capnsensible
Well-Known Member
Left Cadiz bound for Ceuta 0500 thursday morning, forecast of freshening westerlies and occasional showers. Fell in company with a catamaran on delivery that we had previously seen in Rota, good excuse for a bit of sail trimming! After rounding Trafalgar, spot on cue for the tide, another yacht popped out of Barbatte, a boat we had been moored next to in Cadiz a few days before.
Could see squally stuff building astern, was running under headsail only. Wind, typically in front of a squall died away, so on goes engine, boat (unusually for me) with no sail up. Anyway, the squalls duly overtook us, mother of all rainfall (nice clean yacht) and big bangs and flashes just in front of us, congratulate selves on very near miss. Squall turns to general yuk with heavy airs, so its out headsail again, rip across scheme south of Tarifa at 8 knots. Great shove from tide, actually got 35 knots true wind off Punta Ciris, Morocco side, 11 knots SOG! In Ceuta in time for tea and stckies.
The point? Well indeed, arriving back in Gib Friday, saw our ex neighbours. 'Did you see that lightning?' I asks......'Well actually it hit us, sparks everywhere and blew up the autopilot!!'
So thanks, shipmates, for taking one for the team and glad you are OK!!!
Could see squally stuff building astern, was running under headsail only. Wind, typically in front of a squall died away, so on goes engine, boat (unusually for me) with no sail up. Anyway, the squalls duly overtook us, mother of all rainfall (nice clean yacht) and big bangs and flashes just in front of us, congratulate selves on very near miss. Squall turns to general yuk with heavy airs, so its out headsail again, rip across scheme south of Tarifa at 8 knots. Great shove from tide, actually got 35 knots true wind off Punta Ciris, Morocco side, 11 knots SOG! In Ceuta in time for tea and stckies.
The point? Well indeed, arriving back in Gib Friday, saw our ex neighbours. 'Did you see that lightning?' I asks......'Well actually it hit us, sparks everywhere and blew up the autopilot!!'
So thanks, shipmates, for taking one for the team and glad you are OK!!!