Why ships approached Brest through the southern passage

Sailing out of Brest required a suitable northerly or easterly wind, and French ships often used the southern Raz de Sein passage. Ships returning after weeks at sea also favored that approach because heading directly toward Ushant with an uncertain position was dangerous. The account notes that the Neptune français chart atlas placed Brest about thirty-five miles out of position. Belle-Île offered a clearer landfall from which ships could work toward the Raz. Watching that route closely put British ships against the Breton lee shore in a westerly gale, with escape leading south into the Bay of Biscay. A safer position west or northwest of Ushant left the southern entrance out of sight.