2019 Season - Northern Spain

07/04/2019 - 1st passage of our 2019 season

The day before we planned to leave we had taken OW out into the bay to test the systems and ensure everything working ok.   We felt really positive after our anchor and engine tests went without a hitch, we also ensured the sails were working well and after months of being port bound in Getxo we felt ready to go.

We didn't sleep to well last night which is unusual for us, maybe the thought of leaving our winter port after so long was playing on our minds more than it should have. 

We had prepared the boat for the season, finished a whole host of jobs, fitted new parts and gone through the weather forecasts and passage plans.  Our intention was to head for Santander with Laredo as a bolt hole if we needed it.    The weather predicted slight swell, wind 14 - 20 with the occasional gust of 25knts.

We left Getxo at 08.18 local time, it was turning into a nice morning and as we got closer to the outer breakwater we started to put up the sails, mizzen and inner foresail to start with.    As we motor sailed out into open water it became clear that we were in for a choppy passage. 

The wind was shifting round from South West to Westerly and the swell was large and coming at us at 8 second intervals. Not enjoyable for either of us on a first sail after a 5 month break.   However neither of us felt unsafe or worried at any point which surprised me.

At 12.00 local time we made the decision to run for Laredo, we were about 3 hours away and as the conditions hadn't changed it was enough for a first run. 

There was a period of about an hour on our run to Laredo where the swell dropped so we put up the main sail but the winds were not really strong enough to give us much of a push so we took it down again and continued to motor sail.

It was during this sail that we received the phone call from Larne that Alan's sister was very ill and we may have to put plans on hold for a while.   Laredo has good bus links for Bilbao and Santander airports if we needed them.

We arrived in Laredo at 15.00 local time, there is anchoring options in the large bay or there is the marina which is a fairly new one and as its still low season a very empty one.   We decided to go into the marina and as  it was a Sunday it was impossible to reach anyone on the radio so we picked a berth. 

The forecast for tomorrow is good with easterlies forecasted that would take us to Santander in a few hours.   

After speaking to the family back in Larne Alan and I decided that we should leave in the morning. 

The Santander marina is right next to the airport and we also wanted to catch up with our friends Bob and Lori on Heart of Gold who were going to be in Santander for a few days. 

On reflection the 1st passage of the season was a good one, so far everything was working well and we felt ok albeit a little shaky due to lack of sea legs.

Our average speed was 3knts mostly motor sailing and we covered 17 nautical miles in 6 hours which was slow largely due to the swell.

28/04/19

We had waited for Storm Hannah to pass giving us the weather window to get to Santander, the forecast for the next couple of days showed decreasing swell down to less than 1m and F3 which is good for sailing Ocean Waves. 

We were berthed next to Exodus who were also looking to move onto Santander and after a discussion it was agreed that leaving on the 28/04/19 was a good option.   We departed the mooring at 06.10 just as dawn was breaking.

As we entered the mouth of the river at 7.ooam local time the conditions were very choppy with swells running at 2.5m at 4 second intervals.   Although this was unexpected we were happy to carry on as the forecast was for this to dissipate. 

 Although I was not feeling comfortable I knew I had been in worse conditions than we were currently facing so I had to manage my fear levels and get a grip.

By 10.00 I was still finding the swell uncomfortable but OW was coping brilliantly, our average speed over the ground is 4knts although the wind was less than 8knts largely on the beam and from behind.   At around 11.30 Alan took the decision to put up the Genoa which should help give us a push and for the next couple of hours the tide was also in our favour.

By 13.00 the swell had not dissipated and conditions generally were uncomfortable but we were maintaining a speed of 6.5knts with just over 50 NM to run to Gijon.    Exodus had taken the decision to go out to 12 miles off the coast whereas we remained 6 miles off but talking to them afterwards the conditions were not much better where they were either.

Alan was starting to feel a bit sea sick which is unusual for him, and I was ok but not so happy to work below deck very much. Decided to play with our go-pro camera to keep my self occupied.

By 17.00 we had a steady 8-10knts of wind, and the swell remind choppy at around 2mts in height, Alan has gone to sleep for a bit, still feeling a bit sick unfortunately.   We had 21 NM's still to run and were not expected in to Gijon until around 21.00. We could now see Exodus on the horizon.

At 18.30 we furled the Genoa away, just as the winds were starting to come in at 15 - 20 knts but with the swell continuing to be high we decided just to motor the remaining 11 NM as we had and enough really. Our average speed over the ground was 7knts.

By 20.00 our speed had dropped to 5knts, and we were running against the tide, but with 6 NM to go we were willing OW's home.   Exodus had passed us and were heading into Gijon.   OW was behaving beautifully.   However Alan and I had not eaten much all day due to the swell and the way we were feeling and this was starting to have an effect on our mood generally. 

At 21.00 we came alongside the pontoon and were grateful for the help of Exodus and another boat moored near us.   We had made it, we had covered 90KM in very choppy seas over 15 hours which we felt was good for OW.

But just as we think the passage is all over we had to rescue a runaway dinghy, Lanky had decided to abandon us and had to be recovered. (to read more about this have a look at the latest blog).

Thankfully I had made a chicken casserole in my Mr D's before we left so after tying up we were able to eat something hot although neither of us had much of an appetite we did manage to eat a little.

The weather tomorrow is not good so we will be resting in Gijon for the day.