At the moment we are in Baiona; the last Spanish place we visit before we go to Portugal. Last week we made very quiet and short sailing trips on sheltered water. This is going to be different soon, because the places on the Portuguese coast are much further apart with the swell and seaway of the Atlantic Ocean. It was a wonderful week, partly because it clicks so well with the Valentine and the Barbarossa.

The previous report ends on Sunday morning in Rianxo. After breakfast we leave for a nice sailing trip crossing the Ria from the corner to San Vincente. There are only three of us left, because the Nebulea has a different plan. Along the way we take pictures of each other under sail and then we make a kind of race of which the Valentine has won thickly by tactically choosing the other rake where there is more wind. Just after arrival we celebrate their victory 'in style'. At night the wind suddenly starts blowing hard and at an anchor check I suddenly see the Barbarossa drifting out of the bay towards the sea. Toine goes there in our dinghy to warn them and then they just found out for themselves. A little later they are neatly moored again.

The next morning, after school, we have palaver with us to discuss the rough schedule for the coming weeks. We decide to stay together at least until Porto. In the afternoon we make a nice walk along the rocks to Punta Miranda. The children always find clambering over rocks a feast. In the afternoon we leave for a short trip in the next Ria to Combarro. We catch two mackerels and sail a bit on the gennaker. In the evening we have dinner with the three boats (13's). Great food and a very cozy atmosphere and a lot of laughing together. Marinthe dances the tango with Giel, see the pictures in the last photo album.

The next morning (di 8 Sept) it keeps popping around us. It looks like fireworks, but that can't be seen in the sun. Weird guys, those Spaniards ... we can't think of anything else but that it's in honour of the birthday of Mary. At lunch we eat the two mackerels; they taste delicious. Combarro is a very nice old town with narrow streets and small houses. We walk through it together with the Valentine. Afterwards we leave for a short trip to the harbour of Sanxenxo, crossing again and then without wind. Sanxenxo is a busy seaside resort with a beautiful beach. But the harbour is not nice and quite expensive, and there are no washing machines either. So we only stay there for one night and make maximum use of the facilities such as electricity and water. Then we wash ourselves with a lot of water on the jetty and that goes very well. In the evening we anchor for free next to the harbour in front of the beach.

The next day (do 10 Sept) we go after school, groceries and lunch on our way to Islas Cies. This time we sail the fastest. Crossing again and in the end no more wind. This seems to become a pattern; when we raise the anchor the wind is suddenly from the front and / or lie down. Along the way we encounter the Sea of Independence. That is one of the largest cruise ships in the world, passing right in front of our noses. We anchor at Islas Cies; those are three beautiful rocky islands with beaches, no cars and only a few inhabitants. We lie there for four nights very quiet (little wind) but the fourth evening we are very busy with 'drunk' Norwegians behind us.

On Friday there is an alternative school lesson; Marinthe would like to know everything about the starry sky and together we will learn which main constellations there are and how it is possible that the starry sky is different every time (earth revolves around its axis in one day, in one year around the sun, and the moon revolves around the earth in a few weeks). Eline wants to know how the sail lining works and Toine teaches her the first principles. In the afternoon we take the other boats to the beach. Yes, Inge, unbelievable how many times we (say Toine) have been to the beach the past few weeks;).

And then it's the weekend. The nice thing about school on the boat is that such a weekend really feels like a weekend. It's pretty foggy when we wake up. When the fog has cleared around noon we take a walk to the top of one of the islands together with the other boats. That it clicks well is also noticeable during such a walk. It goes very natural without fuss and everyone gets along very well, including the children. Sunday also starts foggy. At the end of the morning we go running in a women's and men's group. Me again together with Monica and Ellen. This time really uphill and downhill, but very nice and nice to do. The rest of the day we stay on our own boat. I go tinkering with the girls and the four of us watch Indiana Jones 1.

On Monday (yesterday) we sail to Baiona in two hours after school. This time the first part before the wind so we can sail clover, but after that the wind drops again. And now that we are in the harbour it suddenly blows hard (force 6/7) and that will stay like that for the next few days (run or stand still....). Well, Baiona is a good town to stay a few days. Nice harbour with a good internet connection, and an Eroski (supermarket) that brings the groceries to the boat for one euro.

Tomorrow morning we will be skiing with the classes of Eline and Marinthe. Nice!