The 25th August, after three weeks waiting, the weather seems finally to allow us to leave France.

For the first day, there will be west force 6-7 Beaufort wind (refer to the table below), moderate to rough sea but the sea will calm down in the following days and wind turn from North (at least that is the forecast). We leave la Rochelle for a 4 day estimated navigations to reach Vigo.

The first day is indeed quite tough. 2 to 4 m swell, heavy showers and west wind make us tack several times to go around the île de Ré. The boat´s heeling considerably reduces the comfort inside. Sometimes, a bigger wave strikes Cephee from the side in a terrible noise. VLAN ! Two drawers suddenly fall down, so that 2 plates break up out of 5, 2 bowls out of 5, 3 glasses out of 4 and we don´t have cups anylonger...A bit later, a rice bowl flys through the boat ! There is too much mess inside and one can´t stay without bumping everywhere so we prefer to stay outside in the cockpit, in a warm oilskin and attached with a good harness. The sail has been reduced down to three reefs.

At night, we watch alternatively : Thomas from 9 pm to 12 pm and from 3 am to 6 am and Hélène from 12 pm to 3 am and from 6 am to 9 am. We have breakfast together and organize the rest of the day depending on our respective rythm. We will keep this rythm in the future. Sea and wind calm down and we take the opportunity to tidy up the cabin, and finally enjoy sun.

The golfe de Gascogne which welcomed us toughly seems now to be very quiet. Too much ?! To say the truth, we don´t progress much more as calms alternate with west or south-west winds which don´t really help us. Instead of a hundred miles a day, we hardly reach sixty (movie : waiting for the wind)

The nature offers us wonderful sights : Tunny skoals, dolphins, birds of all kinds, and even whales, twice. Once so close to the boat that we were really scared before we understood it was a whale breathing! We read, fish (without success), sleep and we slowly progress. Sometimes, we must start the engine because there´s no more wind. Below us, there are 4000 m water depth, it´s better not to think about it !

On the 5th day, the wind finally turns. No more western wind and here is the promised northern wind ! It is not only turning, but although getting stronger, which allows us, for the first time since the departure, to reach 6 knots, without heeling and on a direct route !

In the evening, we can see the Spanish coast. We just have to pass the Finistere Cape and run a hundred miles to reach Vigo. We land in Vigo after a six days navigation, on tuesday, the 31st august at 5 pm.