4'e dygnet på atlanten + foton

Dawnbreaker
Lars Alfredson
Sun 24 Oct 2010 10:39
Dag 7 lördagen den 23 oktober
Pos 33:03.703N 16:8.936W
 
Bobs comments below
 
Fredagskväll med happy our och mys och efter det fiskmiddag med det som gårdagen hade gett i fångst, den här gången bakade i ugnen. Alla smaskade gott och sköljde ned med ett glas vitt.
Kvällen flöt på! och förväntningarna om att snart angöra Porto Santo höjdes, vi beräknade nu att angöra vid 3-tiden i natt. Fullt månsken gjorde vakten trevligare och när jag gick av vid 23.30 så såg vi fyren. Vi lade till kl 02.30 och hamnade på en jättestor kaj med konstiga jättefendrar. Lars kollade tidvattnet och då förstod vi, det skiljer 2,4 meter och just nu är det högvatten. Det gäller alltså att ha långa tampar och många fendrar, det blev en gnisslande natt. På förmiddagen kom hamnkaptenen och erbjöd oss en plats på en flytbrygga.
 
Tvättning av fendrar, reling och skrovsidor efter nattens skavande mot kajen.
Porto Santo ser ogästvänligt ut med eroderade vulkanberg och nästan ingen växtlighet. På hamnkajens pir har massor av seglare målat bilder på sina båtar med namn och årtal, väldans många svenska.
Idag lördag blir det sill-lunch med tillbehör och sedan bad på den otroligt fina stranden, 24 grader i vattnet. På kvällen promenerade vi in till byn och åt middag.
 
Imorgon seglar vi till Madeira.
 
Varma hälsningar

 

 

1300 Time for beer whilst lunch is being prepared and todays gourmet delight Pasta with a piquant little sauce with a tin of Tuna skilfully blended into it washed down with yet another tin of Estonia’s best beer.

 

With the wind on the nose we motor on dodging the odd rain squall and watching lightening in the distance. As the Sun sets fire to a mass of Cumulus on its way down the wind gradually veers to the North and puts some drive into our sail giving us and extra knot or two. As our ETA now moves to 0330 and we all want to be up for our arrival Lars and I head for our bunk to relieve Anders and Connie at 0130.

 

 

 

23102010 Saturday Day 6

 

I stagger up the cockpit facing aft, “look behind you” is the cry I turn toward the bow and there like dragons teeth the volcanic peaks of Porto Santo lit by the flame of a thousand orange street lights rises from the sea in front of us.

We have made good time and as we advance the wind has become northerly with our speed steadily increasing. The good ship “Dawnbreaker” seems as eager as its crew to get into port .

 

02000 taking a wide arch to miss the (non- existant) buoys as advised by the Pilot Book and chart we enter the harbour in a by now brisk 15kt wind. We nose down to the Marina at the far end of the main harbour but it appears to be full so its back to the main quay to find a suitable spot between the odd fishing boat pumps, going full bore to circulate water for its fish keep tanks and the enormous black buoy near what appear to be a disused ferry berth.

 

By 0230 were all tied up. Having arrived at high water we have the quandary of leaving enough slack in the lines to allow for the 2.5 meter tide range and stopping the boat grinding back and fore along the quay wall in the heavy swell that is running .

0300 having had a few celebratary drinks we hit the sack. At 0700 I meet Lars as we both get up to stop the horrible noise that is the fender grinding back and forth now that we are at the bottom of the tide which reveals the dock wall is actually inset so we have to reset their hight and adjust the lines.

 

The morning (for some) arrives with black clouds over the mountain behind us but pleasantly warm.The Sun arrives to clear the clouds and we have visit from the Harbour Master with two American sailors in tow who he moving to another berth to let us into the Marina.

 

By know its blowing the 25kts that were promised and driving us hard onto the dock. So it is that with some fear and trepidation and the good seamanship of our fearless Skipper we manage to bounce ourselves of the dock. Lars then tries to back into our marina berth which is facing directly into wind but even with the bow thrusters and full engine we have to much windage and cannot hold her steady enough to it so a full frontal approach is made with success.  The disadvantage is that we now have 25kts blowing straight into the cockpit.

 

Daylight reveals the whole of the concrete breakwater is covered in painting of ships flags and emblems left by crew of visiting boats I spot a “Cariad” left by an American Yacht !, Lars finds one from the Norwegians who towed him when he had engine failure in Scotland some years ago and another from yacht he had been sailing some years ago.

 

Lunch is a somewhat boozy affair as I am introduced to Norwegian Sild, in various sauces, Caviar and lots of schnapps and drinking  songs !!

Next to the Harbour is a beautiful 6.5kilometer golden soft sand beach, with a perfect calm 23C turquoise sea which we take full advantage. After a sobering swim its off to the shower block, more beer at the café and back to the boat for six o’clock Gin & Tonics. If you think its hell at sea going ashore can be equally dangerous !

 

That evening we walk the three kilometres into Town, find a nice restaurant and after a very pleasant meal and a couple of bottles of very nice red opt for a taxi ride back to the boat. A nightcap or two and so to bed

Position 33.03’.703 North 16.18’.936 West    

 
 
@lantisarna
 

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