14th June and Osprey left Horta at 0900 this morning after a substantial
breakfast and to great send off from Mike and Chris from Reverie and Simon
and Hilda of Calisto. Charles parents were also there so we had no shortage
of hands to let go the lines. There were three boats rafted outside of us so
it was a fairly major evolution unscrambling the lines and getting clear of
the berth. Ushomi one of the boats in the raft and Skippered by Andrew
decided they would leave at the same time and are now in company with us -
if out of sight astern. The wind is light but northerly so we have been able
to sail at 6 knots and on the correct course. This is a relief after the
difficulties with the wind on the passage from Antigua. Osprey is in good
shape having been serviced in Horta and we have no defects at present. We
were able to sort out the leach line on the main whilst in port. It had been
stitched into the sunbrella during the course of being manufactured and we
were able to cut out those stitches to free it then sew up the sail again.
Its nice to be sailing without the fluttering sound that the trapped leach
line caused and of course the sail now sets properly. We had a great week in
Horta with Aku and Anita and it was a little sad to see them off to the
airport on Friday although the population of Horta may have breathed a sigh
of relief!. Yesterday evening we were all invited over to Calisto for
sundowners and afterwards Ann and Rodney joined us on Osprey for a great
meal cooked by Charles. The forecast is for light winds for the next couple
of days and then we should pick up some good 15 knot northerlies which
should move us along very nicely.
"Notes from a Small Quiet Boat" - it is very pleasent to be underway again,
and the smaller crew of SY Osprey has fast settled into life on the ocean
waves this morning. A brisk start to the voyage motoring at 7 knots to the
north of Pico, then once out of the lee of the island to the north the Genoa
was unfurled and we sailed along at a steady 6 knots. In the past hour the
wind has dropped, so we are motor sailing.
The crew has quickly reverted to role, SC Ted in command in the Pilothouse,
although a little sad after the emotional farewell to "Small Bear". John
meditating wherever the urge takes him and Charles enjoying the sun on the
terrace - truth be told a little too much, so this evening his nose is
rather red and somewhat tender!
There is no doubt that the combined skill of Anita, Aku & Kuki combined with
the final shop completed by Charles has left Osprey incredibly well
provisioned. This voyage is going to be good eating punctuated by the odd
bit of sailing. This was started today, with a full fry up before leaving
Horta, coffee & biscuits for elevenses, lovely rolls for lunch, doughnuts
for tea and we have just had cheesy chicken pasta for dinner. At the moment
Charles is manning the stove, but a replacment for Kuki has been found and
pictures will be posted in short order.
Now that Kuki has deserted us it is fair to say that Osprey is a little
quieter, and this is helping Budda with his search for enlightenment. The
pilothouse is certainly not the same without her individual presence.
So, at the end of the first day out of Horta the quest for wind continues
and the hope is that we may actually manage to sail for longer than 36 hrs
on this leg!
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