Time Warp…Again

Lagos, Portugal

Actually, this is how we play up in Portimao

Well, here we are, in the marina at Lagos, playing the waiting game (and rather enjoying it).  Boat bits are the issue, as usual.  So, let me start with the weather.

The Atlantic has been a bit stirred up this year due to an exceptional hurricane season and some late tropical storms.  After sitting in Faro for a few days, we spotted an opportunity to get across to Madeira, and made our move to Portimao to clear out and stock up on fresh food for the hopefully, not-too-exciting 3 or 4 days crossing.  The day’s forecast offered a pleasant sail with 10-15kt breeze to help us along.  Even Faro’s Charybdis was caught napping at sunrise.  All seemed well; we were hurtling along to Portimao, when the Cap’n, working the main, heard a loud bang. 

Whatever it was, was not immediately obvious so we continued on to the Portimao Marina and checked in.  Next morning, our trusty Cap’n discovered damage at the base of the mast – a fitting supporting the mast and vang had corroded and given way exposing two bolts – and that sent us into a bit of a spin.  At best we could have more bolts drilled to secure the fitting to the deck or at worst, have the whole mast lifted and a new fitting inserted.  Further pressure was added given His Captainship’s 3-month visa (EU) was nearly up!

Alongside Sopromar's dock, Lagos_early morning calm 

Sopromar kindly managed to fit us in and a few days later, following consultation with Pedro and Paolo, the situation expertly rectified with a custom fitting installed and welded over the mast base (technical details will be on the H460 site).  The Cap’n of the Never-Ending Chore List has not been dragged off to police cells – just yet.  We are very cosy now in the Lagos Marina, despite rather chilly nights, and with the old town just across the river, a supermarket a short walk away and Sunday Roast on offer at Marina restaurants, who would not?   

There's time to catch up on chores

And a little time to relax_with Dive Club Cipreia

We’re hoping the parcel of boat bits manages to arrive this week (before those dock lines become too tight) and we can pick up another opportunity to hit the big blue.

The Greater Pond Calls

It’s time to offer an outline of our very vague plans (X Files) for 2017…and 2018.  Yes folks, this is going to be one huge season with all the demands of an ocean crossing including skipping over quite a few seas for good measure.  It’s time to head back to the Americas. 

Our hardy Captain was intending to bolt for home once we made the Caribbean but was outvoted by the Crew who saw an opportunity to continue exploring more of US waters and possibly even Canada in future seasons.  No point contemplating another exhausting ocean crossing just yet.  Somehow, the Great Loop and all its interesting possibilities beckon.  But, let 's not get ahead of ourselves… 

So this year then is about boat work and lots of slow miles ahead; remembering that we took advantage of nature rather than the iron horse for all but one or two days in our previous crossing (in 2011)...  Daunting, but none-the-less exhilarating, to contemplate this hefty X File schedule:

Stage 1: Lagos, Portugal (August & September 2017)
Portugal for a few months of boat work.  This time we’re building some boat work contingency into the plan. Slow learners?  Hmmm!  The Captain could be on his lonesome for this.

Stage 2: Lagos to Cape Verde Islands (October to December 2017)
From Lagos we open the first X File and take a hop, step and jump through Madeira, the Canaries and Cape Verde Islands to position ourselves for THE big X (crossing).  We can’t take off too early as June to end of November is Hurricane Season, and we don’t want to mix it with those bad boys.

Stage 3: Cape Verde Islands to Caribbean (January 2018)
Our exact landfall in the Caribbean is yet to be decided but as we plan to head back to the US coast, quite possibly to haul out in the Chesapeake area again, we will aim as high up the chain as we can. 

Stage 4: Caribbean to Chesapeake  (February to May 2018)
We will be covering a lot of “old” ground so there will be little need to dawdle until we make it to the Snow Birds’ wintering grounds, the Bahamas.  Back in the security of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (USA) with all X Files closed, we’ll begin our search for Windjammer’s next home-away-from-home.  Our biggest challenge may be to secure Visas for travel in the US.  Are we aliens?  I'm not telling!

Oh no, NOT that old route again!!

Valiant Visitors: 

Keep in touch by email if you’d like to catch us.  WJ3’s map and tracker will be updated regularly (hopefully) so that you can see exactly when & where we are.  Given this schedule and all the weather implications we'll not be able to fit in with precise travel plans, so you must be prepared to meet us!  Internet connectivity will be an issue too as we are sailing through many countries, all with different regulations.  Skymate will be set up again (satellite comms) and when the time comes, we’ll provide guidance on how to send us brief messages.  Notes on what to bring (and what not to bring) can be found in the updated Visitors Guide.  BYO sea sickness pills and sense of humour….