After a couple of days off the FSC crew are ‘rested’ and back on Challenger 2. What did they do in Horta? How did they spend their time? Will most of it stay in Horta? And what does it feel like to be back on board? All is revealed in today’s blog from the Atlantic…
Date :25 January 2018
Time : 12:00 GMT
Position :38.10.18 N 32.45.42 W
Destination Falmouth
ETA 31 January / 1st February
Morning all
It’s been a chilly . blustery start to leg two, despite forecasts of little/ no wind we have been sailing since we departed yesterday afternoon with NW winds between 4 – 30 knots mainly staying around 18 – 20 knots. Sailing was finally suspended at 0900 this morning
The weather is a mixed bag but mainly no wind until next Tuesday, Current forecast gives us wind 200 nm north and 400nm west if we were to head either way it would be gone by the time we get there, current plan is to motor as we are for 24 hours in the hope that the big high moves east quicker that currently forecast so we can get some wind filling in from the west…. Only time will tell if it will be successful.
The crew took a bit of time to get back in to being at sea but after our first night are getting back in the swing of things All happy
We had a nice starry night and the sun is just coming out from behind the clouds
Regards
Neil, Skipper, Challenger 2
Messages from the Crew
(jab et al):
Searching for a Voice. I crossed an ocean / I have lost my tongue / from the root of the old one / a new one has sprung. (-but don’t worry, xx) by Grace Nichols
Perfect Day. Yesterday was one of the best days of my life / Nothing of any importance occurred: – / I shared a breakfast table with Nick the Mate / Contoured the ridge of the town/ Found an ocean bay with stinging windswept sand / Lit a candle and stare into deep thoughts / Ate and drank with old friend and those new/ Sang arias from Billericay Dickey (in Essex cockney) and Figaro (in Italian)
Why should it be that some days erect a shrine? / Is it as Buddhists claim a lack of need or want – or simply serendipity – / the perfect flowering of one small seed in an instance of time at a point in space. (after Dennis Felix)xx
Hey Lesley
Well the blog disappeared for a couple days there, so let’s get all caught up on what has happened.
We arrived at Horta during the night, well, we could see the lights of the island, and then finally tied up just after sun rise, now the skipper being the thoughtful chap that he is had planned for this and once the boat was basically squared away, a crate of cold beer was produced, during which time a number of the crew declared it unnatural for the ground to be stable and swore that the concrete breakwater was actually moving.
I believe Chloe’s actual words were ‘Eee I don’t like this, it feels funny.’ So after a good hour or so of pontoon party we gave the boat a good sort out, sails away etc. And then pretty much proceeded to Peter Sport Café, during the evening a lot of Gin, Beer was drank until kicking out time when the party moved back to the boat.
Over the next couple days everyone went to various sight and places around the island, but generally meeting up as proper sailors do, in the bar. Most eateries have been sampled, museums looked around, sacrifices made to volcano’s for the prospect of pleasant future voyage.
One of the main resources that was used while here was the free wifi spots and many relatives and family were contacted, and it has been made known to me that I might be showing people up as they have been getting told off for not blogging enough.
So in defending all my fellow crew mates I feel I must explain the times that I have watched them trying to type.
Most I would say are not touch typists or even use a keyboard that often, so when trying to type on a moving heeling boat it’s like watching a kitten playing with a ball of wool, something is happening but the outcomes is usually a mess and neither party wins. To be honest you should be proud of them that they can use the mouse to even open the document, and read the blog themselves, so they know what you are talking about.
A few people have also been asked to describe me, well I would humbly submit that while there are some handsome devils on this boat, I would not put myself forward as a kind of brooding good looking Hollywood star type, but then you can judge for yourselves in Portsmouth. ( ok now no one will recognise me, I can start on the character assassination…..)
Washing, for all you, mums, wives and girlfriends back, I feel it is my duty to inform you that anyone you sent on this trip actually took great delight in doing their laundry, and they actually are able to do it. Well you take your bag of laundry to the shower block where you pay 8 euros while a slightly wary looking lady steps away at least 5 ft while you load the washing machine and for which she will move the washing to the dryer, she becomes a lot more friendly after the washing is done and you’ve had a shower.
Unfortunately we have lost one of the liveliest crew members, Alex. As she had booked for the trip last minute and already had a previous engagement for a spot skiing, she has run away from us taking a tin of sweetcorn and a member of the crew from another boat to the airport this morning, although she is promising to restock the supplies of herbal tea on the boat when we get to Weymouth where she has promised to bring her mum along as well.
We are now back on the ocean waves, looking forward to eating all our meals from bowls with spoons again, and Leo and Chris T are cooking up a spag bol for tonight.
Apparently 7 days to England where we will no doubt end up in a bar again, but at least from this point onwards people will be able to use money properly again without looking at the numbers on coins or notes, I now have 4 currencies in my wallet not only that be we will be working on real time as well.
Budgie
So long Horta and Faial, Pico, land…
It’s been a pleasure to get to know you. As I write we’re passing the island of Sao Jorge on our starboard side and after an hour or so the Azores will be in our wake.
After stepping ashore some of the crew found a new, un-thought of affliction: land-sickness – watching some of us on arrival clip on to stationary objects with the ships safety lines to avoid falling over was hilarious. Peter’s Bar has been a home from home for the crew during our stay and most nights we’ve kept the bar staff in overtime pay– they’ve been great.
Aside from mammoth drinking sessions we’ve been visiting Faial’s volcanic crater (1000m?) – I wish I’d done that; whale- watching – sadly no whales but plenty of amazing dolphins; drinking in Peter’s Bar- did I mention that? Bus trips round the island, and even leisurely lunches in the finest restaurants in mid- Atlantic. But most importantly we’ve all been getting some serious RnR – in fact we didn’t even see a couple of crew who temporarily jumped ship for the duration of our stay, deciding to hole-up in the hotel with, they say, all creature comforts. When they weren’t lazing in the Jacuzzi, they were in the complimentary spa or gym.
On Monday it was Chloe’s birthday which was another opportunity to get legless and show off our singing to all the customers and staff of Pete’s Bar – we don’t know if they enjoyed it but there weren’t any complaints from anyone…
By this morning I think we were all looking forward to slipping our shore ties and heading off into the deep blue. But not before saying a sad goodbye to Alex – who’s been a great friend (and chef) to us all.
Tomorrow we’ll be out of sight of land and back into the sailing groove – though not before we’ve all got used to sailing on a port tack – it’s retraining the brain to do everyday things like cook, or sleep, or retrieve your belongings slightly, but significantly differently.
Ben,
I have been asked by family to write more in the blog, everyone seems to get down the important information out there, before me, which is just as well because I am no word smith and the rest of the crew capture the moments in a far more eloquent way than I.
They are a great lot and a look forward to doing the rest of the trip with them!
Love to Bob Bell, pip, and the rest of the family
Chris T
*AlexBringYaMum
