The
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18th Update
Bermuda to The Azores
The Flotilla wasn't quite as I had expected. Most the boats just
cast off and left after refueling, so a very staggered departure was had,
with some boats actually gone since the day before and some waiting 'til
Sunday and Monday. We did get to see a couple of boats from us as we left
and we were in touch with Chris, and his Dad Brian, on "Rita-P" (an English
boat) a few times for the first two days. This was great as they were
getting weather info from the famous "Herb" on the SSB and relaying it
to us … Thanks guys.
But after day two, no more contact. I did manage to get my "Bon Voyage"
weather program up and running before leaving Florida, so I still have
weather info available by email via my laptop and "Iridium" satellite
phone. This crossing wasn't much to write about, maybe because it's just
becoming more of the same all the time. We had a couple of days at the
start with little or no wind, then some nice wind, and then it blew a
gale for a couple of days.
Just before this gale, while becalmed, we got a call on the VHF from another
yacht, "Patagonia" form Norway, saying they had engine trouble and requested
a tow. We were 10 miles north of them and 122 miles from the Azores. I
didn't have enough fuel to tow them all they way but we went to assist
them anyway, even if only to give moral support. In the dark of night,
a few hours later, we came along side them … not too close, just with
in shouting distance.
I didn't recognize the boat at first, but the skipper said we had met
in Lanzarote some months earlier. In the light of day, next morning I
did recognize them, a husband and wife team with their two kids. By this
time the wind had picked up nicely so we sailed along, side by side, the
whole night and next day, 'til the gale came. We got further apart during
the wind and rain until eventually we were loosing sight of them. I called
on the radio to make sure all was well and we then sailed away at our
own pace.
No sooner had I said "all was well", than a rip in the top of my main
sail appeared. We were already fully reefed so down with main sail, and
went under a small jib and motor the rest of the way. We were running
low on fuel as we approached the island of "Faial", then engine spluttered
for a while, and as we rounded the head of the breakwater at "Horta" harbor
the engine stopped.
We tied up safely at 8.30am (BST) on Saturday 22nd
June, just two weeks after leaving Bermuda … not bad considering.
19th Update
Horta (Faial, Azores) I spent a while
changing fuel filters and bleeding the system through after adding what
little fuel we had in a "Jerry Can", but I couldn't get her going again.
We decided to go ashore, get breakfast, then some decent sleep, and tackle
the job later. The usual social scene followed, as we met lots of the
same people we had met in Bermuda, and many people we had met on various
other legs of the trip too. It's cool how we all seem to be gathered at
the same point on the last leg of all our journeys, getting home. Met
another Irish boat called "Galavant", had great "sessions" with them,
as one of them, Johnny, had a guitar and mandolin on board.
Denis is a marine engineer and he checked out my engine for me, to find
the "Injector Pump" was faulty. I searched the whole island to get parts
… but no. A guy on another island was looking hopeful for a while … but
no. Now I'm waiting for the parts to come from the U.S. Well … another
week has passed by (Thursday 11th July) … I ordered the parts both from
the US and the guy on San Miguel, who was getting them from Japan.
The US parts arrived three days sooner than promised, they arrived last
Monday, but were the wrong ones. Now waiting to see what the local guy
gets me. Meanwhile, I've ended up playing guitar and singing in "Pete's
Café Sport" every night for free drink. That's cool enough, but it's getting
to me now, too many late nights.
My brother, Barry, who is training on a 300 meter Container Ship, has
spent most of his time back and over the Indian Ocean. We keep in touch
via email, which is cool as I haven't seen him since November. He was
now crossing the Atlantic and we kept in touch to see if we might pass
each other close by. I didn't expect to, but Wednesday morning (3rd July)
we were within VHF range (9miles actually) and chatted for about half
an hour. That was very cool … to pass so close, having left opposite sides
of the world … but it's a pity he couldn't stop so we could meet.
I heard from John, from Rebellious who spent the winter in the Canaries,
and he is making his way here to meet me, with his wife Jenny and two
girls Lauren and Heidi. Sarah, who I last saw in Bermuda arrived here
yesterday also … it's such a great meeting place, in the middle of the
Atlantic.
There are so many people here with the same story as me, we should have
T-Shirts printed … "No, I don't live here … I'm just waiting for parts".
I'm now going to miss "Ford Cork Week" at home, which was my ultimate
goal. I'm beginning to think I may never get home … so close, but yet
so far away. Saturday (20th July) … another
couple of weeks have past by … what can I say? Of all the people I've
met here, sailors, tourists and locals, there were three in particular
that I ended up meeting with almost every night, Annabella, Deresh (Vera)
and her son Rafael … all from mainland Portugal. Rafael ended up playing
guitar with me every night, alternating my guitar between the two of us
… until I said I was leaving … then someone bought him a guitar to keep
the pub-music up after I had gone. That made me feel good … and then I
changed my plans again, so we had two guitars and the fun got better.
John, from "Rebellious", got here as well and added his own special touch
to the show, "Seven Drunken Nights". It was really great to meet up with
him, Jenny and the girls. They almost feel like family here with me. Rafael
and gang left last Monday (15th July), since then I've been trying to
take it easy and rest my voice and give everyone a break from my howling,
but in vain, I keep getting asked to play, which I take as a compliment
but I need a break. I got a "Text Message" from Barry today, he is back
in Spain after crossing the Atlantic and back … he makes it all seem so
easy. I was told that my parts had left Lisbon yesterday (Friday 19th
July), so maybe they'll be here by mid week … we'll see. I then have to
decide whether I should keep heading north (home) or go south instead.
You see I had planned on "Wintering" my boat in the Canaries this year
… I haven't got home yet, but there is only one month left before I should
be going south anyway. Maybe I'll go straight to the Canaries from here
and fly home for a while … it seems to make more sense, at this stage.
The "T-Shirt" idea has changed slightly … now on the back it should say
"The parts never arrived … Now I do Live here".
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