What a so and so this trip down to Gibraltar has turned out to be.

We have had to motor 80% of the time because of headwinds.  Sitting out
gales in Camaret for 2 days. Sitting out storms again in Benodet 5 more
days.  Then halfway across Biscay the boom came away from the mast.

We had to get the sail off her with the boom  thrashing around, we managed
to lash it midship.  We got the sail off and supported the boom with the
main halyard and lashed it again midships.
Fortunately for us all this happened in light airs, otherwise there might
have been much damage and possible injury to crew.  It took two and a half
hours to sort out and get back on course, now we had no sail the wind piped
up on our port quarter. We could have sailed at 10 knots instead we had to
continue motoring.

We had a three and a half day stay in Bayona repairing the boom and sitting
out another storm before leaving again for Gib.

But at last we have arrived (Thursday October 18th at 19.00hrs) We were
rewarded for our patience by a great sail the last 30 hours in glorious
sunshine and starlit skies.

Regards Brian

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Brian's Travels Index