South Biscay by Night and Cap
Finisterre
At the time of writing this we are at 42 degrees 16 mins
North, 9 degrees 05 mins West at 2200 on June 7th. Expect to be in
Bayona, moored up at around midnight.
Last night in south Biscay was one of the most challenging
nights we have spent at sea. We knew from the forecasts that it was going to be
windy and rough with 10 foot waves predicted. ( Easterly 6 or 7). We reefed up
the main with a deep reef, full stay sail and heavily reefed Genoa. Crew went below at around Midnight,
and I was left to deal with the fun. By 0100 on the 7th, the wind
was averaging 30 to 35 knots so the Genoa
was furled away as we were going too fast. Half an hour later, it was constant
35 knots with gusts of 40 knots and big seas. The boat was heeling heavily in
the rolling seas and the end of the boom was regularly burying into the wave
tops as the rollers past under us. Fortunately we have a very stout boom
preventer so no damage was done. We stayed the course all night, and it was
without doubt one of the most exhilarating sails of my life. Two life lines on
and sometimes laying down in the cockpit , but actually standing up right as
the boat heeled right over. By 0900 the wind started to drop off and the seas
calmed down remarkably quickly. Then the wind moved South East and more or less
died away. So the iron sail has been working hard most of the day as we motor
sailed into the breeze.
This passage has completely vindicated our decision to buy a
Contest yacht and one with a Cutter rig. It preformed so well we could sail all
night in the difficult conditions, on course to our destination whilst others
were forced to heave too and take a pasting.
We were not the only ones to have a trying night. A Dove descended
on the boat and spent several hours perched on the radar dome, to get his (or
her) strength back, before flying off once we neared land.
More sprinklings of Dolphins and some Sun fish. But once
again the fish we laughing at my attempts to join us in the galley.
Go to go now to attend to the final pilotage before our
arrival in Bayona.
Bonners Knockers…………………
