24th May - Flores 39:22.768N 031:10.162W
Whisper
Noel Dilly
Fri 24 May 2013 10:57
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"We Have Arrived"
We arrived at Flores just as it was getting
dusk! It was a long long day, Flores appeared on the horizon 42
miles away, the wind had died and we were having to motor, just making 5kts,
which normally is quite fast but not today it was oh so slow. We were
dreaming of dinner at a nice restaurant, hot showers and wanted to arrive before
dark as arriving at Flores is not recommended in the dark! As the island
became more visible its beauty was towering down on us, the sheer drop of the
cliffs down into the sea were quite incredible and we are looking forward to
exploring.
As we finally approached the harbour in the gloom,
we were very unsure as to whether we could get inside or whether we would have
to anchor outside. The harbour is very tiny and turning around could be a
problem if it were full. A few boats were anchored close to each other and
the swell was tossing them about, we motored around trying to find a spot to
anchor, but either the rocks were too close on the shore or we would be in the
harbour entrance or too close to another boat. A man on one of the yachts
as we passed him by for the third time called out that there was plenty of room
in the harbour. The decision was made we braved the narrow harbour
entrance, there along the wall was a space. Noel just went for it, we
glided in past the first yacht, Sandro lept off with the bow line, I followed
with the stern, Noel hit reverse and we were there, safely tucked in between two
yachts fore and aft! The space was just the right length for Whisper's
36ft, none of us knew how it all went so well but were grateful that it
had.
It was now 8pm, Sandro rushed off to find a
restaurant whilst we secured Whisper, returning to say that we had 10 minutes
before the kitchen closed. We rushed off up the hill, staggering and
wavering about on our sea legs of some 12 days, it really is a strange sensation
to be back on land. We were served a huge dinner, the proprietor must be
used to receiving hungry mariners and spent an enjoyable evening before falling
into our bunks, I don't even remember thinking anything before I was asleep, not
even how delightful it was to have a flat and stable berth!
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