Atlantic passage part 2 : 2017

Portugal. 2017

Cascais, Portugal

6 days, 4 hours.  Passage from Sao Migual, Azores to Cascais, Portugal 

a few of the passage notes:

The deck wet the entire passage.  Rail in the water too much of the time for Kathy.  Plenty of wind, sometimes too much, with a bit a motor sailing when the air was too light.  

Silver white water. Big swells, not the height as much as the breadth; an impressive sight, many meters wide.  

Absolute darkness for night watch, the moon not rising till the wee hours of the morning.  The bioluminescence sparkling like champagne bubbles exploding as they break from the hull.  

itty bitty squid

The slowly changing sky over the passage.  Days of a 300 count sheet stretched tight from horizon to horizon.  Then a thread bare quilt, holes letting ribbons of light through.  Then to moth eaten pinholes with shafts of light streaming to the sea.  And finally a huge gash in the clouds, sunlight pouring through warming the cockpit to nearly 70”s… The fraying edges of the clouds ravel away so only the horizon supports the flimsiest of white puffs. Then stitching themselves nearly back together with only a few holes wanting for thread. 

Shift changes.  4 hours on, 4 off.  Record stats in the log book.  Dinner together.  For a change of scenery and exersize, switch from port side to starboard side seat.  The port seat has you magnetized to it on a starboard tack.  Legs braced against the port lazerete and the open companionway to keep from vaulting forward.  Moving below requires a hand on a solid surface for stability or being catapulted into a very solid surface… 

Inishnee is like a snow train forging her way through.  Built tough and proving her worth.  

To pass the time:   Reading.  Harmonica practice. Fresh clothes and a sink bath on halfway day!  

Sightings include dolphins.  A flying fish a foot long and one squid; both trapped on deck.  Sea birds and one sailing vessel.   Many freighters with interesting names: MSC  Kalamata, Brazos, New Venture.  

Shift change on the 21st at 4 am we took the a wave in the cockpit.  Large enough to flush some through the dodger openings and a few pints down the companionway.  A few sister waves would doused the cockpit over the next few hours.  Foulies top and bottom to accompany our warm weather clothes.  

7/21 @9:42 UTC land sighted.  31 miles from Cascais, Portugal.  The busy shipping lanes, 2 north bound, 2 south bound,  and 2 passing lanes.  We jockey for position with Juergen K, Arklow Ruler, Minerva Antartica Laga and Ruth as we slice across the lanes.  

Position report: 38’ 41.59’ north :   09’ 24.90’ west.  Cascais, Portugal.  21, June 2017.  

We did It!