Sunbird's Log

Tour Britannia

2010-09-17T07:35:00.001+01:00

Tour Britannia and my MX5 September 2010

Now Tour Britannia is for classic cars built before 1981 and the rally is a bit more of a concentrated mix of races and special stages [as fast as you can over a closed road], held over three days in North East England and Wales.

I only got in as I met Alec Poole in France as he was looking for entries at the French Tour Auto where I was to navigate for my brother. The long and the short was that Alec was prepared to try a new Targa class for modern cars and so it was that a racing Aston Martin Vantage and my racing MX5 entered the rally [the only two ion the Targa class]

The historic cars were truly magnificent. All much loved, but were owned to be driven intended as opposed to polished and wheeled out of the garage when there was no rain! They were driven well and hard. Amongst them was my brother Mark and Andre.

The first day was taken up with checking cars and papers and then at lunchtime we got away to a special stage at Aintree and then on to the racetrack at Oulton Park.

Day two was an early start and a full day. The first was a special stage in the Welsh hills. It was a very steep learning curve for us as we ground the underside of the car up this rocky track that even a land rover would slow down for. We were horrified!! Some modifications to the car were made by the track and we must make some of our own such as a skid plate underneath!!

Then on to Anglesea and the race track there which is again beside the sea and a very good track.. We were looking out for brother Mark as I was driving and did not want to passed more than once on the race track by him. We never saw him and wondered what had become of him.

The next special stage was much more fun, over 4 miles long, very scenic and very testing, The Great Orme at Llandudno which is a single track going around a great rock promontory. As we started the stage we saw the undamaged Cobra which was clearly out of the rally; so Mark and Andre were safe. Duncan drove brilliantly around the narrow track around the Great Orme and I have to admit I never thought that I would have to swim but it did wonder if we would meet the wall or cliff face!!

From then on we went to stately homes with drives that seemed to be more than a mile long with a stately home in the far distance, military training grounds and no more rocky farm tracks thank goodness. We did two runs on each stage and every time we got a faster time except when I was driving.

The last race was at the Mallory Park. We, in the Targa class, [the Aston Martin & I ] started 30 secs after the Competition class had left and I was immediately on my own,

but the car and I were going well and after 3 laps the 3.4 Jag was on the horizon.

We set off in pursuit and after a further lap we were closing fast.

Now I well remember our Weimeraners would always chase rabbits unsuccessfully for years, until one, Flora I think, actually caught up with the rabbit and was at a complete loss as to what to do next. At the time I laughed!

BUT that was me!! Duncan and Andre were screaming encouragement and just as well that I could not hear as it went to despair as I held on to his tail for 3 laps and then hesitated and declined to try to pass on a sharp hairpin.

Anyway relief came for them when I got the inside line on the long sweeping right hander and got away!!!

I was almost as fast as anyone on the corners and you would have drawn away on the bends, but the straights were a different matter.

It was a memorable rally and enormous fun

We will be racing the MX5 against exactly similar cars at Snetterton and at Croft and are entered into a two driver race at Brands Hatch under the team name of 'Carpe Diem' which you will know from you Latin [Horace and Ovid] means 'Seize the Day'

17^th September 2010

Austrian Tirol

2010-06-04T14:41:00.000+01:00

Austria

While the MoT group went North we set off South on motorways
following SatNav, a written route with a map as well.

The miles sped past and our eta was 430pm.

Then we left one motorway turning right for the next. The sat nav kept
saying do a 180 but we believed the instructions, which said turn
right, and we had. When you think about it there are not many Left
turns on a motorway on the Continent! We turned Right off the motorway
on to an over pass and straight up North at high speed. Some time
later I became restless, as it did not seem correct.

I could hear Marks voice saying 'I need to know where we are! What
towns are we looking for. What are we NOT looking for. Are we going N
S E or W?'

I could then hear my reply of 'I am doing my best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

We did our 180 and cruising speed increased from 80 to 90 and rose
steadily to the ton, 110 and for a while 120. Our eta was now 5.55pm
but we made it by 5.30.

The hotel is old world Austrian Tirol. Wooden beams, etc etc but
nice and welcoming. Ehrwald is a big village now, a long
way from the hamlet we knew in the 1950s when we came out as a family
to learn to ski. The nursery slope is still there but now there is a
ski lift all the way up the Ehrwalderarm, a little valley, which we as
kids used to walk up, eat out packed lunch and ski down.

We took the lift up and walked down in the drizzle and then went and
walked around the nearby lake again in drizzle conditions. Not much
view at the moment.

Still either drizzling or raining. So we went to see Ludwig II's
castle just over the border in Germany. I think that he must have been
quite mad as he spent a fortune in 1870 building a medieval castle on
a hill top that has little practical use [other than for the tourist
trade, but I don't think that he was thinking of that]. It is easy to
see where the plots of 'Prisoner of Zenda' and 'Chitty chitty bang
bang came from.

After a most charming evening in the hotel where we were entertained
by accordion, zither and Tyrolean songs we discovered on the following
day that we were to move on to the Dolomites we managed to get
everything into the half pint car and were on our way.

No navigational problems this time!!

The Nordschleiffe

2010-06-01T16:03:00.000+01:00

Nurburgring the Nordschleiffe

A baptism of fire asphalt, grease, rain and a swarm of bikers

We went with Mazda on the Track in a group of some 20 cars, mostly MX5s and a diverse bunch of enthusiasts.

On arrival at the ring we were twice fully briefed on the North Loop; it can be dangerous, extremely expensive and you can NOT learn the track in one or two days. 100 circuits before you can think of knowing it.

In short only drive at 80%, stay on the tarmac, concrete or even the paint. Avoid the barrier and the red mist at all costs and have fun and PLEASE go home in a car that is the same shape as it is now!!

One or two went on the track on the day of arrival but most of us rested after our elastic convoy across Europe.

The track was closed unexpectedly on the Saturday only opening at 1300hrs. we were there in good time and it eventually opened nearer to 1400!!

Tina had been resolute on NOT coming on to the track, but then relented if she went with an expert [Al]. Privately I told Al to go SLOW as my future depended upon it.

In the end she chose to die/come with me!!

I went moderately only, but could not go too slowly as that was dangerous due to other cars and the swarms of bikers. She was trying to brake all the while. I do not think that the metal in the foot well bent, but she did try.

Then we went again and this time she was more relaxed and I went faster but not on the limit of grip!!

I don't think that I frightened her too much.

The fast cars were extremely fast but stationary when compared to the bikers!!

So no sooner had we started on the Saturday when the track closed at 1530 hrs. Bad accident. Multiple pile up. 5 or 6 cars involved. Ambulances, cutting gear, 2 helicopters.

Then we learned that the lead car or 'cause of the pile up was a British car and a friend of MoT. His engine had blown as it went over the crest of the hill [at speed] and oils rose in the engine and bang. Rods through the side and oil on the track. The procession of following cars was estimated to be worth £800,000 and demolished. The police were investigating who was to blame. The track is a public German toll road. The track stayed closed all day.

Rain that night and many of us were ready for the track when it opened again on Sunday. I took a very nervous MX5 driver as a passenger as he had not driven on it yet. Still recovering from the pep talk!!

The track was particularly greasy and my speeds were 10 to 20 mph slower and my passenger could feel the car move. It was brilliant and no panic, Armco or barriers.

I then did the rest on my own and gradually the racing line dried out BUT still I never knew what was around the corner. Do you take the corner flat out or beware a 270 corner.

One of out party was sick going around!! Not nice.

The ring is 13.?? Mile around and some were timing themselves. However as one could not do continuous laps and had to come in each time – slowly I think they all timed themselves at the start and to advantage at the end!!

Later in the afternoon the track closed again as a car had done a circuit spewing oil. This time it was one of our team leaders who caressed the Armco at speed and ended up with 'trouble' on the back axle and work to do on the bodywork. He had 3 passengers in his RX8 and had time to give them a running commentary as they spun!!

The track opened again and I did the last of my laps resisting the urge to 'do one more and try a bit harder.'

So that was the Nordschlieffe. Great fun if you like that sort of thing

Well where was the paint – On the track loads of it some graffiti and some done by experts extolling the virtues of BMW etc. Mercedes, BMW, Aston Martin and even Nissan have test facilities here.

Lastly the fire was and excellent dinner we had at the pistonhaus a reknown hotel resteraunt where the steaks are served on a block of red hot lave, that stays hot for you to cook the steak as you like it. Very scenic and there was smoke everywhere and all fire alarms went off. Anyway an Aussie who had had too much beer fell asleep and nodded off on to the red hopt lava to the amusement of all. He woke up rather fast!!

The MoT group proceeded North and we turned South for Austria

Sunbird 2009

2009-05-16T06:27:00.001+01:00

Our plan is to sail in company with Barnacle Goose along the S Brittany
coast.

On board barnacle Goose will be Duncan, Huw Thomas and John John while on
Sunbird there will be Tina, I and John Norris.

The plan was/is to sail on Sunday but we will have to see what the weather
is doing as there is a lot of winf out ther at present.

may 16th 2009

May 15th 2009

2009-05-15T20:17:00.001+01:00

Sundbird

We aim to set sail on Sunday 17th May in the morning in company with
Barnacle Goose.

On board Sunbird will be Tina and I and John Norris who recently bought a
boat in the USA and sailed it back to the UK in a fairly eventful passage.

On Barnacle Goose will be Duncan John John and Huw Thomas, a co owner of
barnacle Goose

The destination is the Canal du Fore in order to go around the Brest
peninsular and on towards the Isles Glenan, Quiberon and Belle Isle

The winds are forecast to be from the South so we may well end up further
East, which might even be the Channel Islands.

May 15th.

Coming home

2008-08-01T06:29:00.000+01:00

Helford River, the Yealm and home

We collected JohnJohn from Brest airport on Sunday and then after an
abortive and expensive hunt for a life jacket gas cylinder left Camaret and
France for the UK. [ I could not find a spare cylinder and had to buy a new
life jacket that was expensive and not very nice!]

It was pretty clear that we were headed for home as we had rainy weather, it
was cold and I wore socks for almost the first time in two months and I
sorted out all my layers of warm clothes!!

Crossing the channel is not that difficult, it is 100 odd miles wide at our
end, which takes about 20 hours] and a bit shorter at the other but it has
one problem to be overcome. There is a motorway for big ships to be crossed.
The good news is that for safety [of the big ships are all regimented into
lanes like a road] but the bad news is that it is largely up to us little
fellows to avoid the big ships and there are no traffic lights, and the big
ships never stop or slow down. We little yachts travel at 3 to 6 knots
whereas the big fellows are going at 10 to over 20 knots. That means that
from the time that you see them they are on to you in less than 10 minutes,
I always think of it as walking across the M5 on a foggy day!!

We do have help Radar that enables you to see further than the eye can see
and AIS a new invention taken form the airline world whereby each big ship
broadcasts it position speed and direction. This enables us to see what
ships are coming our way when they are an hour away and even more important
still it will tell just how close they are going to get to us. [the
collision risk]

All that said we had an easy crossing and only had 2 ships that we had to
avoid.

We sailed into the Helford river at 7 am, tired but relieved to be back in
the UK even though it was raining!

After a day of rest and recover and lunch with my brother in a very charming
yacht club up a creek that no one knows about we set off back to Plymouth at
6am.

We had intended to stop off near Mevagissy where Matt is working but as the
wind was strong and from the South we kept going. Matt is working off the
beach and I had no wish to run aground! It was a superb sail back and we
travelled at maximum speed for us under sail all the time arriving at the
Yealm just after lunch where we met up with Duncan and Barnacle Goose.

Reflections
We motored for some 250 hours [10 days solid] and that is a long time
because there was little or no wind for most of the time in Spain and
France.

We visited over 40 ports, made a mess of parking only a few times! and
travelled almost 2000 miles,
we saw dolphins, a seal, sunfish and even swifts in mid channel returning to
S
Africa! met al lot of interesting friendly people, some remarkable others
admirable
but all [of all of every nation very friendly]
We saw little rain, until we returned to the UK!
We ate well, not always knowing what it was that we were eating! [especially
so in Spain]
The sun shone for most of the time.
The natives were friendly.
The trip was fun.

this the end [thank goodness!]

camaret

2008-07-25T17:26:00.000+01:00

Camaret

We sailed from Loctudy around the Penmarch peninsula which is a veritable
rock garden for 'miles' out to sea. We had a good sail around it until the
wind died on us.

Having set course for St Evette we decided to go on through the Raz. Our
timing was a little late by some 60 minutes but the winds were light and the
tides small so we joined a small flotilla, all doing the same.

The passage through the Raz was uneventful other than our speed over the
ground increased very dramatically and like a cork from a bottle we shot
through at 9k and went on to Camaret , on old tuna fishing port that is now
devoted to yotties.

So we are now in the inner harbour awaiting the arrival of our next crew
member JohnJohn.

We met up with one crew who had a broken gear box and had been waiting
anxiously for 'weeks' for a replacement to arrive. As I write it is en route
from Paris. They are off to a Celtic reunion in Lorient having travelled
down from Troon.

We also lent pilot books to a young [by our standards] couple on Nutmeg who
had taken a year off work and with their two girls of 2 and 4 were en route
for the Canaries and then the West Indies and then home to Shoreham [where I
did a lot of dinghy sailing] by end of June next year. Unlike another couple
we met in Bilbao they were in a proper yacht [a Nicholson 38] and kitted out
for what ever came upon them.

Following the experience of the couple who had a broken gear box caused by
lack of oil I decided to check the oil in my gear box. It took me some time
to undo the nut that gives access to the dip stick. Eventually I got it off
and as I checked the oil which was fine I noticed bent pipes and the water
pressure that had dropped off its position.

The fixings holding it were in my opinion flimsy and not knowing exactly
what to do I await a French engineer!!

The engineer is very willing but even more busy, so I had a look at the
problem and asked my neighbour for advice. He came over and fixed it and now
it is lashed up and should never break free again. So with some satisfaction
I cancelled the French engineer!

Speaking of sailing people we have met some very remarkable people. Really
oldies who make us look young, Young couples with children some on big boats
but others [French] on little ones with 3 kids and 2 dogs! And then one
'couple' who were living their dream that was closer to a nightmare. He knew
it all and clearly didn't, and their boat was not up to it. We left them
investigating overland transport to S Spain.

After we have met up with JohnJohn we will sail around the N Brittany coast
hopefully to the Channel Islands and then home.

Loctudy

2008-07-23T07:07:00.001+01:00

Loctudy

It is colder now. Colder at night and yesterday while at sea in the early
morning I thought about gloves, Tina had a blanket at last night! Anyway we
are at Loctudy now, next door to Le Pont de Abbey and the sun is shining.

We had a long sail up from Port Haliguen, we started at 5am as we knew that
we had some 60 miles to go [10 to 12 hours and could be longer!]; the wind
started off by being favourable but very weak and then backed to head us
again. By 4pm we were in and relieved to be so not that the journey was in
any was arduous.

The next stop is St Evette which is just before the Raz du Seine. This is a
narrow gap in a 20 mile line of rocks through which all the water from the
Channel races through to get to the bay of Biscay; when there it then rushes
back again. The 'gap' which is a misshaped channel less than 2 miles wide
and it is a place 'to get it right' and when you do it is no problem.
[Horror stories from those who did not!!]

Port Haliguen

2008-07-20T16:20:00.001+01:00

Port Hooligan to some Brits

While at La Roche Bernard we looked up Therese's house [brother Marks ex
wife] and could not find it. We found the street and the number 16 which was
a shop.
I called in and asked if she lived there. The answer was yes but she is not
here and no idea as to when she will come back. Also her house is behind the
shop via an alley.
I said do tell her that we called.

So duty done we retired to the cafe to battle with the internet,
[successfully for once].

On leaving the cafe who should I meet but Therese who had arrived just a
couple of hours ago, found the capitainarie, the boat and then us.
We ended up having a super meal at Treguier and I must remember to go back
there.

We left at 6am the next day to go to Port H. We motored down the river and
then hovered by the lock gates waiting for them to open. As the opening time
drew neared more and more boats appeared and as the gates opened we all
edged forward to be the first in the lock!!chaos french style. We all got in
and all was well.

Which ever way we were heading the wind was right on the nose so we motored
on to Port H and found an upwind slot.

We do have a problem in that in order to go into reverse the propellor hub
has to twist and it is not doing so for resistance by barnacles and
possibly lack of grease. The current aim is to lie up against a wall at
Camaret and sort it out.

La roche de Barnard

2008-07-17T18:20:00.001+01:00

La Roche Bernard

We left Redon the morning after delivering Esther and Olly to the airport. We or at least I had woken to the sound of a bow thruster [the noise is very distinctive] and we left soon after I had got the bread and a few provisions.

We needed to go through the swing bridge and really had no idea as to its opening times. Anyway we rang them on the VHF and to our delight he was opening in just 15 minutes. Actually the opening times are shown on a board below the bridge in small writing and obscured by grass and weeds!

It was then a gentle meander down river to Foleux, a delightful place with no more facilities other than a bar/café, and still no wifi or internet access.

It is however memorable for me at least because as I was loading one of the bikes on board my glasses fell into the water and were lost. This was however not a disaster for me as I always carry ‘thousands’ on board just in case this happens and for which I have been much criticised. I have always been mindful of the true reason that poor old Scott perished in the Antarctic. He had lost his glasses and gallant Oats then went to look for them but lost his own and then tragedy struck and they all perished. Scott had at the start insisted that no spares be carried to save weight. I have now doubled my stock!

We are now in La Roche Bernard and were allotted a space. All no problem except that the electric shore power did not work. I tried every thing to no avail and eventually undid all the connections to try to find the fault but could find none – all it required was for the marina to turn it on!!![there is a first time for everything!]

We aim to leave here on Saturday and will make our way back to Brest hopefully to meet up with the next crew member [JJ]. The plan is

Saturday 19^th to Port haluigen

Monday 21^st to Loctudy

Wednesday 23^rd to Audrienne

Friday 25^th to Camaret.

Redon

2008-07-17T10:45:00.001+01:00

We spent 2 days in Piriac during which we visited the local market and listened to a

concert in the local church where amongst other things they sang a Negro spiritual “swing low sweet chario” and being French they didn’t sound the t.

We were going to go out to the island of Huat [close to Belle Isle] but as the distance for the following day could be quite long and in case the weather deteriorated, and as the French holidays have now started, we went to the Island of Dumet instead and then a very pleasant sail up to the barrage on the Villaine river using the drifter only [a big light foresail]. Thinking that we could just catch the next lock gate we motored the last bit but we had to wait over an hour. Our pilot books do not always have up to date times.

The night was spent in La Roche Bernard and we left moderately early for Redon some 25 miles up river. All very attractive, a bit like the Thames only wider for the most part. The weather was baking hot. Again we were surprised by the timing of the opening of a road bridge but 1 hr. later we went through. We are right in the middle of Redon so easy to explore with the bikes.

Redon is a bit run down and not somewhere that one would want to visit unless one had a specific reason. So we are here to get Esther and Olly to Nantes airport and many of the other boats either very tired or are small and have come down through the canals with their mast lying on top of the coach roof rather like a long lance. OK provided you do not spear anything! So off early tomorrow to find a car rental place or if we have no luck it’s the train.

Piriac

2008-07-12T16:26:00.001+01:00

Piriac

We left Pornichet which while convenient is not one of the most attractive places and set sail for Piriac a very small ex fishing village where entry is over a flap that hold the water in the marina so it is important to arrive when the flap is open.

We have two new crew, and one at least not too sure about sailing, we were keen not to over face them on the first day, so it was sea sick pills and auto pilot OFF so Esther and Olly helmed almost all the way and we had an excellent sail up to Piriac and successfully crossed over the flap gate and moored up.

Pornichet

2008-07-09T18:01:00.001+01:00

We arrived in the isle de Yeu in rising winds and they continued to rise
until they were screaming in the rigging. No boats came in or left and we
were content to stay put as the rain lashed the boat. We did no more
sightseeing other than the local super market and rested up and stayed dry

On the second night the winds had blown through and the following morning we
had a pleasant sail up across the Loire estuary to Pornichet which is beside
La Baule. I actually managed to phone through to secure a berth, which for
me being on the VHF and in French was a bit of an achievement!

Today is a scorcher and we are preparing the boat for 'honoured guests'
Esther and Olly

So tomorrow we hire a car to collect them from Nantes. Unfortunately we have
to hire the car from La Baule.

Another customs check and they asked if we had more than $10,000 in cash. I
said please find it and we will split it in half!

Isle de Yeu

2008-07-07T11:58:00.001+01:00

Yesterday we sailed up to the Isle de Yeu, another offshore island that is a
favourite with holiday makers and bicyclists. We left with an ok forecast,
F4 from the W, well it was a bit closer to NW which was where we were going
and also a bit closer to F5 . So we were hard on the wind lee rail under
etc. The swell was 1.5m to 2m and it was a good strong sail.

Now when we got out of the harbour and had cleared and the rocks off the
adjacent headland and could set our course there was another larger boat a
way off and also beating to windward. Now we steadily drew ahead until they
disappeared over the horizon. I was very pleased with Sunbird and my
seamanship to have come in an hour ahead of a larger boat. On arrival in
port we [I] missed the finger pontoon and were swept on to the next boat,
fortunately we both had fenders out and we winched ourselves into place.
Actually the wind was now almost F6 and almost every boat that come in also
made a hash of so I felt abit better! After we had recovered in my case with
a medicinal glass of whisky. The other larger boat referred to earlier came
in. It had a good mast and rigging but was a home made steel box and if it
had beaten us in I think I would have taken up caravanning!

On Thursday Esther and Olly join us and so we need to get to the mainland to
collect them. I say this because it is blowing very hard indeed almost a
gale and the wind is whistling through the rigging and buffeting the boat
and so no one is going out of the port today.

2008-07-05T18:37:00.001+01:00

We spent some days in La Rochelle which was very pleasant and a chance to
recover a bit. Actually we spent longer than we wanted because we needed to
get the Chartplotter fixed if we could and failing that get a reliable
standby. The plotter was partially fixed and we waited an extra day for the
standby to arrive.

We met a charming Irish couple who booked us in to look over the French
yacht Tara. It was aluminium built to go through the ice and she went to the
North pole and entered the ice to drift around with the ice packs. They had
thought that it would take 3 years but they came out of the ice in 2 years
in the pacific having entered in the Atlantic. Quite a trip and very
interesting to look over the boat.

So we were quite keen to leave La Rochelle and left at low water almost
springs, [not a good idea as it is very shallow indeed] Anyway we got out,
we disturbed a flat fish or two and a few cockles but we got out.

We spent a couple of days in St Martin De Re. It is a quite delightful
place. A real photographers dream and the island is also very flat for
bicycling which was fun. Tina had her birthday there and we went to a very
good restaurant to celebrate. We were expelled today, not for bad behaviour
but because there was to be a festival and all visitors had to go.

Subject to weather it is the isle de Yeu tomorrow. Forecast id W5 or 6 and
that should be ok.

I am in an internet cafe struggling with the internet. Tina says it is to teach me patience but it is not working!!
Sunbird July 5th

Les Sables

2008-07-05T15:37:00.000+01:00

We met a charming Irish couple who booked us in to look over the French
yacht Tara. It was aluminium built to go through the ice and she went to the
North pole and entered the ice to drift around with the ice packs. They had
thought that it would take 3 years but they came out of the ice in 2 years
in the pacific having entered in the Atlantic. Quite a trip and very
interesting to look over the boat.

So we were quite keen to leave La Rochelle and left at low water almost
springs, [not a good idea as it is very shallow indeed] Anyway we got out,
we disturbed a flat fish or two and a few cockles but we got out.

We spent a couple of days in St Martin De Re. It is a quite delightful
place. A real photographers dream and the island is also very flat for
bicycling which was fun. Tina had her birthday there and we went to a very
good restaurant to celebrate. We were expelled today, not for bad behaviour
but because there was to be a festival and all visitors had to go.

Subject to weather it is the isle de Yeu tomorrow. Forecast id W5 or 6 and
that should be ok.

Sunbird July 5th

La Rochelle still.

2008-07-02T17:24:00.000+01:00

So we are still in La Rochelle. The weather has been hot hot and I am so
glad that we are not in the med now

We have looked over a big aluminium yacht 'Tara' [from gone with the wind]
that for scientific purposes went into the ice at the North pole Atlantic
side and then was moved by the ice pack around to the other side of the
world Pacific. It took them 2 years in the ice [they had expected 3 years
but the global warming has made it all go faster] Quite something.

At this point I have to admit that modern electronics do make life a lot
easier and when they go down it is Gloom Gloom. Nelson only has a sextant,
compass and hopeless charts. Anyway our chart plotter went on the blink. It
is a wonderful gadget that tells you exactly where you are to about 10
yards!!! Nelson would have loved to have one! I was fortunate enough to
find a man in La Rochelle from Raymarine [ the makers] who came out straight
away. He has cured some of the problems but the set needs to go back to base
and that will happen when we get back.

Tomorrow we go to St Martin de Re. A tiny tidal port that is picture book
material

La Rochelle

2008-06-29T17:22:00.001+01:00

On our last night in Bilbao we were plagued with mosquitos and I am glad to
be able to report that we have left them in Spain.

We left Spain for France as soon as we could pay our bills which was 8am UK
time and were underway in a flat calm. When sailing one always listens to
channel 16 which is the VHF channel on which to make distress calls and to
contact other boats. Misuse of this channel brings down the wrath of God
from the authorities. So at 9 am we heard to our complete amazement a
trumpet being played beautifully on channel 16. Tina thinks that it could be
the Basque national anthem and I am in no position to disagree.
The crossing was in flat calm but with about 1.5 m of swell. Now sailing or
motoring against the swell is a bit like bicycling up hill, the down hills
never make up for the effort of going up hill!
So our speed was down from the 6.0 knots I had hoped for down to only
4.9kts. that meant that the 200 miles we had to do would take quite a bit
longer up to 7 hours longer.
Eventually the swell subsided and we regained most of our speed.
We had to motor for 33 hours and sailed the last 3 hours and arrived at La
Rochelle at 8pm tired and ready to sleep.

In Spain we never had a clue as to what was being said so now we do have
some idea and it is rather nice to know what is going on around one!
In a posh marina we ate at the restaurant and on the menu were 'Grilled
Knives' and some other gems which I regret I have forgotten.

Since leaving Spain we have met several yachts that have said that 'the med
was too hot, too crowded and either no wind or a gale' So I for one am happy
to have retreated.
They did however say that the Algave and South Atlantic Spain was lovely, so
we leave that for another day.

So now it is short trips up the French coast and then along the N Brittany
coast to Guernsey and then home by August

Bilbao

2008-06-26T13:46:00.001+01:00

We left Gijon with the intention of sailing to La Rochelle some 48 hours away. We had wind for once but on the nose. We were going like a train at about 7.0 + knots [good for us]. The seas were uneven, the waves were not large but coming from all direction. This is why the Bay of Biscay has it reputation as an uncomefortable bay to cross. Anyway the wind headed us and the Bay claimed another scalp - mine. So we turned back to Ribadesella.

Ribadesella is where the Spanish holiday and is delightful. It is also the starting point for those that want to hike climb or canoe in the Picos of Europe. We moored alongside the town quay and were the only yacht there!

We then sailed on [motored] on to santander where we intended to stay for 2 days, however the airport runway is conveniently positioned beside the marina and between the city and us was a vaste commercial port. We left the following morning for Bilbao where we now are. Wifi promised but not working!!

We firsst went to the lesser marina that had recently had is main building bombed by by ETA a fortnight ago. Anyway no one speaks english and I think that they are having a regatta soon so we moved on to the posh marina. Still no wifi that I can find but there is an internet place in a games hall where the noise level is way higher than concorde on take off!!

If the weather is good we will head tto Royon tomorrow.

Gijon

2008-06-22T12:01:00.001+01:00

I write this for the third time in slight exasperation.

The first was writ at an internet cafe and my money ran out

the second on my lap top but despite promises I can find no wifi that works

so we left Viveiro for Ribadeo a wide shallow river with a small marina and a vast bridge above.. We had left early as I had started a cold and woke early and so we left at 5.30. Now if you leave early you also arrive early and we passed by Ribadeo and went on to Luarca. luarca is a tiny fishing village rather like Penzance but without chips and surrounded by attractive cafes. The inner harbour is full full of fishing boats but provision has been made for yachts inside the breakwater on steel can buoys where ther is constant roll from the swell outside.

We or rather I retired early 8.30 uk time =9.30 spanish and we awoke to hear voices close and banging on the hull. It was customs on a routine check and more than a little surprised to find us in bed at that early hour. Half an hour later we were in bed again only to be woken at 10.00 uk time by a vast explosion. It was fireworks and in spain it is the bang that matters and these were good ones. After that we retired again accompanied by a mosquito. Not the best nights sleep.

So we were pleased to move on to Gijon, which is as I rememberd it except that there is now a mile long breakwater protecting the adjacent port that was not on our charts and also they have put a steel ballustrade around the quay to stop Matt from launching his canoe into the harbour!

As the result of our search for wifi that works we came accross traditional dancers on the promenade. dancing to bagpipes and drum all very enchanting.

Tina is now baking bread and roasting a leg of lamb so our existance is not too taxing

Sunbird at Viviero

2008-06-18T17:00:00.001+01:00

We have now moved yet again.

In Corunna I tried to cash some travellers cheques. A simple task I thought, but not so we were passed from bank to bank and eventually ended up at head office of some spanish bank where it took 4 people to do the deal and then they would only let me have $300. So almost 2 hours later I emerged with 200 euros!!

from Corunna we went to cedeira where we had been before and just as attractive.We are now in Viviero which was a fishing port and a part of it has been passed over to yotties . The old townl ooks very attractive and we will now go and explore

It is hot and I for one am glad that we are now going East and North

la Corunna

2008-06-16T14:03:00.001+01:00

We had an easy passage to Corunna, 40 miles no wind and motor on and 7 hours
later we were being presented with a map of the town by the marina staff.
So far so good. we set off to find an internet cafe and supermarket. As
navigator I can only say that i temporarily lost the plot. we did get back
to the boat but not exactly directly but we did pass Sir John Moore,s grave
and the Green Jackets base here, which of course was always my plan. More
than that we never got connected hence the silence if you had been
listening. Anyway I am on now!!

we have climbed the tower of Herculese 200 + steps and a superb view. It was
started bu the romans and then left derilict for centuries as it only guided
the vikings in and we all know that was not good news

Tomorrow we set off for Cediera which with no marina at all enabled me to
get a very ok camera. Corunna on the other hand is said to have everything
here, but in my view that is only if you want little!

It has rained but mostly at night and it was the first rain we have had
other than on our arrival some 3 weeks ago
sunbird 16 june

Corme June 13

2008-06-13T15:44:00.001+01:00

We are now in Corme a small fishing port.
We motored against very strong winds and current up from Muros to Camarinas.
It was a 35nm trip and at times we were only making less than 2 knots over
the ground. It was a bit tough.

Anyway by mid afternoon we were in the marina at camarinas and met up with
some charming Irishmen [going South] and even more charming Welsh crew
[going North]. The welsh crew of 4. 3 J109 racers who probably took no
prisoners and the very charming owner. the racers were helping to bring the
owner's boat back from Lagos on the Algave where it has been a sailing
holiday home in the sun. If we had it tough they had it far worse as they
had much further to travel and having hoped to bring the boat home to wales
they were only going to make la Corunna, also they had no lee cloths. anyway
they left ahead of us today and are probably closing Corunna now.

We are off to Corunna tomorrow and weather forecast looks good and quite
mild so hero status on the passage I hope. [for which I am very grateful]

i write this from a bar in Corme which is a bit rough but at least it has
wifi that works. The TV is on and no one watching and the card players have
left now as I was sure that aknife would be drawn it was so loud and
exciting!

June 9th

2008-06-09T15:05:00.001+01:00

We were sorry to see Duncan and John John leave as they had been excellent company and to his credit JJ had [unasked]dried up almost all the time

We left them at Santiago di Compostella, having seen the city by car the previous day. An amazing place. the pilgrims are easily identified by ther stout walking boots and walking sticks. Around the cathederal amost 50% of the people were pilgtims from all over the world.

After they left us the debate as where to go next continued and ended up 2 to 1 in favour of returning home. Tina wanted to go on and to go back to see the puppies and i was warm enough. So we are headed North again.

the winds on the NW coast of Spain are essentially from the North and are squeezed between the Azores High and the low over central spain so are or can be quite strong.

We motored back from Villagargia to Muros early in the morning to avoid the strong N winds and had a quiet passage until the end when the winds built up. We anchored in Muros but could not get out of the wind and so had a windy night having dragged our anchor with a bag of cockles around the anchor. We almost ran back into the yacht Cream Cracker also at anchor. Now she was laid up at weir quay beside us!! Small world.

Tommow we bike to see Noya a world heritage site some 4 miles away

Sunbird

Ria Muros

2008-06-03T17:50:00.000+01:00

I was asked whether the places we were about to go to would be a good and as
nice as this. I knew that for the next 1000 miles the answer was NO as to
the destination I did not know.
On the basis of that Tina said Why go on let us enjoy what we have here.
As El Capitano and in charge of all I immediatly agreed and we will spend
the summer here, returning by air/ferry in August and will bring Sunbird
home in September

The weather is not too hot, and the scenery fantastic. So I am happy with
the decision. We will not go more than another 30 miles South and will then
work our wat very slowly back towards

More dophins than you can shake a stick at!!

Sunbird

may 31st

2008-06-03T17:43:00.000+01:00

During the passage from Plymouth to La Corunna we only saw 7 yachts and a
lot more cargo vessels that the ais spotted for us before we could see them.


The Spanish have been quite charming to us inspite of our total lack of
Spanish.


We at last found an internet wifi in Fontan marina but I could not get it to
work.


We then found a internet cafe that would only let you use their machines,
however the girl in charge virtually took me to the cafe where I could use
my lap top.

Now my problems started again as I could not connect. The motherly lady
behind the bar served me a beer, No problem but could not help me so she
spoke to other guests and a boy just older than Daniel sorted me out in
seconds.

The cuisine on board has been excellent thanks to Tina.
&;Ralphs wooden lee board has been in use most of the time

The spanish Navtext do not work for us and the french one has broken!

The Rioja is excelllent but I can not say the same for the wine that we
bought in Ushant. Perhaps the inhabitants of the island hace a taste for
turprntine

We are now in the Rias, a bit like the Scottish lochs except Sun shines,
Warm, No midges.
Sunbird

Comments to date

2008-06-01T12:05:00.000+01:00

During the passage from Plymouth to Carino and then on to la Corunna we only
saw 7 yachts. Lots of cargo ships which with the AIS we could easily avoid
even before they were visible.

The Spanish have been quite charming to us bearing in mind I only know one
Spanish word 'creveca'. At last we found wifi in the marina at Fontran
[beside La Corunna] but I could not get it to work, so we went off to an
internet Café who only allowed you to use their machines. As my magnum opus
was on my lap top the little girl in charge almost took me to the internet
café.

There my problems began again. I ordered a beer, no problem, and yes I could
use my lap top but I could not get it to work. The motherly lady behind the
bar got a customer, a 15year old boy who sorted me out in seconds!! I got my
blog away. Then the good Lady of the house came back and said I know not
what and I got a very good tapas.

We are now on our way south and into the rias which from the pilot books
look a lot of fun

The cuisine on board has been excellent, no thanks to me, but to Tina.

Ralphs wooden lee board has worked wonders and almost all the time.

Spanish navtext broadcast from La Corunna has not worked for us even in La
Corunna.

The local wines are excellent. PS the inhabitants of Ushant are not to be
noted for their taste in wine but rather their liking for turpentine

Corunna at last

2008-05-31T17:00:00.000+01:00

We spent one night in Cedeiro a pretty little town and managed to buy rioja
and a camera as I had left mine behind!!

Leaving early the next day we entered La Corunna in sunshine and good
spirits.

All boats systema are working and I hope to get this away from the Marina at
sada [the other side of the bay from Corunna and much cleaner.

Sunbird

Biscay crossed.

2008-05-31T16:56:00.000+01:00

Grandson Marcus waved Sunbird goodbye as she left Weir Quay on time on
Sunday morning. It had been a double blow for Marcus because he was going to
miss his Granny for some time and he had also learned that he had to share
his Granny with others. A bit of a shock.

The forecasts were mixed with little good news on offer.

We set course for Ushant to try to miss the worst of the weather and we did.
22 hours later we stopped in Ushant and as the wind is seldom in the East .
Also the forecasts were still mixed and not that good news. After we had
arrived the rain started, wind shifted to the west, we rolled, Ushant was
out of season and most places were closed and there was no internet café.
Not that many browny points!

Despite all this I did replenish the hankies I had left behind and the sun
shone on Tuesday when we left for La Corunna.

Forecasts were still mixed and the crossing to La Corunna was a pussy cat
compared to the previous year which was a bit of a tiger. Still pussy cats
either go to sleep and we motored through the calms and she showed her claws
when the wind headed us at F 6 as we made our landfall making 4 knots or
less. The time to final way point kept getting longer each hour!

We finally anchored in the rain in Carino, a minor industrial port which was
the best port we could make. We had motored through the calms and finally
had to blast our way into the wind at the end. 39 hours motoring and two and
a half days overall. Still we saw so many dolphins that by the end the cry
of 'Dolphins' no longer elicited any response from the crew.

Carino dried her tears of rain in the morning, the street market was lively
and kind to us and we moved West to Ria Cadeira where we found the Navionics
chart on the plotter was not only 100 m out but also showed a non existent
island that we sailed through.

May 17th

2008-05-17T13:19:00.000+01:00

May 17th

Sunbird is almost ready to leave now.

We have 2 new fore sails both of which set well, an additional extra large
battery and almost all the systems work. The last to be fixed is an
automatic bilge pump which is being replaced right now.

We intend to set sail on Saturday evening and will be seen off by Marcus
aged 3 who might just understand why Granny is no longer visiting weekly.

The plan is to sail direct to la Corunna or if the weather dictates to stop
off in Camaret.

The original plan had been to press on all the way, however on reflection it
seems senseless to by pass places of great beauty and interest solely in the
interests of speed. So we will take our time

March 28th

2008-03-28T06:30:00.002Z

Sunbird is now almost ready to be launched.

During the course of the work it was suggested that Croatia might be a better destination. We had hoped that we would get to Samos [Greece] by July 15th. However on reflection the chances of success do not look promising.

It is some 3000 miles. Several people have said that Croatia is better, not as hot as Turkey, closer to the UK and close to Venice, which I long to see. So we now have the charts for Croatia in case we decide to aim for there first which is a distinct possibility.

Much work has been done to increase the battery power and we now have 4 batteries, one being big enough for a submarine. In order to fill them we have a wind generator and will have a second solar panel.

Launch date is set for April 1 or 2nd and I can not wait to get going again. The rubber dinghy has a leak somewhere. The headlinings have been put up, the water taps have been repositionsed so that they work, the chain locker now drains into the bilges and much more has been done and all thanks to Ralph.

So after the launch it will be sea trials to see if everything works as it should.

Rival 36

2008-02-06T17:30:00.005Z

Sunbird is a Rival 36

The Rival 36 was the sixth and last RIVAL designed by Peter and comes in three basic versions. Deep draft, Scheel keel, and Centre board. 78 R36s were built. The first being launched in 1980.

L.O.A. 35' 10"
L.W.L. 27' 2"
Beam 11' 0"
Draft 3' 9"and 6' 9" or 6' 0" and we have the 6'0" keel
Displacement 14,250 lbs

We bought her in 1999 from an owner who had intended to take her across the Atlantic.

Since we bought her we have updated most of the navigation instruments, rigging, sails and engine and are now ready for long distance travel.

We have already cruised NW Scotland, Southern Ireland, South and North Brittany and the Channel Isles.

In 2008 we intend to sail her to Turkey where we will lay her up for the winter and then explore Turkey in 2009 probably returning toward home in 2010.