Dolphins, a historical fort and calm days

Current location: In between Le Palais, Belle-Île and Bénodet and Sainte-Marine, 47°40’19’’N 3°41’53’’W

The port Le Palais of Belle-Île is one of the most adorable harbors I have ever visited. On our way into the harbor, after having motor sailed for 51 nautical miles, a young girl in a dingy that had “CAPTENIERIE” written on the side greeted us and explained how to moor in the harbor. I looked at her and immediately recognized a professional with a love for the sea. Mooring the boat with one line attached to the wave breaker wall, and another to a boy, was easily done with her assistance from the dingy. We took out our dingy from the garage in the stern of the boat, and headed to town. The sight from walking up the dock made me fall in love with the island Belle-Île. Two fishermen with buckets of squid were going through their day’s catch, one boy chased another with a sea urchin jumping over the squid, a dog patiently waited to get some scraps together with the seagulls who also politely waited their turns. We walked into the harbor office that was decorated with random objects from seafarers, and I concluded that I could probably live here. The town’s main attraction is a star-shaped fort, the Vauban citadel, which was conquered by the British in 1761. The fort was later returned to the French in exchange for Nova Scotia in Canada. Nova Scotian families settled on the island and introduced potato some years before it became popular on the mainland. Today we left Le Palais to continue north after breakfast, the good weather had returned and I found myself once again typing on my thesis comfortably in t-shirt in the cockpit. Just as I had gotten into the zone, we spotted dolphins. Needless to say, it was the highlight of my day. They only stayed for a minute or so, but once again I was reminded of how much I love being on the water.