Porto Santo
Marita3
Mark & Helen Syrett
Wed 14 Sep 2011 20:34
We arrived at Porto Santo (about 30 miles north east of Madeira)at 0130 early today (Wednesday morning) where Oyster Moon (Paul and Rhu) had arrived at about 2100. They had stayed up and were on the pontoon to welcome us in and take our lines which was fantastic, and beyond the call of duty, as strange ports and darkness are not an ideal combination.
We experienced a wind acceleration zone as we approached Porto Santo----a sudden increase in wind as it blew round and over this lump of volcanic rock. As the windex was not working we do not know the strength but it was significant.
Our passage from Portimao to Porto Santo was 497.5 miles, took 88 hours, average speed 5.65 knots, with 13.3 engine hours,(15%) (Falmouth to La Coruna, the Biscay Crossing, was 512.7 miles and 80.58 hours, average speed 6.36 knots, engine hours 32.8 (40%)), the wind was on the starboard quarter and blew anything from about 10 to 20+ knots all the time - surprisingly the stronger winds were at night from sunset to sunrise.
The skipper having written the above, the crew can report that the provisions held out, the loaf was found at the back of the fridge (is there anything more infuriating than a chest fridge?) and the sea was the deepest shade of translucent indigo, during the day, a wonderful colour. One pod of dolphins and several types of seabirds were the only wildlife seen although there are teeth marks on the metal of the towed generator, which did a fantastic job of keeping the battery strength up, and therefore the skippers worries down. Porto Santo is just a lump of volcanic rock in the sea, we are going into the town later. the number of cockroaches in the marina showers has prompted special measures, ie dockshoes and boatshoes with disinfectant between the two as the eggs are carried on the soles.
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