Saturday 31st October: Setting off at last
Awelina of Sweden
James Collier
Sun 1 Nov 2015 14:44
Finally the day of departure has arrived. With delays and frustrations over the southerly gales we spotted the weather window that will potentially let us reach La Coruña in Northern Spain without too much beating to windward. The date was somewhat inauspicious being Halloween but that leaving before November was also right on our schedule.
Not having sailed further than the Lizard this year with some trepidation we prepared the boat in Falmouth Haven. We motored round to the fuel barge to top up our diesel only to find it well and truly shut. After calling various recommended phone numbers impatience took over and we motored out of the harbour setting sail southwards in a gentle force 4. The swells were the usual easterly chop but gradually the wind died away and we were left motor sailing alongside a large gaff rigged Ketch called "Maybe" for some miles. They elected to take a bit more westerly course so soon we were with no more mobile signal, no more Cornish coastline and no-one else in sight.