Update on plans
andromeda of plymouth
Susan and Andrew Wilson
Tue 21 Jul 2009 14:19
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The Biscay rally officially started this morning at
10 am but the weather conditions for the next few days has led to a change of
plan. Most of the fleet have left for Plymouth where they will stay for two days
before a possible weather window opens for the voyage south. A good number of
these yachts will then head for Benedot in south Brittany before either heading
for La Couna or moving later to La Trinite before heading home. A number are
still working out their options.
The weather is being seriously influenced by the
jet stream being over us and the Azores high not moving north - I think this is
an El Nino period so maybe thats also influencing the nasty weather we've been
experiencing.
As fathers funeral is tomorrow we will stay in
Torquay and look to leave on Friday when the weather window is forecast and see
if we can join the rest of the fleet, although we will be some 35 miles behind
them. There are two other yachts in Torquay who have not yet left but we are
notsure what their plans are. A number of crews are constrained by time and
travel arrangements so losing a number of days to the weather has meant some are
significantly re-evaluating their options.
However, despite the appalling weather we chatted
to the mayor and then squeezed our way out of the marina to join 11 other yachts
on the start line, before heading back into the town dock for the next few days.
The weather was such that no-one really wanted to do a bit of day sailing and
the forecast is for high winds later today - indeed they are building as I
write. One of the hatches is leaking so the girls have gone to get some retail
therapy while we wait for the rain to stop for a while so we can try and sort it
out. We still need to get some fuel before we leave so thats at the top of the
to do list, although leak detection is right up there with it.
We are still planning to make for La Coruna if we
can and will probably meet up with some of the fleet who only signed up for the
La Coruna leg - about 8 or so. Most plan to make their way down to Gibralter to
join the Blue Water World Rally in October so no doubt we will have some company
at some stages on the journey down Portugal. Sue and Paul are still up for the
trip - Sue tells us that she doesn't have to be back at work until September
which gives us some time to cross Biscay :-) Paul needs to get back to work in a
couple of weeks. We have the option of heading to Brittany if the weather turns
- we will let you know whay we decied to do later in the week.
More in due course........
Andrew & Susan
S/V Andromeda |