Terceira to Falmouth
Tamarisk
Wed 5 Jul 2006 15:51
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We left Angra do Heroismo at 1345 on the 20th
of June. We went west around the island as the wind was blowing from the
east. We had been expecting to have to go pretty well due north for
the first 200 miles or so to get away from the Azores High and get wind but Herb
advised us to actually go a bit north west. A couple of yachts had gone out
during the morning - Crusader and Grey Goose - and Regina left just before us.
 Karolina, Jonathan, Jessica and Leon wave 'good
bye' in Angra. They were making for Southern
Ireland. We spoke with Regina at 0930 and after our sessions
with Herb each evening on 8294 khz. All three boats were in sight as night
fell but Regina soon raced ahead. The wind was on the nose and we were all
motor-sailing.
 Terceira disappears into the evening
horizon
Caroline took some Stugeron, which knocked her out
a bit, but she still stood her watch and her stomach soon improved. The
following evening the wind went round to the east and we started sailing but
still north. About 250 miles north of the Azores, Herb advised us to go
east to stay south of a developing low pressure system. It was about here that
we started talking to Blue Bujun, who had trouble getting Herb to hear their
SSB.
 Caroline at the wheel.
We saw plenty of dolphins. One night they came when
the moon was low and the phosphoresence strong. They left glowing trails through
the water - each punctuated with brighter blobs where they beat their
tails. They crossed and recrossed the bow and zoomed back and forth under
the propellor. We also saw whales - minkes (probably) and pilot whales and a lot
of unidentifiable spouts.
 Crusader - another Swedish yacht heading for
Ireland. They stayed close for several days. After a couple of days going east, we were able to
come round to a direct line for Falmouth. We had more trouble with the autopilot
and navigation instruments. The fuse holder we'd had replaced in Horta hadn't
been fitted well enough but we got it all going again after a bit of
fiddling. The fresh water held out well and we were all able to have
showers before Falmouth.
 Tim syphoning extra water into the main tanks
- one of the many fun-packed tasks required on passage The last day or so was hard work, pushing into a
head wind and then there were tides! - something we'd not really had to take
account of since leaving Falmouth almost a year ago.
 As we came into the Western Approaches, there were
more and more ships and fishing boats
Yet again we have been lucky to find an excellent
extra pair of hands for the passage. Caroline probably had to put up with
the worst weather of all our crew but she seemed not to mind the cloud and the
drizzle too much. The children really enjoyed having her on board, maybe
that was because she kept producing little presents for them and the grown-ups
took to her penchant for a Happy Hour brandy. And to cap it all
she let us spend a few days recovering in her cottage near Penzance. We
must remember to ask her again.
.
 Caroline produced some plasticene as a half-way
present for the children. It proved very popular.
 Plasticene art displayed on the compass. Anna's egg
and chips was judged overall winner.
 Anna working on a picture of dolphins - another of
Caroline's presents
 Caroline sunbathing on the foredeck.
Coming round Lizard Point, our mobile phone started
bleeping as various text messages came in. Grandma, Grandad, Granny and Ted
watched us come in from Pendennis Point. By the time we'd got round to Port
Pendennis Marina, they'd driven round and were there to wave flags and take
our lines. Cousin Robin, who lives in Feoch and his
partner, Jane, also came down. They were a very welcome welcoming
party.
 Anna and Eddie getting just a bit excited about
coming home.
 Pendennis Point - somewhere there are 4 Senior
Citizens waving flags
 Approaching our customary 'Ellen MacArthur
position' just below the tower of the National Maritime Museum. The
welcoming party had moved to the balcony under the tower, complete with their
Union Jacks.
We got in at 1000. The leg took us 11
days and 20 hours. We covered 1375 miles over the ground.
The grandparents then drove us to Caroline's
cottage near Penzance where we had a bath and then Robin, Jane and Jane's
daughter Isabel joined us for supper. Caroline, sadly, had to get back to
London. Robin gave her a lift to the train. Next time, we'll time our arrival
for the beginning of a weekend.
 First night supper in Caroline and Martin's cottage
with (from left) Robin, John, Julie, Ted, Shirley, Isabel and
Jane.
 Outside the cottage
 Eddie and Anna working off some post-passage
tension on the Winn's trampoline.
The grandparents have now gone home and we are back
on the boat. We've been joined in the
marina by a 40-strong contingent of Westerly Owner's Association members.
They have all been very friendly and we've been swapping how-to-fix-it tales
with other Corsair owners. We've found a small water leak in the engine. Once
fixed, we'll get moving. We hope that'll be in the next couple of
days.
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