A quick post to say a 'Obregado' to Niels of Kairos, the official 'Team Doris Photagrapher' for all the amazing photographs.
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Aveiro
We stayed two nights in the Lexoes anchorage going ashore on the second day. We were sent on a wild goos chase lookinf for a chandlers and walked miles only to find a small place on an industrial like estate that sold a few ‘bits & bobs’. Nothing else to report, we tried to clear into Portugal officially in the marina but they were not interested and said if the police want your details we know where you are. We decided that our (Bruce, Niels & myself) next stop was to be Aveiro.
The pilot guide says of Aveiro, ‘Windswept channels and logoons inside an ever changing entrance’, not exactly the kind of place I like to hang out. However, it does reduce the next hop by over thirty miles and with no other options for anchoring either side of Aveiro we decided to go for it.
The day past with me mostly miles out to sea away from the other group and with very little wind all day I got to play with different sail arrangements and the Hydrovane. The Asymmetric Spinnaker made an appearance until I got tired of manning the helm and hunger forced me to play with a poled out Genoa Wing N Wing style.
Niels spent the day fishing catching plenty of Mackerel for dinner. Bruce sailed all day only finding time to consume three ginger nuts! Due to the lack of wind we arrived about 2 hours later than planned and the ebbing tidal flow had started to pour out of the Aveiro entrance.
Stay tuned…
The pilot guide says of Aveiro, ‘Windswept channels and logoons inside an ever changing entrance’, not exactly the kind of place I like to hang out. However, it does reduce the next hop by over thirty miles and with no other options for anchoring either side of Aveiro we decided to go for it.
To be honest, I am trying to stall and kill time as (Brighton) Dave is arriving next week and if I don’t slow down I will have left Portugal before he arrives.
Anchors were lifted at 0600 utc, just as it was getting light with a healthy wind blowing. It seems that on the western Portuguese coast at least, it blows its boots off every morning and afternoon with very little wind during the day. This is probably due to the land & sea breeze formed by the cooling and heating of the land each day, offshore in the morning and then onshore in the evening.
Anyway on getting clear of the Lexoes breakwater to my astonishment I was being called by name ‘Doris’ on channel sixteen and I knew the voice wasn’t Niels or Bruce. On the horizon I could just make out the shape of an old Lugger, it was Marcus.
Anchors were lifted at 0600 utc, just as it was getting light with a healthy wind blowing. It seems that on the western Portuguese coast at least, it blows its boots off every morning and afternoon with very little wind during the day. This is probably due to the land & sea breeze formed by the cooling and heating of the land each day, offshore in the morning and then onshore in the evening.
Anyway on getting clear of the Lexoes breakwater to my astonishment I was being called by name ‘Doris’ on channel sixteen and I knew the voice wasn’t Niels or Bruce. On the horizon I could just make out the shape of an old Lugger, it was Marcus.
The day past with me mostly miles out to sea away from the other group and with very little wind all day I got to play with different sail arrangements and the Hydrovane. The Asymmetric Spinnaker made an appearance until I got tired of manning the helm and hunger forced me to play with a poled out Genoa Wing N Wing style.
Niels spent the day fishing catching plenty of Mackerel for dinner. Bruce sailed all day only finding time to consume three ginger nuts! Due to the lack of wind we arrived about 2 hours later than planned and the ebbing tidal flow had started to pour out of the Aveiro entrance.
I downed my sails and made my way under motor to the anchorage, however, the others were another hour behind. I later heard that Bruce had to pull out his headsail as his single cylinder engine could barely power him forward against the now 3 knots of outgoing tide.
Marcus tried to sail Veracity (due to not having a proper motor) up the entrance only to be nearly swept onto the rocks. Luckily, a RIB towed him clear into a small bay where he dropped anchor not being able to go any further. Later conversations with him over the VHF had him saying that he really needed to consider his options and maybe get an engine fitted in Cascais.
There was also talk about going back to the UK, so watch this space. I should hook up with Marcus in Cascais and will then know what his future plans are.
The anchorage was very busy and I made about five passes trying to find a decent depth of water with one aborted attempt to get the anchor in as I would ended up too close to another boat. After the Camarinas cock-up I always try and stay well away from everyone if possible.
The anchorage was very busy and I made about five passes trying to find a decent depth of water with one aborted attempt to get the anchor in as I would ended up too close to another boat. After the Camarinas cock-up I always try and stay well away from everyone if possible.
Finally, I anchored in 3.6m of water (not including the 2.5m offset) of which about 2m was tide. I was a little worried about the depth due to the swell caused by the large commercial traffic and motorboats roaring past the anchorage.
Opposite me in the anchorage was Laurie a guy I met in Baiona who is on his way back to Oz with his wife, so he came over in his dinghy and we chatted over a beer before Niels and Bruce turned up. Bruce and I spent the evening aboard Niels boat generally relaxing and discussing the sail and what we will do next.
Not much else to report, accept that we still haven’t officially cleared ourselves into the country yet and with the police taking all the names of the boats in the anchorage, can only hope we do not get reprimanded accordingly. OK I can handle a ‘telling off’ but I do not want get fined!
We plan to stay here in Aveiro for a day before heading to Nazare, which is a night passage of about 75nm to get there for Tuesday morning.
Opposite me in the anchorage was Laurie a guy I met in Baiona who is on his way back to Oz with his wife, so he came over in his dinghy and we chatted over a beer before Niels and Bruce turned up. Bruce and I spent the evening aboard Niels boat generally relaxing and discussing the sail and what we will do next.
Not much else to report, accept that we still haven’t officially cleared ourselves into the country yet and with the police taking all the names of the boats in the anchorage, can only hope we do not get reprimanded accordingly. OK I can handle a ‘telling off’ but I do not want get fined!
We plan to stay here in Aveiro for a day before heading to Nazare, which is a night passage of about 75nm to get there for Tuesday morning.
Stay tuned…
Lexoes Portugal
A quick motor out past the breakwater and then it was ‘downhill’ sailing in about 10 knots of wind off the quarter. Niels had rebuilt his boom incorrectly meaning he could not fully raise the full main sail (1 reef) and Bruce’s classic line after we had been purely sailing for the last hour ‘Shall we turn off the motors now?’.
Doris really struggled to go slow enough to stay with Bruce and Niels even with a reefed main sail and a scrap of head sail and soon all I could see were two distant tricolors on the horizon. Instead of staying inshore and struggling to keep the boat moving in the dying winds I chose to go offshore. Firstly because of my morbid fear of lobster pots, secondly because there seemed to be a lot of shipping close in and lastly, because I was on the phone to Crutey for about an hour and it’s hard to change direction and trim sails with one hand in the dark while on the phone.
The night went smooth enough and I was escorted throughout the night by dolphins, with their luminous phospherous wake streaming out from behind them.
I struggled to stay awake a lot of the time but there was too much shipping and fishing boats to sleep. I did get the kitchen timer out once it was light for the final twenty or so miles and managed to get some sleep, but not enough. I am going to have to change my ways and ‘relax’ when doing night passages alone. I started the trip wearing nothing but a pair of shorts but ended up in full ‘foulies’ and frozen! It’s not possible to sit out in the wind (behind the wheel) all night and not get cold or hypothermic and remain functional.
I wish I had a tiller then I could just live under the sprayhood. I should be getting more sleep and either use the sprayhood more or just check the horizons before going below in the warm. I guess it depends on who and what is about in the water around you, didn’t mind sleeping during Biscay and I think I’ll be fine once properly offshore, which will next be the Madera crossing.
I do have a confession to breaking my own rule as well which scared the shizzle out of me! I usually only rig preventers as and when needed and I have a single line which I use and swap it from side to side as required. Normally when I have a preventer fitted I am on the same tack for hours and hours so not a problem. However, last night when I went forward to rig it, I couldn’t stay clipped in due to the dinghy straps and rather than spend the extra few minutes negotiating the safety line I ‘risked’ it. Just as I was threading the line through the forward cleat, the boat dropped off of a small wave and my foot slipped off the toe rail and through the guard rail. For a second I was hanging by my armpit on the guard rails. It wasn’t until I got back to the safety of the cockpit that it dawned on me, the impact of what nearly happened. It was pitch black and I was wearing a life jacket but I would have been almost (if not) dead by the morning! To be honest, even the thought of going over while tied on with the boat going at speed is scary enough!
I need to rig permanent preventers which are ready to go from the cockpit and think of some solution for safety lines with the dinghy and genoa pole on deck… more things to think about.
On a brighter note, the motor was only required for the first hour of sailing (departure from Baiona) and then the final (5 miles) approach into Lexoes. The winds picked up to 25+ knots and the sea was ‘all over the place’, I guess I could have sailed it, but knowing the batteries needed some juice (I was down to 11.4v), didn’t feel too bad about spending about two hours motor sailing, besides I was knackered and wanted to sleep.
Initially I was worried about anchoring with such strong winds blowing, the approach had been fun and games trying to get the main sail down with the wind blowing me in circles, however, once inside things calmed down.
The anchor was down and the new Portuguese flag flying by 1100 utc. My god its hot here!
Doris really struggled to go slow enough to stay with Bruce and Niels even with a reefed main sail and a scrap of head sail and soon all I could see were two distant tricolors on the horizon. Instead of staying inshore and struggling to keep the boat moving in the dying winds I chose to go offshore. Firstly because of my morbid fear of lobster pots, secondly because there seemed to be a lot of shipping close in and lastly, because I was on the phone to Crutey for about an hour and it’s hard to change direction and trim sails with one hand in the dark while on the phone.
The night went smooth enough and I was escorted throughout the night by dolphins, with their luminous phospherous wake streaming out from behind them.
I struggled to stay awake a lot of the time but there was too much shipping and fishing boats to sleep. I did get the kitchen timer out once it was light for the final twenty or so miles and managed to get some sleep, but not enough. I am going to have to change my ways and ‘relax’ when doing night passages alone. I started the trip wearing nothing but a pair of shorts but ended up in full ‘foulies’ and frozen! It’s not possible to sit out in the wind (behind the wheel) all night and not get cold or hypothermic and remain functional.
I wish I had a tiller then I could just live under the sprayhood. I should be getting more sleep and either use the sprayhood more or just check the horizons before going below in the warm. I guess it depends on who and what is about in the water around you, didn’t mind sleeping during Biscay and I think I’ll be fine once properly offshore, which will next be the Madera crossing.
I do have a confession to breaking my own rule as well which scared the shizzle out of me! I usually only rig preventers as and when needed and I have a single line which I use and swap it from side to side as required. Normally when I have a preventer fitted I am on the same tack for hours and hours so not a problem. However, last night when I went forward to rig it, I couldn’t stay clipped in due to the dinghy straps and rather than spend the extra few minutes negotiating the safety line I ‘risked’ it. Just as I was threading the line through the forward cleat, the boat dropped off of a small wave and my foot slipped off the toe rail and through the guard rail. For a second I was hanging by my armpit on the guard rails. It wasn’t until I got back to the safety of the cockpit that it dawned on me, the impact of what nearly happened. It was pitch black and I was wearing a life jacket but I would have been almost (if not) dead by the morning! To be honest, even the thought of going over while tied on with the boat going at speed is scary enough!
I need to rig permanent preventers which are ready to go from the cockpit and think of some solution for safety lines with the dinghy and genoa pole on deck… more things to think about.
On a brighter note, the motor was only required for the first hour of sailing (departure from Baiona) and then the final (5 miles) approach into Lexoes. The winds picked up to 25+ knots and the sea was ‘all over the place’, I guess I could have sailed it, but knowing the batteries needed some juice (I was down to 11.4v), didn’t feel too bad about spending about two hours motor sailing, besides I was knackered and wanted to sleep.
Initially I was worried about anchoring with such strong winds blowing, the approach had been fun and games trying to get the main sail down with the wind blowing me in circles, however, once inside things calmed down.
The anchor was down and the new Portuguese flag flying by 1100 utc. My god its hot here!
Despite the wind, it’s like a furnace, for the first time ever I couldn’t stand bare foot on the teak! Eventually Bruce and Niels arrived an hour or so later. Niels has a long list of repairs and we may be spending a few days here.
Aside from the boom problems, Niels also had his autopilot pack up just as we left and a Low Oil Pressure alarm go off en route which he said was mildly entertaining!
I spent the evening eating soup, chatting to Niels and thinking about what to do and where to go next. We should have gone ashore to ‘clear in’, as it’s a new country but we couldn’t be bothered. We’ll go ashore tomorrow and have a mooch around and Niels can complete his repairs.
Aside from the boom problems, Niels also had his autopilot pack up just as we left and a Low Oil Pressure alarm go off en route which he said was mildly entertaining!
I spent the evening eating soup, chatting to Niels and thinking about what to do and where to go next. We should have gone ashore to ‘clear in’, as it’s a new country but we couldn’t be bothered. We’ll go ashore tomorrow and have a mooch around and Niels can complete his repairs.
Baiona (5)
This is the last Baiona post I promise! OK so whats happened since you last tuned in? … Well we Niels helped me get Doris up to scratch again with the following repairs completed:
New Genoa Pole end fitted. We also re-riveted the Genoa pole eye on the mast
Boom fitting drilled out and moved to the end of the boom for use as a back up mainsheet / Gybe preventer attachment
Re-put together my anchor ball as someone pointed out as it spins it looks like a black cross I had hung it sideways – doh!
Todo: Splice my new 30m x 18mm anchor warp into my chain.
On Tuesday eve we all got together for Lindsay’s farewell party, as she is returning to England to complete her working contract. She has six weeks of boating to look forward to in the UK winter. I cooked a curry to which Steve donated the chicken. No Corned Beef curries for him as his bodies a temple. Bruce the Almighty made a fruit cocktail and supplied wine. Marcus and Lindsay donated Squid rings and Moules in Red Wine & Garlic. They had spent the afternoon ‘harvesting’ the mussels from the rocks so this was as fresh as its gonna get!
Now those that know me, know my golden rule: “Thou Shall Not Eat Bottom Dwellers!”
However, as it was a special occasion I thought it only right that I make the effort. So, what’s the verdict. After hearing everyone go on about how amazing real sea food is when fresh etc. I have no clue what they are on about. Sure the Mussels tasted nice enough, who doesn’t like Red wine & Garlic, a classic combo, but it’s like chewing a huge bogey! And squid rings, again nice enough taste, but the texture of rubber with string in the middle!
Needless to say the guitars made an appearance with the tune de soir, “I’m leaving on a jet plane” for Lindsay.
The next day Lindsay & Marcus set sail to Vigo (Airport) and after saying goodbye to Steve, myself, Bruce and Niels up’ed anchor for Portugal at 5pm local time.
New Genoa Pole end fitted. We also re-riveted the Genoa pole eye on the mast
Boom fitting drilled out and moved to the end of the boom for use as a back up mainsheet / Gybe preventer attachment
Re-put together my anchor ball as someone pointed out as it spins it looks like a black cross I had hung it sideways – doh!
Todo: Splice my new 30m x 18mm anchor warp into my chain.
On Tuesday eve we all got together for Lindsay’s farewell party, as she is returning to England to complete her working contract. She has six weeks of boating to look forward to in the UK winter. I cooked a curry to which Steve donated the chicken. No Corned Beef curries for him as his bodies a temple. Bruce the Almighty made a fruit cocktail and supplied wine. Marcus and Lindsay donated Squid rings and Moules in Red Wine & Garlic. They had spent the afternoon ‘harvesting’ the mussels from the rocks so this was as fresh as its gonna get!
Now those that know me, know my golden rule: “Thou Shall Not Eat Bottom Dwellers!”
However, as it was a special occasion I thought it only right that I make the effort. So, what’s the verdict. After hearing everyone go on about how amazing real sea food is when fresh etc. I have no clue what they are on about. Sure the Mussels tasted nice enough, who doesn’t like Red wine & Garlic, a classic combo, but it’s like chewing a huge bogey! And squid rings, again nice enough taste, but the texture of rubber with string in the middle!
Needless to say the guitars made an appearance with the tune de soir, “I’m leaving on a jet plane” for Lindsay.
The next day Lindsay & Marcus set sail to Vigo (Airport) and after saying goodbye to Steve, myself, Bruce and Niels up’ed anchor for Portugal at 5pm local time.
Saturday, 27 September 2008
Quick Update
Crutey Proxy Post on behalf of the Sea Pikey.
Boo is alive and well and Anchored up in Aveiro, Portugal (about 1/2 way down). No major calamitys to report, eating chocy, drinking beer. Full posts with photos to follow when internet connection located.
Boo is alive and well and Anchored up in Aveiro, Portugal (about 1/2 way down). No major calamitys to report, eating chocy, drinking beer. Full posts with photos to follow when internet connection located.
Monday, 22 September 2008
Baiona (4)
Just a quick post to let everyone know that I am alive.
So what’s been going on … Well mostly socialising and very little boating to be honest, since I dropped anchor.
My pole end finally arrived which will get fitted tomorrow and I have also purchased 30m of 18mm anchor warp which I will spice into my 30m of 8mm chain. Jerry – I could really use that 50m chain I sold you!
Nothing else to report except that ‘we’ (Niels, Bruce & myself) are going assess the weather for Wednesday.
Dave (Brighton) will be coming out for the 2nd week in October so I need to get near an airport in Portugal. Updates, well Mark and Amanda left us and are now in Povoa De Varzim and Brian (from La Coruna) is anchored off Cascais.
I met Marcus & Lidsay of Veracity, an old school lugger (built by Marcus) based on a design from about a hundred years ago. These two loons have sailed straight from the UK to here and even then they only stopped because of a lack of any wind. Ordinarily this wouldn’t stop them except for the fact that they have no engine! - Or fridge or toilet!
The anchorage has become a social hive of activity with mucho sun, beer and playing of guitars etc Bruce, Lindsay, Marcus, Niels and Steve all being regular attendees.
My pole end finally arrived which will get fitted tomorrow and I have also purchased 30m of 18mm anchor warp which I will spice into my 30m of 8mm chain. Jerry – I could really use that 50m chain I sold you!
Nothing else to report except that ‘we’ (Niels, Bruce & myself) are going assess the weather for Wednesday.
Dave (Brighton) will be coming out for the 2nd week in October so I need to get near an airport in Portugal. Updates, well Mark and Amanda left us and are now in Povoa De Varzim and Brian (from La Coruna) is anchored off Cascais.
Bruce is finally enjoying a few beers in the sunshine...
Watch this space…
Watch this space…
Saturday, 20 September 2008
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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