We awoke after a good night’s sleep to find the wind still blowing —and it was raining! We had imagined a gentle cruise along the northern coast with the backdrop of spectacular mountains, dropping into rias at night to anchor and then sailing gently on the next day in the north east winds. The reality is that the mist and cloud means that we have yet to see the mountains (except from an Easyjet plane when the peaks stuck up above the cloud as we approached Gijon), the wind has rarely blown from the north east, and the sailing has been similar to thrashing along the south coast of England. The towns and villages cannot be described as quaint—they are fairly industrialised and appear to be heavily dependant on shipping and fishing. However it is warmer (only just) and on most days we have had sun but as the sun sets the mist rolls down off the hills. Food is good, wine is cheap and the natives friendly!

The forecast was for the front to pass through, the wind to abate and the rain to cease. At 1400 we lifted the anchor, with an enormous slab of mud on it, and set off on the 35 mile passage to La Coruna. As the wind was still west southwest we beat north in about 18 knots of wind and although a bit bumpy re romped along at good speed—a pity it was in the wrong direction. 

We were joined by masses of dolphins surging through the water towards the boat like torpedoes, and then ducking and diving along and under the boat. Suddenly there was a thump under the boat immediately below the helm and the boat speed went from 6.4 knots to just over 1 knot. Helen thought that a dolphin had hit us but the near stationary boat suggested otherwise. We furled in the genny and wallowed for a few minutes, drifting backwards in the hope that what was down below would disappear. We then decide to turn on the engine—we were fairly sure that there was nothing around the prop as that had not been turning and with the blades folded there is not much for anything to catch onto. Engine started, gear engaged and off we went. Drama over! We never did see anything appear astern so we will never know what it was but it was definitely quite chunky.

We tacked soon after and steered a course of about 190 degrees towards the headland but the wind did as had been forecasted, dropped to about 12 knots and veered to north of west and we are able to clear the headland. Reefs were shaken out and under a full main we beam reached all the way to La Coruna. A wonderful sail in 10 knots of wind with a setting sun and arriving at about 2000. The surgery opened and Dr Bells prescribed !