Sun 2nd, Mon 3rd & Tues 4th Sept
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40:49.65N 002:05.99E We arrived Port Camargue very early on Sunday 3rd after a 4:30 am taxi, 7r00am Easyjet flight and spent the day doing housekeeping jobs in the delightful med sunshine Day 1 and out start point is Port Camargue, rear Marseille, renowned for its wild horses,flamingos,salt production and also since the 70s hosting the biggest marina in Europe. Alize has been there two months for fitting out. Now after a way too early 4.30am start we are cheered by the Camargue sun and start our final preps: Our first dilemma is the weather and when to set off. Its blowing a gale (35 knots) and gusting 50 to the west the Gulf of Lion. Just where we need to head. Its the Tramontana, a fierce NW wind off the Pyrenees, forecast for several days to abate the subsequent day - but clearly unpredictable and continuing. We need to get started; we rely on the widely forecast moderation this time being true. We set off early pm and decide to skirt the Bay anitclockwise, staying somewhat inshore (10 miles off the coast) for a flatter sea. We have light winds at first and enjoy a superb sunset and fine dining from Tim the chef - chicken, rice and salad - (with fresh bread from the breadmaker) . At 9pm we start our watch system - 9pm -to Midnight - Mike L, Midnight to 3.00am Tim, 3:00am to 6:00am Mike S - the watch before acting as standby for the next watch.Around 23:00 the wind picked up to force 6, gusting to 35 knots and Tim's scored a high of 9.9 knots during his night watch - 2 reefs in the main and rolled-up jib in force 7 NW wind on the beam.. Tuesday 5th at around 5.00 am the wind dropped and MikeL shook out the reefs and set full sail to maintain speed - when the wind picked up again at 7.00 we surfed up to 12.2 knots at the peak - all very comfortable in force 6 - a fabulous sail in moderate seas that we all enjoyed. The wind dropped away after 8am and we have been motoring since. Tim sorted out his amazing fishing kit and tried his hand for a while - catching a plastic bag! In today's calm conditions we have done some more housekeeping. We rigged the Bimini sun hood to ensure we have shade in the tropics, Tim & Mike S checked out and carefully stowed the superb first aid kit that several friends have helped assemble. We seem prepared for anything, but time will tell! MikeL had a shower on the bathing platform in the sunshine - Tim was about to have a shower but someone has left a tap running and the main starboard tank is empty. A lesson to us all. Tomorrow the watermaker will be brought into commission. We are now about 30 miles off Barcelona on the direct route to Cap de la Nao (near Benidorm). Mike, Tim & Mike |