We reached past Francois Gabart’s Vendee Globe winner (current title and record holder) as we started out across Biscay from Brittany, after mooring just along from his toy in Port-la-Forêt, a rapid-looking RM.

We were then interrupted in our departure for the beach in Portosín by the arrival of Team Campos, the latest entrant in the next Volvo Ocean Race edition, who had dropped by for lunch at the sailing club and were nudged into showing off their new Volvo Ocean 65, with Michel Desjoyaux, their star coach on board.

        

Of course sharing our home port with British pretender Alex Thomson might make us a little nonchalant, but even ever-harder-to-impress pre-teens recognised their privilege in being allowed on board for a tour.

Heady company indeed for our (shall we say steadier?) Ovni 395.