01/09/2012 The Land of Broken Boats and Broken Dreams

Well we made it to La Coruna, but it was not an easy trip.

We should have know that luck was not with us that day when we pulled up a big net on our anchor.  My humans found that scissors were far more effective than a knife to cut it free.  They had to try and get it all aboard with out fouling the prop.  A hugh amount of net in the water did bag up rather small.

But we were silly enough not to hear the warning and headed out of the sheltered waters of the Ria and headed into some awful swell.  At least it was a ‘shortish’ run and we approached La Coruna with the famous view of the roman light house on the point.

As we entered the harbour we experienced engine trouble AGAIN.  This was NOT good as we were in a tight spot now for sailing.  But back to sailing we did.  Crossing back and forth.  With all those merchant ships we saw outside the harbour waiting to get iin.

We thought it best to give a pan pan(warning call) that we had reduced mobility.  Turns out they do not know what a pan pan is or, as we discovered later, a life boat service in this country., But we did get a response from the traffic control tower.

They were happy to take our details and warn us that a ship was coming in whether we liked it or not.

They did contact Marina Coruna and tell them that they were our destination.  Marina Coruna informed us that we needed to sail to them if we could not get our engine started and they would help us at the pontoon.  We tried everything to get the engine started including changing the fuel filter and no luck.  With the strong head wind and the rough seas outside the harbour we decided…what the heck…lets try to sail into the Marina.

VERY BAD DECISION!

As we sailed into a tighter and tighter position the Marina became clearer.  What we thought were outer pontoons were in fact concrete breakwaters with the Marina inside.  With one human in the engine room the other human was not doing the best tacking job and it did not look good for getting in.

The Marina was contacted to ask for help.  They now informed us that we were too big and the winds were too strong for their little boats.  We convinced them to come out and try to lend a hand.  But their little boat was of no help and we were drifted back now further into the small channel.  We asked if there was a recue service that could help us.  ‘No’.

We could anchor here in 30m.  This looked to be our only hope as the shore behind us was rocks.  That was just before a giant merchant vessel came round the corner and headed straight for us.  They started shouting at us in Spanish on the VHF to get out of the way.  Nothing can stop one of these babies and there was no roam for it to move.

I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE GOING DOWN WITH THE SHIP.

Then the engine started.

It was the most wonderful sound I had ever heard.

The Marina boat led us into the entrance and we tied up to the first pontoon.  We were taking no chances.  I watched in embarrassment as my humans kissed the Marina staff, the pontoon and the boat.

The engine troubles have been tracked down again to that bad tank of fuel.  The delay in updating the blog was because I had to use my Internet ‘swauvy’ to track down and order parts to make both a switch over dual fuel filter system and a separate cleanable filtration system for the bad tank.

This means we are stuck in an expensive Marina, when we would rather save money on the hook, waiting for parts to be delivered.  The good part is the Marina is in the middle of town.

It is a new day.

And we might as well enjoy ourselves.  First thing is first we have to check out the sights in town.

And find something to eat.

Then we have to get really lost.

But finally find the biggest tourist attraction in La Coruna.  Hercules light house.

 The Spanish of this region were originally Celts so they share not only similar foods like the spanish pasty, but also bag pipes.

(video of bag pipe players)

The Marina have left us on the outer pontoon until we can get all our engine trouble sorted.  It does mean that we have close to a 1 mile walk by everyone one else to get to the office.  Over the last few days we have met lots of other boats.  Some with broken masks, others with torn sails and even more with engine troubles.  This harbour is a popular first stop to aim for if you are going straight across the Bay of Biscay, and many boat barely make it in like ourselves.  The owners have responded by either repairing the boat or giving up.  Some are having to go back home to make more money to pay for someone to repair their boat, others are changing their plans and trying to find a cheap place for the winter to complete the repairs themselves.  Some have given up all together and cutting their losses.

We are ok.  Hopefully we can get the parts and the boat fixed up in a week.  We are not ready to give up yet!

I am being left behind tonight so that the humans can sneak off and do some night life exploring in the town centre.  These two are a little old for dancing so I suspect they are in search of the elusive local’s tapa bars.

Fill you in later on what state they come home in.