Portugese pot buoy perils
ULA
John & Jackie Richards
Mon 18 Aug 2008 10:43
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Position 039:35.028N 009:04.512W
All was not well on Ula around 3am Sunday morning
and well in to our trip to Nazare. We were motoring due to lack of wind about 10
miles off the coast and and apart from the continuous noise of the engine it was
a beautiful night. As we changed watch there was a sudden loud bang and the
propeller came to a juddering halt as a pile of debris drifted out astern.
John gently coaxed the throttle forwards and astern as what looked like
polystyrene and rope debris appeared. We could only achieve 1.5
knots, however after about 15 minutes and more coaxing, we were able to get up
to our normal revs and continue on our way. We think we were unlucky
enough in the dark to have caught the rope between a pot buoy and its float
under the boat. Our rope cutter hopefully appears to have done its job. The
Portugese coast has loads of these buoys and they are a well known hazard but
not normally so far out - the reason we were 10 miles off the coast. The
harbour master in Nazare has also told us that there is a problem with
trawlers dumping their old nets and pots over the side at sea which form a
considerable hazard to other ships- apparently the Portugese government is
trying to stop it with spotter planes and fines.
We subsequently heard from Libertad by radio
who told us they were safely berthed in Nazare but that there was fog and
visisbility of less than a cable coming in to the port as well as large numbers
of the dreaded pot buoys. We were about two hours behind them
and could see the fog drifting across the bay. When we arrived it
was fortunately clear. I went on the foredeck from about five miles out on pot
buoy spotting duty and we eventually arrived around 6ish. After some sleep we
enjoyed a great weather day and had a final meal with the Libertad crew who have
headed off to Sines this morning. We are staying here for another day before
heading off to Caiscais tomorrow.
Quotes for todays blog:
'Oh they're not moving!' - from our skipper having
altered course to avoid four large commercial ships off Leixoes which on closer
inspection were at anchor!
'I'm now on boyfriend number six!' - from Andrew
who is reading a book from Nicola's collection called 'Remind me again why I
need a man'
Jackie
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