Day 7: 20/06/17 Dieppe to Fecamp

178 Nautical Miles so far. This feels much faster than we really want to travel but as Patrick reminded me last night, we are travelling fast because this is an expensive part of the trip. Between 25 and 30 Euros per night is not sustainable on our 450 Euro per month moorings budget, once we get into the French inland waterways mooring costs will reduce significantly (except for Paris).

Today we were planning to leave sometime between 10 and 11am but needed some shopping first as we were running low on fresh fruit and veg, as well as bread. AJ had already done his daily reading when we dragged Esmé out of her bunk at about 8am with the promise of boulangerie goodies. We visited the port office to find it didn't open until 9 so onwards to find provisions. A market was being set up in the town but was not yet ready so we found a boulangerie on a back street, bought bread and pain au chocolate and headed to the beach for breakfast. After a quick play on the playground opposite we returned to the market where we paid significantly more than we would have in Tesco's for fruit and veg. The kids and I practiced our French and we returned to the port office laden down with supplies only to find we needed boat papers for the first time on the trip. Back to the boat and Patrick returned with the relevant paperwork leaving the kids and I to stow our purchases.

Esmé nervously took the helm for a short while on the way out of Dieppe after I'd radioed Port Control to ensure the Seven Sisters Ferry wasn't due to leave any time soon. Out of the harbour and turn left for a long motor towards Fecamp. Not a breath of wind meant it was much hotter than yesterday and the haze meant there was little to see either. Esmé went back to bed while AJ did his French lesson. Today he chose to learn how to ask where he could buy sweets. Once he had found this out I suggested that there may be something else he needed to know.... like how to understand any directions given to him! We spent a little longer investigating directions in French before having a break for lunch.

After lunch we continued reading the D-Day book. Todays story was about the floating tanks which attacked Gold Beach. Esmé is significantly less interested in WW2 than AJ and the text is probably a little old for her although she is desperate to have a go at reading it. Her turn will come when we motor up the Seine towards Paris. I have a lovely picture book about Monet and I plan to look at this with them just before we get to Giverny, perhaps we'll take photos and then try to paint them later as I don't think you are allowed to paint when you are in there.

The wind was now increasing slightly so we decided to sail under headsail for the last hour or two as we were getting bored of the engine. Kids had their iPad time below decks to stay out of the sun and Patrick and I took it in turns to sail or snooze.

It was interesting to approach Fecamp from the East. The last time Patrick and I had been here was very soon after we met, on a JOG race from Cowes. Very quickly the harbour was approaching and the wind picking up. Patrick hurriedly deployed fenders and readied lines as I tried to call the marina on the VHF, no reply, but we identified the visitors pontoon from the Almanac. Once inside the harbour the wind increased even more and we did a few circuits of the marina before finally deciding on a berth. We had a wonderful reception as a handful of fellow Englishmen came to take our lines, the kids making us proud as AJ loudly announced that the port bow line wasn't on yet!

Just about to leave for very much needed showers we heard a knock on the boat and popped our heads up to find the crew of Tomahawk from Fambridge! Seem to have lost them again but might find them for a drink later. Anyway early tea and tried for an early night but the kids are still awake and missing friends:-( We've promised to help them email home tomorrow and try to skype over the next few days. Anybody fancy a chat once we get to Ouistreham?