We left Port du Frioul in a light SE breeze which started out at 5 knots and built to 10 knots before dying out completely after lunch. We were able to sail most of the way to explore some of the calanques of Cassis, where we cooled off with a nice swim. I wanted to see how the self tacking jib would do in light winds, so I have something to compare to the Code-0 in similar conditions, so we went the whole way with just main and self tacking jib.

7.6 knots of boat speed in 8.8 knots of wind close hauled under full main and jib.

As the wind dropped, I did some tacking to see how Wildling handled very low wind speeds. We were able to maintain 4.5 knots boat speed in wind of 5 knots, and tacking was still no problem, even under 5 knots of true wind.

Wind dropping off, but we’re still able to keep sailing.

After lunch in the calanques, the wind dropped to 1.5 knots, so we motored around the point east of Cassis, and anchored at the west end of the bay at La Ciotat. Very nice town with an automatic laundromat, good restaurants along the waterfront, and a Carrefour supermarket close by. We took the dinghy over to the nearby marina and tied up there while we did our shopping and laundry.

Returning after shopping in La Ciotat

We’re staying at anchor in La Ciotat again tonight, with light winds forecast again tomorrow for our planned 30 mile trip over to the island of Porquerolles.