Recent photos
Including ‘throw another shrimp on the barbie’, commuting downtown (no traffic but parking is nearly always a problem!), and ringo star
Sold down the Ria
Arrived Ria de Vivero 8pm last night after eventually getting in a good 18 hours sailing. Set the auto-pilot to navigate by wind for the last 140 miles and it blew us here along with another couple of yachts who departed Camaret around the same time. Fantastic bay with a pod of dolphins playing in the harbour. Large, calm and deep anchorage. Probably going to get the tender out and spend a few hours ashore. So far we have clocked up just 5 hours ashore in total as there is much to do on and around the boat, however, now
Crosstown Traffic
At 0900 hrs we cut across a shark which was headed along the Biscay continental shelf. Just below the rail at midships it turned first to the bow then decided to had round the back and glide off into the distance. From that point on we have had dolphins leaping into the air and crashing down about a half mile off. Then came the whales! No idea what the prevalent species are but they appear to be about the same size as our ship and are normally cruising north east. We have had them dive under our keel and have
Mid Biscay surrounded by Fishing Boats
Like buses they come in 3s or in this case 30s! Most of the day we have been followed by a shark (seen by Paul at 9am next to the boat), whales and dolphins. Then all afternoon we have these groups of fishing boats to pick our way through. We must be on a good fishing route! All’s well, still motoring. Hope the picture comes through via SSB. Sailing Biscay at Night
Biscay Beckons
We had a lovely last evening in Camaret. Having spent the day cleaning the ship below decks, donuting and shopping for provisions we then sat in our dog house in the centre of an almighty thunderstorm which Camaret anchorage appeared to be its epicentre! This was just before we had to pick up Jean-Charles, Sepherine (I apologise if the spelling is incorrect) and Eleanor from the dockside of course. Paul had to bail the dingy and get a bit soggy when he played taxi driver. We met Jean-Charles in Yarmouth 3 years ago when we and another boat with Derek
Biscay or that way
Left Camaret for the 400nm journey to Camarinas via the Pointe du Raz (& lighthouse) channel taking us through at 12 knots SOG. Initial wind direction indicated a landing at Santander but after making 7.5 knots for an hour the wind veered then dropped to 5 knots. Now back to motoring through the night and just passed a half mile tow. 300nm left to run and returned to a course west of Finisterre.
Rock ‘n’ River
Following a down Channel sail past Guernsey rather than face an overnight sail at 2.5 knots with a falling wind against a foul tide which would have sent us backwards we decided to put in behind a rock called Ile Tome near Perros Guirec. Just us and a load of lobster pots; we must have been at the end of a string where there was a small gap before the next. All evening was thunderous as July 14th fireworks echoed down the coast. Eventually our local town to the south of us let fly and a very impressive display went
Snakes and Ladders
Like every other day the day of departure was just as hectic. We managed to pack away almost everything and the last thing to be stowed was our 5m ladder. This doubles as a gangway as well as onshore access and also as a paint platform for the waterline. Should it go on the rail. the bathing platform or in the sail locker? Eventually we squeezed it into the sail locker so if a tin of carrots is required it is too bad as it is behind two jibs, a 5m ladder and a 3.8m tender! We took on just
Aditi has left the building
We have left Lymington and are headed to France. The adventure has started. We’re still choking over the fuel bill but letting go of the lines was amazing. Loving the weather! Farewell England.
Eve of departure
Having hidden all the contents that we can’t stash anywhere sensible we have stacked them behind lee cloths in our unused bunks and we think we may be ready to go…..somewhere? It has never happened before; the weather forecast is for no wind for at least the next 6 days and the UK will be hotter than many places far to the south. Some wind available across Biscay and more around Cap Finisterre. Looks like the ideal time to head straight for Spain once through the Channel. We will know more when we get underway. Expected to be leaving at