Downwind in France, Brittany coast

[photofr]

A memorable day on the coast of Brittany, France.
Strong gusts to 40+ MPH, steady small swells coming into the river, two super fun paddlers making their way to about 9 miles up the bay.

The start is near Larmor (very close to the city of Lorient). There are two other destinations possible for great downwind within a 10 minute drive from this place. There's even an island 4 miles offshore that provides great downwind potentials, including my favorite run which is from Groix to Etel for a 19-mile DW run.

Hope you guys enjoy.


PIERROT ON HIS CUSTOM 14'


A CLOSER LOOK AT HIS ROUNDED HULL


A BIT OF A DIFFERENT VIEW


SILVAIN HAVING A BLAST TOO


CLOSER LOOK AT SILVAIN


ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOTS

[stoneaxe]

Nice....a part of the world we hope to visit someday. We'll have to keep this a secret though....my wife thinks we are going to visit France just for the culture.....

[Off-Shore]

Nice pics and awesome conditions! That hull does look really interesting, It would be interesting to see a vid of it in action.

[yugi]

dOOd! I scored my first DW board from Action Fun Sports! [sorry: planing hull, shaped by planing master: Jimmy Lewis] Great deal, great service. Serious second hand price  in seriously brand new condition - like unbelievable.  [also used to teach sailing as a teen in Morbihan just BTW]

Serious currents there, and winds. Can imagine can create some huge conditions. Want photos of that too! [Didn't  Kai Lenny calling Brittany "like Sunset"]

photo #4 : silvain has the makings of the great telemarker! Helmut und all! Just add knee pads and it's a done deal. A natural breton teleshredder! Sign him up.

photofr, Your fascination with round hulls for a planing sport fascinates me!
Awesome! Love that rebel spirit even if I understand nothing about it.

[Eagle]

Looks like fun.  We use our Bark Dominator for all water use and up down DW runs with very similar wave size but much less wind.  Maybe 15 kts.

We have to muscle into waves with our biggest paddle to catch a glide and plane a bit.  When on plane though standing back like your pals - the board handles so neutral and easy.  The wide tail is a pleasure to stand on just like in your pics.  As long as the very deep vee displacement bow is neutralized it has no chance to pearl twist and throw you off.

Really like the overhead shot perspective showing the wake.  Trim looks about perfect -> for a very fun day out.   

[photofr]

dOOd! I scored my first DW board from Action Fun Sports! [sorry: planing hull, shaped by planing master: Jimmy Lewis] Great deal, great service. Serious second hand price  in seriously brand new condition - like unbelievable.  [also used to teach sailing as a teen in Morbihan just BTW]

Serious currents there, and winds. Can imagine can create some huge conditions. Want photos of that too! [Didn't  Kai Lenny calling Brittany "like Sunset"]

photo #4 : silvain has the makings of the great telemarker! Helmut und all! Just add knee pads and it's a done deal. A natural breton teleshredder! Sign him up.

photofr, Your fascination with round hulls for a planing sport fascinates me!
Awesome! Love that rebel spirit even if I understand nothing about it.

HEY SPEED... long time no hear.
Indeed, I can't wait to get Sylvain on tele gear this coming winter; I already know he will be a fast learner.

Re: My fascination with round hulls...
Well, it's very simple; I go with what I know works, from experience.
Windsurfing: I enjoy going fast all the time (anything above 30 km/h for "real" planning)
K1 and Surfskis: I enjoy something that has low drag. Check out my Spark surfski, and you'll understand how well it glides on the flats, and how crazy fast it reacts to anything downwind. The hull is in fact round, and the nose is in fact pointy - and yeah... narrow as heck.

The closer I get to the speed of my surfski using a SUP, the better I feel.

Hope that helps you understand my total dedication and fascination.

[photofr]

Today was the French Qualifying Championships, in Brittany (France).
As of this year, racers can compete on a 14' board, with different races scheduled throughout the country.

On this beautiful Saturday, a small downwind was scheduled (about 11 miles, so nothing too crazy, but it was fun).
Here are couple of photos... just so you guys know what the surroundings look like:











Hope you enjoy the mini photo coverage.

[atlanticsup]

I did think of starting a new thread as lightly off top but thought it was better to add on as it is about downwinding  and general paddling in Brittany.

I will be in the Brittany region for a week or two mid June to end June and though the intention is not paddling, I will definitely like to paddle (and downwind preferably). Looks like I will need a wetsuit which I will bring, and maybe a paddle (as I am particular) and I was hoping to get a referral if there are any shops or groups where I could occasional hire a board (preferably a 14footer).

Photofr or others would you be able to make any suggestions if there are any towns in the region where this is possible?
Thanks

[Pierre]

Nice pics and awesome conditions! That hull does look really interesting, It would be interesting to see a vid of it in action.

Go and see on Hi-Fun Hydroworks  facebook page or on document  http://paddlespot.net/download/les_carenes_de_SUP_race.pdf
(sorry, english version not finished)
I am not sure to have so many vids...
Rounded hull performande is awesome on moderate Dw conditions, it become a little too" technical" if chop goes rough...

[photofr]

@Pierre:
The next time you are available, let me know if you are up for some video footage. We could actually have so much fun filming and showcasing the MAGIC BOW.

[photofr]

@atlantic:
I am certain we can find you a board to borrow or a shop that will rent you one.
Either way, Brittany is quite big... what city will you be visiting?

I am located near Port-Louis (about 10 minutes from the town of Lorient)

[PonoBill]

Looks like fun. Diane I I want to spend some time in Europe, I'll be sure to add that to the list.

[atlanticsup]

Thanks for the feedback.
Right now, I am still deciding exactly where I will be going (but it is very sea focused) - I had just over a week spare and thought a road trip is in order (needed to be reasonably close to my temp base in the Netherlands). If Lorient is the only place where I could hire kit reasonably easily, I will add it to the itinerary.

[photofr]

My very favorite is "earn your bumps" - a 10km paddle to an island. Conditions are usually rather calm in the morning, so once there, it's lunch, bubbled-drink on the island, and then a 10km paddle DW (with variations like a 14 or 18km DW from there). It really depends on what you want to do, what you can do, and the conditions.

What board do you normally paddle with, and in what conditions do you usually paddle in?
Renting for a day, weekend, or an entire week is super cheap in France, at least in the Port=Louis area - so options are endless.

Port-Louis: This tiny town is tucked away from everything, hardly on the map, but offers more options for paddling than you could imagine. The surroundings are super easily accessible, and are a must=see for Americans.

Here's a direct link to some photos:
https://photofr.smugmug.com/Portfolio/France-Brittany/i-2FC3qjn

[atlanticsup]

Wow. That does look amazing.

I am on a 14ft and Sic Bullet unlimited. Much prefer downwinding (I live in Cape Town) where I think we have strong average winds (20knot+)  and at times big swells. Hard to compare with rest of the world but think at times amazingly easy, other times tough work. Water is cold on the atlantic side (12-13 degrees) and warm on the False Bay side (Millers-Fish Hoek run is 19 degrees).


But I would be happy on a smaller board if that is what is available. Just happy to get into the ocean.