The trip Plymouth to Potugual - leg 1
Sealion
Richard Martin
Sat 7 Jun 2008 18:04
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Sunday 1st
We set off at 10.30am with a start line from the
Plymouth Corinthian YC - There was no wind so we were allowed to use motors
straight away.
Within 30 minutes we had light winds and we were
off sailing at about four knots. Early afternoon we furled the sails to enable
us to circle and photograph some basking sharks.
Many of the boats passed us under motor sail
as we persevered under sail until about 16.00 when it got so slow we
started to motor sail, which we did until nearly 03.00 Monday morning. The
engine just ticking over at 1000 RPM kept us going at about 6 knots, the
batteries topped up and the radar going as we approached the Ushant shipping
lanes.
With now good winds we passed just west of the
shipping lane sailing at a nice 6knots plus in calm seas and a clear
night.
Monday 2nd
Come day break more speed was required and up went
the cruising chute giving us 7 knots plus of speed. Somehow during the night we
caught up most of the fleet and must have continued to pass them with the chute
up as the mid-day position reporting found us up with some of the
leading boats.
Late evening the wind increased steadily
and slowly we reefed - winds were steady 22/25knots for most of the
early hours - which was pretty bouncy.
Tuesday 3rd
The wind died down early morning leaving a fairly
uncomfortable sea relative to the wind - It was clear from the radio
communications that some of the crews in the boats around were not feeling
great.
As the day went on the wind (and sea) continued to
die down to eventually 7 knots of wind and fairly closed hauled - late
afternoon the batteries needed charging so on went the engine; also some motor
sailing to keep up our average speed.
The wind continued very light swinging S/SW, so
onward we went motor sailing during much of the night - at 1200 RPM fuel use was
minimal but kept us going at about 6 knots. During the night we were passed by a
Moody 49 Bali Hai motoring at about 8 knots.
During the night we had dolphins racing under the
stern of the boat creating a phosphorescent glow that made it look as though we
were being torpedoed. A bumpy night with rain.
Wednesday 4th
Finally the wind swung back westerly in the early
hours and we were sailing again at 6 knots or so. After some radio chatter with
other boats and a check on the weather we decided to cross East wards before the
Cap Finisterre shipping lanes cutting out about 50 miles and crossing
the shipping area during daylight, but risking stronger winds around the
cape.
A good sail during the day found us in sight of
land early afternoon - This gave us all a great lift but in reality we had
another 60 miles to go and an ETA early Thursday morning.
The only gear failure (apart from the satellite
phone which packed up before we'd even left) was the breakage, in strong
winds, of the shackle holding the mainsheet to the traveller, causing the
main to swing out to the side of the boat. Expert seamanship saw the situation
brought under control before it was lost. A credit to the pre-voyage checks
and overall seaworthy condition of the good ship
Sealion.
As we approached the cape the wind swung SW
(contrary to the NW/NE forecast) and strengthend a little - worse however was a
big increase in the swell/waves and the onset of drizzle and rain.
Thursday 5th
On we plodded during the early hours up the coast
close hauled/ tacking against a very uncomfortable sea - a close watch
being kept for the fishing boats that we passed from time to time. At least we
could see the shore lights about 5 miles off, through the rain.
As daybreak came we could see the Islands off the
Vigo/Bayonne bay and the end was in sight - we could also see how big the sails were and with dark clouds it all looked
very unhospitable.
With the wind again heading us as we entered the
bay we had to drop the sails and cross the line under motor - as we had done at
the start.
All tied up at 8.30am the sun started coming out
and the heat built up - Sun ever since.
We celebrated our arrival with a breakfast of
champagne, steak and eggs etc.
THERE ARE LOTS OF PHOTOS IN THE WORLD CRUISING WEB
SITE (WWW.WORLDCRUISING.COM) -
RALLY PORTUGAL - GALLERY IN ADDITION TO OURS IN THE BOAT WEB SITE
General comments;
-We saw many dolphins throughout the trip - Paul
was heard to say 'the pigeons of the sea' - I saw some water spouts about 300mts
from the boat but unfortunately we had no close quarter whale encounters, which
some of the others boats did.
-We passed two other boats (not from our
rally) making there way from the UK South - You would think it would
be lonely in the middle of the Bay of Biscay
-Our fresh milk was turned to butter within two
days at sea - happily the long life milk was OK
-We managed dinner alfresco every day
-The twixes ran out on day 2
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