Fw: Arrival in Terceire 38:43.0N 27:03.5W Miles from Newport 2075 Miles to Terceira 0000
Ellatrout3
Fri 25 Jul 2014 11:22
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This is a resend, apparently it did not arrive in the
Diary.
Now rafted up with a big red 40 footer in the
marina.
Love Poppa/Dad/Roger
----- Original Message -----
From: Roger
To: Web Diary
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2014 11:55 PM
Subject: Arrival in Terceire 38:43.0N 27:03.5W Miles from Newport
2075 Miles to Terceira 0000 I didn't get much sleep last night, the winds were
variable in strength and direction but slowly swinging from the SE to the South
or SW. I tried to get my rest in early knowing in the early morning
dark hours I would be approaching the Islands and needed to be alert.
By morning the wind was strong from the south giving me a beam reach
through the Islands to Terceira. Apart from when I was in the lee of Sao
Jorge, the long thin island, the winds got steadily stronger with several
squally spells thrown in which kept me busy with the reefing in and
out.
The dolphins came to play at one stage, not just round the
ship but all around, diving through the waves and flying through the air.
They do make me smile and they are great company for the singlehanded
sailor. Bird life around the islands is really prolific at any time of the
day you can expect to see them flying over the water Also at night
in Lajes they were very noisy around the marina and I heard the corrie penguin
amongst them. I recognised them because the marina at Velas on Sao Jorge
is right against the cliffs and vertually inside their colony. I stayed
there in 2012 and the corrie penguin seems dominant there. If ever you go there
it is well worth walking down to the harbour one evening to hear
them.
By the time I got to the south side of Terceira it was
getting pretty rough. My main worry was getting the sails down under motor
with no self steering, it really is quite a handicap when conditions get
rough. Anyway I managed to get them down and all fenders and ropes ready
to go alongside, the wind was now blowing a good 30 knots. Unfortunately when I
got to the arrival pontoon but it was full and I did not fancy going
alongside other boats in these conditions. My choice was go back to sea
and ride it out or anchor. The pilot recommends anchoring just off the
beach outside the marina. I didn't fancy that either, the wind was direct
on to the beach and if the anchor didn't hold I would be aground in no
time. So i motored to the opposite, south end of the harbour to
shelter under the wall there. When I got there the wind had risen
to 36 knots, I managed to get the anchor away with no snags desperately
hoping it would get a grip and hold. It dragged initially and then got
hold of something solid and stopped dead. I hope it is a rock that I can
get free from in the morning and not tangled in some old wreckage. The
chain has grumbled and groaned ever since but its holding and there's a
gale of wind out there.
I must say I find making landfall the most harrowing part
of singlehanded sailing, its the one time you really need a crew.
Now I've got to try and get a berth in the marina before
the family arrive.
Love Poppa/Dad/Roger
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