Quiberon and Port Louis
Leaving La Turballe was lovely it was early and the sea was calm and we were heading back to Quiberon to meet Bolero. We love Quiberon but we would not have much time as we were only staying one night. As I pulled out the main sail a shower of ball bearings fell on the top of the bimini and with that a shout from Linda. We have an in-mast mainsail and when you pull it out the clew (the bottom outer corner of the sail) is attached to a car that runs along a track and it is a strange arrangement but the only thing holding it n the track is the ball bearings so as soon as it was deployed the balls fell out and the car detached from the track so we could only do one thing, furl the sail and sailing along under just Genoa. Linda collected all the ball bearings she could find and collected them in her shoe. It was soon clear that we would have to sail home without a mainsail unless I could obtain some replacement balls, of course it was a Saturday morning so every Selden dealer was closed for the weekend. I fired emails and left messages with all the Selden dealers we were likely to pass on our return journey. I think received deafening silence except one who was closed for the summer holidays… Then a dealer phoned me and said I could get the balls from chandlers they were 6.3mm…
We arrived in Quiberon and Bolero were already tied up, we said our hello's but not wishing to invade their party as they were cruising with Ian and Gwyn we rushed off for a galette for a last minute lunch. That afternoon I went to the chandlers who had just one packet on 6.3mm balls… that was not the correct size they were too small and they didn't stock a bigger size. The hunt continues.That evening Linda out together a supper of an eclectic mix of dishes to please everyone.
We left he next morning as soon as the lock opened to go to Port Louis where we were meeting other mutual friends. We always say that the weather improves when you get south to Quiberon
so the converse applies for Port Louis was north of Quiberon and it felt as though we had entered a new weather system. Ti A Fi is owned by Colin and Tracy Jefferies who were the co-owners of Joleif and we did the Arc Baltic with them so this would be a bit of a re-union. Sea Crusader and Bolero arrived first and Ti A Fi arrived about an hour later.
Trying to find any Selden dealers with 5/16" balls was proving impossible they all wanted to order them in and I had a brain wave and looked up Harken dealers and there was one on the other side of the harbour. I called them and yes they had them in stock. I asked what time they would be open and they said 9am. The next morning I caught the first ferry to the other side of the harbour and then I had a 25 minute walk each way but it was worth it as I would be back in business. As soon as I returned I felt like the conquering hero and Ian cam over to help me fit them, it is a job for three people you just need too many hands. Within an hour it was fixed and big smiles abound on Sea Crusader,
We had planned to go to the submarine museum but sadly tickets needed to be purchased in advance so we went for a walk around the castle walls instead… Colin and Tracy decided to give it a miss and just as well for when we started walking around the perimeter the walkway was a narrow ledge which got narrower the more we walked.
Later everyone went to Bolero for dinner.
We arrived in Quiberon and Bolero were already tied up, we said our hello's but not wishing to invade their party as they were cruising with Ian and Gwyn we rushed off for a galette for a last minute lunch. That afternoon I went to the chandlers who had just one packet on 6.3mm balls… that was not the correct size they were too small and they didn't stock a bigger size. The hunt continues.That evening Linda out together a supper of an eclectic mix of dishes to please everyone.
We left he next morning as soon as the lock opened to go to Port Louis where we were meeting other mutual friends. We always say that the weather improves when you get south to Quiberon
so the converse applies for Port Louis was north of Quiberon and it felt as though we had entered a new weather system. Ti A Fi is owned by Colin and Tracy Jefferies who were the co-owners of Joleif and we did the Arc Baltic with them so this would be a bit of a re-union. Sea Crusader and Bolero arrived first and Ti A Fi arrived about an hour later.
Trying to find any Selden dealers with 5/16" balls was proving impossible they all wanted to order them in and I had a brain wave and looked up Harken dealers and there was one on the other side of the harbour. I called them and yes they had them in stock. I asked what time they would be open and they said 9am. The next morning I caught the first ferry to the other side of the harbour and then I had a 25 minute walk each way but it was worth it as I would be back in business. As soon as I returned I felt like the conquering hero and Ian cam over to help me fit them, it is a job for three people you just need too many hands. Within an hour it was fixed and big smiles abound on Sea Crusader,
We had planned to go to the submarine museum but sadly tickets needed to be purchased in advance so we went for a walk around the castle walls instead… Colin and Tracy decided to give it a miss and just as well for when we started walking around the perimeter the walkway was a narrow ledge which got narrower the more we walked.
Later everyone went to Bolero for dinner.
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Aagh -
Balls in Linda's shoe -
The smoking gun, we think this split let the balls out. -
Ian and I replacing the balls -
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Friends together on Sea Crusader