La Coruña - Baiona

Pyxis
Karen & Richard
Mon 17 Sep 2007 02:46

Sunday 16th September – La Coruña - Baiona

42:07.260N 8:50.594W

 

This morning we left just after 8am (sunrise – as Spain is GMT+2) along with three other yachts, all heading south. 

 

After the last few days, weather conditions were at the other extreme - there was no wind so we were on the motor and within a couple of hours we were beset with fog, so on went the radar. 

 

Two of the yachts were heading for Camarinas (the last of the Rias before Cabo Finisterre - as we were thinking of doing at one point) but two of us continued (us and the German yacht that was berthed next to us in La Coruña).  We kept in touch on the radio all day and we were both delighted to pass Cabo Finisterre at 6pm this evening.  Sadly the fog was still closed in around us and so Richard and I have a picture of each of us sitting on deck with fog in the background (we could be anywhere).

 

The swell was around 2-3m but from the north west which meant it was the big Atlantic rollers – gentle rise and gentle fall rather than the short swell in the Bay of Biscay that knocked us around.  It was really rather pleasant.

 

Anyway we had fun all day with the radar and just as I’d finished preparing dinner around 7pm, the fog lifted and we had a glorious evening a fabulous sunset.

 

The other yacht, still in sight, has been within half a mile of us all day.

 

Postscript…

 

Just as I wrote the last part of the blog, it all went wrong.  Richard had discovered a problem – the radar was showing thunderstorm clouds ahead.  We monitored it for a while to see if it would pass by quickly but it was moving quite slowly towards land; we realised that we would need to move further out to avoid the worst of it.  I radioed our friends (we later found out that they do not have radar and so I’m really pleased we called them).  We told them about the thunderstorm and so they moved out and followed us as we avoided the storm clouds – the lightning was spectacular but also unnerving when you have a 15m metal mast inviting it your way.

 

Five hours later, and very tired, we arrived at Baiona – just after 2am.  Our friends were heading to an anchorage near Vigo to meet friends, but given the conditions, they changed their plans and came to Baiona and will now meet with their friends tomorrow instead.

 

We are now both safely moored up – we have shared a quick beverage and are now retiring to bed.