Fair Encounter - Bayona to Povoa. Things that go bump

After a completely problem-free Biscay crossing this year we thought our luck had changed; nothing broke, nothing even gave slight cause for concern. Even the weather Gods smiled on us with lots of sunshine, never too much wind (often too little -never satisfied!), clear skies for most of the time and calm seas. It couldn't last. The weather got its own back in Bayona. Lots of squally showers, strong winds from the south and threats of big waves kept us in port for two extra days. The forecast for today was benign, the reality? There is no wind, no waves and very limited visibility but, looking on the bright side, it isn't raining. We were within about half a nautical mile of entering Portuguese waters when we heard a bump. We both looked around - bump- concern was rising, bump! Then a. read more...

Fair Encounter - Sunday 14th June - a day of rest?

Sunday 14th June – a day of rest?Sunday was a free day in Figueira da Foz so we decided to do some jobs around the boat.  John went up the mast to see if he could spot the problem with the roller furling gear and bring down the Tricolour light fitting to replace the bulb.  The first trip up the mast was successful, he fitted the new LED assembly and went back up, taking his camera.  Once back down on the deck he put his camera on the coaming, wriggled out of the bosun’s chair and flicked the camera into the water!Fortunately this did not prove to be a major disaster.  The camera was especially chosen because it was supposed to be waterproof to 10 metres and the water was only 5 metres deep; it was an expensive camera so worth searching for; we have full scuba gear on board.  I. read more...

Fair Encounter - Day 1 - The highs and Lows of our first day at sea

Our sailing is a bit like a complicated weather map, full of highs and lows, today has been no different, however I should begin by introducing ourselves. I am Joyce, First Mate, Head Chef and Assistant Navigator; John is Captain, Sous -Chef and Chief Navigator because he can do the maths to go with the sextant sights! I will probably write most of our logs during one of my night watches when the skipper doesn't need any food.We had a good start, crossing the line with about half the fleet behind us, but we knew we would soon be overtaken by most of them because we are one of the smallest and slowest boats. We had started with just the genoa, expecting to set up the double headsail rig once the fleet spread out. Wrong wind, so we pulled up the mainsail. Still boats sped past us so we. read more...

Fair Encounter - Day 2 - More Highs than Lows

Our sympathies to Auliana II and good to know that all are safe and well.On day 1 the Lows appeared to outweigh the Highs, and that was in an 11 hour day from the 1300hrs start to midnight when I wrote the log. For a time it seemed today might follow a similar pattern but I'm determined to be upbeat, after all we sail for pleasure!We changed the watch at 0200. I had just climbed into the bunk when John rushed on deck, swearing. Somehow the wind had got behind the mainsail but the jibe preventer had done its job and held the boom out with the result that we were effectively hove-to but didn't realise it. The boat was held by the wind, lost all speed and hence steerage. John pulled the main closer to midships but couldn't steer. At this point he called for me to come on deck! He was having. read more...

Fair Encounter - Day 3 - More problems and domestic duties

At breakfast we agreed to gybe the mainsail and pole out the genoa as soon as possible so that we could alter course a little further west. Unfortunately, before we could put our plans into action the mainsail backed and John immediately pulled the mainsheet amidships while I released the preventer. We had just changed over the preventer so we could alter course and gybe the sail when there was a tearing sound, the sail split from a few inches from the leech (back edge of the sail) most of the way across to where we had stuck on a chafe patch. Fortunately the tear was just below the first reef so we went head to wind to reef down the sail then we gingerly turned back into the wind, letting out the sail as we went, until we were back on course and the preventer was tight. The next task. read more...