Sunday 18th July

Vaquero
Sun 18 Jul 2010 15:06
I am pleased to report that Vaquero tied up in Plymouth at Mayflower marina at 0746 today.  50 21.7N  4 10.0W for anyone interested.  It has taken fifteen days to return from the Azores, a fairly slow trip by comparison to the return from Terceira two years ago.  A lot of very calm weather whilst in the Azores high and two gales as we approached the Channel, the first necessitating lying to a drogue for twenty four hours, so it's been a frustrating trip in many ways.  Vaquero has behaved impeccably throughout, as one would expect of these seaworthy designs, and I have never had any doubts in even the worst weather.  Although slow by comparison to more modern designs, we did clock 13.9 knots with the storm jib in the severe gale, at which point the drogue seemed a more sensible idea.
 
Weather permitting I shall leave here on Tuesday for the cruis back to the East Coast, with the unadulterated luxury of crew.  The voyage won't be complete until Vaquero returns to her home port and that will be a moment to savour, it'll be good to be back home,
   
    The flower-flecked grasses swim with simple horses,
    The hedges choke with roses fat as cream.
 
    So do I breathe the hayblown airs of home,
    And watch the sea-green elms drip birds and shadows,
    And as the twilight nets the plunging sun
    My heart's keel slides to rest among the meadows.