Yesterday we finally got underway from the boatyard at Varadoiro do Xufre. It seemed like we were welded to the pontoon. Lots of little issues raised their ugly heads, as they always do with boats and ships when you want to get underway and go somewhere.

We are missing the new life raft which is still at Xufre. The life raft was delivered with a misfitted mounting bracket. I had the company which sold me the life raft send me the correct mounting bracket, for which we waited two weeks. They sent the same bracket. Rather than waiting another two weeks the boatyard modified the bracket to fit properly but did not have the material to fasten it to the deck. We will need to pop back into Xufre to install the bracket and life raft.

Yesterday's sail was just right 10-15 kts for a majority of the day. Shan had the helm the entire time, with the exception of a few minutes leaving and entering port. At one point I suggested she steer a little to the left but was ignored. When I asked why, her explanation was that she did not want to slow down and if she turned left she certainly would slow. The need for speed!! At lunch time we heaved to in the middle of the Ría and ate our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. There was no one around to question what we were doing. Heaving to, for those who may not know, involved stopping the boat with all sails rigged and making no way, which North Star does quite nicely. We decided that as the wind died, we would make for the little port of Caramiñal which is just across the Ría from Xufre. Just after we arrived and we safely moored, the wind came back with a vengeance. I would say it is just the luck of the Irish, but....!

It was great to have North Star sailing again. Everything worked the way it was supposed to. Our call to the marina was ignored, which I found out later is normal for this area. We just headed for the visitor dock, where we saw a white bearded man in a red shirt waving his arms and pointing to a slip. North Star still does not behave when maneuvering in close quarters, especially with turns to the left, but we managed to dock safely. We will need to get out of here tomorrow and head back to Xufre to get the life raft, if possible, but more importantly, to have dinner with friends.

Our timing was a little off. Yesterday as a Sunday was the kick off to a series of summer festivals, fiestas, celebrating St. James. Fireworks, fireworks, and cannons. Loud music that played until midnight. Others from whom we heard said the music in other parts of the Ría played until 3AM! Today was very quiet, needless to say.