Talbot Kirk, this tireless sailor who had already reached Mogueriec in 1963, has been for some time at the port of Corréjon. Leaving Helford River in Cornwall, England, on the 12th June at 9.30, he arrived at Plongnerneau on Saturday morning after a 50 hour crossing. Off Plongnerneau at Lizen he met the boat of the brothers Alexis and Albrest Normand, who guided him to Corréjon.

Talbot Kirk is a real sailor, burnt by sun and salt, 70 years of age. He is a retired TV engineer. He has fitted his little vessel Pat, FH 25, with automatic steering of his own design. (N.B. Talbot writes that this is quite untrue — he has no automatic steering device).

The crossing was easy — the sea was not rough — but it was long because of contrary winds. Note that this boat dates from 1946, and that our adventurer bought her in 1963 for the sum of £30. ‘Des navigateurs solitaires, des aventuriers, il en existe de tous les gabarits, mais Ie plus sincère et le plus sympathique est encore celui-là qui sait être discret. Good bye Mister Talbot!’ ——————

Talbot Kirk writes:

‘The lovely beach here is deserted, apart from visitors to Pat and the carters of seaweed. Probably a tractor would get stuck in the sand. The seaweed is cut and collected for its high content of iodine and other medicaments. The old women spread it out to dry, using pitchforks; then it is piled in rectangular heaps awaiting transport to the processing plant. This is also a very busy fishing port for smaller boats: genuine fishing, no taking-out trippers. Nearby is the lighthouse of the Vierge, the highest in France, with a range of 30 miles FLW 5 sec. The old disused lighthouse in front is painted white, so the pair is readily distinguished from Con Carhai, which stands amongst a great litter of rocks (and is white octagonal) and Le Four which has no rocks to westward.

I grab the chance to write without disturbance (6.30 am) before friends old and new start calling and inviting me for meals or drinks. Seems to be a bit of a contest as to who can entertain le vieux navigateur Anglais best!’ ——————

Talbot expects to be at Corréjon for some time, and may winter there if he can find part-time work in Brest or nearby. His address is: Plongnerneau 29232, France.