Tuesday 23rd October 2012    41:11.20N 008:42.36W.

While manoeuvring in the marina last Thursday, our starboard engine control failed and we had to change the throttle cable, which fixed the problem but took some time before we diagnosed the problem. After a last steak at a cafe in La Coruna which we adopted for its good carnivore menu, we left again on Friday morning, only to have the port engine stop due to apparent fuel starvation.  Since we were still close to Marina Seca at La Coruna, which has good engineering facilities, we visited them for help fixing the blockage in the line from the fuel tank.

 

Finally on our way, we rounded Cape Finisterre and were proceeding ever more slowly south until we got fed up with the wind and waves against us preventing meaningful progress and pulled in to Leixos, just north of Porto. It is a safe harbour but very industrial.  Full of mullet and rubbish, which is a shame.

 

Attempts at fishing on the way were frustrated by the swarms of gulls which have learned to follow boats in search of scraps, and think that our pink squid lure looks delicious.  Since gulls are not delicious and have bad tempers, we didn’t want to catch one and suspended fishing until there are fewer gulls about.

 

On Friday night a pod of about a dozen dolphins were playing under our bow and seemed oblivious to the light from a head torch.  They sleep by “closing down” half of their brain at a time, and seem to function equally well at night as during the day.

 

We are going to try to get to Peniche, 50 miles north of Cascais, by mid-day tomorrow, Wednesday, and hope that the weather forecast doesn’t let us down.  The forecasts have been as unstable as the atmosphere, with major features appearing and disappearing from the forecasts on an almost daily basis.

 

John is flying to Lisbon today and will join us tomorrow.