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| The Start line at Plymouth |
Not quite the start to the ARC Portugal Rally
that we had in mind but at least we left Plymouth as planned on Sunday 4 June.
Unfortunately, due to the weather gods sending a series of low pressures zones
further south than usual we were unable to set sail for Bayona in Spain, which
was 1st planned leg of the rally. Instead the fleet had a day-sail
to Falmouth so that we would be a little further West and give the opportunity
for the long-range forecast to develop further.
We had an 'interesting' sail. The rain
started as we crossed the start line and steadily got worse becoming torrential
over the next 3 hours. A stiff breeze on the nose and short choppy seas
the whole way; just the sort of conditions that Snow Goose hates. With all our
worldly goods now on board she is handling rather like a half-submerged hippopotamus
and it took us over 12 hours to claw our way through the 35 mile course (and we
motored for quite a while so that we would get there before dark). Because we
were beating the whole way we travelled an extra half a dozen or so miles for
good measure. I have to admit, it could have been a better first leg!
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| Fleetviewer |
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| The fleet spread among local boats in Port Pendennis Marina |
Well, we are still in Falmouth and we will
be until at least next weekend. The lows continue to roll in to Biscay and the
English Channel so we have SW gales and severe gales on the horizon for a while
yet. Despite this we are in good spirits and the rally crews went for a fish
and chip dinner last night, followed by an entertaining session of Breton
dancing in a local pub. Naturally one or two individuals participated rather
too eagerly but they have several days to recover before we leave.
Val and I went for a boat trip this morning
(ironic or what!) to St Mawes at the other side of the river Fal from Falmouth.
It’s a very picturesque, old-world fishing harbour overlooked by one of Henry
VIII’s best-preserved coastal artillery fortresses.
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| St Mawes |
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| St Mawes Castle |
We are back on board now with the wind
whistling through the rigging; our hippo rolling nicely as we start to plan our
next few days in Falmouth.
