24:56:713N 56:11:237W Antigua to Azores
Shaya Moya
Don & Susan Smyth
Mon 30 Mar 2015 23:58
|
My circumnavigation took me 4 years and 29247nm
around the world, crossing every meridean of longitude and the equator twice,
with a two year break leaving Shaya Moya in Auckland New Zealand. Along the way
I met some wonderful people and visited some of the most beautiful places. Shaya
Moya's blog charted our passage with pictures and narrative that allowed friends
and family to be part of this great adventure. We crossed all the worlds Oceans,
some of them twice. I had the privilage of sailing parts of the voyage with
family and friends. It was an amazing once in a lifetime realization of a
boyhood promise to myself. It is a testament to the fact that if one sets goals
and perseveres anything is achievable.
  Shaya Moya is going back to the place we all love,
the Ionean sea in Greece, where she will be based. In order to get there we will
have to cross the North Atlantic sea to Gibralter, some 3500nm, and then another
1500nm across the Meditteranean sea.
  We start with a 180nm overnight crossing from St
Lucia to English Harbour Antigua, the historic home ofthe English fleet in the
Lessor Antilles in the 18th century. In those days of sailing ships, it was hard
to find a secure port that was easily defensable, with access to the trade
winds, that was protected in the hurricane season. English and Falmouth Harbours
lie side by side , met all those requirements.Lord Nelson was stationed here,
and the dockyard is called Nelsons dockyard today. This is where we berthed
stern to in an atmoshere of tradition and naval history. How special is
that?
  As mentioned in a previous blog we damaged our
davit motor in the swell off Fernadho Brazil. Despite calls to Oyster, Cooney
the davit manufacturere and Doga the motor manufacturer we could not get
any solution. The Nylon gear has stripped and Doga do not make that motor
anymore. Ant even had Andy Sass back in RSA research the South African
distributer who although trying very hard could not help either. What a
wonderful surprise to find Trevor Edwards, a top class Mechanical engineer who
machined a new gear out of bronze. Of course I have ordered another for the
second davit just in case.
  We spent a delightful few days here before Ant left
us to fly to Italy, and Tom rejoined us after his leave in Puerto Rico. (He
missed his flight giving us an extra day here) Having arrived on a weekend was
perfect. We were able to go to Fish Friday at the Copper and Lumber Hotel and
restuarant and to the BBQ on Shirly heights on Sunday. Fish Friday is a weekly
event that both locals and the yachting and tourist communities love to attend.
The tables are laid outside under the stars with BBQ's going providing all types
of fishy fair. BT and I had one of the best fish curry's, while Anto had grilled
Mahi Mahi
On Saturday we walked across to Falmouth harbour where we watched England play France in Cloggy's pub. It was packed to the rafters with English, a good thing they won. Falmouth Harbour is where all the Super yachts are. Both sailing and power with 100ft being almost considered small. This is a much busier and bustling spot. So glad we chose to be in English harbour where there all all sorts of yachts berthed, from a Oyster 100ft, several classic yachts and even a sea gypsey.   On Sunday evening we caught a taxi up to Shirly
Heights, a hill that looks over English harbour, to watch the sunset and listen
to the steel band. It is quite a stiff winding climb. This did not deter Ted on
Sunday morning when he ran up it. Still got the old Comrades spirit. Here we had
another great BBQ, jerked pork and chicken washed down with a few rum punches.
One pays for what you fancy then go to the BBQ's and get your plate and then
share a table with people. Ted and Ant got caught up in the buying frenzy
when a vendor managed to sell almost all his calabash rattles to our table. The
steel band was awesome, however when the reggae started at about 21h00 we
decided we were a bit long in the tooth for that and headed back to Shaya
Moya.
      We left Antigua on Thurs 26th March on a NE course
that would take us up to the 40th line of latitude where we will turn East for
the Azores. The first few days have been great with winds form the ESE/SE
pushing us along at 6-7kts. On Sunday the wind died and we are now motoring in a
glassy flat sea waiting for a frontal system to pass ahead of us. We are using
Chris Tibbs (christheweather {CHANGE TO AT} gmail {DOT} com) for
weather forcasting and routing advice. So far it has been spot on. More of that
in a later blog.
|