In early May we crewed on Rain Again, a similar size to Selkie Dancer, from Ardrossan
to La Coruna via Kinsale. The passage to Kinsale took 2½ days - mostly motoring.
The wind then swung to the South and South West obliging us to wait a week for more
Northerly winds. Jinti and I retired to Cork for three days before rejoining. The
skipper, aided by GRIBs and the Met Office, had identified North winds and a window
of opportunity before the approaching gale. Well - we found the gale and spent 24
hours running downwind with little more than a pocket handkerchief to maintain 6
kts. 48 hrs later, we were reduced to motoring through a flat calm, in fog, at night.
Then the radar revealed first one, then three contacts - others followed as we negotiated
a busy shipping lane - an earlier RYA radar course paid dividends. We arrived at
La Coruna after a 4½ day passage. I do not want to put anyone off - but Jinti was
comprehensively sea sick for 48 hrs while I was apprehensive throughout our time
in the fog at night. On the plus side I was impressed by : the wind vane’s steering;
the steadiness of the boat in awful seas; the value of prudence when considering
the weather and resilience of individuals in difficult circumstances - nothing new.
So - we too will be heading south for Spain in July. We will take a similar route.
If the weather is kind, we might make it in a oner - if not, we will coast hop
from one refuge to another - bouncing off Ireland, Cornwall, France etc as required.
Follow events as they unfold ........
