybe another sheet to make the back.  Linen-ware seems to be expensive here, need to find the french Dunhelm Mill.

Meanwhile Mick was planning our next route and reading.  Alot of time is spent planning routes from place to place.  Especially as we keep changing our minds, or getting wind of a good destination.  The number of British boats we are encountering is getting fewer.

Lovely walk around town at 16.00 and had Ice Creams.  There are more small shops in little streets behind the harbour, including a french vintage shop and a fabric shop selling all the lovely lace blinds we have seen in all the house windows.  There was also a Artisans co-operative selling the hand-made things people make on the Island.  You would really need something to pass your time if you lived here, as there is little except shops, restaurants, bicycles and boats.

20th June – Friday

Reluctantly leaving this pretty place, for Les Sables D’Olonne, the home of the Vendee Globe sailing race.