On the third of April 2008 we are finally ready to start. After numerous problems had been rectified and the boat completely equipped she is seaworthy, so we do hope and at 14.00 we set sails. The left engine smokes white and we return and call old Olivier, rep of the yard, who gets on board an cleans the water filters from a lot of seaweed, which block the flow of cooling water. Half an hour later we are in the Biscay and on our way. The weather forecast for the next days is good, Biscay is not an area to fool around with and we are on our way to La Coruna.
The first night on the open sea, with a new boat, you listen to every sound, and there are some, you look out for fishermen and freighter on the radar. My watch goes until 02.00 then Jo takes over, but I am only able to have a light nap and at 06.00 I am up again and the sunrise brings a beautiful day. The “lounge” in the foredeck gets its upholstery and for the first time we hoist the parasailor. Wind blows with 5-6 from ENE and pushes us in the right direction. It is new moon and the wind increases to 6-7. We leave the parasailor up and in the dark night with a starlit sky the long swell gets us up to 15 knots in the surf. Spooky and we stay up all night and watch our yellow sail swinging with the wind.
The wind quiets down a bit and we manage to take in the parasailor, but a line becomes tangled in the starboard propeller and blocks the engine. I decide to go to La Coruna port to clear the rope and at 20.00 we are in port securely fastened.