Baiona (3)

On the Thursday I got Doris out of the marina after making sure all the tanks were full and into the adjacent anchorage where I can still access the Internet connection – result!
Nothing much to report really accept after anchoring I was whistled by none other than Niels (who I met in Camarinas) who had just also arrived.

Shortly after, Mark & Amanda on Blush made an appearance!

You will be glad to hear that on Friday morning Bruce finally arrived safely after being at sea for three days none stop sailing to get around the northern corner of Spain to reach some sunshine!

He was completely shattered and it wasn’t until he mentioned it that I realised he is seventy years old!!!! I take my hat off to him!!! Hope I'm in a similar state when I'm seventy years old!

Not much else to report really other than that the next time I enter e new port it will be in Portugal. The weather here is sunny everyday and everything is generally laid back with no agenda.

The general plan is to sail to either Povoa De Varzim or Leixoes and then do a big hop offshore to get past Aveiro, although the wind is forcast to be a bit light over the next few days. My new resolution is to sail everywhere and only use the engine as a last resort and try to minimise marina stops as much as possible preferring anchorages. This means only setting off when I know I will be able to sail so who knows how long I will be here in Baiona Spain.

My spare parts were ‘lost’ and did not arrive as promised. They ‘may’ arrive Monday and if not a new order can be made to arrive Wednesday – if I’m still here!

Still.. Mannana mannana, there no rush I spose, nowhere to be at any particular time.

One thing I really do need to get sorted and that’s some form of autopilot other than the Hydrovane. Since being in Spain, I have had to motor a lot due to light winds and that means I am stuck behind the wheel steering manually for hours on end – no fun.

The simplest things become a nightmare like making a ‘cuppa’ as I have to stop the boat and then it usually goes from rail to rail in the swell. I cannot afford the proper inboard autopilot as that approx £3k, but I can stretch to a tiller pilot (Raymarine st2000+) attached to the Hydrovane rudder, this should cost around £500 quid all in.

If anyone reading has any other ideas or feedback on this subject please feel free to jump in and comment or contact me directly.

Oh, before I forget. Sorry to all those who have tried to call me (Mum, Stu & Gr0m at least), since going overboard with the last phone I have stopped carrying my phone around while above decks. Please do not leave voice messages but simply call back later - cheers guys.

Anyways .. that’s all for now folks!

Baiona (2)

Wednesday 17th September 2008
Priority number one, get myself looking less like a ‘Sea Pikey’, out came the razor and clippers! OK a grade one haircut may look slightly menacing but at least it’s tidy! After a shower and breakfast I felt much better (and lighter) and started work on the boat.

First job was to drill out the damaged genoa pole end and I now have a new one on order that should arrive for Friday – 65eu!!! The next job has been haunting me since leaving the U.K and that was to permanently wire in the inverter to allow me to charge 240vac things like razors, laptops, mobile phone, etc from the boat batteries while at anchor.

Prav – I have a confession. Remember those car jumper cables you lent me ages ago? I had to chop the ends off to use the cable. I’ll buy you a new pair – I promise!

After finding the right fittings etc the job is now complete with the inverter installed under the chart table – perfect. Life at anchor will be sweeter. Before I had to remove all the seats and cushions to get at the batteries and it was a complete nightmare.

Mr Crute has also arranged to order the required LED lighting units for both inside the boat and up the mast (anchor & tricolour). This will mean that instead of burning around 2 amps per hour for each light throughout the night, I will only be using 1/100 of an amp per hour which is a huge power saving when I am relying on solar panels to provide the daily leccy!

A welcome phone call from Captain Costa also cheered me up and it’s been slightly shocking hearing from different people about the state of affairs back in the UK with companies going bust etc.

I have no idea of what is going on in the world outside of whatever stretch of water I happen to be in, so please keep me posted with what’s going on in your lives as it’s always good to hear from friends.

Dave (Brighton) called to say he may come out to visit for a few days after the Southampton Boatshow, so until I know what he’s up to or have a plan, I may sit tight here at anchor just outside the marina and with any luck I will still be able to use the WIFI.

Baiona - Marina

Tuesday 16th September 2008
After a long phone call with Kat last night it makes me very sad to announce we will be going our separate ways. Needless to say I woke up this morning not the happiest bunny in town! Let’s just say I really am ‘Single Handed’ now in every sense of the word(s).

Ever since I had this hair brained idea, I have always envisaged Kat being with me at some point. We initially agreed she would visit during the nice areas (Med, Carribean, etc), so I was ecstatic when she announced she was doing Sea Survival and Day Skipper courses to join me on the assumption of staying out. With her flight booked and a date of 28th Oct, I had a goal to be in Madeira to meet her. For some reason without that goal I have no reason to be anywhere at any time now and feel a bit ‘lost’.

For my own sanity I have decided to keep the ‘date’ and will keep pushing forward to get to Madeira by the 28th October.

There was no point in just sitting there sulking, so I upped anchor and made the 2 hour motor around to Baiona marina through the busy shipping lanes in Ria De Vigo.

Mooring went smooth enough, although while getting the fenders and ropes sorted, not only have I ‘lost’ a fender but somebody has stolen a rope as well!

Once all signed in and paperwork complete I went for a wander around town to get some supplies and caught sight of myself in a shop window, talk about wild man of Borneo. Now I really felt depressed!

Back at the boat I spent the evening writing up the previous few days blog entries for all you avid readers and spent an hour catching up with life in the I.T. world talking to Dave (London) on the phone followed by another hour with Mr Crute. Tomorrow I need to concentrate on maintenance, both myself and Doris.

Bruce is still slogging it out around the North coast of Spain and I am providing him with regular weather updates etc. He hopes to make it to Baiona for Friday, fingers crossed he deserves some sun after what he’s been through getting around Biscay!

Isla Cies

Monday 15th September 2008
I woke up and had my morning quota of ‘Tostadas’, Spanish version of Rich Tea biscuits to you land lubberz before ‘slingin me hook!’. Not much to report on this 40nm trip I am afraid, no religious or spiritual antics, very few dolphins and no near death experiences and (as usual) had to have to motor on all day. I did get some lift from the mainsail which I am sure saves me a few quid in fuel.

Arrived at my destination Isla Cies which is an island separated from the mainland in the Ria De Vigo.

The island receives boat loads of tourists throughout the day so there is a restaurant and a visitor centre but that’s it as it’s basically a wildlife sanctuary covered in woodland.

I shared the beach anchorage with four other yachts most of whom had gone ashore.

Its times like this when I feel a little lonely, like ‘what’s the point’ as there is nobody to share anything with. The sunset was amazing and a massive full moon lit up the whole cove. A classic ketch arrived and also dropped anchor and the whole scene looked like a cheesy postcard you see in tourist shops.

OK ... not the best pic but it was the best I could manage as low light (without flash) means long exposure times and my boat moves to make pictures blurry!

I spent most of the evening talking to Kat on the phone… (more later), I will go the 10nm to Baiona marina tomorrow.

'Damage De Jour' - found a small gelcoat chip in the cockpit, probably as a result of being bashed by a safety harness.

Ria De Muros (3)

Sunday 14th September 2008
Woke up with the best intentions of going ashore to revisit the hardware stores and find a wireless connection to check email and post all the latest and greatest from my adventures. Not only am I losing track of time due to living on UTC (boat time) but also what day of the week it is. Being a Sunday of course all the shops are closed. I walk around and find an open wireless network but it wont let me out to the Internet. I really can’t be bothered to ‘examine things further’ and keep looking. Again bumping into Mark and Amanda of Blush, we find a WIFI zone bar and settle for a drink and some food. Upon ordering I am also handed a WEP key – nice.

Late yesterday evening an American flagged boat arrived in the anchorage and its owner – Willem, joined us. He has sailed from the Chesapeak on the East coast of the US, ‘over the top’ by way of Iceland and then via Scotland and down to Spain via Biscay! A cruiser!

Why did it not surprise me when he announces he is heading for the Caribbean, but first needs to get to Lisbon to pick up his wife! – Another one!

Now having Internet access I can see the weather forecast for the next few days and decide I need to get going tomorrow as some strong Northerly winds are arriving around Tuesday and this is going to start pushing some swell in my direction which I am keen to avoid. For some reason, NavTex is not receiving very well in these Spanish Rias, maybe it’s a ploy to get us to go ashore and spend money in bars?

The plan – Isla Cies, an anchorage about 40nm away tomorrow, then on to Bayona, a further 10nm. Once in Bayona I will make a plan on how I am going to get past Portugal. Bayona should be a good place to get things fixed according to the guide books.