My
Second "Maiden" Voyage (page 2)
. Friday
3rd and Saturday 4th November 2000
First light, actually before it, we departed Cameret, France and headed
off to cross the "Bay of Biscay", a stretch of water feared by many sailors.
Crossing the Biscay, in a straight line (shortest route) from northwest
France to northwest Spain, is a 360 mile passage, with nowhere to stop
for a rest. Once you decide to go, you are committed to it. We hoped to
make it across before a "Depression", which was building up in the area,
got too severe. Once again we left in force 7/8, and the next day it increased
to force 9 and then reaching "Storm 10". This meant for some very exciting
sailing, the type I had never done before. Huge seas, storm force winds
reaching 55 knots, and all of this in the dark of night with pretty much
zero visibility due to water crashing everywhere. Now I can understand
why the Biscay is feared by many, but "Maiden" took it all in her stride.
I may have knocked her before, mainly due to lack of maintenance on her
owners behalf, but she can sail extremely well in extreme conditions as
well as calm conditions.
Sunday 5th November 2000
We sailed into La Coruna, Spain, in a force 9 in the dark at about 2000nrs.
We were all looking forward to going ashore to shower, and wine and dine
well as we had arrived at a respectable hour. This didn't happen, we had
to tie up on a mooring buoy until next morning. So we cooked dinner had
some drinks on board and watched a movie, courtesy of my laptop and it's
ability to play "DVDs". Everyone was impressed with this, and it took
the edge off all of us from the want to go ashore. This leg was 360 miles,
took 3 days including 24 night hours. Monday 6th November 2000 After a
good rest, we motored around to the first marina but they wouldn't allow
us to tie up, we were to big, and in fairness we probably would have taken
half the pontoon with us, considering the winds. On to the next marina,
first we tied at the pier wall then got permission to right in, next to
the "Club House" … very cool! Time to do the "Three S's" (S-t, Shower
and Shave) and the usual others, laundry, email, telephone, and explore
the town. I very much enjoyed travelling around here, using the little
Spanish I had, but communicating very well compared to the others considering
most had no Spanish.
Tuesday 7th November 2000
Still bad weather and we had to do some repairs to the gear so another
day and night out was had in Coruna. Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th November
2000 We departed Coruna before first light, bound for Lisbon, Portugal.
Weather is a bit more favourable now, force 6 and 7. Not a very eventful
passage compared to the last two, but we did clock some 335 miles over
3 days including 24 night hours on the sea. Friday 10th November 2000
We tied up at the marina in Cascais, just outside Lisbon, about 10am,
refuelled, took care of passports and ships papers, had ourselves good
showers, found a laundry service on the marina, then a good meal at one
of the many marina restaurants. The gang the split up into smaller groups
and went off to explore the town. Someone managed to find an Irish bar
"O'Neill's" so we all met up there later before having another meal in
an Italian Restaurant. Early to bed, for all, to be ready for the next
day.
Saturday 11th November 2000
Early start this morning, 6am, left the marina (Cascais-Portugal) at 7am
and were on our way to Gran Canaria. Favourable weather conditions for
a change, maybe not quite enough wind for us, but we've had our fair share
of too much wind, so we're happy to have a nice gentle "Pleasure Sail".
This gave Skipper (Julian) a good opportunity to go over the various spinnaker
drills with us … and he did. Now we were ready for the fair weather spinnaker
run all the way to the Canaries, hopefully. The sky was clear and the
sun shinning so off with the foul weather gear, that had to be worn on
deck at all times up to now. A large pod of dolphins came to play. Sun
still shinning forcing us to don the shades and sun hats, next will be
the sun-block, hopefully. After a while I pulled out one of the two books
I brought with me and decided to read for a while in the afternoon sun,
while off watch, of course. Julian saw what I was reading, "Sail Chernobyl",
the story of the Cork family (Covneys) as they sailed around the world
generating awareness and funds for the victims of the disaster. He then
told me that he had sailed with them on the "ARC" (Atlantic Rally for
Cruisers). Wow, you just never know what the guy next to you has done.
I will quiz him more later, but for now we left the subject. I went down
below to switch on the Nav lights, to find Julian and Ed with the floorboards
lifted trying to see where smoke was coming from. It turns out the bearing
from the prop shaft is gone. We only use the motor when the wind dies,
I guess this won't be as much anymore.
Sunday 12th to Wednesday 15th November 2000
Arrived in Las Palmas. This five day passage consisted of sailing with
spinnaker by day, taking down the spinnaker by night and replacing it
with a "jib on the pole", over and over again, until we eventually arrived
in the port of "Las Palmas" on "Gran Canaria" island at 1330hrs. We had
to refuel the diesel tanks first, then get a birth and get everything
ship shape for the "Racing Crew" who were due to arrive the next day.
This all done we went to one of the marina bars and, well you can guess
the rest … delivery job done. This final leg was 725 miles, took 5 days
including 48 night hours. Full journey was 1659 miles, 13 days including
109 night hours … biggest trip for me to date !!!
Thursday 16th November 2000
With the new crew arriving many of us got hotel rooms until we got flights
organised, but still met back at the marina for food and beverages in
the evening. There was a great buzz around, with some 250 yachts, of all
makes shapes and sizes, all there for the sole purpose of crossing the
Atlantic with the "Safety of Numbers". The "ARC" (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers)
is organised each year, as a race for those who want to compete, and a
rally for those who don't, to get a large number of boats across the ocean
to St. Lucia (Caribbean) in safety.
Friday 17th November 2000
This was my last day with the group, after swapping address etc, I left
for the airport and was on my way home
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