Orcas nearby.

[john_morris_uk]

We are currently motoring down Spanish Portuguese coast. We left Baiona earlier today and as we exited the Vigo Ria we heard reports on the radio of an attack by Orcas 25 miles to the south-west of Vigo. A bit close for comfort. It appears that the boat is making its own way into the garage so can’t be damaged too much. In case anybody calls me up over the term attack, I’m quoting what the Spanish Coast Guard said.
We’re keeping close inshore and a sharp lookout.

 

[capnsensible]

Depending on the season an inshore route may also have 11 billion pot markers to look out for too....

Fair winds!

 

[mainsail1]

Sadly, a case of pot luck!............ on both counts.

 

[john_morris_uk]

We’re fed up with motoring and pot buoy spotting and we’re going to call into Viano do Cortelo for the night. We’ve also got to investigate a sudden influx of fresh water into the bilge. I did wonder about how much water the crew were using when they took showers! Turns out my suspicions were unfounded and we’ve got a leak somewhere.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Depending on the season an inshore route may also have 11 billion pot markers to look out for too....

Fair winds!

Another reason why we’re discouraged from night sailing down this bit of coast….

 

[Goldie]

We’re fed up with motoring and pot buoy spotting and we’re going to call into Viano do Cortelo for the night.

A rather pleasant place to spend a day if you can spare the time. Hope the leak is an easy fix.

 

[mainsail1]

Another reason why we’re discouraged from night sailing down this bit of coast….

Yes but I think you will find there have been no Orca attacks at night so it may be a good time to transit a few miles offshore. We did, and no Orca problems.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Not what I’d heard. But if true that’s a possibility.

 

[Goldie]

Another reason why we’re discouraged from night sailing down this bit of coast….

A few years ago, I’d have agreed. In recent years though, we noticed far fewer pots than previously and outside the 100m contour, very very few.

 

[Uricanejack]

I get great pleasure out of seeing Orcas.
None have ever attacked though. I did have a large bull come right under our 17ft runabout while I was hauling down rigger.
Im sure he was twice the length of our boat and his dorsal missed by inches. I think sometimes the my enjoy looking at us.
Though the whale harassment flotillas must be a bit of an annoyance for the resident JPod.
It is a very strange behaviour by these Orcas off the Spanish coast. Can’t be a hunting technique. I’ve not heard of them attacking a person yet.
The transients here, hunt marine mammals and it can be quite traumatic if you see them in action. Never heard of an attack on people though.

 

[john_morris_uk]

A rather pleasant place to spend a day if you can spare the time. Hope the leak is an easy fix.

We’ve been extremely pleasantly surprised by the place. First of all the Marina couldn’t have been more welcoming and helpful. Secondly our meal ashore was perfect. Nothing posh, just a simple menu with local wine etc (I had goat)
We have now got to decide whether to get up early to walk up to the cathedral on the hill while it’s still coolish or empty the cockpit locker to chase down the water leak. Decisions decisions.

 

[john_morris_uk]

A few years ago, I’d have agreed. In recent years though, we noticed far fewer pots than previously and outside the 100m contour, very very few.

We’ve been WELL inside the 50 metre and mostly in the 10-20 metre contours much of the time. There have been nowhere near the thousands of pot bouys that I’ve been told are planted So far …..

 

[Wansworth]

We’ve been extremely pleasantly surprised by the place. First of all the Marina couldn’t have been more welcoming and helpful. Secondly our meal ashore was perfect. Nothing posh, just a simple menu with local wine etc (I had goat)
We have now got to decide whether to get up early to walk up to the cathedral on the hill while it’s still coolish or empty the cockpit locker to chase down the water leak. Decisions decisions.

Once you have “done” the Caribeean you must find time to spend on the coast of northern Spain andPortugal

 

[geem]

Once you have “done” the Caribeean you must find time to spend on the coast of northern Spain andPortugal

That might take a while. The Caribbean is a large cruising ground. Windward and leewards is 25 countries. Then there is Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Panama, Guatemala, Colombia, to name just a few. We still haven't explored all of it after 8 years

 

[Mistroma]

We’ve been extremely pleasantly surprised by the place. First of all the Marina couldn’t have been more welcoming and helpful. Secondly our meal ashore was perfect. Nothing posh, just a simple menu with local wine etc (I had goat)
We have now got to decide whether to get up early to walk up to the cathedral on the hill while it’s still coolish or empty the cockpit locker to chase down the water leak. Decisions decisions.

We stopped in Viano do Castelo a few times several years ago. It was a pleasant stop and worth a walk to the cathedral as you say. I vaguely remember that it was a surprisingly new building, I'd expected something fairly ancient. A visit to the hospital ship was also interesting, I think that it is still there as a museum / tourist attraction.

 

[Wansworth]

That might take a while. The Caribbean is a large cruising ground. Windward and leewards is 25 countries. Then there is Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Panama, Guatemala, Colombia, to name just a few. We still haven't explored all of it after 8 years
[/QUOTE

Yes indeed I have been living in Galicia 30 years and still have much to learn.

 

[Beneteau381]

We are currently motoring down Spanish Portuguese coast. We left Baiona earlier today and as we exited the Vigo Ria we heard reports on the radio of an attack by Orcas 25 miles to the south-west of Vigo. A bit close for comfort. It appears that the boat is making its own way into the garage so can’t be damaged too much. In case anybody calls me up over the term attack, I’m quoting what the Spanish Coast Guard said.
We’re keeping close inshore and a sharp lookout.

My Spanish friends are all carrying these and report of their use by Spanish fishermen, allegedly easily obtainable in Spanish towns, not illegal. Used in much the same way to defend people in remote areas from bears and the like.

 

[john_morris_uk]

My Spanish friends are all carrying these and report of their use by Spanish fishermen, allegedly easily obtainable in Spanish towns, not illegal. Used in much the same way to defend people in remote areas from bears and the like.View attachment 143132

Do they still go bang when underwater? Do they float or need to be weighted to sink?

(Asking for a friend)

 

[Goldie]

Do they still go bang when underwater? Do they float or need to be weighted to sink?

(Asking for a friend)

You may tell your friend that having enquired from a local dive charter boat about their diver recall signals, they advised taping a bolt or similar to the device which is what they do on the Thunderflashes that they use. If I was to have similar I think about 2 or 3 inches of rebar would do nicely and yes, I’m told they do work in the water. Not that it helps you at the moment, but in U.K. these Thunderflashes (not the ‘military grade’ ones) can be bought easily online as they are used by paint ballers and wargamers to simulate grenades - cost was about £3 each when I enquired. All hypothetically of course…

 

[sailaboutvic]

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