The updated weather forecast coupled with our delayed crossing necessitated a rethink. With the wind veering to the NNE in the evening, we didn’t relish the prospect of just bashing back in 25 knots on the nose. The better option was to take the 3 hour shorter crossing to the Needles, get in earlier and... Continue Reading →

Our crossing of Biscay started, as expected, with mirror calm conditions over a long, languid Atlantic swell and little wind. Carl continued to suffer, and he took himself off to bed with a bucket. If he enjoyed his octopus pie when first ingested, the regurgitation didn’t sound at all pleasant. As we pressed on, the... Continue Reading →

European bureaucracy now goes without saying! So the Brexit induced rigors were no surprise on our return to Galicia. Increasingly, the equinoctial weather influences do begin to make the forecast conditions somewhat volatile and capricious for our return passage across the fabled Bay of Biscay from North West Spain. In the meantime, our brief return... Continue Reading →

As we rounded the NW corner of Spain, we experienced a peculiar sensation for the first time. The fog was very thick and we were negotiating big swells from the Atlantic storms. As we rose to the crest of a swell, the bottom of the next swell was out of sight, completely obscured by the... Continue Reading →

I apologise in advance as this post is one for the ‘nerds’! It’s a little sterile and technical so, if you are only mildly interested and just a casual reader, it’s probably best to give up on it now and to wait for the next, hopefully more compelling blog. In the thick fog we are... Continue Reading →

After 4 days in Lagos pouring over weather charts, we had planned to leave on Tuesday to carry more favourable winds north up the Portuguese coast but we have now become concerned about a blow off Galicia and we have reviewed our plans. Hoping to continue to monitor the conditions, we have seen an opportunity... Continue Reading →

After two sumptuous nights sleep, uninterrupted by watchkeeping, we finally managed to ‘square up’ for our stay in Queensway Quay (£47  for two nights including electricity - bargain!!!), pick up our laundry (nearly forgotten), slip and depart at 09.30. We had carried out the necessary preparation including the removal of nylon fishing net caught around... Continue Reading →

Sunday evening was distinguished by firework displays along the Spanish coast. We understand that they were to celebrate the ‘Assumption of Mary’ whatever that means. When attending a firework display on land, it seems that the rockets shoot up really high before their fulfilment – watching from the sea it always surprises me that, when... Continue Reading →

  Yesterday, or was it the day before, we had a marvelous six hours of sailing under the Parasailor at a good speed with the engine off and silence prevailing – bliss. Unfortunately, this and a fitful 2 hours the previous day is the only sailing we have done, and it is a huge disappointment.... Continue Reading →