The Iberian peninsula's nose is getting up mine.

[BlueSkyNick]

The Iberian peninsula\'s nose is getting up mine.

The original plan was to leave Lisbon early on Sunday to get round Cabo Raso and Roca - they are the two western most tips of Europe. Looking at Spain and Portugal together, Portugal is the side of the face and the two headlands form the tip of the nose.

The forecast was for 6's and 7's so we just moved across to Cascais to be closer to the tip - very good marina and shops around ..... for 50Euro per night.

During Sunday evening we had 25knots across the boat in the marina. By dawn it was down to 3 knots. QUick check of the gribs and were looking at 10knots northerly down the tip - that's tolerable so off we set in flat calm.

Its only 5 miles to the west - clear of the land. 22knots on the nose gusting about 27. Sea state rough, kept on going by heading directly into the waves - but SWMBO very unimpressed.

I recalled advice given to my by Zefender that the wind catches as as you clear the headland - but I wasnt expecting a forecast F3 to be F7 !!

Then the mist came rolling in and it was clearly time to turn back. A reasonable broad reach, back into the lee of the land and we are now anchored in the bay of Cascais with 2knots of wind !!

Ah well, will replan to give it another go tomorrow, or failing that Wednesday - pass me another cold beer someone. Time to get the sardines onto the barbie.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: The Iberian peninsula\'s nose is getting up mine.

I've got a mate who's done this trip more times than several. Now, when he leaves Portugal, he just keeps going west for a day or two, then northwest, and doesn't start heading for the Western Approaches until he's well out in the Atlantic. Before adopting this strategy he tried the coastal route a coupla times, and got well and truly dusted.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Re: The Iberian peninsula\'s nose is getting up mine.

[ QUOTE ]
Ah well, will replan to give it another go tomorrow, or failing that Wednesday - pass me another cold beer someone. Time to get the sardines onto the barbie.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah well, looks like the only real incentive to get around then will be when the beer runs out!

 

[HenryB]

Re: The Iberian peninsula\'s nose is getting up mine.

I don't know what Gribs you are looking at but the ones that I have just downloaded show strong northerlies until Wednesday, then you should have light variable, going SW up until Sunday.
I made the same trip this time last year and found that it was easier to leave ports late in the evening when the sea breeze died away, then get into the next port by midday.
All the best,
Henry

 

[tome]

Re: The Iberian peninsula\'s nose is getting up mine.

I've heard of people heading half way to Azores before heading North...

 

[Guest]

Re: The Iberian peninsula\'s nose is getting up mine.

Patience. The problem is that the land generated low of the Iberian Peninsula's normally is complemented with a Azores high. Both together they for a good Northerly. Also the mountain ranges going out to the coast do not help, as you found at Cabo Rosa.

So wait until Wednesday/Thursday/Friday. The High goes for its holidays to Scotland/Norway and the Azores gets a low pressure system that they say is slow moving. This will give a low pressure area extending from the Azores to North Spain. That's your best hope but it might mean no visibility at all. Also keep a good look out for how that low moves; the predictions are all different.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Re: The Iberian peninsula\'s nose is getting up mine.

Thanks for the advice from all.

we are staying in Cascais until Wednesday anyway, partly because of the forecast and also because we've had another problem today.

SWMBO and I went ashore for shopping leaving crew on board. We returned to see our boat entangled with a 50ft fishing boat, apparently as we had swung round when the wind picked up quickly.

The outcome is that half the pushpit is now in a workshop waiting to be bent back into shape tomorrow.

Entirely my fault for not doing sufficient sums on swinging circles - even though the fishing boat wasnt there when we anchored - just a very small mooring boy.

So now we are back in the marina for the next 36hours /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

At least the wind should be more favourable as SolarNeil points out.

 

[rwoofer]

Re: The Iberian peninsula\'s nose is getting up mine.

Sorry to hear about the pushpit.

You did very well to get that off quickly. Took me ages to figure out how to do it on Hana (the front post was the problem because the stanchion had stuck in the holder)

We've done some fairly extended bit of pushing into wind and big waves and the M44 really does take it in its stride, although it took us a bit longer than you have had to build up to it and gain confidence in the boat.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: The Iberian peninsula\'s nose is getting up mine.

>just a very small mooring boy.<

Well, it beats working in McDonalds.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Re: The Iberian peninsula\'s nose is getting up mine.

Winds off the headlands are often accelerated by a force or two compared to a mile or three off shore on this coast.

For northbound strategies, see my web site. Sailing tab. Click on the map for the area you want info on.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Re: The Iberian peninsula\'s nose is getting up mine.

thanks Jim, I have been looking at your website during the winter in preparation for this trip - very helpful. I also have print outs of your info re the various ports of call which I am reading in conjunction with the Pilot books.

I guess I just tried my luck on day too soon on Monday morning and it has cost me two days, but hey, that's passage making for you.

We are now 10miles off the coast heading for Porto by Thursday morning, or Bayona by evening.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Re: The Iberian peninsula\'s nose is getting up mine.

Ahhh. Don't miss Taylor's port lodge!