Blog 15th June
Nightsong
Tue 15 Jun 2010 12:06
|
Dear Blog
Midday position 37.42N 25.20W
Having spent the last 2 weeks in the Azores
exploring 4 islands (Faial, Sao Jorge, Terceira and Sao Miguel - well 5 really
'cos Pico is best seen from Faial see photo), I left Ponta Delgada on Sao
Miguel this morning for Corunha in a moderate Easterly and am currently motoring
the 25 miles to the eastern end of the island. Should be 6 days or so to do the
850 miles but with contrary (if not strong winds forecast) might well be 7 or
even 8 days. 7 days is only 120 miles per day but to keep a VMG of 5 knots up to
windward will be hard even with the use of engine to assist motor
sailing.
The Azores have been a revelation - fantastically
beautiful and varied - somehow I always thought of them as low but they are like
all the other Atlantic islands from St Kilda thru' Madeira, the Canaries,
the Windward & Leeward Islands and BVIs - mountainous and
volcanic. Shame not to have had time to visit Flores but, of the 4
islands visited, really have seen 2 islands well (Faial on a scooter
and Sao Miguel by car) and they are both stunning. I do not think I missed much
with Santa Maria, Graciosa or Corvo which with Pico make up the other 4 of
the 9 islands. The most memorable thing will be the miles upon miles
of hydrangea hedgerows - plus all the other flowers from wild lillies,
cameleas to roses and the sheer greenness. Faial has wonderful windmills, a
spectacular caldera and recent volcano and tiny little fields (always with
2 cows only) whereas Sao Miguel is very mountainous and beats even
Montserrat in soaring beauty. It has special places like the Blue and Green
Lakes (which exceed in beauty the NZ equivalent) and Europe's only tea
plantation. Both the 17th/18th century city of Angra do Heroismo on Terceira and
the extraordinary rural and fertile plateau of Sao Jorge above the sheer cliffs
full of night noisy Cory's shearwaters were also v interesting (Sao Jorge cheese
is great too). And above all the lovely friendly Portuguese people who are so so
nice.
 Horta harbour visible in background
There are only 3 things that worry me about
singlehanded sailing on Nightsong
1) Slipping while harnessed on and breaking a
stanchion base and going overboard - very hard to get back on board with the
boat going at 7 knots - but in bad conditions I will carry the Raymarine smart
controller with me so I can turn the self steering off and she should round
up
2) The self steering packing up again - not fatal
but very hard work for a week!! Luckily Nightsong is well balanced to
windward
3) The delaminating jib ripping and being
irrepairable - Elvstrom have not obliged with a new one - prevaricating as
always - a small claims court case pending I think. Again not fatal but slow
with only the 12 sqm storm jib - tho' I could bear away to Portugal and hoist
the Code Zero, I suppose.
AIS and radar alarms will be on to keep an eye on
commercial traffic and I will be using Tony Robinson's alarm to wake me every
hour (thanks Tony- v useful). The new carbonfibre Duogen shaft is working great
so that should keep the batteries going producing 200 ampere hours pd and be
more reliable than the fibreglass one.
Hopefully I will have time to do a daily
blog
AJB 15.06.10
PS Cockroaches still alive and
kicking!!
|