Peter Wakeling  sailed   on the CSSA Najad 380 ‘Freya  ’ from La Rochelle, which he said was a good place for connections from the UK, heading for Bénodet. After a stop at the delightful Ile de Ré they went to les Sables d’Olonne, which is dominated by the Vendée Globe, and where there is a new marina in the former fishing harbour. The winds were between SW and NW for the whole trip, good for heading north up the coast, but a 2m swell due to hurricane Bertha prevented anchoring. After Joinville on the Ile d’Yeu they went through the inshore channel past Noirmoutier at LW springs, then on to Pornic, Le Palais on Belle-Ile, the Ile de Groix, Concarneau, and finally to Bénodet via the Iles de Glénan (home of the prestigious French sailing school). Peter said that every place visited was delightful, and they also seemed to have enjoyed memorable meals wherever they went.