A Day's Sailing in Brittany
Crew for a friend on a sailing boat in the Gulf of Morbihan: hoist the sails, tack, fight off seasickness and drop anchor in a cove.
Brittany is France's sailing heartland, and the Golfe du Morbihan, with its strong tidal currents and dozens of islands, is a classic day trip, so checking the tide times is essential. No licence is needed to skipper a sailing boat in France, though a permis plaisance is required for motorboats over 6 horsepower. On board, French sailors have their own words, from bâbord and tribord to calling a rope « un bout », and the crew always uses tu.
- 1
T'as le pied marin ?
Have you got your sea legs?
- 2
Mets ton gilet avant qu'on sorte du port.
Put your life jacket on before we leave the harbour.
- 3
Faut regarder les horaires des marées.
We need to check the tide times.
- 4
Le vent se lève.
The wind's picking up.
- 5
Aide-moi à hisser la grand-voile.
Help me hoist the mainsail.
- 6
Attention à ta tête, la bôme !
Mind your head, the boom!
- 7
On vire de bord !
Ready about, we're tacking!
- 8
Tire sur ce bout.
Pull on that rope.
Tip: Sailors never use the everyday word for rope on board.
- 9
La bouée est à bâbord.
The buoy is to port.
- 10
Je peux prendre la barre ?
Can I take the helm?
- 11
Garde le cap.
Hold your course.
- 12
J'ai le mal de mer.
I feel seasick.
- 13
Regarde l'horizon, ça aide.
Look at the horizon, it helps.
- 14
Ça gîte beaucoup !
We're heeling over a lot!
- 15
On jette l'ancre dans cette crique ?
Shall we drop anchor in that cove?
- 16
On va à terre avec l'annexe.
We'll go ashore in the dinghy.
- 17
Y a plus de vent, on va devoir mettre le moteur.
There's no wind left, we'll have to use the engine.
- 18
La mer est agitée.
The sea is rough.
- 19
Il faut rentrer au port avant la tombée de la nuit.
We have to get back to the harbour before nightfall.
- 20
Quelle journée, je suis accro !
What a day, I'm hooked!