Sarkozy proclaims national offshore fishing day

I just spent hours going through an enormous fishing fleet, at least 50
boats blinking on the horizon and near me. They seemed well behaved and
no one came after me, all kept their course and dodging them has not
been too difficult. I find judging distances of lights at night very
difficult, certainly Graham Wilkinson knows this well, as i once tried
to park his boat onto the shore of the Lizard lighthouse. Anyhow, alone,
tired at night i take no chances and for peace of mind i stick the radar
on. When i identify a boat that seems to be closer than the others i do
a quick scan to get a range. I still find it amazing, some are bright
and sparkly and well off, say more than 2 miles, others are much less
visible and are within a mile which when pounding along at 7 knots it's
not that far especially as they seam to be on a convoy heading the
opposite way.
Oh, yes, i did say pounding along at 7 knots, the wind is back. I fought
all last night in no winds when i sent my frustrated blog, then fought
all day with very light fluky winds and only late in the afternoon the
front we were expecting came through, after that i still had to wait
another 2-3 hours, under a windless rain before the sails filled again.
Now wind there is plenty and let's hope it holds. It seems i may even
get to Camaret this side of 2008.
The light airs cost me many many miles which will be impossible to crawl
back, everyone apart from Vela Fresca is to far to catch but the big
park up of the other night and a strong breeze now might still give me a
chance of a good result under IRC as i have the lowest handicap of those
left to fight this leg.
Anyhow, dodging fishing boats has made me hungry, time for a light
midnight snack, meatballs and rice.

Ciao.
Marco
British Beagle