En route to Porto Santo with visitors and fresh fish

Sy-tucanon
Philip Fearnhead
Mon 29 Oct 2012 10:29
Monday 29th October.  35:30.34N 013:53.90W
The weather forecasts after our last posting suggested that the depression which appeared to be blocking our route to the Madeira archipelago was set to divide nicely in time for us to progress to Port Santo.  Not quite the opening of the Red Sea, but it feels like it after the delays of the past couple of weeks.
 
We left Peniche at 10.00  Saturday on a run with 20 knot winds and sunshine.  Despite having to put a reef in after a few hours, we still managed 100 miles in the first 12 hours sailing. With this encouragement we continued towards Porto Santo.  Sunday afternoon found us motoring in a flat calm, but the Portuguese sun made it seem so much better than the same experience in Brittany’s clammy fog.  John also made the first catch of the trip; a Bonito which he cooked for dinner.
 
A small bird, similar to a starling, joined us overnight on Saturday, presumably blown off course by the offshore wind which had favoured our sailing, and was taking refuge in the flybridge “tent” the following morning. He didn’t seem to like the company there and departed, but returned in the evening with a friend.  Because the two little birds were sleeping in the sail bag, we were unwilling to disturb them by raising the main sail until Monday morning when they had emerged from their slumber, fortuitously coinciding with the return of a good sailing wind (or were the gods thanking us for our consideration?).  Again, they have departed the boat this morning.  We shall have to see if they return or get a lift elsewhere;  it is still 200 miles from the nearest land.
 
Sunday also brought a whale to visit us, possibly a Minke, though this identification is uncertain.  It cruised alongside for a few minutes before diving and disappearing to its own world in the depths.
 
We are making good progress once more under sail towards Porto Santo.  It will probably take until Wednesday to get there as the winds are forecast to be less favourable.