La Coruna to Camaret sur Mer

Mira's Web Diary
Gordon and Catherine
Wed 25 Jun 2014 09:55

48:16.76N 04:35.75W Bonjour, we have crossed Biscay!  Not the most graceful crossing as we had to motor sail a lot of the way through horrible seas at first, much bigger than we were expecting but we’re here.  Total distance 355NM, journey time 74 ½ hours.

 

So, downsides first – aforementioned seas and swell causing debilitating sickness, an invasion of flies, squalls with heavy rain, boat motion making life below very uncomfortable, autohelm proving unreliable until Gordon fixed it on day 3 and the need to motor causing concern over fuel reserves.

 

Upsides?  Um, struggling but there were some highlights – amazing electrical storm on night 1 with lightning flashing all around us, beautiful canopy of stars on nights 2 and 3, appreciation and awareness of the earth’s curvature, dolphins, absence of shipping and fishing pots, surreal calm night sail around the Ile de Sein watching out for all the cardinal lights, fantastic last morning sail into Camaret and the sheer relief at having done it.  One funny for the record - I came up on watch at 0330 and all was darkness, sat down and must have nodded off.  Awoke with a start, jumped up to look around and there was the dull crescent shaped glow of an illuminated headsail seemingly going to cross our bows.  I must be the only person to change course for the moon just risen above the horizon!