It is our most regretable task to anounce that during a most horrific storm off the coast of Portugal a freak gust of wind tore Christinas Tilley hat from her head and dashed it into the sea. The crew of Oceana made all attempts to save the hat but the conditions proved too difficult to turn back. A memorial service will be held when the hats next of kin can be contacted.
We didn´t really get on too well with Spain, I mean no offence or anything but it just pissed it down with rain and everythig was shut whenever we wanted to use it! So we decided to get out of Spain and start headinbg South for the sun. However, we got 20 miles out of Vigo and headed straight into a storm we spent an uncomfortable night at sea and decided to cut our losses and head into Leixoes near Porto. On the way in we were very confused by the lights we could see which didn´t really match up with the charts. It was only when we got closer that we realised that they were infact 2 socking great oil tankers anchored beyond the harbour mouth. Then the rain came in again so hard that we couldn´t see the leading lights and it all gort a bit frantic for a while. But hooray we made it and the very next day the sun came out and all is well in holidayland!
So here we are in Portugal, famous for port of course and also.....um ................more port? We are in Porto where port is made and have found two crazy Danish men Lars and Brian. We actually found them in Bayona, Spain first and then again here and have had some fun out on the town with them. We had to stay on their wonderful wooden yacht last night as we missed the bus back to where our boat is moored which wasn´t a problem. Although we did have to use a jib as a duvet as they didn´t have enough blankets!
Then the crew was reduced to three
We had to sign Kitt off the crew in Vigo to go back to Blighty. He was sent off in true style after an allnight session and a dockside haircut by Capn Ândy! The last we saw of him was as he waved out of the bus window leaving Vigo wondering if that haircut was necesarilly such a good idea?????? So now the intrepid crew of Oceana are pushing further South towards the sun through lashing rain and blustery winds in search of whatever it is that we are looking for. Not sure what that is but when we find it we will let you know!
Oh by the way, would you believe that we havent got the email address of our computer guru, so next time you read this Zoe can you send us an ahoy there???
Welcome to sunny Spain although it´s not always sunny and is quite often wet and windy. We have been in Bayona for a week now after our successful crossing of the Bay of Biscay but have been having a bit of trouble adjusting to the whole siesta thing. Every time we have got organised to go out and e-mail home the whole town is shut for a quick afternoon snooze. The only places that are open are bars so we have ended up having a few drinks then forgetting all about the e-mails and the whole thing repeats itself thew next day.
Crossing Biscay was a fantastic experience - we saw a whale breaching , basking sharks and dolphins followed us the whole way here. watching them at night glowing with phosphorescence as they swam around the boat was a truley magical experience. We have had a bit of a mad time in Bayona celebrating Grogg´s almost birthday, Grogg´s Eve and then his actual birthday too, but that is another story......
Bound for Spain Well here we go then, it finally looks like we are getting out of here. We have managed to survive the last two weeks of Murphy madness, accidental parties, Christina getting her crown caught in a transvesitie's hair (?), Jay's Pink Fluffy naked night, a day spent in a Falmouth work boat, a bout of cold, fitting a new oven, stress, arguments and going up the mast and nearly killing Greg (better try harder next time).
Thanks to all our friends and families who came to see us off at various ports in our journey and for their tears and smiles as they waved us off. Also to all our new friends we have made along the way: Anton, Ruff, Anthea and all the stair surfers, Susan in Brighton for all her generousity and help, Tim the water maker man, Allie the Juice Girl, Rog for sorting out the wind generator (The Beast), Mark the Drag Queen and to my long lost pal Robin who showed us that fate really is on our side.
See you later, come and visit us us.
Love Andy, Christina, Greg anf Kitt.
