Author: Bernd via DL9BS/mm Page 12 of 15

We tacked and are now in convoy with three tankers/bulk carriers/container vessels in roughly 15nm safety distance. They are running at more than 12kn, so in a couple of hours we shall be clear. I cannot even see them through the binoculars but the beauty is that they appear via AIS on the chart plotter.

I got two sailor’s opinion just before tacking. One saying, its time to tack and one saying I shall tack in a few hours time. I decided to follow my qtVlm routing as it seems to be logic and look forward now for the wind to veer back via North to hopefully a tiny little bit NNE. As a result, we are going to sail a lee-banana as shown in the routing I have shared earlier. With a slight hockey stick swing to the South (lee-banana) I will hopefully end up at the doorstep of the Marina Vila Do Porto around lunch time tomorrow. Worst case I have to tack again or use the engine a bit longer depending on the distance to the harbour at arrival South of the island. I have to squeeze a bit for more close hauled sailing position going forward.

Well, it’s nice out here on the ocean and there are no severe conditions approaching my neck, so let’s keep learning.

Fair winds…

Canary Islands to Azores – Logblog 13

Now it get’s a bit technical. The HF Radio installed is causing some HF Inteference by nature. This cannot be prevented in total. The challenge on our boats is to minimize the interference through the lowest possible SWR, which is done by the automatic antenna tuner with a good counterpoise. The HF interference can trigger other electrical systems on the boat. I have heard stories that autopilots were kicked out while talking on the HF Radio, which is not uncommon. We have not had that. The only issue we experienced in the past was that the bow thruster came alive, when using DSC on certain frequencies in the marina while testing. We have not had that same phenomenom while out at sea. Some LEDs on the boat’s 12V control pannel flashed a bit at high power settings (150W) but that has been reduced since Lothar/EA8DES and myself installed the additional aluminum foil in Las Palmas earlier this year, which definitely improved the counterpoise. Overall our installation is solid and performing.

Long story short. The HF now interferes with the cotroller of the SailinGen. Running the SailinGen and same time transmit on the HF Radio does trigger a voltage alarm on the controller. For the moment, I operate either or but not together. Following some advice from Prof. Armin Horn received this morning, I shall try to focus on the +12V feeding line. While we have put a ferrite cores on the -12V line during installation of the system, we ignored the positive side. With two spare ferrite cores left, I have now covered the positive side as well.

Tonight is testing party.

Fair winds…

PS: The two ferrit cores did not bring the expected result and I have to experiment further.

Canary Islands to Azores – Logblog 12

With a bit of delay we tacked and do follow the proposed track closely. The wind shift came slowly but as soon as we could not maintain a course higher than 270º we had to tack.

Wind is around 10kn and we make 5kn boat speed through the water – comfortable sail. We preferred not to get the engine running and motor in 20h to Santa Maria, which was a tempted option. About 120nm on a direct line into Vila do Porto (what a fabulous name for a harbour) takes us less than a day and consumes around 100l diesel. Great for Greta and our pocket!

Out next and final tack is proposed in 40nm at 14:30pm local time. ETA Vila do Porto is 2n June afternoon.

It all depends on the wind.

Fair winds…

PS: It is mostly cloudy at the moment and I hope the sun will clear part of it soon.

Canary Islands to Azores – Logblog 11

Sailing into the sunset…good night!

Canary Islands to Azores – Logblog 10

On June 30, 2022

In Intermar e.V., Portugal

From here onwards there is a bit zig-zag proposed by the routing software. It is qtVLM, which I am using, and we have already started to move more westerly than northerly. We will stay close hauled all time and if the wind drops use the engine to support on a straight line towards Santa Maria until sufficient blow is back.

All going well, I have a chance to arrive in Santa Maria 2nd July early hours but a lot will depend on the extend of engine usage. It could be earlier. I would not put a bet on either of the two options. 😅

We have another 150nm left and if minimum wind of 10 – 12kn will stay (considering the extra 5kn, which www.wetterwelt.de never considers) we shall be good to sail, even in the blue coloured areas on the map. I hope you can see the picture. If not, it will be added later.

Talked to Uwe/DD1HUR from Intermar e.V. and his support is exceptional from the beginning of this passage. Besides talking every day in the evening hours at 16:30 UTC on 14313kHz, Uwe also provides me with detailed views on the situation by e-mail. It includes not only encouragement but also dos and dont’s. Thank you Uwe, very much appreciated and by far not a given.

I am going to watch a film tonight. Second time actually: ”Die Azoren – Grünes Paradies im Atlantik”. You can find it in the ARD Mediathek but it will only be in German. If half is true what is shown in the film, this journey might get rewarded soon.

Otherwise, I will have a cold, non-alcoholic beer while enjoying the sunset.

Fair winds…

Canary Islands to Azores – Logblog 9

On June 30, 2022

The night was pleasant, perfect wind and movements so I could take good rest. Apart from the vessel not shown up on AIS but with clearly visible position lights, there was not much going on. It appeared on the radar and the alarm sounded to announce the arrival. Finally we passed each other in less than a mile distance, which is a bit close, but I was also not in the mood to change direction. I heard that some boats of the Far Eastern Fishing Fleet make use of to this practise for whatever reason. A few more signals appeared on the radar but no lights at all. I believe these are false alarms from the waves but that is exactly the high science to determine what is real and what is weather related signals on the screen.

Having the second pot of tea now while we are running under motor sail. The wind dropped to 5-8kn and that is not enough to keep stability in the boat with the waves around. We also need to get some hot water made by the engine, so I felt, let the diesel run for a while and we will then see how it goes. I admire sailors like Didi (Skipper SY Lepedija) and Yoshi (Skipper SY Dayo), who strickly wait for wind and keep the engine off until approaching the marina. I do not have that patience yet. Perhaps never. On the other side, I am not tempted at all to motor sail up to Santa Maria, another 170nm. We got the diesel but that would also be a bit painful. The other option is to get the 140% Geneo out and replaced with our current 110% foresail but I am not voluntarily getting me into this trouble either! Let’s see. Headache is over and we are all good.

The new foresail halyard had settled in a bit, so I gave it another tweak on the mast winch this morning. Now it shapes up again without wrinkles.

Time for lunch. Chicken chunks in pasta again, home cooked in cream cheese with tomato bites and spiced up with black pepper, chilli flakes, rubbed rosemary and a pinch of salt.

Oh the wind seems to be back 12kn plus…I think we got hot water! Let’s stop the noise.

Fair winds…

Canary Islands to Azores – Logblog 8

On June 29, 2022

Breakfast was not enought – one hard boiled egg followed by two ”heather sand cockies” and a good cup of fresh tea. Two hours rest and then the appetite called in again. That is a good sign for me showing that body and boat are accustomized. One big roll with soft cheese together with fresh tomatoes and carrots from local Madeira market. This should bring me to the evening apart from the afternoon tea, which will be served with some homemade Nutcake, choclate topped, based on a receipe from Susan’s grandfather Karl.

We have done 168nm right now, so I guess an etmal of around 140nm, which is okay. I don’t want to push the lady throught the seas with all the water coming over and tear and wear on the boat. Hitting 8.5kn through the water yesterday evening, I thought enought is enought. While the boat ploughs better through these waves at slighly higher speed it will be paid off by heaps of water flushing everywhere. I am not on an escape.

Around 320nm to go to my waypoint set in the South of Santa Maria and what does it matter, if I arrive a day earlier or later. Looking forward to my landfall on Santa Maria.

Will take some rest now to be ready for teatime. 😂

Fair winds…

Canary Islands to Azores – Logblog 7

On June 29, 2022

The wind has ceased a bit now, the sun is out but the sky is six out of eight cloudy. The night lasted 7 hours in pretty intense darkness, no moon and hardly stars. I tried to get maximum naps to be as fresh as possible this morning. Increased the interval to 30min as we were with 5 to 6 knots not that fast and there is hardly traffic out here. Still a bit absent but that will improve over the days, I am sure. Breakfast!

Fair winds…

Canary Islands to Azores – Logblog 6

On June 28, 2022

In Intermar e.V., Portugal

I have just talked to Jan from SY Sutje on 4Mhz Marine Radio. They are 48h ahead of me and have the same target destination – Azores. Also got hold of Ralf-Dieter from SY Charisma on 12Mhz Marine Radio Band. First time we connected via the radio. They have anchored in Menorca/Spain. Unfortunately Cornelia from SY Hexe also wanted to connect from Chesapeak/US but that did not work out for some reasons. In the afternoon hours I talked to Uwe from Intermar e.V. and got latest weather information and some additional views on the interpretation of the forecast. Good to catch up with all all while out at sea.

We are pushing through the night. The wind has increased a little bit again around 18 to 23kn. This should stay for another few hours and then slowly go back to 15kn, which would be nice. The first 6 hours after sticking the nose out at the west end of Madeira was a bit rought. Acceleration zone with up to 33kn and Spaghetti waves from all angles. Glad it got better now.

I have put up the cockpit tent and reefed both sails, main and foresail.

Will take some rest now.

Fair winds…

Canary Islands to Azores – Logblog 5

On June 23, 2022