Highlights – the overview
We’re ready to leave Santander after our week’s stay, heading west. We’re off to San Vicente de la Baquera. As we sail out of the bay, we see Santander in the beautiful early morning sun.
There is a big but very easy swell from the North-West: we estimate the highest waves around 3m but they are very long (perhaps 50m or so) so they are just gentle hills of water that don’t bother us much. The only thing is, because the wind blows from the opposite side, it results in a choppy and restless sea. We roll heavily but we still enjoy the sailing!
We roll so heavily that one of our basil plants get’s launched from the rack. But Sher saves him from the floor and he survives! 🙂
We make it into the harbor without any problems and moored at one of the few open berths… It really is a small marina. The visitor pontoon, with only 1-2 spaces, is locked up for the season. It’s a lovely little spot, except at night when the stadium floodlights are glaring direction down on us… it seems like daylight and Wim covers the big window with dark plastic so we can sleep!
It’s a beautiful day and we have a walk around town in the morning, where Sher finds a salon to get her hair touched up and cut, and then in the afternoon, walk up to the 13-15th century castle and church.
After that, we take our electric scooters, Thelma and Louise, and ride up on the hill. Magnificent views! The pictures speak for themselves!
Saturday morning, Sher discovers the open market in the square and brings home loads of fresh fruits and vegetables in the morning. Then in the afternoon, the autopilot needs some attention as it had started making a ticking sound. We need to empty out the lazarette/locker to get to it. A bolt has come out and needs to be replaced. Read more about the details, if interested, in The Captain’s Log below.
Sunday is rainy, but we are snug and warm in our lovely floating home with heat. In the afternoon, another Dutch boat arrives with cruising friends we first met in Hondarribia. They join us on Dione IV for tea and biscuits, and a lovely chat.
The Captain’s Log (T+123, 124,… 127) – the complete story
October 23 – departing Santander westbound
When the sun rises, we depart from Santander marina. We were here for a week and we’ve really enjoyed our stay.
As we sail out of the bay, we see Santander in the beautiful early morning sun.
We pass the castles we saw on our way in and sail out to open sea.
There’s a lovely breeze from the East, around 15 knots (4 Bf). Because this wind blows along the shore there are no nasty land effects, and so it’s a nice and steady breeze. On this broad reach we have our Yankee and mizzen sail up. The main sail makes no sense as it takes the wind away from the Yankee. There is a big but very easy swell from the North-West: we estimate the highest waves around 3m but they are very long (perhaps 50m or so) so they are just gentle hills of water that don’t bother us much. The only thing is, because the wind blows from the opposite side, it results in a choppy and restless sea. We roll heavily but we still enjoy the sailing!
We enjoy the lovely green coast. This part of Spain is so beautiful!
We roll so heavily that one of our basil plants get’s launched from the rack. But Sher saves him from the floor and he survives! 🙂
Around noon, the wind is right from behind so we gibe the mizzen and put the spinnaker pole in the Yankee. Dione IV does 5-6 knots in this 12-16 knots wind. Lovely!
Around 3 o’clock, we approach San Vicente de la Barquera. We are a bit worried about the big swell breaking around the entrance but even though the swell breaks heavily on the beaches, rocks and breakwater, our course to the entrance is nice and quiet. Sure, we have these huge long waves on our beam but they don’t break. We keep a sharp eye out for white water but everything stays calm.
Once we’re inside the breakwater it’s very calm.
We’re in! It’s a really beautiful inlet. It’s low tide and sand banks have dried out. We carefully maneuver to the little marina.
Moored at one of the few berths… It really is a small marina. The visitor pontoon, with only 1-2 spaces, is locked up for the season.
Around us, sand banks are dried out. We are impressed about the beauty of this place!
October 24 – a walk around San Vicente de Baquera
The sun rises over the hills.
The sunrise is later every day: this is 0905h.
In the morning, we take a walk in this lovely little town.
Sher wants to make an appointment with a hairdresser and she can have the haircut immediately 🙂
In the meantime, Wim takes a walk in the area. It is a warm day!
There she is, seen from the fishing quay.
The river arm and bridge.
The backdrop are Los Picos de Europa. The highest peak is 2650m, sometimes snow covered.
After lunch, we take a longer walk around. There’s a 13th century castle but it’s closed for the winter season. And an ancient church, also closed. But lovely from the outside!
The view from the hill on which the church is built, is magnificent! Los Picos in the background.
After that, we take our electric scooters and take ride on the hill. Magnificent views! The pictures speak for themselves!
October 26 – Market day in the square!
There is a lovely open market on Saturday. Sher buys lots of fresh things: Tomatoes, oranges, dates, nuts, aubergines/eggplants. Delicious!
While we were sailing here, we heard a ticking noise from the autopilot drive. We had heard it before and then it seemed to have disappeared but now, we notice the same sound again. It appears to be there when a lot of force is applied to the rudder. That explains why we didn’t hear it in easy sailing conditions… Time to investigate it…
To get to the autopilot drive (which is mounted near de rudder shaft under the aft deck), we have to empty the lazarette/locker. That results in a cockpit full of stuff!
While Sher operates the autopilot with the Follow-Up handle, Wim has a look at the drive. Hmmm. It moves a little over the foundation. We have a look at the other side of the drive and have to empty the Aft Port cabin and Port rear cabinets for that. More stuff spread out over the boat 🙂
Then, it appears what’s wrong… one of the bolts is gone! It has worked itself loose and out, and it fell down in the bilge somewhere.
Oops. Wim realizes he’s made a sloppy mistake: when he mounted the overhauled drive last winter, the thread of the bolt was damaged and the securing nut didn’t fit on it anymore. So, he omitted the nut… That’s why the bolt worked itself out…
Here’s the replacement for the lost bolt.
Mount it again, after cleaning the the tread with a thread tap, not to damage the bolt again..
And secure it with a nut.
After that, we try the autopilot and the drive is solid as a rock!
Problem solved, put all stuff back in the after cabin and lazarette and half a day has passed 🙂
Oct 27 – Cruising friends come for a visit
Sunday is rainy, but we are snug and warm in our lovely floating home with heat. In the afternoon, another Dutch boat arrives with cruising friends we first met in Hondarribia. They join us on Dione IV for tea and biscuits, and a lovely chat.
Leave a Reply