Returning from her first Breton course at the famous Les Glenans sailing school, the passionate sailor Erika Baffico calls us: “It’s been a crazy eleven days! I learned a lot of things, do you want an illustrated report from me? Brittany and the Mediterranean, Bretons and Italians… everything is different up there.”
Brittany vs Italy
The result is this beautiful service (full of useful advice also for cruising in our sea) where you discover how the Bretons face their sea among the wonderful islands of northern Brittany, among breathtaking landscapes and fearless Breton sailors, in a context where the tides and currents reign supreme. It is in fact essential to calculate the exact height of the sea to enter and exit ports without being stranded or forced to wait outside the locks.
To plan the route and avoid the multitude of rocks, more or less submerged depending on the tide. And consequently predict the direction and strength of the current, which also continuously varies during the day, in order to arrive at the right moment in the most critical passages, such as passing Cap Fréhel. Brittany vs Italy, as we titled. One thing must be said: the Mediterranean is a sea much more within everyone’s reach!
01 – Alignments
Alignment navigation uses two fixed points on the ground (for example the bell tower and the cistern) as references to safely navigate fairly narrow stretches of sea surrounded by obstacles.
The two points are identified on the nautical chart, and must remain aligned to sight throughout the entire navigation stretch.
02 – Maree
In Brittany the tides have significant ranges, which can range from 2 to 14 metres. They are periodic variations in sea level, and on average two high tides (and two low tides) occur over the course of 24 hours.
The height of the excursions and the times vary from day to day, making calculating the tides a fundamental daily exercise.
03 – Double keel
In the variable seabed of Brittany, to avoid the use of support crutches, many boats are equipped with double keels.
It is very common to see similar boats “standing” on beaches at low tide.
04 – Tidal current
We are stopped at the buoy, yet the boats are not oriented in the direction of the wind. What’s happening? The current is so fast that it becomes the dominant element.
Not to be underestimated when sailing! In fact, its speed adds (or subtracts) to that of the boat, with notable differences. For example, in the Cap de la Hague Strait the current can exceed 10 knots!
05 – Breton style port
The architecture of the Breton ports is a marvel, each with its own peculiarities due to the geography of the place.
In general, you always moor with fingers connected to the floating dock, which slides on large poles as the tide changes, the only fixed elements on the seabed. To go ashore you paradoxically have to climb long walkways, which are also mobile (sliding on the pier).
06 – Regulus Cras
The paper nautical chart offers a broader and more immediate overview of the surrounding area than the tablet, making it easier to plan navigation and identify landmarks.
The route must therefore be calculated using the ruler… have you ever tried to use it?
07 – Meda
Marine beacons indicate safe directions and submerged reefs, and may be on land or floating.
Essential for navigating the complex waters of Brittany, but also important in the Mediterranean, it is essential to integrate the reading of the nautical chart with the pilot book, a book that collects photographic representations of the beacons in the area in which you are sailing.
08 – Better keep it!
Every good sailor knows that, when you are heavily listed and the sea is rough, it is better to hold back rather than venture down to the bathroom!
09 – Silence in the bays
There are those who value discretion and those who value emotional expression… Better Breton or Italian?
10 – The weather is nice several times a day
The expression “Il fait beau plusieurs fois par jour” is an ironic way of describing Brittany’s unstable and changing climate.
It reflects local humor in the face of unpredictable weather conditions, which go from sunny to rain multiple times in the same day.
11 – Italian vs Breton
Everyone equips themselves in their own way for “le crachin breton”, the typical light and intermittent drizzle of Brittany. However, temperatures remain mild, and in August they fluctuate between 12°C and 22°C.
Who is the author of this report
Erika Baffico is a passionate sailor based in Milan. He combines his passion for the sea with work, designing innovative lighting systems that recreate the changing color of the sky in the interiors, long observed and admired from the boat (www.fulcrodesign.com).
Erika Baffico
He started sailing thanks to a course with Les Glenans in their almost pirate-like bay, near Bonifacio, a place reachable only by sea or on foot. Since then, sails have also followed her on land, and she has designed collections of bags and backpacks for BolinaSail. He created this illustrated reportage for Il Giornale della Vela on sailing in Brittany, and can’t wait to draw more. Follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fulcro.design/!
