Peniche and Berlengas, 20 - 22 September

Porto to Peniche is a 116 nautical mile ride along the coast of Portugal. No much shelter along the way, at least practicable at night. This coast is called the "European pipeline" in relation with the best surf breaks that can be found in European waters. Any surfer would know Supertubos and Nazaré, the best world class spots along this coast for surfing.

For the first time in this journey we are able to get the Code 0 out for most part of the night, making a big difference in term of speed in these light winds. But the winds did not allow Belisama to be surfing on super tubes.

Peniche fort.

Baiona to Porto, 17 September

We reached Porto Douro Marina around 18:00 Saturday evening to find it full in relation with regattas organised this weekend. After asking if we could stay overnight on the service peer, one spot was finally identified for us, with a view on the Douro bridge! Nice to have a spot in such a city.

Moored at the Douro Marina

On the track of La Pinta in Baiona, 14 -16 September 2022

We made it to Baiona, along the Galician cost, 193,411 days after La Pinta made it. La Pinta was one of the three boats of the first expedition of Chistophorus Columbus (as they call it here) that departed from Southern Spain on 3rd August 1492. It was the first one to make the return journey in March 1493, reaching Baiona and bringing back the news of the success of the expedition!

La Pinta on the main beach of Baiona these days, with the welcome committee, I mean our welcome committee.

But this was just the start of the story, as it seems that Martín Alonso Pinzón, the captain of the Pinta made it to the Americas couple of years before this expedition with Chritophorus Columbus...

A Coruña to Muros, 11-12 September 2022

On the picture below, I summarise our ride from Rochefort to Muros. As you can see, on the way from Rochefort to A Coruña, we had to divert when we encountered the tail of Danielle and the wind shifted northwest driven by a tropical hurricane going across the North Atlantic. When we reached the coast, a head wind of 30 knots and the swell were so high that we had to use the engine to support our move towards Burela. 

A most welcome stopover in A Coruña, 7-11 September

We depart 7:00 in the morning for a day ride from Burela to A Coruña. Nice weather expected, but very low head winds requiring using the engine all the way in order not to arrive at night.

Fishermen getting at sea at 6:30 in Burela, picture by Stéphane Lucchini

Burela, the unexpected stopover, 5-7 September 2022

Belisama in Burela harbour

One could most probably only end-up in Burela to escape some sort of storm as we tried to escape when we ended-up in this fishing boat harbour. Zero place for visiting ships, and only a rough outside jetty to moor on. But most welcome in any case given the weather forecast in the aftermath of the Danielle tropical hurricane!

Gulf of Biscaye, faithful to its reputation, 3-6 September 2022

The Gulf of Biscaye has a reputation and is intimidating for any sailor who considers going through. Rochefort to A Coruña is a 370 nautical miles ride. In early September in 2022, the weather has switched already to autumn, with depressions emerging from south-west Atlantic and heading north-east through the Atlantic. "Danielle" its on her way, as is named the tropical hurricane announced. We had just left Rochefort when we heard about her...

Rising sun in the Biscaye Gulf