Portugese Trades
16 July 2008 | 41 04'N 010 18'W (75nm west of Opporto)
NNE 18-25kts, clear sky, unlimited vis, 1022 & steady
After that relaxing 'mill pond' crossing of La Biscay, on Monday evening the promised North Easterly filled in and Viente started to fly 'Wing & Wing'. Then approaching the NW Coast of Spain things got a bit hairy with gale force northeasterlies and big seas hitting the boat - what am I doing out here!! But she rode the seas magnificently; the clear skies and great visibility helped; the 38 knot winds lasted for about seven hours, with the subsequent 25 kts seeming quite calm.
Commercial shipping: I was quite unprepared for the dense amount of shipping converging on NW Spain and along the Penninsular to P Peniche; big gaggles of mighty ships and Traffic Separation Zones to navigate around (not easy running before gales).
Crossing Biscay, the forecasts were for good Portugese Trades; so far they have not disappointed; we are running well reefed at 8-9kts before 25kts of wind - magic! Alls well on board.