The last problems have been solved. The charger charges the
batteries, the leak in the water system has been cured. The bilges
have been emptied. We've stocked up with water, fresh vegetables,
bread and diesel. We've been to the shops to buy the last little
items - some more tea towels, a tray to put the dishes in after we
have washed them up. Now it is down to the last emails.
Unfortunately, this may be the last email that we send before we reach
the Azores as we have a problem with the modem on the satellite phone
- it just won't work. The phone itself works fine. We are going to
have a couple of last goes at fixing it tomorrow morning as we leave
but if we are not successful then this is the last blog for about 12
days.
We are glad to be going: this is what we came for - to sail across the
Atlantic. But we will miss the generous people we have met here.
Laurie who we met when we stayed at the Sail Inn: we had a bath at her
house yesterday - absolutely blissful! And today, she came by with a
generous bag full of parting gifts. Some more of the wonderful
rhubarb relish that she had already so generously bestowed on us;
books to read; some blueberry juice because she knew that Ian loves
it. What a wonderful friend Laurie has been to us. We hope we will
see her in Europe when we will treat her as royally as she has treated
us.
Keith from the Sail Inn never did get a sail on Elemiah, although we
always looked to see when he was taking out his own ketch the Eastern
Star. Keith does the most amazing manoeuvres on that boat. He gave
us a parting gift of a book on mechanical and electrical systems on
boats: we will find it useful over and over again. We hope to see him
in Europe too even though this evening he and his boat have
disappeared into the fog.
Laurel and Michaela (Hannah's mother and sister) who made us endless
supplies of cookies - we certainly won't eat them all before we arrive
in the Azores and to Michaela for the lovely scarves and hats and the
teapot cosy!
Sandy from North Sails helped us with the gennaker which is
beautiful. We are looking forward to flying it across the ocean - our
angel leading us home. The cushions that Joan made will last us for
years and keep us comfortable.
We wish Steve luck with his gear box - he hopes to get to Iceland and
the North of Scotland this year sailing on his own.
The most thanks are due to the whole team at Covey. They are great
craftsmen and we have a beautiful boat. We will take pleasure in
their craftsmanship each time we take the binoculars out of the rack,
use the swim ladder, take a book out of the bookshelves. Thank you
John, Colin, Rodney, Morgan, Bill and everyone else in the team.
We hope to be back before too long.
Rosemary and Ian
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