Author Archives: juliansmart

Cornered in Figueira (da Foz)

Posted on September 15, 2014 by juliansmart

We pushed on southwards from Porto to arrive in Figueira da Foz with a poor forecast. Rather than press on to the next port, we chose Figueira to be stuck in. Dominant depression to the west is just not moving, … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014-2015 a family adventure, Portugal | 1 Comment

Proper little tourists – Porto

Posted on September 14, 2014 by juliansmart

Portugal is hot! Five degrees warmer than Islas Cíes – with staggering sunsets from the marina, halfway up from the mouth of the estuary to the city centre. They deliver bread every morning – in direct proportion to the number of … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014-2015 a family adventure, Destinations, Portugal | 4 Comments

Sailing with the elite

Posted on September 8, 2014 by juliansmart

We reached past Francois Gabart’s Vendee Globe winner (current title and record holder) as we started out across Biscay from Brittany, after mooring just along from his toy in Port-la-Forêt, a rapid-looking RM. We were then interrupted in our departure for the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014-2015 a family adventure, Bretagne, Destinations, Life on board, Spain | 1 Comment

Portosín – the rias of Galicia

Posted on September 5, 2014 by juliansmart

That’s more like it. Small beach less than five minutes from the marina, big beach a walk through town further. Aperitif in the marina club restaurant the first evening: calamares spot-on, bacalao with black olives great too, and the view … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014-2015 a family adventure, Destinations, Spain | 4 Comments

Camariñas to Portosín – thar she blows!

Posted on August 29, 2014 by juliansmart

On the beach within half an hour of mooring in Portosín. Enough said? Probably not … you should be so lucky. We decided to leave Camariñas almost no matter what, after a number of factors southerly winds (we want northerlies) … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014-2015 a family adventure, Destinations, Spain | 4 Comments

A Coruña

Posted on August 27, 2014 by juliansmart

A Coruña (La Coruña) – recovery after Biscay. Washing the boat (intended just to be rinsing the salt from the boat) Tourism (Torre de Hercules, the oldest functioning lighthouse in the world, first lit when the city was known as … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014-2015 a family adventure, Destinations, Spain | 7 Comments

We are in Spain!

Posted on August 25, 2014 by juliansmart

We have arrived in La Coruña. We made it safely and in good time. Positives Faster than expected – we’d planned for 3-4 days so just under 2½ (all either reaching or downwind) was fantastic. Crew welfare – only one … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014-2015 a family adventure, Biscay, Destinations, Spain | 3 Comments

Progress in Port-la-Forêt

Posted on August 25, 2014 by juliansmart

Beaches: first baignades (and skimboarding, petanque, sandcastles) of the trip off Brittany’s beaches – water still needs to get a lot warmer as we progress southwards. Pizzas: best ever (or at least for a very long time) Calzones in the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014-2015 a family adventure, Bretagne, Destinations, l'equipement, le bateau, Life on board | 1 Comment

Raz de Sein

Posted on August 24, 2014 by juliansmart

Another diesel doddle. Timed our departure to arrive bang on slack water and admire the brave souls tacking their way up through the Raz. A long day punctuated by wind changes to keep anything worth sailing in right on the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014-2015 a family adventure, Bretagne, Destinations | 1 Comment

Chenal du Four

Posted on August 24, 2014 by juliansmart

The Chenal du Four was an altogether chilled-out affair, after our brief sojourn in l’Aber-Wrac’h, with calm demeanours and still calmer winds and waters.

Posted in 2014-2015 a family adventure, Bretagne, Destinations | 2 Comments