Navigation 13# Bandol-Toulon, we lost 1 or 2 fenders...

 

 

We covered 20 nautical miles in just 4 hours, arriving an hour earlier than planned, thanks to a generous tailwind that pushed us along. Our average speed settled at a steady 5 knots, which felt just right for the journey.

The wind, however, had other plans. At times, it kicked up so fiercely that we had to furl the mainsail and rely solely on the genoa to keep things manageable. It was a bit of a wild ride, and for some reason, our focus was off. Maybe it was the gusts rattling our nerves or just one of those off days, but we weren’t our usual sharp selves.

Case in point: I forgot to stow the fenders after departure, something I *always* do. The wind was relentless, and it took a toll—one of the fender lines wore through completely, and we lost one, maybe two fenders to the sea. Another line is fraying badly, hanging on by a thread. I’d bet we’ll forget to replace it before the next trip, too, knowing how these things slip our minds.

Despite the chaos, there’s something exhilarating about sailing through those gusts, even if we were a bit scattered. The boat held strong, and that early arrival gave us a moment to catch our breath and laugh about our fender fiasco. Next time, we’ll aim to be a bit more dialed in—or at least remember the basics!

The docking was also a bit of a circus because of the strong wind, it took almost an hour for us to dock properly... 

 Here is the summary of our stay in Toulon! I loved this city. A good mix between a bigger city and a smaller provincial one.