Spain

Spain is a waypoint in the early Atlantic passage of the Peggy Sue, marking the family’s arrival after a dangerous crossing of the Bay of Biscay. The stop at La Coruña offers a pause in the voyage, but not a resolution to its practical strains: the family soon sails on toward the Azores.

Arrival After the Bay of Biscay

The crossing tests both the boat and the family. The Bay of Biscay brings Force 9 winds, at times Force 10, and the Peggy Sue is thrown between steep waves. Michael fears the boat may sink, but it holds together, and the family makes it to Spain. The arrival is therefore a concrete early success in a voyage whose first week has fallen far short of the planned distance.

La Coruña Stopover

The family spends only a couple of days in La Coruña. Michael’s mother sleeps for much of the stop, exhausted, while Michael’s father works on the rudder cable. The repair does not fully reassure him: he remains unhappy with the cable when the family leaves. From La Coruña, they set course for the Azores, carrying the unresolved equipment concern onward.

Place in the Voyage

Spain’s role is brief and defined by the route and its demands rather than by extended exploration. It is the landfall that follows the Bay of Biscay crossing and precedes the next ocean passage. In Michael’s log, the sequence links weather, arrival, fatigue, and repair: reaching Spain demonstrates the Peggy Sue’s resilience, while the short stay shows that each landfall also serves the ongoing work of keeping the voyage possible.