TROUBLESOME ANCHORS AND OFF PISTE EXPLORATION ASHORE
Aquila
Alan and Sarah Bennett
Thu 30 Jun 2016 05:25
Tuesday. Bill and Jill enjoyed the short 8 mile hop in a NE4 to the next anchorage: Ensenada de Sardineiro (phot). As usual, the skipper was keen to have Aquila tucked up close in, but the windlass unexpectedly failed to pay out the cable. So we hadn’t fixed the snag with the previous crew! The foredeck crew did sterling work in paying out the 35m by hand, but as the skipper was concerned that this delay had put us too close to a reef, he and Bill went on a surveying trip (phot) of our swinging circle. This seemed to indicate we were OK, as long as the wind stayed where it was. So ashore to explore – funny coffee (phot) for sale, but excellent tapas (phot). Back on board, and much snoring; as LW approached, the mate and skipper went surveying again (as some kelp was now showing to windward). The upshot was a decision to weigh anchor (the windlass behaved), and a move 1 cable to the west (where the crew payed out the cable by hand – think this is going to be the norm until we can take the windlass to the workshops). Skipper now happy.
A hike up the local hills was then embarked upon. Without our machetes, a few paths proved impassable (phot); but from the summit, a great view of Finistera town (2 miles north of Cape Finisterre) was the reward (phot). Back on board for a supper to die for, and a beautifully peaceful night. At anchor beats marinas any day (once you’ve used the latter for a shower etc)!
