In the Bay of Beasties

Position @ 1300 hrs Monday 21st September, 46*12’.27N 007*43’N

Even though we knew we had some head winds on the forecast for Sunday, nevertheless, beating up the Bay against 14 - 17 knots of breeze in the pitch black is no picnic, and again all the crew have had to draw on personal reserve not to get demoralised by the cold wet dark conditions for many hours on end. This of course has slowed our progress, for although we have endeavoured to make the boat go as quickly as possible, quite alot of the time, its not quite in the right direction!!

As is always the case, sailing the boat alone in the dark, one constantly questions whether the other tack would be just a bit more favourable, giving a better heading towards the destination. You look for little signs of a wind shift which could be a permanent improvement - and after an hour or so - you are sure that it would be better on the other tack, rather than heading for La Rochelle. So in the dark, you make the tack, trying not to get unseen hazards tangled in the flying sheets, like binoculars, torches, empty coffee cups, or worse your own safety line.

With the tack made, you get Infanta settled on her new tack - and lo and behold - there wasn’t really a wind shift, and as you sail along you feel she is being headed off all the time. Yes the wind HAS shifted, back to where it was, and some, and we are all now heading out into mid Atlantic. And so the frustrations of headwinds persist

So as the crow flies, we have covered some 260 miles from Vigo

The forecast we set out with said that on monday we would be in the centre of a high pressure, with very little wind - correct (and its hot sunshine) the forecast goes on to say that we will then experience some SW winds - lets hope so, otherwise it will be a case of Brest is Best.

So 9if you happen to see any SW winds when you are out and about, do please tell them to find Infanta.

Thank you

Tim