weatherbound again

Ten years ago today I was installing some reporting software for a group of users at London Guildhall University when someone came in to say that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center. It was one of those Kennedy moments. Now, by contrast, we are weatherbound here in Combarro and doing some laundry by hand as there are no facilities for this at this marina and we have been caught out because we expected to be in Baiona by now where there are washing machines to be had. There is a laundry here in Combarro but it is a service laundry and closed on Sunday of course.

Yesterday was a frustration as we motored out of the ria into increasing wind which then proceeded to gust up to off Cabezo de la Mourisca which forced us to turn back rather than get to Baiona There was a long low blue boat tied up at the marina which announced itself as customs (Aduanas). Two very polite men proceeded to peer at all our paperwork and give us the blue copy of the form they filled out in triplicate so we can then wave that at any other customs people that may take an interest in us. Their boat was long, low and looked very serious being bedecked with spotlights and numerous aerials. It also had very large engines -presumably for intercepting drug smugglers in the remoter rias.
Today, there is a motorbike festival ashore which explains the number of bikes roaring up and down the roads yesterday. We took a wander around but my old fogey element prevented me from liking any of the hundreds of bikes around.

The weather continues to blow from the west so we are sitting here with not much to do. When I head up to the bar to post this, I will b be able to check on the forecast as well. The Spanish met office doesn't post it's forecasts very early. The Portuguese web site by contrast has a very useful table to present their information and it seems to be saying we will have northerlies by Tuesday. So it looks like we will be hanging around here for bit then.

Having just checked the forecast - we will be sitting still for a little while yet by the looks. The chances of visting Lisbon are receding as well with a long passage round to the Algarve looming now.

AGENCIA ESTATAL DE METEOROLOGIA
PREDICCION METEOROLOGICA PARA LAS ZONAS COSTERAS DE LA COMUNIDAD
AUTONOMA DE GALICIA

DIA 11 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2011 A LAS 08:00 UTC

1.-AVISO A LAS 0900 UTC DEL DIA 11 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2011:
HAY TEMPORAL FUERZA 8 DEL SW EN EL AREA DE BARES.

2.-SITUACION A LAS 00 UTC DEL DIA 11 Y EVOLUCION:
HURACAN EXTRATROPICAL KATIA SITUADO EN 47N-38W DESPLAZANDOSE
HACIA EL NORDESTE HASTA 54N-19W, CON POCOS CAMBIOS. DEPRESION DE
972 AL OESTE DE IRLANDA RELLENANDOSE Y DESPLAZANDOSE HACIA EL
NORDESTE. ANTICICLON DE 1020 AL OESTE DE CANARIAS REFORZANDOSE A
1024, CASI ESTACIONARIO.

3.-PREDICCION VALIDA HASTA LAS 24 UTC DEL DOMINGO 11:
AGUAS COSTERAS DE LUGO:
SW FUERZA 4 Y 5 ARRECIANDO EN BARES A FUERZA 6 Y 7 Y
OCASIONALMENTE FUERZA 8 Y ROLANDO Y AMAINANDO MAS TARDE EN BARES A
W-SW FUERZA 5 Y EN EL RESTO A FUERZA 4. FUERTE MAREJADA EN BARES Y
EN EL RESTO MAREJADA. MAR DE FONDO DEL NW DE 2,5 A 3 M.

AGUAS COSTERAS DE A CORUNA:
- NORTE DE FISTERRA: SW FUERZA 6 ARRECIANDO EN ORTEGAL-BARES A
FUERZA 7 Y OCASIONALMENTE FUERZA 8, AMAINANDO MAS TARDE A FUERZA 6
EN ORTEGAL-BARES Y A FUERZA 5 EN EL RESTO. FUERTE MAREJADA
DISMINUYENDO PRONTO DE FISTERRA A PRIOR A MAREJADA. MAR DE FONDO
DEL NW DE 3 M DISMINUYENDO AL FINAL A 2,5 M.

- SUR DE FISTERRA: SW FUERZA 4 A 5 AMAINANDO MAS TARDE A FUERZA 4.
MAREJADA DISMINUYENDO A MAREJADILLA. MAR DE FONDO DEL NW EN EL
ENTORNO DE 3 M DISMINUYENDO DESPUES A 2,5 M.

AGUAS COSTERAS DE PONTEVEDRA:
S-SW FUERZA 4 A 5 AMAINANDO MAS TARDE A FUERZA 4. MAREJADILLA A
MAREJADA DISMINUYENDO AL FINAL A MAREJADILLA. MAR DE FONDO DEL NW
DE 3 M EN DISMINUCION CON 2,5 M AL FINAL.

4.-INFORME DE LAS ESTACIONES A LAS 06 UTC DEL DIA 11 DE
SEPTIEMBRE: LUGO:
- SAN CIBRAO: S FUERZA 3-4. MAR DE FONDO DEL NW DE 1,5 M.
A CORUNA:
- BARES: SW FUERZA 8.
- FERROL: SW FUERZA 3.
- A CORUNA: SE FUERZA 4.
- VILAN: SW FUERZA 6.
- FISTERRA: SW FUERZA 6.

for those of you who don't read Spanish - Hurricane Katia is moving north east though it isn't really a hurricane now but is bringing strong winds. The Azores high has retreated well to the south and we can expect south or sw force 4-5 though we are seeing closer to 6 or 7 here. The direction is the critical thing as S-SW is exactly where we want to go. Grrr. :-(