Safe in the Azores!

Posted On 15 June, 2014

14/06/2014 – 1400 ship’s time

Position – 37°36N 032°04W

Course – 086°T

Speed – 9.1 knots

True Wind Direction – 228°T at 21 knot

From Matt

The weather has thrown all it can at us to stop us making it to Horta. At this time yesterday we were actually heading in the opposite direction, fleeing a storm that generated a spectacular barograph trace and gave us the chance to set an all-time FPB speed record of 22 knots. Some of the crew were a bit jumpy about this, muttering about safety concerns, but the boat has felt as sturdy as ever to me. Luckily, yesterday’s weather died off as quickly as it came up. We brought GREY WOLF back onto track during the night and are surfing our merry way towards Horta, now a mere 30 miles to the Northeast. Our ETA is showing just after the end of my 8-12 watch.

Tony has prepared a mural for us to paint on the Great Wall of Horta, a huge breakwater where passing sailors have been marking their ships’ logos for decades. We have been warned that the marina may be full. There may not even be space to anchor as the island is packed, in which case we’ll have to drop the pick in an adjacent island. Considering the weather, this isn’t surprising. Nobody in their right mind would go out into it from choice. However, a weather window for boats heading north has opened up today, so we’re hoping that some at least will have cleared out by the time we arrive, but we’re not optimistic.

As we only have what should be a 5-day journey from Horta to Guernsey, major boat-cleaning and visitor preparations have started. Everything is immaculate. I’m scared to touch any of the freshly polished woodwork or use the oven that Peter has spent hours cleaning.

Jeff comes before me on the watch cycle. Ever since my phone, which is my only alarm, stopped working in Rarotonga, he has been waking me 15 minutes before my watch starts. This morning I came to, convinced Jeff had shaken me, and went to do my watch only to find I was 1½ hours early and that Jeff hadn’t been near me. I’ve asked for a fresh watch cycle for our next leg because I’m terrified that when I’m back home again I’ll wake up every 6 hours with the nightmare of Jeff’s voice telling me to take the helm.

We ran the water maker overnight as we normally do before landfall. It’s good to arrive with full tanks in case we get stuck for a while in a dirty harbour where we can’t make water. While I’ve been writing, land has popped up ahead and our second longest, most testing leg, is finally coming to an end.

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Hi guys

It’s 1300UT on Saturday. AIS is telling me you’re on the wall in Horta. How is the surge? Sometimes it’s ‘orrible’.

What was the first land you saw approaching the Azores? It’s usually Pico unless it’s in cloud.

I’ve been looking at the synoptic charts and it seems you’re likely to have headwinds after the weekend. They don’t look too strong, although there is a north/south front kicking around, plus a few wandering troughs that might stir things up. I was once pinned in at Horta for three weeks by a high over the UK that funnelled strong northeasterlies straight down our way. I hope you do better than we did, but at least you’re a motor boat and you’re nearly home.

Do you have to bunker in Horta, or have you plenty of diesel for the home run?

On an R&R note, you can buy wine in 1-gallon, plastic wickerwork containers in the Azores that is palatable and incredibly good value, but don’t do what I did and load up on half a dozen to bring home. By the time I got to Spain the whole lot had turned to vinegar. It does

not travel!

Tom