Hondarribia – Saturday, June 20
Yesterday was a drizzly day: almost English, one might say. But that did not stop a crowd of us attending the 18th century Town Hall just after 11 o’clock to be given a guided tour of the ancient walled city.
Such an amazing place, with its narrow cobbled streets and pavements, bordered by high timber framed houses with their over hanging balconies. I could almost see 16th century steel helmeted Spanish soldiers marching along, with their clattering horses, preparing to fight off the French invaders.
With Hondarribia occupying such a strategic position as the only sea port in the ancient kingdom of Navarra, its history is one of being occupied continually by either the French or the Spanish, so its buildings are generally not that old, although built in the old style.
Then back to the Town Hall, to be given a reception in the Council Chamber. The young assistant Town Clerk, sporting “bling” in both ears, gave a lovely speech in halting English, welcoming the Biscay Challenge and hoping that we would return, but starting with an apology that ETA had killed a policeman in Bilbao that very morning.
Clearly no apology was needed for us, but it did underline the sensitivities that still run deep in the Basque country. The local Councillors and staff who attended the reception were so kind that it was heart warming and I was only sorry that I had not brought anything from Southampton to mark our appreciation. However, I intend to put that right when I get back. I started my reply by saying that all of us Brits had fallen in love with Hondarribia and hoped that this would be the beginning of a long association.
After a little siesta following the luncheon reception, it was time to prepare for the final formal event of the week; our Prize Giving Dinner.
Would you believe that after hours of waiting, three boats finished the race yesterday and early this morning?
Firstly, the lovely local guys, Jose Luis Artola and his brother on Mirua crossed the line at 15.35 GMT (16.35 local time) to an enthusiastic and deserved welcome from their family and friends. Then, having heard virtually nothing from them all week, John and Sue Zamaria arrived on Aquaholix at 18.00 BST (19.00 local), timing it to perfection just before the Prize Giving Dinner. Then lastly, to great applause, the two Bill’s on their Westerly GK34, Growler made a triumphant entrance into the Dinner, having been greeted on the pontoon at 21.51 local time by Kirsteen Donaldson, who had to interrupt her dinner, but she soon made up for it. This was our first Class 2 arrival.
We were honoured to be joined at the Dinner by the President of the Basque Sailing Federation, Sr Rafa Munilla Zabalza. Despite our language barrier, I got on very well with him. He is keen to establish firm links between his region and an English Club, so that we could collaborate on future races. We parted with him saying that I must now consider Hondarribia as my home, which sums up perhaps more than anything else, the hospitality of the place.
At the end of the Dinner, I gave a little oration, which expresses the sentiments of a grateful race director and saves me from having to repeat here much of what I said.
David Giddings mercifully broke up my monologue by announcing (or rather, in the absence of a working microphone, shouting) the Race Results. The prizes were given out by Rafa, who succeeded in bear hugging everyone – and kissing the girls, with the assistance of Ricky from the Sailing Club. These results are on this website, but the highlights are that Paradox won the Multihull class; the Spanish J133, Pintia, was a popular winner of Class 1 by ten minutes on corrected time, from last year's winner Only Just, with the Corby 40, Cracklin' Rosie of Brian and Graham Wilkinson in third place. It is wonderful that after over 500 miles racing, only 16 minutes (corrected time) separated second and third boats and 30 minutes separated Change of Course ahead of Mirua.
After almost despairing of any Class 2 boats finishing, with Growler finishing and the Spanish ketch, Geure Ametsa, reported during the Dinner as being only 26 miles away and making 6 knots under spinnaker, the result of this Class proved to be a real cliffhanger. If Geure Ametsa finished by around 02.15 local time this morning, she would win, otherwise Growler would scoop the chocolates. It went right down to the wire and Geure actually crossed the line at approximately 02.21, giving Growler victory by 6 minutes on corrected time. And this after 7 days of racing! Fantastic stuff!
If you think that Geure slunk in unsung in the middle of the night, you had better think again. Not only were Ander Echabe and Mike Short there to welcome her and secure her warps (such is the dedication of our Race Team), but a crowd of Asier Cristobal and Inaki Elortegi’s friends had driven all the way from Bilbao, hidden themselves around the pontoon, only to leap out and raucously greet their heroes, almost as if they had won the Transat Jacques Vabre! Mike describes it as being a marvellously joyous and emotional occasion.
So, here we are – almost two years after we first start thinking about our cross Biscay double handed race – we have reached the end and the Race Team prepares to leave Hondarribia to go back “home”.
But such has been the magic of our experience here that some of us might be wondering where our “home” actually is. All I can say is that it has been a privilege for the whole Race Team to have represented our Club and to hope that we have left a little of our values of sportsmanship and friendship behind us.
Roger Townsend
Hon Race Director
