Motoring - calms seas & zero wind. Was running the engine harder than usual (3200 rpm, max is 3600). I was 15 nm off Portugal.

When I called a pan-pan, Lisboa advised me to make top speed east, but I ended up ignoring them. Indigo can’t outrun Orcas! Once I cut engine & all sound/light, they left.

We’re pressing on to the Pillars of Hercules today.

It’s taken three longish night passages to get around Cape St. Vincent and to Cape Trafalgar. The sunsets have been just compensation.

Last night’s passage from Faro was a delight - a consistent close reach in 15 kts. Indigo averaged 5.6 kts & made the 75 nm crossing in 13h. I even got some sleep.

Hey Sammy! Soon as I can! Probably there by January at this rate…

They left after I lashed the rudder still & cut all lights & noise. Be a boring toy was the idea. Felt like Lenny’s 🐇

Made for Sines, docked there. Must repair a snapped autopilot mounting bracket. Some scrapes, but no structural damage.

They’ve done worse - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberian...

Went via Irish Sea / Isle of Man - so technically just around Great Britain.

Plan is Greece by winter. The west coast of Africa is intriguing, though 🤔

Actually a light fog at the head of the Ría. These Galician rías are not actually river estuaries, but rather steep and flooded mountain valleys. They’re (highly eroded) fjords! And they seem to catch a lot of fog on overcast and humid days.

We’re sailing out of the Ría de Vigo, making 4 knots in 9 off the port quarter (& the last of the ebb). Bound for Baiona.

Tomorrow the wind will run northerly for just long enough to make at least 140nm on an overnight/offshore passage south. I’m due at the Rock in a dozen days!

⛵️ #sailing

Yes! Local to Cornwall. I just finished the 12 pack I picked up :)

Anchored dropped in the Ría Camariñas. An 80 hour passage.

We hosted a tired songbird for the last 40 of those - from the middle of Biscay to Spain. He was chill. Made sure to include him at mealtime.

Left Indigo on the Aulne while in the campagne.

Today we’re back up the river and to Brest to prep for a crossing to Galicia with Wednesday’s weather window. Without having planned it, Indigo & I are touring all the Celtic peninsulae ☘️