It was just about the right time of year, according to the pilot books, but still the weather evaded us.
Our French friends are keen weather watchers also and we were waiting for the perfect weather.
Too much wind, too little wind, wind wrong direction, sea state too rough. The weather grib files gave us all the information.
But to get 3/4 days of favourable conditions was proving illusive.
Many yachts had arrived in Camaret with the same goal. Mostly German.
We got chatting to two boats on our pontoon whom were travelling together. One man had circumnavigated and we asked his advice.
Sunday 25th May was a possibility but only on the morning of a proposed departure, with the latest weather information would Norbert make a decision. Sounds sensible.
The other German yachts looked to him as well.
Sunday was written off due to a possible force 6/7 looming around Cape Finisterre. We had already decided against. Looks like we were like minded.
Wednesday 28th looked good but the grib filed prediction, as usual, changed from day to day.
Norbert thought that this was our best chance for crossing Biscay. Take a direct route, motor until the wind arrived, the sea would be relatively calm and no severe weather was looming.
We agreed.
Our French friends also agreed after some persuasion.
We made final preparations. The night before, we tested our engines. 'Erminig' our French pals found a nasty vibration coming from their prop shaft. Could require a haul out. They weren't going.
We had to make a decision - wait while they made repairs and then start looking at the weather again or go with the Germans and Erminig could catch us up.
After much deliberation we decided to accompany the Germans.
Due to the marina diesel pump being out of order just 3 yachts set out at the crack of dawn.
S/V's Artemis, Eos and Pancho.
We motored at a gentle pace to save fuel, the wind was against us.
After 25 hours the wind arrived in a favourable direction.
We switched off our engine. We didn't want to burn any more fuel just yet.
'Eos' motorsailed and 'Pancho' put up their cruising chute.
We couldn't keep up. The wind was almost backing us. We tried our genoa on its own, then gullwing. We didn't have much experience sailing down wind and weren't very good at it.
Then the wind died.
After a couple of hours the wind was back and we broad reached for a day and a half of very comfortable sailing. 'Artemis' loved it and we switched on the auto pilot.
We could see the other two yachts on the horizon, they changed course for the Spanish mainland and then dissappeared.
By now the sea was nearly 5km deep and the moonless nights very dark.
Dolphins arrived and entertained us every so often, superb at night with the phosphorescent.
We were sailing well so continued on a direct route. The wind increased so we put in a reef, then another. Hmmm... Maybe we are making up some ground here.
The next morning the wind backed us again and the sea was more unsettled due the Spanish continental shelf so we changed course for the Spanish coast. At 1pm we sighted land and 'Eos' and 'Pancho' motoring slowly up the coast.
Still under sail we intersected them, waved hello and followed them under engine.
The swell and wind grew as we neared la Coruna but nothing compared to our previous November Biscay attempt.
We arrived safe and sound at 7.30pm Saturday 31st May
Alison's Birthday tomorrow !
