Preparations for leaving
'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Tue 9 Sep 2008 14:31
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At the moment, planning on Leaving Porto Santo
tomorrow, 10th september. The wind has been from the SW for a couple of days but
now has resumed its more normal direction (N or NE). The boat was re-watered
yesterday and I'll top up this afternoon from cans then refill those from the
hose in the marina.
After some thought I've decided to give Madeira a
miss this trip. I'd have to go into a marina to leave the boat to look around
the island and as I'm planning on going to the UK in early October for a weeks
visit, something had to give (from a budgetary point of view) and that something
was the visit to Madeira ¬ next time round! I've enjoyed Porto Santo as much as
I did last time, the people are just as friendly as ever. I'll try and put some
more pictures on the web diary in the Canaries, if I get a better WIFI
connection. The one here was fine for Skype etc, but couldn't cope with sending
a dozen re-sized photos for some reason.This visit has been shorter than the
last by about five days, but anchoring in the harbour is more expensive now than
it was. I've had two trips around the island now and pretty much seen all there
is to see (apart from some inland rocks that apparently look like the Giants
Causeway, but Dick & I tried for a couple of hours to find them in a hire
car with no luck. There are more people and cars here now, but you still
couldn't say the place is crowded. The rush hour is really a 'rush five minutes'
when the ferry comes in (twice a day). The shops are still not up to much, fruit
& veg inferior to Madeira and also the Canaries. More people speak english
now, but that seems to be true anywhere you go. All in all a very pleasant
little island, very friendly people, a good climate although just a little
limited in terms of entertainment, it must be said.
The plan is to leave mid morning towards
Graciosa (off Lanzarrotte), anchor there for a couple of days then drift down
the coast towards the Marina Rubicon. Last time the trip took 47 hours and I'm
expecting much the same this time (fingers crossed). I'll be sorry to leave
Porto Santo, my impressions of it remain the same and maybe in the future I'll
return for an extended stay, the climate is pleasant all year, the marina itself
is protected and I could get a good long-term deal.....but places to go, people
to meet etc etc. I'll try & keep the diary updated as I go, first position
report probably 1800 tomorrow.
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