Nicholas Whyborn

Low wind at the anchorage but about 8 kt from W after we left an islets. Sea was calm with slight swell from East. It started cloudy but cleared up by 11:00. Due to the headwind we motored all the way to Morlaix bay.

Cloudy with no wind when we started but we picked up 8 kt from N after half an hour and sailed across Rade de Brest. In the channel out to the Atlantic the wind dropped and we motored out to the S entrance to Channel Le Four. We had timed our departure to arrive at channel Le Four as the tide turned N at ~15:30. At his point the wind suddenly picked up to 17 kt from the N (perhaps we were in wind shadow before?). We decided to take down the sail and motor to avoid tacking in le Four. At 18:40 we cleared Bass de Portsall and set sail again on a close reach to the entrance to L’Aber Wrac’h which we reached at around 19:50. We anchored in 7m at Toull an Trebez.

We started in a westerly 17kt and set sail with 2 reefs in Lampaul bay before sailing SW to clear Ar Vridig and turning to 140 towards Pierres Vertes WCM. By then the wind was moderating so we let out one reef and continued to Pierres Noires WCM. The wind continued to drop so we started an engine to keep boat speed as there was a strong cross tide. Around 1700 the wind picked up from S and we sailed for about 45 mins before it again weakened and we restarted the motor. We took down the sails S of St Mathieu and motored the last hour in intermittent rain. We saw a flock of birds circling and diving about 500m S of us when we were 4 NMi 191 from Ile de Beniguet (see video https://share.icloud.com/photos/0a8clSWjOwfvoLrZATKDQhlug). Not sure what bird they were but there must have been a shoal of fish near the surface.

Wind W 14-20 knots, up to 1.5 m seas also from the west. It was mostly overcast with a bit of drizzle at one point. We left Port Haliguen half an hour before LW and passed through the rocky islets SE of Pointe du Conguel at slack water. The sailing from there was good with us close-hauled on port tack for most of the way. We passed many yachts sailing SE along the coast, some taking part in a regatta. It was busy at times! We anchored in 8 m at HW (5m) of Plage des Grands Sables together with 3 other yachts.

The weather was mostly clear with westerly wind initially 10 knots but decreasing quickly to 5-8 knots. We only had. Sails set for 20 mins after leaving the river mouth before the wind dropped. The sea was calm for most of the passage. The Pico de Europa mountains were pretty being capped in snow. There are impressive geological formations along the coast near C de Ajo. The outer sea wall of Bilbao port is impressive but looks battered.

Wind NW up to 25kts and seas up to 2.5m. We weighed anchor and left Candas harbour shortly after a rain shower had passed over. The morning was cloudy but it cleared in the afternoon. We had little wind initially but picked up and we set sail at 08:45. The wind strengthened and we put in 2 reefs at 11:00. We did not see many other boats. The 9m monohull Geisha passed us doing 1-2kt more than us as we approached San Vincent. The entrance into Ria San Vicente was quite tense as we had some swell, a 20kt crosswind and 2-3kt current against us but once inside it became tranquil. Finding a spot with more than 1.5 m at lw proved hard with the tidal flow and crosswind and in the end I became fast in 0.7m. We will have to wait until 01:40 to refloat and finish anchoring.

Largely unfavourable conditions to sail so spent 90% using motors. We had strong headwinds and a choppy sea after Cabo de Bares and later approaching Ribadeo so were forced to use both motors. Tacking was not an option because we wanted to arrive at Ribadeo at around high slack water. We also had 2m swell from the NW during the night but that did not cause problems as it had a very long period.

We left Cadiz at 01:00 about 6 hours after a storm had passed. The wind was initially W 10kt in the harbour, slightly more outside. The swell was 1.5-2m and we had a couple of rain showers. By dawn the wind was only 7kt and sky partially cloudy and we motored. It picked up from SW towards evening and we sailed again. 6/4: Headed N with wind SE 15kt. As we passed Sines mid afternoon the wind veered and rose so we went to 2 reefs. 7/4: Wind dropped at sunset with clear skies: we motored through the night setting sail at dawn, wind E 10kt then veered to W. Good sailing! 8/4: Quiet night, little wind so motored. By noon the sea was calm and we had <5kt from E. By 17:00 we had a long 2m swell from SW with NNE 10kt as we passed a Portuguese wind farm and crossed back into Spanish waters. We made our way up the Vigo estuary in moonlight and anchored off Moaña at 00:40 9/4. The following morning we moved to a berth at Moaña marina. Distance logged 510.3nm in 95.7hrs. We used motors 40.3hrs & 41.2hrs.

Wind was variable during the passage but was SW 30 knots near Giraglia with clear skies, good visibility and a 2 m sea. No issues with boat and crew. We took in reefs and dropped the main for the worst period. We could have used a 3rd reef if there was one. We prepared to switch to a storm jib but the J4 handled it and gave 7-8 knots on a reach ok.

Weather: Wind NE 15-18 knots, easing in afternoon. Cloudy. Visibility good decreasing to moderate in the afternoon. Swell from S 0.6 m, waves 1.1 m. Notes: The beat out to the outer mark was tough - one broken mast. We decided to retire rather than continue with the second lap. At the time we were second last in group 1 and would have arrived back very late.