L'Aber Wrac'h to Gijon 25-29 Sept
29/09/06 06:00 Filed in: Biscay Crossing
25th September
Up early (05:30) to catch a favourable tide through the Chenal du Four. However as it's still dark I'm reluctant to proceed until there is sufficient light to spot unlit buoys and beacons.
Eventually we get underway at 07:25 and proceed to sea without incident. As we are running late we motor sail quite quickly at 6 knots in order not to miss the tide. At 10:20 we pass Le Four lighthouse and enter the channel proper. No sign of any adverse tide, nor much of a favourable one for that matter.
At 11:45 we pass le Grande Vinotiere and are now doing 9 knots over the ground. The tide has become very apparent but much later than we thought.
By 12:35 we are clear of the channel and the Basse Royale buoy and set course for La Coruna. The engine is turned off and we proceed under full sail of main, yankee and staysail.
Later it becomes apparent that this point of sail will not clear the off lying shoals that comprise the Chaussee de Sein and we have to motorsail again. By 17:15 we are clear and resume sailing. Our first dolphins of the trip arrive at 18:30.
Sunset first Biscay evening.
26th September
During the night the wind slowly dies away so that by 07:20 we have no material wind and resume motorsailing with the foresails furled.
At noon we have another visit from the dolphins just disappearing by the bow as this photo was taken. Note flat calm sea.
At 12:00 we have come 118.1 miles since L'Aber Wrac'h, averaging 4.13 knots. 252 miles to go. By 19:35 the wind has returned from the south and we are able to make a course of around 235-240 under full sail. One hour later the wind dies again and we continue motoring.
27th September
At midnight we have a south easterly of F4-5 and resume sailing. By 06:00 this has veered to the south and we are having to beat. Boat movement is starting to become uncomfortable.
At noon our daily run has reduced to 93.7 miles, average speed 3.9 knots and 175 miles to go.
The wind continues to veer and by 15:00 we are beating into a rough sea and large swell with 2 reefs in the main, 40% yankee and full staysail.
Biscay looking less settled.
By 21:00, having tacked to course 180 we are beating into a moderating sea and swell with the yankee at 60%. We also cross over the delightfully named "Biscay Abyssal Plain" (depth >4,800m). It becomes appparent that we are being set into the bay from our desired course.
28th September
Throughout the early hours windspeed gradually decreases such that by 06:30 we are motoring again. By 10:35 the wind has increased to SW F3 and we resume sailing under full rig.
At noon we have run only 78 miles averaging 3.24 knots. Still 115 miles to go. Throughout the afternoon we continue beating into SW F5 winds and are being set further into the bay. The ride is unpleasant and progress towards the desired destination is unsatisfactory.
At 17:40 we decide to make a strategic alteration in destination. The boat is equidistant from La Coruna and Gijon. (abt 100 miles.) The latest weather forecast incates SW F4-5 occ F6. Faced the the option of an other 1.5-2 days beating towards La Coruna or a beam reach of 24 hours to Gijon we choose Gijon. This is, after all, a leisure pursuit and the merits of subjecting the boat and its crew to further beating are not immediately apparent.
The skipper on watch with angry looking background clouds.
After the course change we are surging along in excess of 5 knots with a comfortable ride. Gijon is looking very attractive.
29th September
Wind speed increases during the night to F5 with the wind backing to the south as we approach the Spanish coast. Around midnight we are subjected to a series of rain squalls with winds gusting to 27 knots. Sail is reduced rapidly but we continue to make excellent progress under the staysail and 3 reefs in the main.
At noon our daily run was 105.4 miles with an average speed of 4.39 knots. Only 22.7 miles to Gijon.
Dave looking cheerful some 5 hours out of Gijon.
As we approach Cabo Penas the wind dies away and we motor the last two hours into Gijon. At 17:00 we are all fast on a visitor berth at Puerto Deportiva Gijon.
Total run from L'Aber Wrac'h 417.6 miles. Average speed 3.955 knots. Passage time 105.6 hours of which 29.8 were spent motoring.
Up early (05:30) to catch a favourable tide through the Chenal du Four. However as it's still dark I'm reluctant to proceed until there is sufficient light to spot unlit buoys and beacons.
Eventually we get underway at 07:25 and proceed to sea without incident. As we are running late we motor sail quite quickly at 6 knots in order not to miss the tide. At 10:20 we pass Le Four lighthouse and enter the channel proper. No sign of any adverse tide, nor much of a favourable one for that matter.
At 11:45 we pass le Grande Vinotiere and are now doing 9 knots over the ground. The tide has become very apparent but much later than we thought.
By 12:35 we are clear of the channel and the Basse Royale buoy and set course for La Coruna. The engine is turned off and we proceed under full sail of main, yankee and staysail.
Later it becomes apparent that this point of sail will not clear the off lying shoals that comprise the Chaussee de Sein and we have to motorsail again. By 17:15 we are clear and resume sailing. Our first dolphins of the trip arrive at 18:30.
Sunset first Biscay evening.
26th September
During the night the wind slowly dies away so that by 07:20 we have no material wind and resume motorsailing with the foresails furled.
At noon we have another visit from the dolphins just disappearing by the bow as this photo was taken. Note flat calm sea.
At 12:00 we have come 118.1 miles since L'Aber Wrac'h, averaging 4.13 knots. 252 miles to go. By 19:35 the wind has returned from the south and we are able to make a course of around 235-240 under full sail. One hour later the wind dies again and we continue motoring.
27th September
At midnight we have a south easterly of F4-5 and resume sailing. By 06:00 this has veered to the south and we are having to beat. Boat movement is starting to become uncomfortable.
At noon our daily run has reduced to 93.7 miles, average speed 3.9 knots and 175 miles to go.
The wind continues to veer and by 15:00 we are beating into a rough sea and large swell with 2 reefs in the main, 40% yankee and full staysail.
Biscay looking less settled.
By 21:00, having tacked to course 180 we are beating into a moderating sea and swell with the yankee at 60%. We also cross over the delightfully named "Biscay Abyssal Plain" (depth >4,800m). It becomes appparent that we are being set into the bay from our desired course.
28th September
Throughout the early hours windspeed gradually decreases such that by 06:30 we are motoring again. By 10:35 the wind has increased to SW F3 and we resume sailing under full rig.
At noon we have run only 78 miles averaging 3.24 knots. Still 115 miles to go. Throughout the afternoon we continue beating into SW F5 winds and are being set further into the bay. The ride is unpleasant and progress towards the desired destination is unsatisfactory.
At 17:40 we decide to make a strategic alteration in destination. The boat is equidistant from La Coruna and Gijon. (abt 100 miles.) The latest weather forecast incates SW F4-5 occ F6. Faced the the option of an other 1.5-2 days beating towards La Coruna or a beam reach of 24 hours to Gijon we choose Gijon. This is, after all, a leisure pursuit and the merits of subjecting the boat and its crew to further beating are not immediately apparent.
The skipper on watch with angry looking background clouds.
After the course change we are surging along in excess of 5 knots with a comfortable ride. Gijon is looking very attractive.
29th September
Wind speed increases during the night to F5 with the wind backing to the south as we approach the Spanish coast. Around midnight we are subjected to a series of rain squalls with winds gusting to 27 knots. Sail is reduced rapidly but we continue to make excellent progress under the staysail and 3 reefs in the main.
At noon our daily run was 105.4 miles with an average speed of 4.39 knots. Only 22.7 miles to Gijon.
Dave looking cheerful some 5 hours out of Gijon.
As we approach Cabo Penas the wind dies away and we motor the last two hours into Gijon. At 17:00 we are all fast on a visitor berth at Puerto Deportiva Gijon.
Total run from L'Aber Wrac'h 417.6 miles. Average speed 3.955 knots. Passage time 105.6 hours of which 29.8 were spent motoring.