We motored into St. Peter’s Port in Guernsey around sunset on Wednesday. There was a discussion about whether we would cast off on Thursday or Friday, and the decision was to stay two nights at the marina. We were in Guernsey to accept legal ownership of the boat which was accomplished on Thursday morning with the help of Ocean Skies. Jay and Mark spent the day chasing a leak in the forward head. Cat provisioned and cleaned the boat. I spent the day walking around the port, touring Castle Cornet, the local art museum, and Candie Gardens. Victor Hugo was banished by France to Guernsey for 16 years, and tributes abound. There are three public salt water pools from the Victorian era, which were lovely. Guernsey has an astonishing tide of 30′! Much of the port is dry at low tide.
We fueled up this morning and are tentatively headed to Cascais, Portugal. 763 nautical miles away. Our voyage should take a little more than four days. The sailing weather looks great across the Bay of Biscay. But, we will be on high alert once we near Spain and Portugal – Orca Alley.
The Iberian orca pod, a critically endangered subpopulation with roughly 37-40 individuals, inhabits waters along the Iberian Peninsula. Since 2020, these orcas have become widely known for their unusual interactions with sailboats. Orca encounters involve ramming, nudging, or biting sailboats, most often targeting the rudder and underside of the vessel. At least seven boats have been sunk since 2020; more than 750 encounters have been reported, affecting over 250 vessels, primarily sailboats. Researchers believe the orcas’ behaviour is a learned, possibly playful activity, especially among juveniles; the rudder is often the focus for its movement and resistance. If we encounter Orcas, we will heed the current recommendation to stop movement in the water: douse sails, shut down the engine and sonar, and let go of the wheel.
I have attached our watch schedule for the next four days.
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