Second leg commences!
ULA
John & Jackie Richards
Mon 6 Oct 2008 14:25
|
Position: 035:10.862N 009:44.456W
The Ula crew are back afloat and are currently on
passage from Vilamoura to the Canaries on the second leg of our ARC adventure,
the crew for this leg comprising John, myself, brother in law Andrew and friends
Tim and Helen. At time of blogging, (approx 2.45pm Mon 6 Oct) we are having a
spell of motor sailing due to a lack of wind listening to a blast of George
Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers (who????) through the cockpit speakers
courtesy of Andrew who we think is having a full-blown mid life crisis....!
Captain John decided his ears couldnt take anymore and as he was technically off
watch anyway has retired for a quiet kip in the front cabin. The dolphins who
came to visit us earlier didnt seem to like George T either and were
quickly scared away.
A quick back track to Vilamoura - John and I
arrived Tuesday pm and had a few days sorting out Ula, a golf game with Andrew
and a trip to the Monchique area for a day which we really liked. A monster trip
to Apolonia, the Portugese equivalent of Waitrose, in Amancil for a massive
provisioning on Saturday left Ula looking decidedly lower in the water. Tim and
Helen arrived Sat pm courtesy of BMIBaby Southampton and have won the 'expert
packing' award having managed to bring sleeping bags, oilies and a selection of
clothes for every weather eventuality in two smallish sailing bags!
On Sunday, having surveyed the weather position we
decided to set sail that afternoon. Tim and Helen wanted to sample some of the
excellent Portugese sardines before they left so we all had lunch at a
restaurant in the marina complex comprising traditional Portugese fare of
grilled sardines, salad and boiled potatoes before setting off eventually around
3pm. Having motor-sailed for about fifteen miles the wind filled
in and we enjoyed good sailing for the next 18 hours or so when the
wind died completely. We had the spinnaker up earlier this morning but have had
to give up and resort to our iron topsail for a while. We are all a bit tired
and just getting used to the watch routine. Weather is fantastic at the moment
and the wind is due to return tomorrow. Only another 380 miles to
go.....!
Highlights of the trip so
far:
Amazing night sky - millions of stars, clear view
of Orion, and several shooting stars through the night.
The brightest phosphorescence we have ever seen -
even when viewed through the inlet pipe in the 'heads'!?
Picking up Casablanca radio during the
night
Future highlights: Andrew performing air guitar on
the foredeck to GT later!?!
Love to everyone at home, Jackie
|