Bermuda to Flores, Azores 1

33:17.72N 61:01.66W

11^th  June 2015

190 miles from Bermuda

 9705 Miles from Ramsgate by log.

Two nights out and all is well. The clearance from Bermuda went without a hitch and having topped up on diesel and petrol we are now on our way to Flores in the Azores.  The island was in turmoil as we departed as there had been a bank raid in the capitol Hamilton. Not the brightest of moves I would have thought on an island 14 miles long and the Police were busily tracking the gang of blaggers down as we sailed away, (note to self check bilges for stowaway masked men). After calling up for permission to go through St George’s narrow cut and out to sea a final farewell from Bermuda radio came through wishing us a safe and pleasant journey and inviting us to come again. That really summed up just how pleasant and friendly a place Bermuda is. Norma was pretty ill for the first 24 hours having we suspect picked up a dose of food poisoning on our last day and so she was confined to bed for the first night. I decided that we would keep going for 4 hours and if her condition began to deteriate then we would head back in, but once tucked up in bed she was fairly content (if sick, and miserable) and so we went on. Back up again now she is busily organising my daily life, I really can’t understand how I managed to get through the last 24 hours without her help.

My birthday kind of slipped by lost in the activities of getting us to sea again, but it was nice to get emails from family and friends in the morning and of course a card, kiss and present from Norma. A highlight of the day was that I got to duck a gossipy and shrewish woman. As we walked through the town a historical re-enactment of a public ducking was getting underway and I was asked to help operate the ducking stool. Always willing to lend a hand, I spent a happy 20 minutes ducking a 17^th century woman in the harbour who had been found guilty of gossiping in a shrewish manor. My civic duty complete we left a repentant and very wet woman behind us as we walked back to Spectra, see pictures when we next reach land. What really made my day was after our first evening meal at sea Jen and the guys gave me a card and present from the crew. I am now proud the owner of a bright white Pith helmet that Tommy Foster will just hate on sight, but I must say, it is my best hat everrrr and I love it.

The wind was predicted to be very light for a few days but we got lucky over the first 24 hours and were soon scooting along heading North East at 5 to 7 knots in a steady(ish) North West force 3-4. The only down side has been a counter current of about 1 knot which has slowed us a bit. On the second day the predicted light winds arrived and we had to turn the engine on twice as it went dead calm. The upside of motoring for a few hours has been that the diesel smell down below has now dissipated. When I went to clear customs leaving Spectra on the fuel jetty I said to the guys to fill her right up and they took me at my word, filling the tanks up to deck level. As the fuel level has now dropped back into the tanks the smell has gone which is a very, very good thing indeed. Even with the wind dropping overall progress has been good and I am more than pleased so far.

This morning I managed to get a weather report on the SSB and amongst other things the tropical storm centre (center) in America reports no storms predicted in the next five days which always gives you a warm fluffy feeling.

That’s about it, Steve managed to catch a seagull on the fishing line today (not on the hook I hasten to add) which was one seriously peeved bird by the time we had reeled him in and set him free. Adamant has taken up Astro navigation with a will and is plotting all over my charts while I still cheat by taking the sights and then punching the results into an Ap on my cell phone. Jen is sooo keen and enthusiastic about everything that she wears me out just watching her and of course a fully recovered Norma continues to keep us all on the straight and narrow, well fed, rested and sane.

PS: That’s it for this one, next blog in a couple of days will be from Jen, yes you guessed it she volunteered!!