Cabo Finisterre

[john_morris_uk]

For anyone who wonders what it looks like. 1000 EST this morning.

 

[john_morris_uk]

And the tip of the Finisterre peninsula from the south.

 

[[70521]]

You had a clearer view than us. The small island to the west disappeared in fog just after this was taken, the start of fog all the way to A Coruna.

 

[LadyInBed]

Around the headland

 

[john_morris_uk]

We’re heading for Ria de Arosa and Puerto Uxia da Ribeira. A few rocks to negotiate en route. In the finest tradition what little wind there is, is dead on the nose. At least the batteries will be well charge and we’ll have loads of hot water.

 

[dunedin]

For anyone who wonders what it looks like. 1000 EST this morning.
View attachment 142189

Nice colourful anchor

 

[john_morris_uk]

Nice colourful anchor

It’s not let us down yet. (There’s 40 metres of 10mm chain stowed behind it linked to another 50 metres of the same lower down and slightly further aft. )

 

[Blueboatman]

Hooray
You got away
Enjoy the day ?

 

[Wansworth]

Your lucky with the weather?

 

[john_morris_uk]

Your lucky with the weather?

We’re being very picky. No rush. Stay in port if necessary..

 

[capnsensible]

We’re being very picky. No rush. Stay in port if necessary..

I reckon your choice to get round there early today was spot on!

 

[john_morris_uk]

I reckon your choice to get round there early today was spot on!

Sometimes one makes good choices. (Just enough times to make up for all the dodgy ones…)

 

[Uricanejack]

Nice picture,
A Cape I passed many times. I don’t remember ever seeing, passed at night, bad weather or more often in fog, often stayed well offshore to avoid fog and traffic
I have seen the light and it’s loom from well offshore . It’s a nice big one. Ideal for a dipping range.

Looks like your having a great trip.

 

[andsarkit]

A few years ago now.

As we rounded the cape the wind went from a gentle force 2 northerly to a force 6 blowing down the cliff. We needed a hurried dowsing of the spinnaker as we hit hull speed.

 

[Bajansailor]

It’s not let us down yet. (There’s 40 metres of 10mm chain stowed behind it linked to another 50 metres of the same lower down and slightly further aft. )

That is an interesting arrangement - is the 50 metre section in a totally different compartment, or all in the same compartment with a divider, or something else?

I've been around Cabo Finisterre three times, all many years ago now - the first time we got pushed east of the rhum line and then had to beat our way around the Cape. Second time was a flat calm while motoring, and on the third we were hove to (in November '94....) in a gale 40 miles outside the shipping lane, and narrowly avoided being run down by a Chinese bulk carrier - their bow wave literally pushed us clear.

 

[Bajansailor]

A few years ago now.
View attachment 142258
As we rounded the cape the wind went from a gentle force 2 northerly to a force 6 blowing down the cliff. We needed a hurried dowsing of the spinnaker as we hit hull speed.

Your companionway looks very Van de Stadt - is she a Pioneer, or perhaps a Contessa 26?

 

[john_morris_uk]

That is an interesting arrangement - is the 50 metre section in a totally different compartment, or all in the same compartment with a divider, or something else?

I've been around Cabo Finisterre three times, all many years ago now - the first time we got pushed east of the rhum line and then had to beat our way around the Cape. Second time was a flat calm while motoring, and on the third we were hove to (in November '94....) in a gale 40 miles outside the shipping lane, and narrowly avoided being run down by a Chinese bulk carrier - their bow wave literally pushed us clear.

I’ve glassed in a pipe from the chain locker that’s right in the bow back to a space below one of the ‘V Berths’ in the f’wd cabin. The 90 m of chain is in one long unit and is available if needed, but it’s too long to self stow in the chain locker in the bow. You have to have a crew member pushing the pile over periodically as the pyramid it forms blocks the hawse pipe. I tried cones etc in the locker under the fall but nothing worked)

My modification of a pipe to stow part of the chain in a separate compartment also brings the weight down and aft slightly.
The extra 50 metres doesn’t self stow, but 40 metres of chain is enough for most anchorages we use.

 

[andsarkit]

Your companionway looks very Van de Stadt - is she a Pioneer, or perhaps a Contessa 26?

A Contessa 26. My first offshore voyage. I still have the same boat 42 years later .

 

[john_morris_uk]

A Contessa 26. My first offshore voyage. I still have the same boat 42 years later .

Very capable boats but with a reputation of going to windward like a submarine!

 

[laika]

You have to have a crew member pushing the pile over periodically as the pyramid it forms blocks the hawse pipe. I tried cones etc in the locker under the fall but nothing worked)

Having the same chain locker as you and 70m of 10mm we found the same thing. My proposed solution was going to be changing windless and moving to slippery new high strength 8mm but given that 50m is about the max I’ve ever deployed and that maybe once or twice this seems a good idea. Is the end of the chain now anchored in the v berth locker?