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Our newest sailor taking the helm.

Some friendly visitors on day 1. Jake hard at work.

Enjoying the deep blue. And a few more dolphins, for the kids.

15/10/09 0800 utc 39.17n 26.14w Alls well cog 45′ sog 6.5 wind E15

Hello again folks,

Yes that’s right it’s that time when the oldman has to negotiate the keyboard again. Well what a great week in port on the island of Faial.

With the sun rising and slowly creeping above the island we were speechless at the dramatic and almost Jurassic spectacle unveiling itself to us. With lush green vegetation and pasture land rolling away from volcano tops to suddenly falling sharply over rugged rock formations to the sea. As we rounded the last run in to port Mt. Pico pops up at her full height of 2600mtrs. A quest to be taken on another time.

With a long list of of jobs and chores to do, the skipper was not letting us run around on a holiday for a full week, or even a full day, well, maybe one. Sunday last, I recall, or think I do, you know the old gray matter not what it used to be, a guy we’d met during our crew dinner gave us his four wheel drive for a day to see the island. The crew of ’41 was off again, full island circumnavigation. It’s great (at times) been the oldboy as I got to drive and stay dry as apposed the poor chaps in the back. But battle hardened seadogs as we now are it just added to the adventure. With a nice lunch a bit of a dip in the not so tranquil rock pools, volcanoes and more volcanoes we rounded the last corner to see Horta laid out before us and knew it was time for a thirst quencher.

We all managed to get out and about by ourselves at some stage and dander among the old cobbled streets of the town and surrounding hills and beaches. As time drew on, and the list of chores ever decreasing we knew the inevitable was approaching and it was getting close to departure. Two items on the wish list left, leave our mark, along with hundreds of others painted along the quay walls. Up steps our mister-fix-it and Laural; he’s not only handy with a tool box you know, but also a paint brush and we are immortalized for quite a few years to come. We’ll have to add ‘painter’ to Jake’s ever-expanding resume

Jake making his mark.

Our last outing was yet another volcano, only this time with a bit of a twist. We were off cycling, driven up to the caldera (crater) in a mini bus, a quick look around and then on to the bikes. For some it was a gentle meander, with as little pedaling as possible downhill all the way to the town. For some though the temptation to hurtle as fast as we could, that’s right the old boy was right up there with the young fellas, downhill proved too great.

And finally it was time to go, so at 10am this morning we cast off our lines, pulled out of the marina, raised our sails and pointed our way to Europe. The departing route was every bit as amazing as our arrival and now at 11pm with last lights of the Azores growing ever dimmer we leave behind an ambition that has lived with me for a long number of years, to take a sail boat to this beautiful part of the world. But it has left me with another, to come back one day and see for myself the wonders that await to be discovered on the eight other islands of the Arquipelago Dos Acores.

Grumpy old man.

After many days of calm seas and no wind, an engine and fridge breakdown, a crewmember with a ruptured ear drum, delicious fresh fish; sushi, beer battered and grilled, dress up on deck, Acapulco taxi rides, Nicaraguan beaches, stifling heat, big swell, dolphins, sea turtles and whales, trash pick up, and epic sunsets we have almost made it to Panama. A day to go in the half way point of this journey and as we pass the islands dotting the Panamanian coast our excitement for what lies ahead is apparent. Such an incredible opportunity for us all lies in delivering the boat through the Panama Canal. A feat of mankind that truly changed the scope of the world our little boat (in comparison to the massive freighters we will ride alongside) promoting cleaner energy will make its way through the locks hopefully opening eyes and inspiring some along the way.

To the locks we go….
Hannah Huntley
2041 Cook

With a crewmember sick we decided to pull into Marina Puesta Del Sol in Nicaragua so that she could see a doctor. The marina is nestled into the mangroves in a sheltered lagoon with the tallest mountain of the country on the horizon. It’s protected from the elements of the sea but not the mosquitoes. Considering the color scheme at sea is a broad range of blues the lush greenery of the coconut palms and mango trees was a bit of tropical paradise. We pulled into this sleepy marina and Celia immediately sought out a doctor. As she left with Captain Homer the rest of us washed the boat and got to talking with some of the other cruisers. Turns out Celia had an incredibly painful ruptured eardrum- luckily one of the cruisers was a nurse and she was able to ease Celia’s worries about the prescribed shot she came back from the doctor’s with.

Thanks again John and Lela! We decided to wait her pain out- doctor’s orders! This beautiful country and its incredibly kind people have left a lasting impression on us all. From Jake showing some local kids the world map and explaining, in broken Spanish, what the voyage was all about to Ruth, the gracious receptionist that took an affinity to us all and can’t wait for our return one day. Nicaragua was an incredible place to be stuck for 2 days. Waking up and hearing the roosters crowing, the birds singing and crickets chirping, hearing the homes of the local fishermen waking up with the fresh smell of tortillas and fried plantains; I think we will all come back here one day. With smiles and gratitude we left Nicaragua. Should be 4 days to Panama now…..no more layovers, we have a schedule to keep!

Muchos gracias Nicaragua….
Hannah Huntley
2041 cook

Sounds like a flashy sports car but no…it was the sudden arrival of a tropical depression that caused our true wind to increase by nearly 30 knots in a matter of seconds. We crossed the Mexico/Guatemala border today and it was another oppressively hot day out at sea. So calm that you could see turtle shells polka-dotting the ocean as far the eye can see. No clouds above just the brewing weather front developing closer to shore. As the sun began to set and my dinner making duties were calling, all our hopes for a sushi dinner were set aside for tomorrow as we have not caught fish since Acapulco. I went into the galley where the heat is stagnant- no ocean breeze down there- and I started making pizza. As soon as the pizzas were put into the oven I heard the rest of the crew scrambling around on deck chattering like kids in a candy store. I went to see what the fuss was and their hair was flying in the wind and the waves were crashing over the bow. Wind in the hair and the waves splashing our faces…sounds cliché but we were giddy. Having goosebumps after days of a perpetual sweat shine was a very welcome feeling!

Motoring through the days of doldrums the consensus on deck was…let’s do some sailing! Out came the headsail and when we turned around the fishing line was bouncing. Go figure….The pizzas were fresh from the oven. We ate the pizzas as appetizers then I whipped up some sushi rolls and we feasted in 30 knot winds. As soon as it started it passed but we had about an hour of excitement and reprieve from the sweltering heat.

In good spirits…
Hannah Huntley
2041 cook

After being ‘stuck’ in Acapulco for a week we are all ready to head back out to sea. The fridge is fixed…we hope and the engine seems to be ‘shipshape’ (pardon the pun). Running around Acapulco in the sweltering heat trying to find parts, go grocery shopping and taking a minute to explore the funky community was tiring but rejuvenating all at the same time. It’s easy to get around considering there are thousands of blue and white Volkswagen bugs zipping around trying to find a taxi fare. We eventually came to prefer the bus rides- 50 cents for a ride in a school bus turned monster truck with a graffiti paint job and mariachi music. It added to the cultural experience. We played the part of tourist and went and saw the infamous cliff jumpers one evening. Right around sunset 7 guys of all ages dive off a cliff into a tiny inlet that can be calm or treacherous depending on the swell. The little guys dive as high as their courage has gotten them and the old timers go straight to the at least 100 ft. peak. Pretty courageous stuff.

So here we are now, heading back out to sea. The weather is calm and the heat is blistering but we have cold drinks to ease the oppressive humidity. It’s all good and we are back on track after a week long hiccup. Farewell Acapulco.

Hannah Huntley 2041 Cook

Can you spot the diver? He is the blurry blob silhouetting the sunset.