The comprehensive Orca apps had warned us of a myriad of ‘interactions’ and ’sightings’ throughout the last month along our final route. We're not supposed to describe the interactions as ‘attacks’. According to the reports, the pod causing all the problems for yachts, biting rudders off and even sinking a couple of boats, are ‘bored and wanting alternative diversions’. Having several tons of Orca bang into the side of your yacht does not sound like ‘fun’ to me. 

We’d prepared ourselves on the advice from the Cruising Association in the UK who have been collecting data trying to work out how to deal with the issue: large bags of sand (to pour over the stern during their ‘play’ which apparently affects their sonar on approach), and remaining inside the 20m depth line on the coast (where Orca rarely go in this part of the Atlantic coast). The only issue with the latter strategy being, that there are a lot of lobster and crab pots inshore and fishing nets hung out in the water that are not really well marked. We planned a night passage, both to ensure we didn’t experience adverse tidal effects, but also (in theory) to make the best of the gap in the strong winds, and help us arrive in time to spend another day preparing to leave Cassini in the marina at Alcaidesa for a short while. Nigel worked all this out and plotted a course to follow. And surely anyway, even Orca have to sleep sometime? why not at night like the rest of us mammals!

Apart from the wind though, which ironically moderated just short of Tarrifa, itself noted as being the most windy place in Europe, we had no other problems with ‘pots’, fishing nets or Orca.

We arrived at the final approaches into the Gibraltar area, sighting the iconic Rock from some way out. We began our transit of the anchorage only for Nigel to cry out “Orcas on the bow”…. closer inspection though revealed a small pod of Pilot whales moving swiftly out of our way… phew! 

We made it safely alongside in the marina, fuelled and filled up on water and set about the list of preps for cleaning and clearing the boat up after a long ocean passage. Our remaining crew member Liz, led us into ‘boat admin’, scrubbing and cleaning everything down before helping Nigel and I get the headsails and staysails down and packed, doing some minor repairs and identifying the source of a dozen loose ball bearings which we found around the spare fuel tanks - never a good sign. We found the broken block minus ball bearings; its replacement has been added to the ‘jobs list’. After a long day, it was great to enjoy tapas and bottle of local red wine at a restaurant next to the marina. 

After a second day at the jobs list on Wednesday, we finally, all three of us, made it over the border on Thursday for flights home to the UK. 

Liz came aboard as the third watch leader after a tip-off from my sister Sarah (leg 2 crew from Mindello to Grenada). They had both joined the army together at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and she came with a very strong recommendation. After a very successful career as an army officer, we should have expected strong organisation skills. With experience from her Fastnet racing she brought energy and leadership to drills on her watch; she cooked and baked (when she could get Romain and Pauline out of the way) and led the way with ’socials’ organisation when we were ashore. Her competitive streak showed through on one watch though; together with Coleman, she sailed over 26 miles in just three hours, averaging very nearly nine knots throughout - really the maximum we can take Cassini to. Thank you Liz. 

Can we say a big thank you to everyone that has messaged us along the way over the the last ten months; it’s been great to hear from you (and nice to know you’re vicariously enjoying our adventure through the blogs).

We’ll be back onboard again after the Hardaker family wedding in a couple of weeks, but in the meantime, 'signing off’ from Cassini….

Simon

If you either click on the link below (it may work) or paste to your browser, Pauline created this short video of the trip which is on my Facebook page :-)