2007 May- Biscay I

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 ........

Celebrating our (safe!) arrival in La Coruna