We did leave Brest but had to come back because our engine started jumping. When we got back we ordered some engine mounts. In the engine shop I found a very friendly bulldog, I like him.

Lots of sailing races happen here.

We found some fragments of mast with art on them.

BBC School Report Day 2012

Sailing daily

15^th March 2012                                                                                     €9

  

Misty magic in St Quay Harbour.

Today saw the second day of competition in the pre-olympic qualifying. There were ladies from different countries competing in 8 different boats.

They were a bit slow because there was hardly any wind. One of them ended up on the edge of the hull and nearly fell over. There were RIB’s zipping around making lines in the water including a finishing line which nobody crossed, an old fishing boat that had been converted into a helping boat, and there was also a big sailing boat decorated all over with flags.

There were multi-coloured buoys which the boats had to swerve around then heaved up the spinnaker and adjusted the sails ready to race along with the wind behind them, faster than at any other point in the course.

Having loads of fun on the water on a calm day with patches of fog floating around which make the nearby rocks look more scary. A great day to watch or sail such an important match for those after a gold medal in the Olympics to be held in Portland/Weymouth this year in the Summer.

             

By George T Wilde

Sailing correspondent.

St Quay Portrieux

St Quay Portrieux is a great big fishing port and it is hilarious watching the fishing boats because they drift and charge and carry on doing the same over and over again. St Quay Portrieux isn’t just fishing it also has nice beaches too they have rock pools and sand!

 The tides are huge! We have to climb a steep ramp at low tide at high tide it is flat.(In these pictures the tide is nearly in and then only half out - look at the height of the pilings (posts) at the side of the pontoons for an idea of the heights involved. At spring tides last week the difference was really very big.Mark.)

We explored an island that you can only get to at low tide called Ile de la Comtesse, it has ruins on it.

I bought some sausages at the market, I had to say “Un demi saucisse seche et cinq saucisses fumee s’il vous plait.”

Blog from Carteret.

It was fun to cross the channel. We saw lots of cargo ships and we had to ask one to mind out for us he said 'it's all right, there is plenty of room'. It took a long, long time, we saw loads of black backed gulls and fulmars.

Back in Cherbourg we saw a fishing boat in a dry dock drying out, there were lock gates to keep out the water. Cherbourg registers most of the local fishing boats even in Carteret. There are loads of abandoned railways running all over the city with lots of level crossings the railways mainly running to the docks so that people could board the cruise ships in the past.

Carteret has 3 beaches, they are brilliant. One is pretty much rocks at low tide and there are two sandy beaches. They have got sand dunes and one has a rocky end at low tide. It's great fun. We liked splashing in the waves with our wellies on and looking in the rock pools seeing the wildlife. There are also big pools in the sand at low tide because the sand gets all moved and ends up being loads of dips. The dog likes Frances sandy beaches too.

Today (Friday 3rd  of February), I went into a French bakery on my own and asked for 2 baguettes in French. The lady in the bakery gave me only one so I had to ask again for 2 and she got me another one.

Next stop is St Malo in Brittany.

Portsmouth

On Sunday 27 November we went from Gosport to Portsmouth on the Gosport ferry for the Christmas fare there, we saw the out side of HMS Warrior there was snow filled streets I saw a steam train and three traction engines. We saw the out side of HMS Victory we went on a merry go round we even saw baby reindeer I also went on a climbing wall.

It was Greeeeeaaaaaaaaaat.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One month on Tarquilla

We are currently in Topsham it is very fun in Topsham. There is a railway through Topsham trains come through every half hour.

We have been living on the boat for one month now and have had several days out and adventures.

We have caught a big crab, off the side of the boat and watched grey mullet from the bows.

 

I am happy because some friends took us on their fishing boat and gave us ice cream!

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For my birthday treat we went on a bike ride to Exeter, we had to cross the river on the ferry.

We have seen black swans, white swans, egrets, herons and a friendly seal. 

Now we are about to go to Exmouth to get some fishing gear.

My name is George Wilde and for 2-3 years I'm living on a catamaran called Tarquilla that is my family boat. At the moment Tarquilla is at Topsham in Exeter in Devon. We need lots of equipment for our big adventure. I'm excited and it is fun so this is my blog about it.