N. Spain and Portugal. September 2008.
Stopped off in Crosshaven, Cork because of rough weather off Biscay. Got our Screecher fixed (the boltrope had a construction flaw). McWilliams told us he would write to Calvert and tell him how to make sails properly ! Got charged by the yacht club for using their mooring buoy.
The tri is Tom’s F36 on the way to Spain. He was just a toutch faster than us under main and screecher, but we caught up when he took his down in the night because he didn’t have enough power to run the autopilot.
Had a great sail to Corunna, took 3 days, f3-5 winds almost the whole way and we were mostly getting along at 8-10 knots, our best day was 216nm. Boat handling very well, very smooth and hardly an uncomfortable moment. Lots of ships as we approached Spain, sailed through two shipping lanes and a trawler fleet in the dark. It was all OK except one moment when we were working on reefing the main and having just passed a fishing boat he decided to start up and head straight on a collision course. Junty and Neil got a bit confused by a cruiser that was showing blue lights but eventually came to the conclusion it was the disco ! Just lovely being out on the water with the boat running well, watching all the seabirds and quite a few dolphins. Got visited by several Swifts, one of which collapsed during the night.
Corunna was attractive town and we picked up the only free mooring in the bay. You can just about see us in the picture