FINNROSE 12.00 039:07:40N 028:35:27W MON 15/07/13

Finnrose
Tue 16 Jul 2013 02:52
After a brisk start yesterday afternoon, the wind built built to force 7, and by 6 p.m. we had put two reefs in the mainsail and rolled the genoa. Around 8 p.m. the wind eased to force 5 and we were able to have a calmer supper time. After a quiet night, dawn broke with poor visibility and a veering wind, settling south south east, pretty much on our nose. The AIS seems to be working, even though it is showing as not - we are now showing a shadow of ourselves some two hundred feet behind, which was a bit disconcerting at 3 a.m. in the pitch black.

Sunshine came out around 2 p.m. and the island of Faial began to reveal itself from the cloud draped around it - the magnificent volcano on Pico gradually became visible around 3 p.m., along with Sao Jorge. We ate a supper of lamb chops around 7.30, and prepared to enter Horta - night had fallen when we made our careful approach to the marina. We had almost decided to anchor, when the night watchman asked us to go alongside a large catamaran ferry. After careful fendering, and inch by inch manoeuvring, Mark brought us to rest alongside; he then scaled the high side of the ferry to put a line around to hold Finnrose's stern; the two Kens put ropes around the cleat at the front of the ferry, and with a mid-ship line secured we were fast.

Plans have been made for a 6 a.m. start to row Liz ashore in the dinghy to catch a taxi to the airport; on examination it seemed a little less than fully inflated, so crossed fingers it holds out for the 200 yard crossing....

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