32:44.50N 16:43.17W
Whisper
Noel Dilly
Fri 26 Oct 2012 15:55
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".... back in Madeira - 26th October"
It is true. we are back in Madeira! We left
this morning at 9:15 to head south to the Canary Islands. We had heard
over the radio from yachts which had left an hour or two before us today and
they were having to motor as there was no wind. Madeira has such high
mountains that it causes quite a wind shadow. There is wind out there, but
as it is blowing from the NE, there is a need to motor south some miles to get
out of the shadow of the island. We set off and once out of the marina were
immediately hit with a 20 knot squall, but a few minutes later there was no
wind, so we happily motored on our course towards the Selvagen Islands. We
have acquired a permit to anchor in the bay there and hopefully take a tour with
the warden as there is a great deal of conservation work going on there relating
to the Madeiran Petrel, a beautiful little sea bird which is almost extinct
due to predators and mankind. The Selvagens are 160 miles away from Madeira so
it would take us at least 24 hrs to arrive there. However, 5 miles out
from Madeira the engines oil pressure gauge rose and the warning light came
on! We tried to sail, but there was just not enough wind and what little
there was, it was coming from the south just where we wanted to go.
After a couple of circles as things seemed to improve and then went wrong again,
we decided that there really was no real alternative but to go back to the
marina and once again change the oil and the oil filter! Fortunately, with the engine and sails up we managed to return
the 5 miles quickly, arriving just in time for lunch before we started the oily
task.
The job was just as mucky as the last
time we partook in this activity, except for the fact that last time was a
relatively clean experience compared to this time, where not only did Noel get
oil all over his hands but he also managed to bathe his feet and shoes in
it!! All is now cleared up, the boat back together, shoes washed and
the engine ticking over with less oil pressure on the gauge and no warning
lights either. So, hopefully we shall be off in the morning again once we
have checked the weather forecast again!jb
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