Author: Bernd via DL9BS/mm Page 14 of 15

We are set for the night and decided to slow down as the Spanish Coast Guard has issued now a PAN PAN PAN message via Navtex concerning migrants boats drifting from Aftica towards the Canary Islands. I will post this message here a bit later once connected to the internet. It seems that a bunch of boats has left recently trying to take advantage of the current wind situation although this seem to happen on an ongoing base. The other day a report was issued that people got rescued from a boat drifting 200 nautical miles Southwest of Gran Canaria. At that time it became clear, that the trade winds would blow them all over the atlantic with no chance to survive. As this is a very delicate subject, I am grateful that we had a seminar on this particular challenge organized by Trans-Ocean e.V. It was supported by the German Police during the course of the “Losseglertreffen” I attended earlier this year. We got very good advice and direction to manage such a situation. For this reason I prefer “land, ho!” at daylight although, as you can read above, these boats can drift anywhere at anytime. A sharp look-out on the radar will be key tonight for the very unlikely event of an accidental encounter.

Fair winds…

Bernd

Funchal to Lanzarote – Logblog 5

In Spain

It is approximately another 80 miles to go to reach the nothern island of Lanzarote – Alegranza. I am still a bit too fast but let´s see what the wind game will be tonight. Worst case I stop and throw the fishing line. There are no warning messages issued on Navtex for sailors about actual drifting refugee boats in this particular area, so perhaps I might take part of the final leg still in the dark for an earlier arrival in Puerto Calero. The other condition in mind is that the wind and waves shall further decrease second half of tomorrow, which makes the approach into the marina easier for a sleepy sailor on arrival. It will all depend on the actual conditions but a plan is at least a plan. An old saying goes that we sailors only write our plans at low tides into the sand, they will last until the next high tide!

Fair winds…

Bernd

Funchal to Lanzarote – Logblog 4

In Spain

Today is one of these days – Bluewater Sailing! You could easily believe you are sailing The Baltic in July, if there is not the colour of the water. The Baltic on a good summer day, Air temperature of 24° and water temperature at 19°. We are in November here and heading further South, so I expect a bit more at later stage. Blue sky scattered with white cumulus, some bigger some smaller but leaving enought room for the sun to come through to make it a pleasant day. The main difference clearly is the colour of the water – damned blue, intensive but light blue as you can still watch through. The wave pattern is quite similar here at the moment compared to The Baltic after some storm gone through, somewhere far away. Long swell from far way mixed with the actual local wind wave. It is similar but not quite the same. Anyhow, the birds are also the same, saw some seagulls out here like in The Baltic, same same. No, there is no doubt, the colour of the water makes the difference, BIG DIFFERENCE. Once ashore I will add some photos here under this blog and I bet you anything that you cannot determine: The Baltic or Atlantic Ocean?!? Excluding the colour of the water.

Fair winds…

Bernd

Funchal to Lanzarote – Logblog 3

In Spain

I am about 4 hours ahead of schedule as per my updated weather routing. The strategie is/was to arrive at the nothern tip of Isla Graciosa at sunrise and then sail along the east coast of Lanzarote to my final destination Puerto Calero. Therefore I keep the reefs in the sails to reduce speed. There are two reasons for this strategy: a) I like to arrive at daylight and b) I don´t want to risk bumping into a refugee boat at night! Right or wrong, I am double conservative in my approaches, which in return has given us smooth passages up to now. On top, I took quite some rest during the last 24 hours and will do the same today during the day to be ready for another night-shift based on the 20min sleep routine. Well, sleep, it is rather dozing along to the next beep beep beep from the alarm clock.

Fair winds…

Bernd

Funchal to Lanzarote – Logblog 2

In Spain

Twelve hours darkness is a long time. The wind dropped a bit to 15 to 20kts after midnight, which turned the sail from wet into dry. Much more pleasant. My headache is almost gone, still need to be careful with my movements as seasickness is still around. Hope for a decent breakfast once the sun is out and my riggcheck done. Have not eaten since departure apart from a piece of bread with cheese. On the positive, the clouds dissapeared, so did the moon but 360° view on a sky full with starts is just amazing and pays a little bit off against the energy to put into this passage. Got my Pactor modem working now – Windows, no comments – and will now download the latest weather forecast to check my progress against the planned schedule. Looking foward to see the sun coming out.

Fair winds…

Bernd

Funchal to Lanzarote – Logblog 1

In Spain

It is dark now and the tiny little moon we have is hiding behind the clouds.The day was two folded. On one side, we made very good progress due to the fact that the wind is higher than predicted. We have around 20 to 25kts almost constantly. Sometimes it drops but only to take a short breather and then it is back to push us South. Despite the reefs in main and foresail our speed is around 7kts. Tomorrow we have to slow down as I do not want to arrive in darkness at the tip of Lanzarote. Will see tomorrow. On the other side, I started with light headache in the morning. Jutta, Will, Anton and Martin were all there to help me throwing the lines and say goodbye for now. As we are all heading down to Lanzarote, we will meet again. But then with the headache my stomach started to complain and a light seasickness came along. I rarely get this but while sailing single-handed it is the least thing you want to face. The whole day, I took it very very lightly and feel much better now after some rounds of short sleep and watching the ocean. Therefore I could not completely enjoy the day today and hope for a smooth night sail and a better day tomorrw.

Fair winds…

Bernd

Porto to Funchal – Logblog 7

On September 17, 2021

We are now about 35nm North of lha de Porto Santo and in the evening the contours of the island already became visible at the horizon just before sunset. I was surprised that at this distance we already shouted “Land, ho!”. Total of 65nm remaining to Funchal/Madeira. The sea is quite choppy and cooking dinner was a challenge. Anyway, Susan managed to get the “Matrosenschmaus” prepared, one of my favourite dishes.

I have been in contact with the Harbour Master of Marina Funchal and got out reservation confirmed. Initially from Porto but today we got the final confirmation via Winlink E-Mail from Sergio. It is a small marina with some up- and downsides but we will give it a go to get our own opinion. Before departing from Porto I also got the COVID Certification for Susan and myself confirmed by the Maritime Police of Funchal, so imigration is a given as well. All good to go!

As we do not want to arrive at Funchal in the dark, we have reduced sail to go slow through the night and expect arrival tomorrow around noon time. Both of us are superexcited to complete this journey in safety, comfort and style and look forward to visit this magnificant island in the Atlantic.

Fair winds…

Porto to Funchal – Logblog 6

On September 17, 2021

I am on shift. It is 4:45am local time and pitch-dark. The moon gives good company from 9pm to 4pm but then disappears and you sail into black, as black as you can imagine, just the deepest dark black. Well, the stars are there and can only be seen in detail once the moon has settled. I sense we have a good mixture though to enjoy both scenarios. I was wondering the other day, why ORION is already visible out there as my memories tell me, that ORION is a star formation for winter…hope I am wrong, need to check that. Winter…the air temperature is increasing night by night. Tonight we have a fast sail. Wing by wing with the main full unfurled and the 110% foresail, winds of 10 to 13kts from astern we are constantly above 7kts and occassionally staying above 8kts speed over ground. The Lady wants to arrive!

We plan landfall at Madeira during the next night. Our approach will be early morning but I am sure that we will see the lighthouses many many miles before getting close to the islands. All going well we shall berth in Funchal before noon on 18th September. Clarifications with the marinas are ongoing by mail. We have some options but our preference is Funchal.

Need to make a cup of tea now!

Fair winds…

Porto to Funchal – Logblog 5

On September 16, 2021

Early morning we got caught by a rain shower after which the wind direction changed slightly from NNW to NNE as forecasted. After adjusting the sails and the sun coming out it became another nice Bluewater Sailing day. 2 other ships we could see far away the whole day, relaxed sailing compared to the coastline of Belgium!

It was the day of “Favonius” to come into play, the name of our new Hydrovane installed and not tested yet. Our elctrical autopilot (no name yet) works marvelous but I did not want to rely on it without a second system onboard. The Hydrovane is a hydro-mechanical rudder installed at the stern of the boat steering the boat by a windvane set into the preferred wind/direction. After some minor adjustments in the setting of the vane and the gear it worked all day without playing games. The course of the boat followed the course of our weather routing on a wing by wing set-up in 12 to 15 knots of backwinds. Already impressed Favonius will not only provide us with good winds in future but also help to steer them out.

We are now entering night number four and it is clear that this will become a five night trip. We expect to arrive in Madeira on Saturday, 18th September before noon. There is no rush as the weather window is open to the end and we are not under pressure to arrive e.g. before some bad weather kicks in. This is an important factor to consider from the start, something I learned from Inge and Ralf from SY malwieder and TO friends. The Bluewater remains fascinating and I could just sit and watch all day to absorb this unique atmosphere the ocean offers.

Fair winds…

Porto to Funchal – Logblog 4

On September 16, 2021