Crossing Biscay. Day 1 Saturday June 8th-> Sunday.

As we left the marina and rounded Battery Point, it quickly became clear that the initial winds were far from favourable.  Force 6 WSW set against a fast ebbing Severn Estuary tide, made the sea bouncy, and determined that we would need to motor-sail for probably the next 12 hours, as we first tacked into the wind, and later in the afternoon we would fight the incoming tide.  We quickly deployed safety harnesses in the cockpit, and each strapped on.

Bones noticed that the pin on the shackle holding the mainsail outhaul block to the boom traveller had worked loose.  Clearly this was one I’d forgotten to seize (lock) with wire.  Thankfully, he was able to tighten it with pliers without leaving the cockpit, whilst the boat was bouncing around.

As we passed Flat Holm at noon, we realised we would need to reef the mainsail at some point, but noticed that a kink had appeared in the mainsail luff near the foot of the sail, a feature that may well prevent the sail from furling properly into the mast.  This was undoubtedly caused by a small slippage of the main halyard in the rope clutch, and would require someone to clamber on deck, tighten the halyard, and secure it additionally around a cleat.  But the sea remained dangerously lumpy, wind against tide creating short sharp waves.  Anna suggested sailing into the lee of Barry docks, where, thankfully, we were able to find calmer water, and Bones knelt securely at the mast and rectified matters.

By early evening, we’d logged fifty miles, the wind had eased to a 4/5 and had veered to WNW.  After nine hours of motor sailing, we approached Ilfracombe and Bull point, and were able to rest the iron sail, and let the wind take the strain.  Things could only get better.  The wind eased further to 3 / 4 and we shook out the reefs and raced along under full sails.

By midnight we passed Hartland point and were able to change course a little more to port and off the wind.  The sea remained lumpy during the night, and Anna fed the fish.  But the wind direction remained a helpfully constant WNW, sometimes strengthening, such that we put two reefs in the genoa, and then later easing, so we could furl them out again.

After 24 hours we passed St Ives, with Cape Cornwall and Lands End ahead, and all was well on board.

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