Day 43 - Camarinas
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We pulled up our Anchor
Wednesday 3rd September at 10:40AM to sail off into the unknown once
again. We were headed for Camarinas a small fishing port and nautical club
43:07.60N 9.10.92W It was wet and horrible
out but we were both chirpily happy as we hoisted the sails headed to another
wonderful unknown town. The unknowness of everything is what really makes this
whole sailing thing really great. Don’t forget that it is all hard work sometimes
more than the two of us can handle or at least cope with. We are both happiest
when another destination is just over the horizon or around the next headland
and we can hardly wait to arrive and explore. Mind you Fiona and I are sown
from the same cloth in that regard, we both love arriving, getting sorted and
then walking around town taking a few pictures and then back to the boat for a
meal, early night and the anticipation of doing it all again in the morning. We were lucky to make it
into this port considering the weather report’s. Our trusty Navtext has been
fantastic ever since I programmed the thing correctly letting us know all the meteorological
reports and gale warnings. This time was no exception the little machine said
that a gale was due at 3PM 4th Sep until 9PM 5th Sep and
it was absolutely correct. So as we motored into this little port we headed for
the Nautical Club and tided ourselves to the closest pontoon we could see. That
was until about 3AM when the Mrs. Featherplace (Gale – something that Fiona
calls a gale, don’t ask!) turned into a Severe Gale and our safe harbor was
becoming unsafe. I had to tie an additional three lines from the boat to the
pontoon. So we now had seven holding us on and believe me we needed every one
of them. If only I could of added a sound bite of the wind through the masts of
our little community of touring yachts all in the exactly the same situation
Fiona and I found ourselves in. Incredible. The yacht next-door a
British family with a 3 & 4 yr old girl onboard recorded 43Knt’s which is
about 80 Km/hr wind. A catamaran needed to be rescued in the middle of the
night anchored in behind the breakwater in what looked like a very safe spot
and was where Fi and I firstly wanted to anchor. The yacht a few boats down had
their small front sail unravel which sounded like a shoonock helicopter was
landing on the deck at about 5 AM. This whole storm left me thinking what would
we of done if we were out amongst it? Would we of survived? Is our life raft
suitable? Could we stream the sea brake? Could I raise a storm jib in such
rough sea’s? I have no idea and to think the horrific winds Fi and I found
ourselves in the other morning were bad, they had nothing on what we went
through this night. Anyhow I really did not sleep and woke at 11AM after
collapsing. Check out the picture of the bow line, this line had a huge rubber
snubber attached to it which takes most of the load and yet it was only minutes
away from setting us free. Special comments by
Fiona:. Where has the good weather and wind gone?? Why do we
always seem to miss it? I didn’t mind being out in the wet, knowing we were on
to our next destination. Strangely I found it quite refreshing! It was
comforting to reach our next place and tie up to the safety of a pontoon.
Well, so we thought! I don’t know what it is but I’m struggling a bit and
getting a bit home-sick, or craving some sort of normality. Today, I went for
a run (something I used to do in my “normal” life) and explored the town.
After 40 minutes I returned to the boat and felt fantastic. My feelings of
home-sickness had disappeared and I feel positive again! Day 43 Destination – Camarinas Traveling Direction
–South Wind Direction – North
East Average Speed 4.7 Knots Top Speed – 6.3 Knots
Through the water Total distance – 18.9
Nautical Miles Travel Time – 4.05 Hours Temperature – 16 degrees Crew
- Fiona (Missing Normality) Missing Work – NO Expenses – €0 Next Destination – Bayona |