Position 43:20.74N 008:24.24W

Tuesday Sep 30^th

11h15

Wind NE Force 4

Sea State Calm

Visibility Good

Heading 297 T°

Under: Motor 1500 revs

Speed 4.4 Kts

We have really enjoyed La Coruna but if we don’t leave now we could be here another week.  It’s so easy with the marina right in the centre of the town just one street away from the central square (Plaza Marie Pita). We have had some good nights out here and have lived on a diet of squid for the past ten days. We had a bar b q one evening while mum and dad were there but that was the only meat eaten. Should we sprout tentacles they would certainly help with the short handed sailing. The only problem in the marina was the washing machine. It was rendered useless before our arrival and although treated each morning  with something called ‘manana’ it was still sick on our departure.

The beach was clean although the water freezing and you could easily keep away from the busy ‘city’ by staying between it and the port on the other side of the hill. Things are cheap, incredibly so, the fiver that comes out the side of your pocket with your fist will pay for the breakfast and lunch at the supermarket. Its no longer the useless ball that gets shoved back down and either winds up in the jar where the 2Ps used to live or being softened by Comfort. (Jerome wants to know why my jumper is softer than his).

As we motored out we said goodbye to our neighbours, the ocean cruise liner and her passengers, both change daily although the change is hardly noticeable. They disperse towards the cool, narrow streets to the echo of a public address system. I wonder if they have to be back at six fifteen for poulet and pommes pont neuf. Do they have a Rolla?

As Jake O’Flaherty was unable to join us on this trip at the last minute due to dental/coffee table issues. We have agreed to have his ensign accompany us on our trip. We will photo it in each port ant transmit the resulting data to his Connemara base.

Anyway on we go. Forecast from La Coruna VHF Channel 10 (English and brief) is NE F3-5 backing N. Swell 1m N. We are following our GPS track out the bay past the impressive modern Port Authority Building. I wonder when they are going to build the mid air central section? May be a while as I have not noticed many architects wandering the streets.  Maybe the Spanish are just not into those spectacles..

40 ft cat astern following us out towards the fishing fleet.

This is the departure point of the Spanish Armada 1588. Comparison: R+U, Mona and Johns Pool, Jake O’Flaherty’s dinghy, lifejackets and helmets.