Challenge 67

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Good mood and kindness are the two strong points. Thank you for sharing the knowledge of the skippers.

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Thank you to Fabrice and Thomas for this first experience despite the cruising conditions! Looking forward to repeating it, hoping for more wind with Fabrice and the apprentice. Greetings to the entire team of the stay. See you soon!

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Allow some time to walk from the parking area indicated at the meeting point to the boat. You will easily spot the boat thanks to its name on the mainsail cover.
The boat is very spacious, comfortable, and extremely pleasant to sail.
The route we took is truly fantastic. In 4 days, we visited Belle-Île, Hoedic, Houat, the Glenans, and passed by Groix before returning to Lorient.
There was a great atmosphere with the group. The captain and his first mate made our 4 days absolutely fabulous.
Ideal for combining a cruise with sailing a yacht and disconnecting from daily life.

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Super positive feedback: A very beautiful week of sailing and a pleasant vacation week, a great experience, thanks first to the captains of the 'Albatros', at GlobeSailor. And the desire to sail on the magnificent Challenge 67... why not towards the Scilly Isles!
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Semi-offshore training on the 'Albatros' Challenge 67. August 3-9, 2023. The sailing of nearly 500 miles from Lorient to Guernsey and back was very rich: learning about the boat and maneuvers and life on board, moments at the helm of the 21 m monohull, discovering the Breton coast and the islands, maritime tourism, environment (marine ecosystem, towards a sober life on board).

During the 7-day sailing from Lorient, we covered Les Glénans, Pointe du Raz, Camaret, the Chenal du Four (Ouessant), Guernsey, with the return to Lorient via Les Glénans and then the island of Groix. The relatively strong winds at the beginning of the period - one day of strong winds spent at anchor - weakened to moderate to lighter winds. The weather conditions disrupted the program, adapted for an East route to Guernsey, rather than the initially planned North course towards the Scilly Isles.

The captain's sailing program, progressive in distance and allowing for necessary seamanship, made the best of the wind conditions, varied levels, and the desires of the crew members. The sailing allowed everyone to enjoy good sailing sessions, including night sailing, spinnaker sailing (asymmetric; the symmetric spinnaker is also part of the sail plan, along with the Yankees and Trinquette) and of course pleasant landings and local visits. Quite well filled for seven days with a variety of moments in which everyone can find themselves.

We had excellent opportunities to visit Guernsey, the island of exile of Victor Hugo, Camaret, to pass the Raz de Sein and the Chenal du Four, to the East of Ouessant, at dawn and dusk, to appreciate the sunrises and sunsets, and on top of that, to have the joy of seeing dolphins jumping, numerous, sometimes in groups of three, sometimes around the bow.

The two captains, back from the Fastnet, were great, both pedagogical (very instructive on sailing as well), onboard animators, and trainers of the crew, whom they really helped to improve their skills, while raising awareness of ecology on board. Thanks to the captains who shared their lives as seamen and their vast experience of marine environments and fishing.

The training represents a good compromise between a slightly more sporty sailing approach, in semi-offshore mode, and a more comfortable coastal cruise (excellent provisioning, comfortable monohull). An interesting combination of sailing and travel. It’s a beautiful sailing experience on a large monohull, rigged as a ketch, high-performing and very well designed, (the Albatros, Challenge 67, 21m, IRC1 rating), very physical, where the 10 crew members prove to be very useful (1 crew member at the winch + 4 people to hoist the mainsail!); an experience combined with the discovery of ports and anchorages, and the opening to a marine and sober lifestyle, ecological, advocated by one of the friendly captains.

Through GlobeSailor, I approached this semi-offshore training and the superb Challenge 67 by chance of scheduling, after a first aborted program, and about a week before departure, to sail in Brittany and on the Channel. My registration 10 days before departure benefited from good follow-up, quick and coordinated by the two companies.

The atmosphere on board was friendly and good humor prevailed. For the base, everything was very good, from the welcome, the possibility of the first night on board, the briefings, the training on the boat and maneuvers, the organization of life on board, in a good climate, abundant provisioning - including fresh products - which allowed for good meals (very good cooks among the crew, and one of the captains). This makes for a very comfortable life on board, especially since the Albatros is in perfect condition. Safety is very good. I appreciated the ecological sensitivity, which is certainly a 'plus', more sought after by urban clients who sail occasionally.

I appreciated:
- the anchorage at Les Glénans;
- the beautiful port of Camaret, and the walk on the nearby cliffs towards Pointe du Grouin. 'Le Dico' alternative bar run by two young sea wolves, great, and the bistros on the waterfront. Shipchandler: 'Comptoir de la Mer'
- Guernsey. The House of Victor Hugo is a must, by appointment, with its magnificent view of the harbor, St Peter’s Church, especially Notre-Dame du Rosaire Catholic Church with its interior café; The Guernsey Yacht Club, a private club, on Castle Pier, at the entrance of St Peter's port, welcomes warmly and lends its showers to French sailors.

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When you have a full crew that is eager, it makes for a superb cruise. The support is top-notch, we participate in everything, and they are always kind towards our flaws or incompetencies.

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Very good team, no stress

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Excellent welcome! A big thank you to the two passionate skippers, Cédric and Mathis, who were attentive! They were able to convey and correct the right techniques in a friendly and warm atmosphere! All while adapting to different levels!
Time flies on board!
The food was top-notch, very enjoyable and a moment of pleasure.
See you very soon!