S

After Will and Mike’s birthday barbeque, we set off for The Hamble early as Mike wanted to do a couple of jobs on the mast before the riggers put it back in. Arriving around 10am we find it’s too blowy for them to put the mast in and, as Kate can’t face the ladder climb we eventually find a pub hotel room for the night. However, she looks beautiful and we fall in love with her all over again. It’s like having a new boat. By the end of the day, because of everyone’s “unforeseens” it’s like paying for a new boat as well! - Mike got some jobs done while we waited and I did crossword puzzles all day! 

Next morning I set off for Tescos to get loads of provisions for Mikes voyage. I get back to the yard around midday – the riggers have only just shown up with the crane so another few hours pass till we are back in the water. Load up stuff and I do a big cook-up, filling the freezer with homemade ready meals. Mike and the riggers occupy themselves all day doing boy jobs.

   

The riggers are back again the next morning to fix some electrical gremlins and by midmorning we have RT back to ourselves. The nav lights are fixed and we wait on the furler being repaired and news of the new windlass motor. We’ve bought a memory foam mattress topper so I made a ticking cover for that and started on the fitted sheets before time and energy ran out so said goodbye to man and boat and headed back to Kent. Mike settles down to cauliflower cheese! From this point on, be aware, Mike takes back over the log writing – do try and stay awake! (again non-yachtie vaguely interesting stuff in red italics!)…… Sadly Kate returns to Saltwood at teatime and I’m left to my own devices until Rabat (?).

Once out in the Solent it’s obvious that the forecast fresh SW’ly has started and I couldn’t face the 30 odd mile beat to Studland so decided to anchor in Osbourne Bay to await developments. Strong SW’ly forecast until Sunday!

I haul the anchor by hand before too much tide is away, how welcome was the call a little later from Kate saying she has sourced a new windlass motor and can get it to Falmouth by Monday. A hard beat down the Solent against the tide with the sky full of rain. Hurst Point at the change of tide, which carried us all the way to Weymouth.  A very rough sea built up with the ebb tide against the strong SW’ly, plenty of water on deck and the new herbs looked a little shocked at the end of the day but the rain did hold off.

Anchored by 0300 and up at 0730 to weigh anchor by hand  - the anchorage had to be cleared for shipping movements. Moved into the marina, collected the new windlass motor and successfully fitted it. The new motor sounds much better than the old one, must have been on the way out for a while.

 Last minute stores, check on the weather and buy a bit of fuel and its out to anchor with the plan to set off tomorrow morning. Plenty of wind and rain! Early to bed.

Early up and off to find the winter sun. The rain has passed through and the wind has veered a bit, should be a good crossing. Wind eased a lot over night

The wind continues light but not a bad day, even a bit of sun trying to get through. I’ve started fishing this morning and straight away I’m buzzed by the French air maritime patrol. They needn’t worry I’m unlikely to break anyone’s fishing quota!

The light winds continued until early morning and then filled in and we are now bowling along under grey skies. should be there tomorrow morning. By 2300hrs the shore lights of the north coast of Spain are visible.

Anchor at Camarinas, which as usual is a blowy old spot, always twice as windy in the bay as out at sea. Serviced the fridge cooling water pump and then as I’m in Spain a little siesta will be in order.

A day of rest seems in order following all the hard work getting RT out of the Hamble and down to Falmouth just in time to catch ideal winds for crossing Biscay. There is a little wind today but very little forecast for the week, but now I’m across Biscay I have two months before its time to leave the Canaries. This afternoon was just like summer here in north Spain, which makes a pleasant change, the previous three passages on this coast have all been quite miserable, especially August last year.

Camarinas on a sunny Sunday.

RT lying at anchor at Camarinas.

no wind today but a very nice dolphin swam by to say hi. Its summer again today, spent the morning doing odd jobs and the afternoon trying to work up the energy to go ashore and failed but there’s always tomorrow, there’s little wind currently in the forecast. Alan & Mary from Stella came onboard for a sundowner.

Rain in the afternoon, must be time to move on.

 set off around seven and after motoring clear found a gentle NW’ly breeze to carry RT south. By late morning the sky has cleared and an escort of what I took to be short beaked common dolphins saw us safely passed Finisterre. More wind as the evening approached so decided to carry on and make the most of it. Glorious full moon lit night bowling along at 7 kts with 2 reefs in.

anchored @ Cascais 0530hrs, a day of rest. Although the breeze is quite cool the sun has some real power now, it got quite hot sitting in the cockpit watching the locals doing their Sunday sailing thing.

Pottered around on the boat and in Cascais which is a lovely spot. Still very much in summer mode here, plenty of tourists, people on the beach and swimming in the sea (a bit chilly at 18degC ) . By Thursday it’s becoming obvious that there will be a bit of a blow on this coast over the weekend. After some consideration I’ve decided to stay put.