Landlubbers to Sailors - Part 2

Our magic carpet

 The trip across the Bay of Biscay had its usual ups and downs, literally. We had northerly winds all the time and no strong winds or gales. However, the swell was very uncomfortable one day and I was glad I took Stugeron. Jeremy’s back was still painful but he was able to do all the necessary things such as raising the main, hauling in sheets, putting up a spinnaker pole for downwind sailing and coping with the rocky rolly motion.

We had a couple of ships on a collision course or about to pass too close which we called on the VHF radio. They had seen us and they were happy to alter course to avoid us. The worst hazard was the fishing vessels as we started to close with the coast in the dark. There were so many I thought I was back in Indonesia. Mostly they are brightly lit, but avoiding one puts you too close to another. There was a scary moment when I started the engine to avoid a fishing vessel as I passed through the fleet and another when I accidentally released the mainsheet and nearly lost the boom, but generally, all went well and SD performed well under sail and under engine.

Cabo Villano

After 3 nights and 4 days at sea, we reached the Costa del Morte rounding Cabo Villano and Cabo Finisterre. Eight years ago we met stormy seas here but this time it was calm as we motored gently towards the town of Finisterre in the Rias Atlas and dropped the anchor off Ensada de Llagosteira. “Jeremy,” I joked. “We’ve gone the wrong way and we’re in a Scottish loch”. The scenery could easily have been from the Western Isles and the temperature was similar in the chill northerly winds.

Cabo Finisterre

The next day we explored the town and enjoyed wandering through the narrow alleys of the old quarter. We met several people who had been walking the cominos or pilgrim paths to Sandiago de Compostela. Many had walked 800 kilometres. We went to see the Capitain to check in but no papers were needed. He recommended an “economical” restaurant on the corner near the harbour and we had menu a dia for 12 euros each. This included 3 courses, 2 beers and a bottle of water. After this we really needed a siesta.

Fabulous old alleys

Don't get lost

After two nights at anchor, we motored round to Ria de Muros, leaving in misty conditions and arriving in bright sunshine as the day warmed up. We anchored for lunch in Ensenada San Francisco and moved on to anchor off Muros for the night. The forecast was for SW gales so we were pleased to have good protection from the wind and good holding for our anchor. Muros was similar to Finisterre with a fascinating old town of narrow streets and alleys. We had lunch ashore choosing one course each this time. The portions were enormous and I was glad I had a doggy bag with me. I had enough left over for lunch the following day.

Roof tops of Muros

We left Muros at midday on 25^th September and had a rocky rolly ride to Ria de Pontevedra . A tropical storm way out in the Atlantic sent a 3 metre swell our way so we took refuge off Playa de Silga near Sanxenxo. The outlying rocks and islands broke up the swell and we were fine. The next morning we motored round the corner to the marina and filled up with diesel and water before crossing the Ria to anchor between Bueu and Beluso. There is small marina in both ports. Beluso is pretty and quiet. Bueu is a busy fishing harbour with lots of shops and supermarkets. We stocked up on milk and beer.

Anchored in San Francisco Bay... REALLY.

Tomorrow, we hope to go to Baiona to have our gas bottles filled and it’s about time we visited a laundry.

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Landlubbers to Sailors - Part 1

Checking the house before leaving

 Before we returned to Sal Darago in La Rochelle there was much to do. Jeremy had several dental appointments to attend, I spent a week visiting my Mum and sisters in the Isle of Man and we both joined in the East of England Westerly Owners 50^th Anniversary celebrations in Ipswich. All went well with the dental appointments and Jeremy now has four new crowns on his implants and a big hole in his bank account.

I was stung by a wasp as the train was coming into my local station at the start of my 6 hour journey to the IOM. Fortunately, the buffet car had ice and I travelled to London with a bag of ice pressed to my neck. My Mum was as well as could be expected. She has excellent care from my sister, Sara and a team of carers. Pat helps out when she can. Sara was about to have a much needed holiday so Mum was booked in for respite care at a local care home. I was able to help out at home and later visited Mum in the care home, playing Bingo and singing songs from the 50’s and 60’s with Mum and the other residents.

I had a long, weary wait in Departures in the IOM as my flight from Gatwick arrived, circled overhead but could not land due to fog. It diverted to Manchester to refuel. After 6 hours, I finally boarded, reached Gatwick, had to wait ages for my bag as the carousel broke down and then fought my way through the London Underground during rush hour. It was good to be home that night.

Westerly Yachts at Ipswich

While I was away, Jeremy fell in the garage and hurt his back and shoulders. He had seen the nurse practitioner and was on strong painkillers. He was told he didn’t need to have an x-ray. Would we have to cancel our flight to La Rochelle?

All dressed up

The WOA 50^th Anniversary dinner held at Ipswich Haven Marina was well attended. We didn’t recognise anybody but we were soon deep in conversation with other owners of Westerly yachts. The celebrations continued over the weekend and we were able to take our daughter, Emily and granddaughters, Ellie and Sophie to an afternoon BBQ. We were staying with Emily over the weekend helping out while Ben was away at the national dinghy sailing championships in Exmouth. The sun shone and everyone enjoyed tucking into the delicious food provided.

Ellie and Emily at the BBQ

Just the last minute things to do now – tidying the garden, packing, cleaning the house, washing, squeezing the car in the garage etc before we could be off. Jeremy’s back had eased up a little but it was still painful. Fortunately, all the trains were on time but the French decided to have a national strike (which included air traffic controllers) until 5.00pm, and EasyJet warned us to expect delays. We were booked on an evening flight and considered ourselves very lucky indeed to only be delayed by 40 minutes.

Tent city at La Rochelle, Can you see SD?

We arrived at the marina at La Rochelle on Thursday 15^th September to find our part had been fenced off and of the 250  boats that had been there when we left there were now about 6. Sal Darago looked very lonely in her berth. We learned that the biggest floating boat show in France was going to take place in the marina, which was why many of the berths had been replaced by tents. One or two brand new yachts were there already.

Dried out for a clean bottom

The next day Jeremy collected two new batteries using our trolley and fitted them. He also fitted a new anchor light. On the Saturday we had permission to dry out on a concrete slipway, where Jeremy checked SD’s bottom and put antifoul paint on a few patches. On the Sunday, we left La Rochelle after paying our marina bill. That hole in the bank account keeps getting bigger.

 

That should make her go faster