FINNROSE 12.00 039:25:40N 031:18:00W SAT 13/07/13

Finnrose
Sat 13 Jul 2013 16:18
After an hour and a half of motoring along the eastern side of the island, and the light fading, Ken M helmed Finnrose into the harbour entrance of Lajes das Flores, and across to the port and starboard markers of the tiny marina entrance. He carefully negotiated the marina wall on the left, and the rocks at the base of the cliff face to the right. The entrance size reflected the marina size, and when we got inside it was crammed with boats. Inch by inch, with no bow thrusters to help, Mark then skilfully turned Finnrose around on her axis. We made our way outside the marina, and he set her gently alongside the outer marina wall. With great agility, Ken W was the first to set foot on dry land - he climbed onto the pulpit, strode across the gap from Finnrose to the ladder, climbed quickly to the top of the wall, caught the ropes and secured them to the cleats. The rest of the crew followed him, climbing up the harbour wall ladder and onto the marina mole - ashore for the first time in fifteen day. What a great feeling! Even though it was dark, and after eleven local time, we had sundowners on the deck, and a supper of spaghetti Bolognese to the vibrant chorus of seabirds who roost on the cliffs at the entrance to the marina. A bottle of red wine was used to toast Finnrose, Stuart and our safe return to Europe.

This morning dawned warm but cloudy. We had some breakfast and then went to the harbour master's office - being Saturday, there was no-one around, so a kind man phoned him for us - he arrived five minutes later. What a great young man - he went through all the formalities, showed us a map, talked about the best shops and cafes, looked on the website of the marina in Terciera and gave us phone numbers and prices, and then took us in his car for a ten minute drive to the local shop to allow us to top up our provisions.

We are now back at the boat, having had lunch. Liz is looking at how to paint the Finnrose logo on the harbour wall, the two Ken's are off looking around the boats and Mark has gone internet cafe hunting... just two or three islands to go now...