Sea Kayaking Safari – Brittany – Day 4

2026 08 19 Kerpenhir Point to Rivière d’Auray – Of wind and rescues by Mike A

5.45 and the alarm is going off. I wake in the dark thinking that most people’s holidays normally involve lie-ins and light mornings. Hey ho, the tide dictates that we must start early. We are all on water by 7.40 am, well, all except Keith who decided to be fashionably late.

Once on, it was straight into the overalls. Break-ins, break outs, surfing the waves in the morning light. I can’t say morning sun as the day was scheduled to be overcast, blowy and wet. 

With a need to be conscious of time, we headed up into the gulf towards the town of Auray. Zooming along on the late flood, we kept an eye out for the numerous boats working or cruising the waters. 

With the wind on our backs, we passed past lovely castles. As the tide began to slow, we had a choice: stop here for lunch or carry on exploring the ever-narrowing gorge? We carried on past beautiful boats to a fab lunch stop.

Fed, it was back. The ebb assisted whilst the strengthening wind delayed progress. Entering a wide bay, the headwind increased to f5/6, but the team powered on until we met a capsized catamaran, whose crew were struggling. Martin dived into the water and swam to their assistance. Sadly, even with 4 pulling, it could not be righted, so someone went to flag down a passing motorboat. With the crew safe, we departed.

Headwinds increased, and rain became horizontal as we powered back to our starting point. Here, great teamwork soon got the boats off the water and to the cars.

Another lovely LCC day on the sea, making best use of the conditions.