Crossing the Bay of Biscay

Leaving Falmouth Saturday at 12.45 o'clock heading for La Coruna. Still some south west wind but calm sea. The weather prognose was that it would turn into west and the going north west, which would be the perfect wind. So after 10-12 hours the wind started to go west and then later north west. the night went by in a nice way, another day again, and then we were in the middle of the bay of Biscay. The wind went down and also the sea. So at 21 o'clock we had spagetti bolognes with candel lights on the table in the cockpit. And we were thinking......This is fucking special. Everybody have respect of the bay of Biscay, and that's not for no reason. But we had a good weather forcast before we left Flamouth, and that went through as predicted.

Well, the last 20 hours before north Spain, Biscay showed what it is famouse for, and gave us 17 m/s wind from s/w with quit big waves. But with 2 reefs in the main sail and reduced front sail, Zephyr was sailing great

                                               The water of Biscay passing by at 8 knots

                                                    Jonas steering at sunset
 through the sea.

Landing outside La Coruna at 8 in the morning with full sunshine and no wind, was fantastic. I thought... NOW I am getting into the southern hemisphere

                                      Having a swim an a class of Champagne outside La Coruna

Well, we dicded to continue south to Portugal, and picked out Porto as the next stop.
This was another 3 days sailing. And one morning, when I had have my 3 hours watch, I woke up Jonas at 03.00 in the morning. I told him about the strange wave behine the boat. It look like a crocdille was following us.  One hour later when it started to get some more light, Jones said that it looked like we were draging something. And indeed we were. We had cought a fishing line with canes and bolds.
We were going by engine, but had have no problems with the propeller. We stopped and found out that it  was just around the keel.   It was to dark to dive under and check it out.  But at daylight I went down, dressed with my short legg wetsuit  ( bought in Australia in 1977 when I was 21 years, and I could still get it on. Not bad haha) No problem to get the fishingline off.

                                                       The dolphins in the in front of the boat

In my old wetsuit

At the end of the day we were visited by Flipper's ( dolfines) They are just so amazing animals. They come in a bunch of many. They are so cool to watch. 5-10 minutes, and they leave. But at night again, they came. back
Arrived Porto at 11 o'clock Thursday, and was wished welcome by the harbour staff, and shown the place to berth. They even tied the boat on to the bridge.
After clearing custom with passport, ship registration and insurences paper, we went to town, and had a beer.
For dinner we went to a restaurant were the locals go. We were the only one there, but we got a very good meal, and got to be close to the owner and the staff. Very nice people. Antonio was the owner, and gave us a port wine as dessert.

                                               At the local restaurant Maria Moira

Today Friday, we went by train to Porto downtown, to see the city. THAT was a very nice experince. Of''course we had to enter a portwine tour including tasting. We went on a tour with Sandeman port. It was a much learning and interesting tour. Now we know more about the portwines history.

                                                 The tour gide dressed in the Sandeman outfit

                                            Me trying to taste some of the 44000 liters of port

One of the nice streets of Porto

The 150 years old bridge over the river

Before going back to the boat we had a exelent dinner down by the river.
Tomorrow Saturday 18th. we will sail out for Lisabon. about 150 sea miles.
It's 2 o'clock in the morning, and Finn and Jonas and myself are having a night cap,and going to bed...............