We made it in at 4PM, Sunday 17^th August. We definitely now need to wash 43:29.80N 3:48.54W

The night was a good one, Fiona and I took turns of keeping watch about 2hrs on 2 hrs off, and because we were both tired from the night before we slept whenever we could starting from about 8:30PM.  So I think in the end we had about 8 hours sleep each so we were not tired for our third day, in fact we were feeling pretty good.

It was a lovely day once again so out went the fishing line, as you do and Bang I was onto something big.  You know when you watch those fishing shows and they always show the line running off the spool, well this was happening to me as I burnt my finger from the smoking rod. I managed to screw down the drag far enough to slow the fish down and then bring him up to the surface well almost meter by meter.  I even had to take rest breaks as I worked on him careful not to be too greedy and try and pull him up from the depths. I told Fi to grab the gaff as he is going to surface shortly.  I also said that the minute he comes up he will dive again and this is exactly what he did.  This time in a big way and I again had to screw the drag up to stop him from taking the entire spool of line of the reel. And then nothing!  He had managed to snap the line and my favorite lure I bought in Lyme Regis was history. I’m not even sure if I got my ROI on the little magical thing.

After this the small rods went away and I got out the big gun. Watch this space as I have caught nothing since the last one got away. I did however treat myself to a new lure.  Australian made gear on the fishing shop shelves in Santander.  How could I pass it up?  I also bought some 80 pound line a hand reel and a tuna fly.

Once again as we were about 10Kt Miles of the entrance to Santander harbour we were becalmed and so under the pressure of the first mate I struck up the engine and set our course in to our anchorage for the night.  It must of only been 2 minutes when Fiona yelled WHALE!  I ran forward grabbed the camera only to see this huge blue whale directly ahead of us. SHIT!  I thought firstly this whale was a lot bigger than Silk Sheets making at least 45 foot and it moved directly into our path.  I only had the time to snap off one picture and then race back to the helm and put her astern full blast to stop Silky from running into the master of the sea. I have seen all the nature programs and it is not meant to happen like this is it???  I can only assume that the whale new exactly where we were and headed until I put the engine on and started motoring in its direction.  Any-how it spooked poor Fiona after listening to a story from a fellow sailor in Benodet a week ago about how his brother was sunk by Bull Whales in the Tasman Sea 20 years ago after sailing between the mother and pup. The picture does not do the shear size of the creature justice but he is just under the water of the port bow.

We sailed in to port which is a very big city at that and dropped anchor not far from the main stretch of town.  Down went the dingy and off we motored into town after 3 days at sea. Naturally we went to the first bar we came across and ordered there finest Bino de la casa. The food and life style in Spain is amazing and for anyone who has not ever been here it is well worth the visit regardless of where you travel to. After one to many drinks Fi and I hopped back into the dingy in the dark which we did not plan on doing and headed back out into the middle of the port to find where we had left silk Sheets. So there we were in the dark again in a tiny dingy crossing a huge shipping channel looking for our yacht which we left unlit thinking we would be back in day light hours. Not only was I panicking that if it had floated off on its own after not being able to find it for 20 minutes, I thought someone may have driven straight into it. Oh well, all was fine but and another lesson for the lesson book do not get into the dingy without a torch, a life jacket and definitely leave on the anchor light.

Special comments by Fiona:  How happy do you think I was once we hit Santander after 3 days in Biscay?   I felt an immense feeling of achievement and relief once anchored up in beautiful Spain.  Oh and the near miss with the whale was terrifying but Ben was cool, calm and collected and reassured me as I was close to tears.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be crossing ocean’s by a sailing boat.  Not to mention that I’m loving this life despite the mixture of fear, apprehension and excitement it brings.  I know it sounds cliché but I really feel as though I’m living life to the fullest!   

Day 027

Destination – Santander

Traveling Direction – South West

Wind Direction – West

Average Speed 4.2 Knots

Top Speed –6.3 Knots Over Ground

Total distance – About 240.45 Nautical Miles

Travel Time – 57.25 Hours around about

Temperature – 23

Crew     - Fiona (Very Happy to be eating out)  

Missing Work - I do not think So

Expenses – Food and Wine, £51, Tapas and lot of drink’s €11 It is amazing how little every thing cost’s finally I can be glutinous again

Next Destination – Gijon