Lord Nelson changed her crew yesterday and Val and I have since been enjoying the sights (and ice cream) of A Coruña. The Spanish rise late, have lunch around 2pm and eat out as a family anytime between 9pm and midnight. We've got lunch cracked as each bar provide complimentary tapas with each pint! Last night we had our best meal so far (Val had mixed feeling over the octopus and sardines) as we found a great paella restaurant. Flying home tomorrow so our last action of the trip was to enjoy the parade of sail from the Torre de Hercules. The ships looked a beautiful sight as they sailed out into the bay.
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We had some good sailing in the bay these last two days and it is with mixed emotions that we arrived in A Coruna. Sad because there will be no more sailing for a while. Pleased that I will see Val in just a few hours. A Coruna is an excellent host port and bustling with tourists who have come to see the Tall Ships. Last night we had our second and last crew meal which went really well with a few drinks in the afternoon to start off, aperetifs just before going out to the restaurant and a couple of nightcaps to finish off the evening. Breakfast was left till 9 so a relaxing day after we had completed our happy hour of cleaning decks. I´m off to the airport now (probably via the ice cream shop) to surprise Val and get her to the hotel. Tomorrow is a busy day. More cleaning, deck tours all afternoon and then the crew parade, prizegiving, and the crew party.
Well we won our race past Finisterre and got through before the predicted gale force winds. We sheltered at anchor off Ares and abou 4 miles from A Coruña. Today, as promised, Cap Barbara has taken us out into the Bay of Biscay. We sailed straight off the anchor and hoisted topsails and t'gallants on each mast which worked well with for and aft supporting. A couple of turns and we will head back to our anchorage. Bit too squally for a mast climb today but plenty of opportunity to harbour stow sails in the morning before we arrive in A Coruña around lunchtime.
... In the crew party conga! Ilhavo laid on a great party last night and Super Maureen led all 10 ships in a conga around the dance floor ably supported by long time JST voyager Sean. Today we are heading north hoping to get past Finisterre before the predicted gale force wins hit us full on. A race against time!
OK. This lady deserves a special mention. She is the oldest on my watch (me included) but that did not deter her from a mast climb. Here she is getting a special hand from deck officer Sean as she beetles up the rat lines. Later she came paint balling with us - well, as a spectator anyway! That said, wheelchair user Mizkav did turn out to have some exceptional skills in that area! I'm on mess duty now. Quite light duties today as our hosts are throwing a crew party tonight but an early start to prepare breakfasts tomorrow before we sail north again.
Last night we took time out from our daily routine and went out as a watch for a meal in a local restaurant. No mean achievement in Portugal where apparently 'disabled friendly' applies even though the loos are up 18 steps. Never mind, we managed. And the food and service was spectacular. I was introduced to sardines (now a favourite) before going for my all time favourite- paella. Pictured clockwise from behind the camera is me (you know what I look like) Jay, Carrie, Jayne, Mizlav, Maureen, Colin, Lisa and Will.
Ilhava is very proud of their new ocean quay and have invited a number of ships in to join their maritime and sea food festival. There are sports, concerts , parties and other entertainment laid up all weekend though sadly I was tied up with boat tours this afternoon and a 4am harbour watch tomorrow. Should get tomorrow off at least!
OK we really need yo start heading north now otherwise we will likely miss our own party! The sails have been handed and we are now motoring north toward our first port of call Ilhavo where they have set up a sea festival this weekend to celebrate their shiny new ocean quay. We have fore and aft sails to help stability and helming skills on Aft Port Watch are coming along nicely. I've got a great watch. All enthusiastic and mixed ages and abilities so we're settling in well. Good to be at sea though. The high temperatures are made bearable by a light wind. Night watches are less comfortable with damp and mist descending around 3am but before then the night skies are spectacular under the new moon
We had a great send off from Cadiz. Only a dozen or so vessels left for race 3 - a 48 hour sprint before we cruise in company to A Coruña. Sailing NW proved impossible so in traditional JST fashion we hoisted the sails and went off in the only direction we could; south west toward Morocco. It's early days o know but I've a feeling we're not going to win this race. We're going to have fun though!
A bit of a bonus last night - we did manage to get into town for a quick beer and climbed the cathedral tower to enjoy the spectacular views over the City. Training this morning. Slip lines around 1400. Parade of sail 1600 and then a quick 48 hour race 3 before cruising in company to A Coruña. Expect a couple of pit stops along the way!
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Andy MilnerFormer Local Government Officer fighting the inevitability of old age by taking to the sea. There's no rewind button on life so you've got to to take the chances that come your way. Archives
August 2016
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