This is the sunrise that greeted us as we set off from Falmouth last week - good omen we thought as we set sail for Portosin NW Spain. Ten hours later we were on the edge of the Biscay in 20 knot winds making good headway. A pod of porpoise came along for awhile looking like torpedoes in the night sea, shooting stars fireworked across the firmament and the moon rose on the horizon behind us. What more could a person want? Then, one surf and one slam too many and the derailier jumped out of its runner, the auto helm gave up the ghost. Options: Return to Falmouth; Keep on course hand steering all the way to Spain or head east to Brest harbour to repair or replace auto helm. Here we are in Brest waiting for Bruno to re-jig the derailier for us. He's promised to get it back to us this week as he 'knows just zee man'. Meanwhile the wine stock is replenished, the fridge full of stinky cheese. Good ships tucker for the next leg, Brest to Portosin, which we hope to start this Saturday. Currently tied to a bouncing pontoon in Brest harbour with wind screaming in at 45knots. I keep touching Lerryn Lady's teak whispering : 'Hold on Lerryn Lady, hold tight'. She has a big heart, we are safe! A German sail training boat came in this morning looking for shelter with twelve scared kids huddled together on deck. Within hours all her fenders were wrecked and several tyres have now been lashed alongside her. This wind is set until 6pm tonight. I am thinking the German parents might as well have flown the children to Alton Towers for a ride on Nemesis - possibly not so character building though. :O)
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