Columbus Day

Hi there,

this year, October 12th (Spain’s National day, aka Columbus day) falls on a Friday. Which means I have a 3 day week-end. The plan is to go sailing with some workmates (10 people overall, including my manager’s manager). I am the skipper.

We have a Bavaria 50 Cruiser, the NEW DREAM which is located in Aiguadolç, in Sitges. It is the first time I skip such a big boat. Actually, it is the first time I skip for more than one day. The other times I have been sailing for a few days, another guy was the skipper. So, planning was sort of an experience.

Besides people hesitating on whether to come or not, getting the boat was a nightmare. I could have had a 36 ft (hosts 8 ) boat for 750€, but there was 9 of us. Including 2 who had joined at the last moment. So, at the very last moment, I had to get a bigger boat. I got it at cursosdenautica.com, for quite a good price. The same I had at Yates BCN, by the way. I guess these companies just do brokerage.

Second, I realized I needed to do some paperwork to skip a boat with a length over 12m (40 ft). I hate dealing with government offices, but they were quite efficient and I got it done quite rapidly. Though I only got it on Wednesday (we are leaving on Friday). And I had already paid for the boat. Ack !

Third, change of plans. Original idea was to leave on Thursday night and sail till Columbretes (about 95 nm), get there by Friday afternoon / evening and spend the night moored there. Spend Saturday there (main island can be visited with a ranger) and sail back the same afternoon. So, two night sails and a good night sleep moored inside the main island ring. However, there are two drawbacks:

1. my crew are not very experienced, so doing night shifts might be risky. I can very easily end up not sleeping at all.
2. because of boat insurance reasons, we are not allowed to leave harbor till Friday (even if it’s at midnight).

Given the shape of the island, I am, by no means, not willing to get there without daylight. So, the only viable option is to leave Friday morning (this way, crew will have had a good sleep and I can train them with daylight for a night shift) and try to get to the island by Saturday at sunrise and spend the day there before we sail back on that same afternoon. A sporty plan. I seriously doubt we can make it.

However, my biggest worry is the weather. October is a particularly tricky month: weather changes rapidly, often there are gales and there is what is called “gota fría”, this is a polar (very cold) air mass trapped inside a tropical (warm) air mass. This contrast creates very intense weather phenomena, with usually lead to heavy rain, winds and, often a gale. Well, there is one now (36 hours before take-off).

Forecast is that this storm will be heading South. Just were I intended to sail to. After the storm, we’ll have virtually no wind, but a strong swell. Horrible. I think I will have to re-think the whole plan. Maybe instead of going to Columbretes, I’ll have to completely change plans and sail North to the Costa Brava, where weather will possibly be calmer.

We’ll see. Will decide Friday morning. Will let you know.