The enforced day at anchor waiting for the wind to shift direction enabled me to get on with a job that to be honest I hadn't been looking forward to. The NMEA log had ceased working, this is the log that gives us speed through the water as opposed to the GPS log which gives speed over the ground.
It was probably fouled with weed or shellfish and the solution was to pull it out and clean it. This means leaving a 2" hole in the boat below the waterline. There is a little flap thing in the mounting that helps to retard the inrush of green water until you can fit a plug to seal the hole again. It's all very fraught for a few seconds as water gushed into the boat!
Luckily it all went smoothly and the handy toothbrush was used to clear the small paddle wheel of crud and critters. This transponder is also the echo sounder and gives water temperature information to the NMEA system and thence to the instruments, plotters etc.
Another job now we are no longer in Basque Country was to take down our courtesy flags and replace the Spanish one as it was getting somewhat tatty.
We then had a lazy day watching the comings and goings in the river and on the beach. We phoned home to ask about the referendum and had a quiet nights sleep. We were disappointed to discover the result of the vote in the morning but had not much time to dwell on it as the wind had changed, and we quickly upped the anchor and moved out of the shelter of the anchorage for the 30 mile trip down the coast to San Vicente de la Barquera the next usable port. Most harbours along this coast are small, drying and exposed to swell. The winds were northerly which was good for us but they were very light and the large and confused swell and overcast sky's didn't make for a pleasant journey. In fact after a while it became decidedly chilly.
It felt a little like Britain which constantly reminded us of Brexit. Seven hours or so saw us approaching the small harbour. The weather closed in even further and it even began to rain.
As we passed in between the training walls all became calm.
We headed up a small and shallow creek to anchor using two anchors fore and aft to keep our position in the tide. We had barely enough depth to avoid touching at low water, well to be honest we are actually 30 cms shy so will probably briefly touch at 2 am, either way I will be awake to check.
The winds are forcast to get even lighter so we may stay here a couple of days and wait it out. Luckily we are heading towards neaps so should have a little bit more water under us on every successive tide. We just need to get through tonight!
We would also like it to stop raining.....
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