From Sicily to Palma: aftermath.

SV Eleonora
Michael A. Andronov
Wed 16 Oct 2019 20:00
39:33.044N 002:36.0808E
2000 UTC,  October 16th, 2019

The boat spent time on anchor, resting. In front of the Porto Calanova, where actually the real ’sailing season of 2019 ‘ has started. 
Myself,  I’ve been running all around, in attempt to get enough  presents to the boat — the air pump for venting the air from the motor box out … stopped working…  The pressure water pump has been slowly dying…. In short, I was looking for the ways to pay the boat back for keeping us and bringing to Palma. 

I’ve read — well, I’ve been looking through, and asked locals to read and to tell me what it is all about — the article about the storm, covered the Mallorca another night.  The same storm, which we survived in the Sea…. It looks like it heated Mallorca pretty well, especially the West coast and calas, leaving quite a few ships on the shore… The article further speculates if it is the result the Global warming,  put some statistic about the frequency of the storm on Mallorca, and about the extraordinary amount of strong rough storms the year 2019…  At least, that confirms that the storm I have experienced the Sea — has been real, and not the result of my imagination! ;-).

A few words about the storm:
— No, I’ve been not looking for one.  The fact, that it has caught us — this time — is probably the ‘wrong approach ‘ for the Squid weather program routing feature.  The mistake in my usage of the program, reading, and my interpretation of the results.  I guess, I have to learn more… On the second part of the passage — to Almerimar — I would like use it again.  
— If the part that I’ve ‘routing myself’  into the storm — probably ‘negative’,  the part —that we’ve managed it, and survived — is definitely on the positive side. 
— the storm handling itself… I have probably northing to be proud of… The movements were clumsy, to make the decisions seems took more time that I would like to,  I can only wish  to react quicker, etc, etc…  A few things in the boat and myself handling during the storm, and  — especially — in preparing during the last moments before the storm hits, I would like to make differently next time. 
— I’ve mentioned already, that my wind indicator lost ability to show the wind speed… Well, I know — I’ve not seen the ‘wheel’ rotating at the speed of 30 knots, on anchorages during the summer.  During the storm,  at certain point —  the wheel started to rotate…showing 1-2 knots at first,  and went  to 15 knots — the maximum…providing me with some hope… that the strong  pouring rain and the strong wind  made some ‘cleaning’ , brought some magic, and the indicator would start to work again… No, it has not. As the wind had become a bit lighter… The ‘wheel’ stopped working again… 
— the lightning… As thinking about the boat and the lightning —  somehow, I was thinking more about the cases of direct hit the boat by lighting, electronics, etc.  What I’ve been experiencing this time — completely different…. I’ve been surrounding by light,  as intensive as lightning for a few minutes… Yellowish & greenish kind of light. It provided some impression that the sound of the wind and the waves  become much, much less…  Made the view of everything around — if not very beautiful, but at least extraordinary…  I did not pay attention to at the beginning, but the next day — it affects the eyes… As if you have been exposed to watching the welding arc, without enough / improper protection mask…  
— the conditions — waves, wind, sounds, boat rapid movement… They all together seem to be much, much worse then the actual conditions are. And the only thing you can do — to continue to  handle the boat in the best way you are aware of… But it is not easy,  as all surrounding atmosphere  Is putting pressure on you… It looks like a very rational and true statement.  But it is very easy to say. And the advice appeared to be much more difficult to follow, then I’ve been expecting.
 
They say, to improve — you have to practice… But the challenge with it is — you need to repeat the exercise… and that is the  thing I would NOT like to do! ;-) At least, for now — it is not on my ’to-do’ list. 
 
There is some nice things about returning to the places, you have travelled through already. 
I’ve been very happy, to meet friends — whom I’ve met in Palma, at the beginning of the summer. Somehow, the schedule of meeting quickly built up, and appeared the planned 2 day stop on Palma — is not enough! ;-) 
Nice meetings, nice evening, good catch up with people…  Of course,  a nice beer and tapas! 
Somehow, that part brought a lot of relaxation, no matter how tired I’ve been running during the day to find the promised presents to the boat and to re-stoc her with food for the next leg to Almerimar… 

Time to bed to bed and to start to build the ’sleep bank’. I would need it soon! 

Everything is good and in stable conditions. 

Talk to you soon, 
M.

Phone, whatsapp, & text: +1(514)609-5645