Departed Plymouth at 1800 UT on 18^th June 2009, fully crewed with Skipper Mr Bill Peach, Dicky Mander and Richard Clark.  Very fortunate with the weather and sailed on a beam reach with the wind at between 18-20 knots most of the evening. Dick cooked a great chilli and we all eat it in the cockpit from our new dog bowls which are agreat success.   The course was 200 degrees true bound directly for La Coruna. We have been keeping a 3 hour watch system which is working well so far apart from Dicky keeps getting the 2000=2300 and therefore gets a full night’s sleep, he will pay later in the voyage.  Excellent progress was made on the first night with an average speed of 7-8knots SOG shipping and fishing traffic started in earnest at about 0100 on the 19^th, the most eventful purse seine fishing boat with a very quick flashing yellow light, we passed  him about a mile to  port, Dicky confirmed sighting whilst getting-up to visit the heads.  Bill’s watch started at 0200 and apart from a crossing container ship was uneventful.