tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66496468372484467292024-03-13T09:53:32.598-03:00Ocean of DreamsPieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-51805130876641071692014-11-29T07:16:00.000-02:002014-11-29T07:16:00.376-02:00Lanzarote, Canary Islands. November 2014.<p> <p>Dear Friends, <p>How first looks can be deceiving… What at first glance appeared to be a barren, lunar, dry landscape, had some nice surprises instore for us. <p>The reception at the Puerto Calero Marina was outstanding. We spent time on internet issues and the like, and had lunch in one of the many restaurants in the marina. The next day we rented a car and checked out some spots on this island. The lack of rain water is obviously and issue, but we noticed very well designed irrigation systems, and the soil being volcanic, very fertile therefore is producing tomatoes and other veggies. The towns and villages are picturesque, and scattered around the hills and mountains.. all white.. looks peaceful. <p>We went to check out Playa Blanca (understandable why so many northern Europeans go here…), then we went to the National Park Timanfaya… Adventures as we are, did the Camel back thing and went to see the Mountain of Fire… Very impressive to be face to face with the energy stored in the earth’s core…We then drove to Arrecife (capital of Lanzarote) and walked around in the city centre for a while. Then, on the way back stopped at a EuroSpar supermarket and re stocked for our 9 day trip to Cape Verde. <p>There is much more to do and to see, not only on Lanzarote but also the other Islands.. Unfortunately for us, no more time, but certainly would like to return. <p>The next day, rental car returned, diesel topped up and of we go to Mindelo, Cape Verde, 950 nm south… <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-st2B-5ljRtE/VG0IeP9dJwI/AAAAAAAAG_E/2HH-uHlII2k/s1600-h/LA17.jpg"><img title="LA1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LA1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OxPZXH7qkSg/VG0IfToyBSI/AAAAAAAAG_M/SLLaR4q31CI/LA1_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="285" height="409"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-86Mxc5I5zHo/VG0IignFRSI/AAAAAAAAG_U/ftenbNUsC0I/s1600-h/LA211.jpg"><img title="LA2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LA2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ja_M9dgfY-M/VG0IkBhWyxI/AAAAAAAAG_c/-5eQpKxwQ-Q/LA2_thumb9.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="407"></a></p> <p> Arriving at Lanzarote Salt makes thirsty….</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GQ7ICTsNcCg/VG0InwGOqQI/AAAAAAAAG_k/DU1bJkBUHg4/s1600-h/LA312.jpg"><img title="LA3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LA3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4u_kGk-QKsc/VG0Ipj7niHI/AAAAAAAAG_s/57eA8qkfgDc/LA3_thumb7.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="286"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PKUw5vHQKzA/VG0IsmZstLI/AAAAAAAAG_0/p6XOC6luirA/s1600-h/LA46.jpg"><img title="LA4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LA4" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-afYI29jHNLg/VG0It_XcgSI/AAAAAAAAG_8/11j5UAHoRRU/LA4_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="286"></a></p> <p>Puerto Calero Marina… Top notch Our instant neighbour</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9-rIPDvUARY/VG0IxP3y9rI/AAAAAAAAHAE/DjjlXGqFbmE/s1600-h/LA64.jpg"><img title="LA6" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LA6" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nav6FBBnWZs/VG0IyT7V5HI/AAAAAAAAHAM/0PDb497NoE8/LA6_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="272"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-s038LhwG9E0/VG0I16NKu_I/AAAAAAAAHAU/XXDvqxqpOcI/s1600-h/LA74.jpg"><img title="LA7" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LA7" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lye3J10rHIk/VG0I3ahIoiI/AAAAAAAAHAc/QdQ7RGj5jRU/LA7_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="339" height="267"></a></p> <p> Playa Blanca Lanzarote Ditch the diet</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-z3ASybbWm8g/VG0I6UzQx2I/AAAAAAAAHAk/BsE3Md_v5hA/s1600-h/LA93.jpg"><img title="LA9" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LA9" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tI-PgpsWiMc/VG0I7m9pxtI/AAAAAAAAHAs/LqIARAMstUY/LA9_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="271"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rbD8KkQtSq0/VG0I-PG4MJI/AAAAAAAAHA0/LQV4YW4nJS8/s1600-h/LA103.jpg"><img title="LA10" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LA10" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JDoq7no45xA/VG0I_w0AkZI/AAAAAAAAHA8/4xCJurErS1U/LA10_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="266"></a></p> <p> Arent we dare devils…. Me and Rafael…</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nkoR-7d6Ec8/VG0JCR7UsWI/AAAAAAAAHBE/tqnHgaqL1_U/s1600-h/LA133.jpg"><img title="LA13" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LA13" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-owfkXqMF24w/VG0JDU6Vn_I/AAAAAAAAHBM/xpgsmuYXCxg/LA13_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="271"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-obIdD1VeqxU/VG0JFFE16NI/AAAAAAAAHBU/-r-Ea1CXm1s/s1600-h/LA143.jpg"><img title="LA14" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LA14" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mwHBon4bi5o/VG0JGM5kVZI/AAAAAAAAHBc/Sq80YWPEPfA/LA14_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="348" height="269"></a></p> <p>Walking on the moon? Last eruption was in 1824</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cwAqCnG7HOA/VG0JIld0YrI/AAAAAAAAHBk/6c9rIdeG_tE/s1600-h/LA155.jpg"><img title="LA15" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LA15" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-u_0FzuDFYRI/VG0JJ98dhpI/AAAAAAAAHBs/tVc7JEQ_3PQ/LA15_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="340"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GMyrq4li6nc/VG0JMsDLiEI/AAAAAAAAHB0/1JqG8babe4M/s1600-h/LA164.jpg"><img title="LA16" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LA16" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iUZIcOJnfGM/VG0JOLTKSYI/AAAAAAAAHB8/SxEYYx79G1s/LA16_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="422" height="335"></a></p> <p> Geothermal forces</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NdEDsK8NmoU/VG0JQq3EFWI/AAAAAAAAHCE/KM0Y03fZz0o/s1600-h/LA187.jpg"><img title="LA18" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LA18" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HgFhyYYuoEs/VG0JSPLS07I/AAAAAAAAHCM/UrKobBkYXfk/LA18_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="383" height="296"></a></p> <p>And on our way to Cape Verde…</p> <p>All the best <p>Pieter Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-54951158520875554992014-11-28T07:04:00.000-02:002014-11-28T07:04:00.187-02:00Mohamedia, Casablanca Marocco. November 2014.<p> <p>Dear Friends, <p>Had I first thought that this stretch through the strait of Gibraltar of some 40 miles would be complicated (there is usually a current moving in running West to East), but a fresh breeze (of up to 28-30 knots) right at our stern.. made SV Lumina rip through the strait as if there was no tomorrow… In record time we made it past Tanger and the point we had to tack to port, following the coast line south. I was wrong with my assessment that having turned the corner and behind the Atlas mountains, we would be more sheltered from the winds…The wind speeds picked up…. And only then to find out that the second reef should actually be lowered to the third reef… wind gusts peaked to 40 knots.. and luckily for us hardly any waves.. so we were just flying (too fast for my liking), and ofcourse these kind of situations usually happen during the evening/night… So, together we managed to furl the genoa, and reef the main…..only to have the wind go down within 20 minutes after our brave manouvre… Does this happen only to us?... In the early hours of the next morning we approached Mohamedia (according to Noonsite, or is it Doomsite?) one of the few harbours/marinas on the Atlantic Coast of Marocco. At first glance it didn’t look very cruisers friendly… a seemingly small marina, I counted two floating piers and on the left a whole bunch of coloured small fishing boats, and a big crowed gathered at the fishing dock. We felt our way into this situation and were able to tie up alongside, on a pier. The formalities took longer as expected, but all very kind and business like. As soon as possible we left the marina, and went to the (modern) train station and headed for Casablanca…Big city, busy, the second largest mosque in Africa. And also here a new and modern train station (Starbucks, and McDonalds present, yes sir…). Walked around and wanted to check out the famous Ricks Café (by the way… this establishment was only built AFTER the movie ) .. Unfortunately, the thing was closed.. We then went and found the Medina, and walked around for hours (almost got ourselves a silk carpet…).. Dora couldn’t resist and got herself a typical dress. After dinner (tagine again) we went back by train to Mohamedia. <p>There was some bad weather moving in, so we decided to stay put in the marina. Did top up on Diesel (just below 1 Euro per liter). We met Ilse and Leon of SV Taaltje (from Holland). We also discovered in Mohamedia a Carrefour supermarket and in the evening we went to the city (walking) and found the medina/market. Busy and lots of people around. <p>The weather forecast was correct. Strong winds sweeping through the little harbor and pouring rain as well. Good choice to hunker down. <p>The next day, having checked out with the custom and immigration guys, on our way to Lanzarote (Canary Islands). Obviously we were met by a mad swell, heading out after the breakwater of the port. As we were heading south (the wind in our back), the swell was in the beginning rather uncomfortable, but later on things settled down. The next days, we had to use the engines a lot as the winds, from the north though and in our favour, was to weak.. nevertheless had the Beast out flying during the third day…… All in all a relaxing sail to Lanzarote. We arrived at daybreak on Sunday 8<sup>th</sup> of November on the island Lanzarote.. from a distance a dry, kind of lunar appearance… It didn’t look very inviting, but once on land, we changed that first opinion… <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mulsdjGdnos/VG0F0yl3CQI/AAAAAAAAG8A/2F2qunMgmCw/s1600-h/TRA25.jpg"><img title="TRA2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TRA2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WtV-3qAoOrQ/VG0F2f0L8tI/AAAAAAAAG8I/66xAqdyaT5w/TRA2_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="311" height="249"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OkM0vF-eA_U/VG0F4oLGjRI/AAAAAAAAG8Q/DvcgAh4CTeU/s1600-h/TRA35.jpg"><img title="TRA3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TRA3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yc3pIXUyV18/VG0F5iCO6cI/AAAAAAAAG8Y/Nqh0j2IDBCo/TRA3_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="241"></a></p> <p> Near Ceuta… ripping through the strait Yep, even Flipper came to say goodbye</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UungtnT3br0/VG0F7UOtJpI/AAAAAAAAG8g/ZP6DtdhoVvw/s1600-h/TRA44.jpg"><img title="TRA4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TRA4" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4MCliXIIIXM/VG0F9KvivMI/AAAAAAAAG8o/iFlln0ePNLQ/TRA4_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="376" height="226"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xkjH-j6bhCI/VG0F_ZEue7I/AAAAAAAAG8w/6m8V_mGDYec/s1600-h/MO13.jpg"><img title="MO1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="MO1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cbXUWyB1Y3E/VG0GAnVSTWI/AAAAAAAAG84/TezI7M1ST5M/MO1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="323" height="250"></a></p> <p> Pfff power boat transport Marina in Mohamedia</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gikOp34epvY/VG0GCttReJI/AAAAAAAAG9A/S-xsU2sFHNo/s1600-h/MO25.jpg"><img title="MO2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="MO2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dkXZQLTqDFI/VG0GEdHyR9I/AAAAAAAAG9I/W3fMxjwt-Mw/MO2_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="408" height="326"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Sjmtqi5lQWs/VG0GHnkbr4I/AAAAAAAAG9Q/kDEyFJBOQTU/s1600-h/CA16.jpg"><img title="CA1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="CA1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3IWyo-nmTgg/VG0GIuQxt7I/AAAAAAAAG9Y/VxdqeByY-vc/CA1_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="336"></a></p> <p>The fisher fleet in Mohamedia Hassan II Mosque Casablanca</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-APjP2ulm6Pw/VG0GLnMPRNI/AAAAAAAAG9g/OAzy5mQRTUk/s1600-h/CA33.jpg"><img title="CA3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="CA3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PMV72s0UcVk/VG0GNKJVtHI/AAAAAAAAG9o/kE4sHEbVU9Y/CA3_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="405" height="313"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0adCNUHj2LA/VG0GPztm32I/AAAAAAAAG9w/nNuu4u2unsU/s1600-h/CA45.jpg"><img title="CA4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="CA4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Dque2r1r284/VG0GRZ6XWNI/AAAAAAAAG94/3gF5peBSRSA/CA4_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="241" height="332"></a></p> <p> Sick </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4xqJeopWH6o/VG0GUQogb3I/AAAAAAAAG-A/nmi4rBZqgTw/s1600-h/CA54.jpg"><img title="CA5" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="CA5" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6fu5T3zW1J0/VG0GV4Na6lI/AAAAAAAAG-I/OjmaAX_ZvAM/CA5_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="440"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nFufPl3aqRU/VG0GYfsz1fI/AAAAAAAAG-Q/r-mMypeQ8VI/s1600-h/CA64.jpg"><img title="CA6" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="CA6" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rMqDwhejI78/VG0GZXU0gLI/AAAAAAAAG-Y/Ax6SUsQE-hE/CA6_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="325" height="441"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-X6sytqzXa8g/VG0GbMzm3NI/AAAAAAAAG-g/GcKuktRMCZM/s1600-h/CA74.jpg"><img title="CA7" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="CA7" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0_F-lBat2VU/VG0Gc7JKCPI/AAAAAAAAG-o/cUZDlFzpdWE/CA7_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="275"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kh15gqIqo3Q/VG0GhCwv2zI/AAAAAAAAG-w/HGSaBCzaUtM/s1600-h/CA83.jpg"><img title="CA8" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="CA8" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n6XFaVhD_bE/VG0Giz0fFeI/AAAAAAAAG-4/2nu7zA4DW8Y/CA8_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="352" height="272"></a></p> <p> Play it again Sam…. Sam <p>Be cool <p>Pieter Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-44707269154582811472014-11-27T07:54:00.000-02:002014-11-27T07:54:00.339-02:00SV Lumina Med Tour. Part 3. Oct 2014<p>Dear Friends, <p>Anyway, we now were heading for Tetuan (Marocco).. During parts of the 4 days, hardly any wind (at least no wind against), but were able to cover this stretch of 450 miles in normal time. The last couple of hours, had to circle around before entering the marina, waiting for daybreak… <p>The Marina Mir is a bit run down but ok. The internet connection not very good. Then Khalid showed up… and not paying attention to my inner voice, he managed to convince us that making a city tour with him to Tetuan (still roughly half our drive) was the best thing. Well, it was all a bit too hasty for our liking. Our guide was clearly in a hurry… Anyway, went to the Medina (old centre) and it is easy to get quickly lost in the myriad of streets and alleys.. Tons of street vendors (from live chicken… we did not… to dried fruits.. we did purchase) a very exotic look, feel and smell…We ended up in a restaurant in the Spanish club, and ordered the famous tagine.. (meat stew kind of thing, with dried fruits).. tasty, but not as good as we had in the Maroccan restaurant in St Maarten.. <p>Couldn’t find a bus back to the Marina, and so had to take a shared taxi. <p>The next day, after doing some boat chores (laundry) went by bus to nearby Mdiq. Especialy in the evenings lots of activities (street vendors), and we walked around in this wonderful world of strange language, smells, colors and foods. A taxi back to the Marina, and the next day, checking out officially (too bad the marina had no diesel….), and we headed for the strait of Gibraltar (again) now on the way out….. To say goodbye to us a bunch of dolphins and pilot whales swam in front of SV Lumina… I have the feeling we will be back for more…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cIa5SdMX3Aw/VG0DXfZwBMI/AAAAAAAAG48/9AnbmDzqVu8/s1600-h/TE15.jpg"><img title="TE1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TE1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-B2hITk0uBMg/VG0DZIjeRII/AAAAAAAAG5E/-sMLC-eBAk0/TE1_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="469"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-prFrhjm4-OM/VG0DbdlnmII/AAAAAAAAG5M/w0W7yygJtuQ/s1600-h/TE25.jpg"><img title="TE2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TE2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lpGLgH_nxTA/VG0Dc4wtiEI/AAAAAAAAG5U/-BMJkBtnOoY/TE2_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="356" height="489"></a></p> <p> Entrance to the Medina, Tetuan Dora dressed for the ocasion</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8pO_yYufbg4/VG0DgUdIB_I/AAAAAAAAG5c/SUklG85LZVs/s1600-h/TE34.jpg"><img title="TE3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TE3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VG-6z6F3y0E/VG0DhmNbmSI/AAAAAAAAG5k/6Wxyo6q-YMI/TE3_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="403" height="318"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ABvQ_EVtzMY/VG0DlIQ1JAI/AAAAAAAAG5s/A4yQ7pYDPik/s1600-h/TE54.jpg"><img title="TE5" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TE5" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BUyvAX9CYNU/VG0Dm7_6HQI/AAAAAAAAG50/7hoaz3KUeag/TE5_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="297" height="403"></a></p> <p>nocarpet,nocarpet,nocarpet,nocarpet Produce in the Medina</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lpMdIIEmVYo/VG0DqxKd2aI/AAAAAAAAG58/L95_9F83pPo/s1600-h/TE64.jpg"><img title="TE6" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TE6" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fgiek1cS5to/VG0DsGuRgII/AAAAAAAAG6E/Gld_oJh76-g/TE6_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="275"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-55ghU4TN33U/VG0DueewXTI/AAAAAAAAG6M/AEDYGF3Y41c/s1600-h/TE74.jpg"><img title="TE7" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TE7" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dWx0KCBuERg/VG0DvjCpCxI/AAAAAAAAG6U/5J0_-hVtNIs/TE7_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="271"></a></p> <p>Different beach customs and fashion Mdiq boulevard</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ctwbZxTg9mg/VG0DzCZzw0I/AAAAAAAAG6c/SRSmyM9krgk/s1600-h/TE83.jpg"><img title="TE8" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TE8" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_wfQMwwI-Zc/VG0D0tWTVAI/AAAAAAAAG6k/XV55808-bJE/TE8_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="352" height="272"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VWZbctiAeqo/VG0D3gKNT3I/AAAAAAAAG6s/AEhm6kdMMGM/s1600-h/TE93.jpg"><img title="TE9" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TE9" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1P4-jExVfKM/VG0D5MVE5rI/AAAAAAAAG60/SEemUnogemI/TE9_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="261"></a></p> <p>Too big crowd for so litlle fish Need a pair of shoes?</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-N8FHnT4dJ-I/VG0D7mzFK_I/AAAAAAAAG68/W-jMlVa8elQ/s1600-h/TE103.jpg"><img title="TE10" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TE10" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qbdGs3eMSLU/VG0D9HariAI/AAAAAAAAG7E/GZFwoXFpAOc/TE10_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="356" height="275"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bCBPPF_B_ZI/VG0D_lww1SI/AAAAAAAAG7M/2wC4TiSw45Y/s1600-h/BA17.jpg"><img title="BA1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="BA1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vrXkC9MELL4/VG0EAhkfQqI/AAAAAAAAG7U/jNqOMb1e7so/BA1_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="265"></a></p> <p> Medina in Mdiq Shark bait? </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uTEz77Hc9Bo/VG0EDDfpw8I/AAAAAAAAG7c/4t0JvzbwLE8/s1600-h/BA24.jpg"><img title="BA2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="BA2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bJKg28lskG4/VG0EEFu1R3I/AAAAAAAAG7k/sNwol4309kY/BA2_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="358" height="216"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5JSnJ9yaTYM/VG0EGY2vtcI/AAAAAAAAG7s/-jwZrc7Ht0k/s1600-h/TRA14.jpg"><img title="TRA1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TRA1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7LPb47uyahg/VG0EIIpBD7I/AAAAAAAAG70/DflQQyxuX2I/TRA1_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="206"></a></p> <p> A goodbye from the Med Take care Flipper</p> <p>Warm Regards,</p> <p>Pieter</p> Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-8166557724959843292014-11-26T07:44:00.000-02:002014-11-26T07:44:01.142-02:00SV Lumina Med Tour. Part 2. Oct 2014<p>Dear Friends, <p>A fantastic sail, over night to this famous holiday island. We anchored at nice protected bay (pointed out to us by the friendly and helpful staff at the marina in Anguilas). At anchor, our SUP board was rapidly deployed and the fun started. Dora is already a well trained and agile SUP fan, me on the other hand have to practice a lot still, however things are improving rapidly. Of course, during setting up the equipment a rather important plastic piece of the paddle went overboard, and quickly putting on the scuba diving gear, not able to recover it.. lost in or better underneath the sea grass.. Not to worry, kind of fixed the paddle MacGyver style and all went well. During our beach excursion were confronted with nude sunbathers and ladies bare breasted (some indeed should, others maybe not so… ) <p>We went the next day to nearby San Antonio, but couldn’t find a good place to tie up the dinghy, so we decided to head straight for Ibiza town… this was no easy sail, (strong head winds and only the last part of the trip we had a favourable wind, making 7-8 knots speed. <p>It was already getting dark and we still hadn’t found a nice place to anchor. We ended up dropping the hook nearby a small pier and a bunch of small power boats. I knew this was not the best place, but it was only for one night. Very early the next day we went over the Botafoch Marina (the cheaper option around). Tied up next to a wonderful mega yacht, and met Guilherme (from Curitiba, Brazil) who is crew on this vessel. We had him over for coffee and decided that later on that evening we would join and have dinner to gether. <p>During the day we explored the old part of town of Ibiza and had lunch in a touristy but famous bodega. Then we walked inside the old city. Wonderful place and luckily the high tourist season is over. <p>That evening we went with Guilherme and his girlfriend Tammy to a very nice restaurant Sansara. Great food, great company. <p>The next day we set of early to the island of Formentera, and by trying to eyeball our way thru some shallow waters, almost got SV Lumina stuck on the rocks, but we were able to get us out of this predicament and anchored in front of a lovely beach, with pristine water. SUP deployed and of we went. Great fun. That night we anchored in front of another great beach, very tranquil. We needed some gasoline for the outboard motor and se went to shore and tied up the dinghy at the marina… They didn’t have gasoline but advised us to try the gas station further up the road… Well it was actually a fair bit up the road, and of course, when we arrived there.. the thing was closed (no more tourist, no more action). Not satisfied, we left and spoted a nice anchorage.. just beautiful.. however I must say that it looks all very exotic (bare rocks, some cactus etc…) pristine blue water… In my opinion it just can’t match the lush green islands settings in Ilha Grande and Paraty (Brazil, remember, our previous stomping grounds). <p>That evening we left Formentera and sailed over night to Mallorca. Our friends Gil and Alepio of SV Baravento suggested to anchor in Santa Ponca Bay… indeed nice and quiet. By bus we went to Palma de Mallorca, to amongst others, organize our passports/visa etc etc (we grosely overstayed Dora’s tourist visum for Europe) .. however it was hard to learn where we had to go with our burocracy. We walked around in the old city centre and dodged in and out those great tapa boutiques.. Boy, these people know how to enjoy a good wine, tapas and olive oil…Lovely. The next day we had to return to finalize the passports… great guys at customs and immigration, no sweat all in order. <p>So we left the next morning this lovely Island. A pitty we didn’t have more time to explore the NE side of the Island. This will have to do a next time around. We found Mallorca much nicer than Ibiza (and Formentera). It looks greener for starters… <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-H2B5W5kaLFY/VG0BS-N3AjI/AAAAAAAAG0s/8214iw4w9Qg/s1600-h/IB13.jpg"><img title="IB1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IB1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-03PHKqPaN0E/VG0BZ-iv1EI/AAAAAAAAG00/362dbcvQ4hk/IB1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="439" height="339"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9pQg_dcqfj8/VG0BlAxyVqI/AAAAAAAAG08/ckVOlgSrQoA/s1600-h/IB34.jpg"><img title="IB3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IB3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-A5MKogdHEBI/VG0BmtEqsRI/AAAAAAAAG1E/PzDNMGb4ZI0/IB3_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="251" height="340"></a></p> <p> Baia Cala Bassa, Ibiza SUP time…</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Xl3bPqXnWCc/VG0BqvBdrlI/AAAAAAAAG1M/4Nxd2lrUMuo/s1600-h/IB48.jpg"><img title="IB4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IB4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nPOgfnFsDuo/VG0BsACkKqI/AAAAAAAAG1U/7jeZzmdZwxs/IB4_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" width="252" height="359"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-57YipgLdcHo/VG0BwxoQPPI/AAAAAAAAG1c/zP3kFznasTo/s1600-h/IB58.jpg"><img title="IB5" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IB5" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qGN5YDCA20s/VG0ByONwv9I/AAAAAAAAG1k/NKatVDpmH9o/IB5_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" width="433" height="362"></a></p> <p> Blup time…. Holiday Island </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xhc5v9Qjjuw/VG0B02JbJxI/AAAAAAAAG1s/5WLcz_gub-M/s1600-h/IB63.jpg"><img title="IB6" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IB6" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NEz4WGMwmYw/VG0B2YYfYlI/AAAAAAAAG10/UiYhUvY3rWE/IB6_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="352" height="272"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-X-n--HQcmVw/VG0B4qXJSUI/AAAAAAAAG18/YXDb2EK6Pjw/s1600-h/IB73.jpg"><img title="IB7" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IB7" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-32XS3fcOjcQ/VG0B5ijnDRI/AAAAAAAAG2E/qC9Z9719hwk/IB7_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="267"></a></p> <p> The SUP board Ibiza, the old town…..</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-aQPSQGTMZ14/VG0B7Iq0hJI/AAAAAAAAG2M/xgjc9bxteNw/s1600-h/IB86.jpg"><img title="IB8" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IB8" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4yS6p0N_BnM/VG0B8TUXwjI/AAAAAAAAG2U/5FZQfPo6c6g/IB8_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="251" height="349"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uZ0rgQY2KGE/VG0B-Sy27dI/AAAAAAAAG2c/dcLlyceMrkg/s1600-h/IB94.jpg"><img title="IB9" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IB9" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-C4p0i3ooiFs/VG0B_pGLaKI/AAAAAAAAG2g/jTLN927oeMA/IB9_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="444" height="349"></a></p> <p> Tourist Day.. Near Ibiza town</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wNfTSqu9esY/VG0CBjYJ-aI/AAAAAAAAG2s/bV3Tvc7pD1c/s1600-h/IB103.jpg"><img title="IB10" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IB10" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AR3fbuX85hA/VG0CC_eUEBI/AAAAAAAAG20/933-bzScFkA/IB10_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="271"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6SYs7s8OtRY/VG0CFdrSVZI/AAAAAAAAG28/x592EQQvNgA/s1600-h/IB114.jpg"><img title="IB11" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IB11" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KFEsRxRpwCM/VG0CGxv8cdI/AAAAAAAAG3E/uVC8boaazds/IB11_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="267"></a></p> <p> Chill….cofee break Chill.. Bubble and Tapas break</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eo2Nedy8u8Q/VG0CI9uY8rI/AAAAAAAAG3M/sgUDlTGo2-g/s1600-h/IB123.jpg"><img title="IB12" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IB12" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-azWazNWTcGE/VG0CKFUnqcI/AAAAAAAAG3U/OcQr8_oqupU/IB12_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="271"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-k1i3Un2Ft-k/VG0CMhiiVGI/AAAAAAAAG3c/wjKYvWPzHHg/s1600-h/GOPR12018.jpg"><img title="DCIM\100GOPRO" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DCIM\100GOPRO" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iWTW9D8pVsQ/VG0CNp-ZGVI/AAAAAAAAG3k/TdS32WX1LWQ/GOPR1201_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="270"></a></p> <p>There is no better life than a good life Beautiful anchorage in Formentera</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aAj8U5qo0qc/VG0CPzgsg3I/AAAAAAAAG3s/bPs9wJS-8y0/s1600-h/MA15.jpg"><img title="MA1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="MA1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-m6j5JhXko5g/VG0CQ2iar7I/AAAAAAAAG30/64yaE6ifhLE/MA1_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="259" height="356"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--KIMIpWtVCg/VG0CSlui1xI/AAAAAAAAG38/UYEiVMpAl6c/s1600-h/MA25.jpg"><img title="MA2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="MA2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5emzqg2lJGc/VG0CUJnfS8I/AAAAAAAAG4E/-aAQqH20BuI/MA2_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="442" height="352"></a></p> <p>Santa Ponsa, Mallorca Nice anchorage</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4hgapsZJ58Y/VG0CWzTGYpI/AAAAAAAAG4M/YHPN989dJd8/s1600-h/MA33.jpg"><img title="MA3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="MA3" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-es72lREgUH8/VG0CYzlIefI/AAAAAAAAG4U/eFnkCLXYINU/MA3_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="352" height="272"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4l0MWhq_TK4/VG0Ca44_bZI/AAAAAAAAG4c/q9Ls8F_S25M/s1600-h/MA43.jpg"><img title="MA4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="MA4" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QsU8PAbUmWA/VG0CcMG1kAI/AAAAAAAAG4k/QYTqGWh0LPo/MA4_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="270"></a></p> <p> Catedral in Las Palmas Las Palmas</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-57adEsdNTxY/VG0Cf1Tvw1I/AAAAAAAAG4s/BaLbYXDhvUE/s1600-h/MA54.jpg"><img title="MA5" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="MA5" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-z8sDxK8MAwM/VG0Cid1eCXI/AAAAAAAAG40/7SaP25grHYo/MA5_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="693" height="541"></a></p> <p>Boats, Yachts, Mega Yachts and more boats in Las Palmas…</p> <p>To be continued and final part 3.</p> <p> </p> <p>Have fun</p> <p>Pieter</p> Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-2898009387573408092014-11-24T07:28:00.000-02:002014-11-24T07:28:00.350-02:00SV Lumina Med Tour. Part 1 . Oct 2014.<p> <p>Dear Friends, <p>We sailed to Anguilas (Spain) and decided to leave the SV Lumina in this nice marina, and left to explore the city of Murcia (old town centre, where back in the days the Moors had their way..). <p>We couldn’t rent a car in Anguilas, and so decided to go by train. When we finally arrived at the train station (by foot… side note for fellow cruisers: although the marina is nice, it is quiet distant from the city centre and public transport hard to find..). Had to wait a fair bit for the train to Murcia, but we arrived early evening in this nice town. Via internet we had booked a budget priced hotel in the centre of town, and had dinner at their restaurant (very good choice). The next day we explored the old part of town, a wonderful mix of little streets and alleys. In the afternoon we took the train to Alicante. Also in this town we had booked a budget priced hotel (actually this one was a little bit too budget for our liking, but anyway, it was going to be only for one night). We walked straight to Volvo Ocean Race Village. It was great to taste the atmosphere, as the next day was going to be the start of this mega event. 7 racing machines (now all the same built and equipped) are going to sail around the world. The word comfort does not excists on board these vessels. <p>Later on that evening we had dinner (rather disappointing… in fact our culinary experiences in Portugal and Spain had us choosing for the Portuguese quisine hands down, so far anyway). <p>Next morning the start of the VOR. Magnificent… Soon after that we took a bus back to Anguilas. <p>We wanted to leave the next day, but the weather was not helping, so we ended up staying an additional day (spent on laundry, internet etc etc). <p>With this over land detour, we had gained some time and we could now skip Cartagena and Alicante, and we set sail directly for Ibiza… <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KcDfSjFJSQU/VGz9Pg8YhxI/AAAAAAAAGxo/gqohgSGkUzs/s1600-h/MU12.jpg"><img title="MU1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="MU1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UGFilQoG44M/VGz9RWJSIEI/AAAAAAAAGxw/C03eMFqTbLc/MU1_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="274" height="376"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0yUV02WGthw/VGz9Ta-CbBI/AAAAAAAAGx4/wLnYEUcNX7w/s1600-h/AL17.jpg"><img title="AL1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="AL1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3SPIwFWweAc/VGz9UpN6HXI/AAAAAAAAGyA/Cv9rsybrh-s/AL1_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="399" height="373"></a></p> <p>Downtown Murcia Recycling made easy in Alicante</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-aHpQwUfFhnU/VGz9Xg-LCbI/AAAAAAAAGyI/6AwV1yaoIHY/s1600-h/AL26.jpg"><img title="AL2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="AL2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yA-v0exxPcM/VGz9dPIBg3I/AAAAAAAAGyQ/MviZzCc_hB0/AL2_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="259" height="356"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SYrzWU5fOUc/VGz9iYJc1gI/AAAAAAAAGyY/7Yc-z_OuqY4/s1600-h/AL34.jpg"><img title="AL3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="AL3" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sOlbu11OP-8/VGz9kemT_QI/AAAAAAAAGyg/67fngP6I9cA/AL3_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="424" height="328"></a></p> <p>Central Boulevard Alicante VOR (Volvo Ocean Race)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oCipDfwpsK0/VGz9oK5eSYI/AAAAAAAAGyo/CHo_dU545GM/s1600-h/AL46.jpg"><img title="AL4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="AL4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lSbmu82Pfx4/VGz9qUzAZ1I/AAAAAAAAGyw/3sjShUBlWY4/AL4_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="410" height="328"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ztf3yRtk_Kw/VGz9umX2IBI/AAAAAAAAGy4/kSgHMQbLWS0/s1600-h/AL56.jpg"><img title="AL5" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="AL5" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9ndQ1BIze14/VGz9v8HTgrI/AAAAAAAAGzA/wlznodDvy2w/AL5_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="350"></a></p> <p> The Alicante YachtClub (Full to capacity) I have one… </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_NR9Ox83HNk/VGz9yyIL6bI/AAAAAAAAGzI/VwpPu5alyKE/s1600-h/AL64.jpg"><img title="AL6" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="AL6" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qpZ9_YH_6w4/VGz90nYBtqI/AAAAAAAAGzQ/Lny5D4-zNC4/AL6_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="418" height="323"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-x_8_krCRHZQ/VGz93k0GAyI/AAAAAAAAGzY/Yk4TnSgweNU/s1600-h/AL75.jpg"><img title="AL7" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="AL7" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yBjm3NceKNY/VGz96nzYWwI/AAAAAAAAGzg/bJRtdttj4i8/AL7_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="253" height="343"></a></p> <p>The Brasil 1 turned into a museum Yeah… </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7MV8HQ9OQHc/VGz988fLVcI/AAAAAAAAGzo/B3LNn_Y_rzc/s1600-h/AL87.jpg"><img title="AL8" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="AL8" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UdvQHwizf-c/VGz9-UJlWrI/AAAAAAAAGzw/DdKczpxJKGo/AL8_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" height="337"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7Sl8QF679Z0/VGz-AnLy1dI/AAAAAAAAGz4/dn339WuqEzs/s1600-h/AL126.jpg"><img title="AL12" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="AL12" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HcxsEW20-mU/VGz-CT6AdSI/AAAAAAAAG0A/D18wycI4DXY/AL12_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="426" height="335"></a></p> <p> Cool Keel No comfort inside the Brasil 1</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sfHi_LhpJTM/VGz-HlW2p1I/AAAAAAAAG0I/ntMOq7Yib24/s1600-h/AL135.jpg"><img title="AL13" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="AL13" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vEyg71u7Euk/VGz-KUkA0wI/AAAAAAAAG0Q/ihxg1RZ80D0/AL13_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="348" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bGtST9Jqjkg/VGz-S8CBrZI/AAAAAAAAG0Y/O_zyWo_UteM/s1600-h/AL145.jpg"><img title="AL14" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="AL14" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-K0bU9C2R6xw/VGz-ZJ1PcDI/AAAAAAAAG0g/yhJ6D9V3hbQ/AL14_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="341" height="269"></a></p> <p> 3D street art: Neptune…. Crowds at the start of the VOR <p>To be continued in Part 2.. <p>Be good <p>Pieter Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-15023798971790393182014-11-23T07:23:00.000-02:002014-11-23T07:23:00.089-02:00Lagos to Gibraltar. October 2014.<p> <p>Dear Friends, <p>The trip from Cascais to Lagos was easy going. A faint breeze and we arrived the next day at the excellent marina in Lagos. The afternoon explored the old city centre and had a great dinner (fish of course) in a restaurant off the tourist track. <p>The next day went by bus to Portimao, and checked out the beach scene. It was a great day, playing tourist. <p>Pleasantly surprised by FedEX, delivering the trampoline netting, sent to us by Fountaine Pajot. So we spent basically all day (under a sweltering sun) to get it properly attached. <p>Prior to heading for Gibraltar, some additional supermarket shopping and of we went. <p>It was an easy run for the strait of Gibraltar and even had to kind of slowdown in order to arrive in daylight at Gibraltar. The AIS showed a lot of vessel movement going in and out, but we stayed clear of the shipping lane on the Spanish side. The sight of the rock was amazing… Not so amazing was that none of the three available marinas had room for us, so we ended up anchoring out in front of the La Linea Marine (Spanish side). We went to shore and went SIM card hunting as we are constantly in need of internet connections. That, we managed at the Carrefour supermarket. We had dinner on board, and the whole look and feel of this place was not inviting enough to make us stay. The next day, early, starting our quick tour in the Med… <p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dZ3srWKH4jc/VGz8EOSWw8I/AAAAAAAAGuY/jorS0io5rJw/s1600-h/PO25.jpg"><img title="PO2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="PO2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-95PJc-LFzUM/VGz8FH9ikzI/AAAAAAAAGug/xbaR18c1CkA/PO2_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="309" height="425"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aUfypYf0baE/VGz8HbFzOXI/AAAAAAAAGuo/HePdLMaXTAc/s1600-h/PO35.jpg"><img title="PO3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="PO3" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FKnEDfm8WEk/VGz8Iu-e24I/AAAAAAAAGuw/XDa5ZTfEU1w/PO3_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="308" height="424"></a></p> <p>A day at the beach. Portimao </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ffpsxus4r8c/VGz8K4I99EI/AAAAAAAAGu4/_USnJ-C8yYU/s1600-h/PO65.jpg"><img title="PO6" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="PO6" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cZr0AmaXvJY/VGz8MOZo8KI/AAAAAAAAGvA/u0zSZpfc198/PO6_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="348" height="280"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KkK1t8yWOmQ/VGz8N88tG9I/AAAAAAAAGvI/PHHjqsYyrio/s1600-h/PO58.jpg"><img title="PO5" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="PO5" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oc_IM_XSAAk/VGz8PDlRdsI/AAAAAAAAGvQ/5akMv9wvH2A/PO5_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="351" height="277"></a></p> <p>Portimao beach LOVEly</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gP9qd2M5p_w/VGz8R0UHjAI/AAAAAAAAGvY/CYenqBEznC4/s1600-h/LAG127.jpg"><img title="LAG12" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LAG12" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XodSmwR9Fcw/VGz8S1xd3tI/AAAAAAAAGvg/bVA49MlOt3U/LAG12_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="343"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3OOJPUh7aFU/VGz8VTnnBaI/AAAAAAAAGvo/k6qJwO8cRQ4/s1600-h/LAG139.jpg"><img title="LAG13" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LAG13" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XqLsbhV_BAE/VGz8WTBIC5I/AAAAAAAAGvw/k8fNF1YKFCs/LAG13_thumb7.jpg?imgmax=800" width="226" height="332"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aiABnEBcVeo/VGz8Zima4dI/AAAAAAAAGv4/3lm2dNID_vE/s1600-h/LAG147.jpg"><img title="LAG14" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LAG14" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9IYY4dW-GJg/VGz8aqNHNdI/AAAAAAAAGwA/KadlP52ctYI/LAG14_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="226" height="322"></a></p> <p>How to install a trampoline netting on a Cat.. this is how you do it….</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PdV97Ac1mnA/VGz8cl4J_SI/AAAAAAAAGwI/wm5hWComOik/s1600-h/LAG153.jpg"><img title="LAG15" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LAG15" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fQ2Q91WrnGQ/VGz8ePksaWI/AAAAAAAAGwQ/JWr9YCudIkM/LAG15_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="396" height="306"></a></p> <p>Leaving Lagos Marina heading for Gibraltar…</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ICTGqKRs1sI/VGz8f1ctYmI/AAAAAAAAGwY/U82IERv7QaY/s1600-h/GI15.jpg"><img title="GI1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="GI1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RtJ-_DdivTs/VGz8hchuQvI/AAAAAAAAGwg/KYeWzlqrPe0/GI1_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" height="462"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_ygSKjz5gJM/VGz8i02QEGI/AAAAAAAAGwo/LTJp_pxyUb4/s1600-h/GI26.jpg"><img title="GI2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="GI2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_Y5AqbLNJWU/VGz8kBSqIuI/AAAAAAAAGww/Ms5z27Ip02Y/GI2_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="330" height="459"></a></p> <p>At daybreak approach to the Strait Gibraltar, aka the Rock…</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nGCI_JpNAPA/VGz8mX6-stI/AAAAAAAAGw4/eD0pE_cxxPA/s1600-h/GI46.jpg"><img title="GI4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="GI4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-y3MplGaETJ0/VGz8nbqsBBI/AAAAAAAAGxA/rKz9hBThV5Q/GI4_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="284"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fPP3KweZsT4/VGz8pA-z0MI/AAAAAAAAGxI/nJBzhkQZDeA/s1600-h/GI55.jpg"><img title="GI5" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="GI5" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RhqiZ0AO9LQ/VGz8qOMA5WI/AAAAAAAAGxQ/yTBmK4ux6Xs/GI5_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="281"></a></p> <p>Same Rock, different angle on our way to La Linea, anchorage</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--ar3rE11pR0/VGz8r59c4pI/AAAAAAAAGxY/7smOyq7dp2o/s1600-h/GI65.jpg"><img title="GI6" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="GI6" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8OOJ2mTKG9s/VGz8tKfNVYI/AAAAAAAAGxg/m_g_Dk6RoCs/GI6_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="353" height="473"></a></p> <p>Leaving for the Med..</p> <p>Have fun <p>Pieter Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-85534765722145205782014-11-22T07:19:00.000-02:002014-11-22T07:19:00.059-02:00Cascais – Lagos. Sept 2014.<p> <p>Dear Friends, <p>In order to get all things done in one day, it was decided that I would go to Lisbon (to get an additional Comar Systems AIS with wifi at Nautiradar), and to try to get a tax refund on the items we had purchased in Portugal. <p>This last thing had me on a wild goose chase all over Lisbon, and finaly I was told that no such thing could be done, as we were not leaving by plane and also could not actually show the equipment (as it was already installed on board the SV Lumina). <p>Anyway, made it back by train to Cascais, where Dora had been able to get here tooth fixed, she had done some additional olive oil purchases and so we made it back to SV Lumina in the evening. <p>All set to go and we are on our way to Lagos. We hope and wait for FedEx to deliver a new trampoline/netting purchased direct at Fountaine Pajot in France. <p>No doubt, we will explore the centuries old town and soak up some of the Algarve sun. New adventures ahead. <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-drJexHfwPTk/VGz7LOEGAKI/AAAAAAAAGs4/ykSa6H6Uo2o/s1600-h/LAG43.jpg"><img title="LAG4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LAG4" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Vi7NNd45xPM/VGz7MOL0jhI/AAAAAAAAGtA/Yut1fWMBF7w/LAG4_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="267"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VI16qMNl5vw/VGz7NtTs3sI/AAAAAAAAGtI/5CUYyjKjkW8/s1600-h/LAG53.jpg"><img title="LAG5" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LAG5" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1gSvFHRSM8A/VGz7O1VLZoI/AAAAAAAAGtQ/S5nGBhpU6JI/LAG5_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="261"></a></p> <p>Never get tired of this… Rounding Cabo do Sao Vincente</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7tV3dqFo8LM/VGz7QtBncnI/AAAAAAAAGtY/_7Ww6_-OAVg/s1600-h/LAG63.jpg"><img title="LAG6" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LAG6" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9EjbZjTJCl0/VGz7RqnwZFI/AAAAAAAAGtg/9VUyT31AQ-s/LAG6_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="271"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-g3SNtkYEqJ0/VGz7TcH1jsI/AAAAAAAAGto/-hl4VNJLK7c/s1600-h/LAG73.jpg"><img title="LAG7" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LAG7" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XJO0SZQ9XUQ/VGz7UaxI7TI/AAAAAAAAGtw/nLPBx9pHSPU/LAG7_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="339" height="262"></a></p> <p>Cabo Sao Vicente Typical Algarve Coastline</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MVs-qzsoIXM/VGz7WUQSi7I/AAAAAAAAGt4/dHZKGFcmYjk/s1600-h/LAG83.jpg"><img title="LAG8" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LAG8" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-L1A3_gPNWgA/VGz7XXCyzSI/AAAAAAAAGuA/jLKKPHEb65o/LAG8_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="355" height="275"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-L7miyfwNqtA/VGz7ZvD69WI/AAAAAAAAGuI/yWW-WYoasX4/s1600-h/LAG103.jpg"><img title="LAG10" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LAG10" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aLa0-LKzYrg/VGz7a_j9-hI/AAAAAAAAGuQ/BjKWs--q-J4/LAG10_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="265"></a></p> <p> Entrance of the Lagos Marina</p> <p>All the best <p>Pieter Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-91248791782200003602014-11-21T07:14:00.000-02:002014-11-21T07:14:00.043-02:00A Coruna to Porto to Cascais. Sept 2014.<p> <p>Dear Friends, <p>Sure enough.. favorable winds.. so much so… that it was straight from the stern… Personally one of the most unstable wind directions… And during a maneuver to keep the beam on port and the genoa on starboard, of course an involuntary gibe and the line keeping the beam up, snapped… It took some cursing, and now steering against the wind and waves, took a nice salty shower, but together we managed to untangle the line and I was able to connect the line back to the beam again. Now, mainsail down, just the genoa, and soon order was restored. It was a nice sail all the way down to Porto. We arrived on Thursday back to Douro Marina. We went straight to the Supermarket to restock. The next day I stayed on board to take care of some repairs, and Dora went to get her haircut (finally)… The afternoon went down town to purchase a nice inventory of Port wine, bubbles and Vinho Verde, all that duly delivered to the SV Lumina the next day. I got a new cooking gas bottle (11 kg, from Repsol, Euro 25, these bottles are awesome, as they are made of polyeth and glas fibre..). <p>In the afternoon we left for Cascais… a nice breeze, just the genoa and no seas…life is good. <p>A great late lunch and some port wine of course and because of the calm seas we even watched the newest episode of the BlackList. <p>The winds were weak and so I decided to stop at Peniche (around there is a mine field of fishing pots and lines, just waiting to foul up or props…). A couple of miles before Peniche, weather was building up, all around us thunderstorms and lightning… We barely made it inside the protected harbor, dodging still various fishing pots, but to our luck no severe weather upon us, just some rain. On the way up three months ago we also overnighted in Peniche (also arriving with rain…). Some dinner, hot shower and to sleep. <p>The next day, bright and sunny, and on our way for the last 40 miles to Cascais. Very light Northern winds, the sea as flat as ever… although dodged several fishing pots , a floating bunch of lines fouled up our port prop… Hmm. Water was cold, but had to free the prop and make sure no lines where still around the prop.. Let us say it was refreshing… In the evening we arrived in Cascais, and anchored out next to the marina. <p>To stretch our legs, went to shore and tried to locate a dentist, as Dora had lost a filling and needed an emergency treatment. <p>Had a nice late night dinner in a typical seafood restaurant, all was great, but their seafood pate as a starter created some bowel issues later on…. <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_wbhMZ4bMrM/VGz6Cw-HYnI/AAAAAAAAGrY/693HvAcKymg/s1600-h/PORTa14.jpg"><img title="PORTa1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="PORTa1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-o6FWFtOxUnE/VGz6ELNl7YI/AAAAAAAAGrg/8HGf0E_B6Ns/PORTa1_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="270"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wp1Dl5H4-N4/VGz6GLw5qRI/AAAAAAAAGro/akvyrAZWMXc/s1600-h/LAG14.jpg"><img title="LAG1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LAG1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BdZvSFpyCyA/VGz6HO4_ZsI/AAAAAAAAGrw/LqXEmed1d78/LAG1_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="266"></a></p> <p>Nice sunset near Peniche Just waiting to foul up your prop…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bwhpaalYadM/VGz6IbRdIgI/AAAAAAAAGr4/wKZLa_koh0M/s1600-h/LAG24.jpg"><img title="LAG2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LAG2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aVnhdePhn90/VGz6JbkPHLI/AAAAAAAAGsA/dDuDliVCuVE/LAG2_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="347" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Pp0a7FRhv1g/VGz6LTXiUrI/AAAAAAAAGsI/vaVo_wAFHzs/s1600-h/LAG34.jpg"><img title="LAG3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LAG3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2DcbYbK6EGU/VGz6McCBXkI/AAAAAAAAGsQ/Vfc0uRejrs0/LAG3_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="208" height="282"></a></p> <p>Lovely Sunday morning dive… and the result….</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8HaGxy0cmDc/VGz6Ocwmj9I/AAAAAAAAGsY/E0Ujkx9zOdA/s1600-h/CAS83.jpg"><img title="CAS8" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="CAS8" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-aeRAsZz4pZU/VGz6PuM3H5I/AAAAAAAAGsg/aruDjNlLxUk/CAS8_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="267"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DCW2cBgjBLk/VGz6RAyPQNI/AAAAAAAAGso/QSqc6GIGJU0/s1600-h/CAS93.jpg"><img title="CAS9" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="CAS9" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DsyPH99cUw4/VGz6SLO6bdI/AAAAAAAAGsw/KgoysFZQgps/CAS9_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="265"></a> <p>Anchorage in Cascais ……we love this place.. <p> <p>Be good <p>Pieter Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-84083559951800835292014-11-20T07:04:00.000-02:002014-11-20T07:04:00.092-02:00Falmouth to A Coruna. Sept 2014.<p> <p>Dear Friends, <p>And of we went, topped up the diesel tank and on our way. The first 24 hours were bumpy but do-able. We did 150 miles… a great sun rise, and we thought we would have a great passage…. I was vast asleep when Dora woke me up… concerned with what seem to be various squalls building up from different directions. <p>Didn’t look good, and so tried to reef the main sail, and whilst this procedure was under way, one of the lazy jack lines (I had re-attached in Holland) came loose so we lost the ability to neatly stow a way the main. Then for some mystery reason, the last reef line had come loose (as I tried to put the third reef in).. and actually the loose end disappeared inside the boom…Ok, so we could either have the second reef in or nothing. I decided to stay with the 2 reef, and the genoa furled/reefed as well. The swell was building up, and weather turned into a stiff breeze of abt 30 knots, waves from all directions and of course the wind came from the wrong direction (directly from A Coruna, so we had to bear of to be able to sail. ) The second day, (I had dropped the main all together) and only with a small genoa (and one engine) tried to maintain as high as possible trying to come closer to A Coruna. The next morning, very very tired, I decided to heave- to and so had a couple of hours of sleep. Then, put up the main again, and a small genoa, and of we went again. Waves, bumpy, and SV Lumina slamming into the waves, some unbelievable crashes… The wind remained gusty, peaking to 35 knots, then lowering to 25 and up again. In the early hours of the 4<sup>th</sup> day, had to choose between bearing of more (and making much more speed, mind you with those waves that would have been true pandemonium).. so again tried to stay as high as possible, and calculated the point where we had to tack, finally we reached that point, and after tacking we could more or less maintain a straight line to A Coruna. (Still 40 nm away..).. Very very tired, but finally arrived in the calmer waters near A Coruna, and in the afternoon we tied up in the marina. During this trip the waves had destroyed the already weak trampoline/netting. A dreadful sight. <p>Anyway, a hot shower and some great food and wine later on the evening down town the old medieval centre of A Coruna, and things were looking better already. The strange thing is that even though I had studied carefully the weather forecast, seemingly the Gulf of Biscay follows its own temperament. <p>The next day we went by train to visit Santiago de Compostella. We saw a lot of pilgrims arriving after a month of walking from France to Santiago. I can imagine the emotion it must be to have completed this pilgrim trail. We will certainly try to do this one time (although I must say that sailing the North Atlantic is a pilgrimage by itself..). We walked around somewhat more and had a great seafood lunch in the old city. <p>We spend the next day, to clean and organize the boat again after 4 days sailing in a washing machine. The old trampoline was removed; the lazy jack line was restored. <p>Then early morning we left for Porto… Winds supposed to be favorable… <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RMPFlmFCZ6U/VGz3ox6qvxI/AAAAAAAAGpE/ZMAY52P2Ow0/s1600-h/AC53.jpg"><img title="AC5" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="AC5" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QsXxbxOyw6o/VGz3qeX5KNI/AAAAAAAAGpM/kC1CsvM7DOo/AC5_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="257"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GjJK5eUlHLw/VGz3tq9vq3I/AAAAAAAAGpU/q9LzQw_C6vA/s1600-h/AC63.jpg"><img title="AC6" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="AC6" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mGglW1eteiM/VGz3vlejJxI/AAAAAAAAGpc/NUK2tkFr9gw/AC6_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="257"></a></p> <p>Still a beautiful Daybreak at the Golf… Hours later this turned into a mess..</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rrl5h3DFdks/VGz3_OLx2YI/AAAAAAAAGpk/hVkSJ9y7kK0/s1600-h/AC18.jpg"><img title="AC1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="AC1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6CDNq3h39mM/VGz4BSCbeqI/AAAAAAAAGps/X7jeNnoTBSk/AC1_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="403" height="348"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-78EshYxsRO8/VGz4KMALG7I/AAAAAAAAGp0/-STKy8nJvKw/s1600-h/AC29.jpg"><img title="AC2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="AC2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cFGx4rlRbgc/VGz4MhboQYI/AAAAAAAAGp8/maTKgo1r9z8/AC2_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="256" height="355"></a></p> <p>A Safe harbour in A Coruna.. The day after all smiles</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8uQ_KCpoam0/VGz4dz_tuVI/AAAAAAAAGqE/k7Nb3ZE_9U4/s1600-h/AC76.jpg"><img title="AC7" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="AC7" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RESNmV1KvEE/VGz4knalQ2I/AAAAAAAAGqM/z4hEcqtWlkI/AC7_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="323" height="448"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-o5Lif7oWGBE/VGz4wOhznkI/AAAAAAAAGqU/geAYiTtcBOI/s1600-h/AC33.jpg"><img title="AC3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="AC3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uMThKvrFV4E/VGz4yCfCOJI/AAAAAAAAGqc/B9KTOddXYQY/AC3_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="330" height="448"></a></p> <p>Late afternoon stroll at Hercule Tower Biscay takes it toll…(and our trampoline)</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Lo24P_klqW4/VGz429C78AI/AAAAAAAAGqk/TV2k6MvMAeM/s1600-h/SC15.jpg"><img title="SC1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="SC1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kaddYvbmoQE/VGz44AvSCSI/AAAAAAAAGqs/C8P-uROL9Lg/SC1_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="369" height="384"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-f4OR6ZCBIr4/VGz4-6b562I/AAAAAAAAGq0/b9xo03YfOPc/s1600-h/SC24.jpg"><img title="SC2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="SC2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Mx1v9AHNylY/VGz5BA8KIZI/AAAAAAAAGq8/zCNhu66BmXc/SC2_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="283" height="384"></a></p> <p>Pilgrims at the square in Santiago de Compostella We pretend to walk this walk one day..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EUtlAE5Ag3s/VGz5FH6wkqI/AAAAAAAAGrE/cZohdEn0jLg/s1600-h/SC34.jpg"><img title="SC3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="SC3" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xqVpe26WJx8/VGz5HTof9UI/AAAAAAAAGrM/JUd80-858L8/SC3_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="647" height="458"></a></p> <p>Seafood feast….</p> <p> <p>Take care <p>Pieter Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-77918622918119930152014-11-19T18:01:00.001-02:002014-11-19T18:01:21.009-02:00Dover to Falmouth. September 2014<p> <p>Dear Friends, <p>Only at noon, we managed to leave Dover and with the winds in our back, we had an uneventful passage to Falmouth. We were both tired from our three day London expedition, so having a quiet sail was nice. Again the force of the tidal stream surprised me … At times we are speeding along with 7 knots, and then a couple of hours later only 3 knots. <p>Anyway, in Falmouth wanted to check out the other marina, but also they were kind of full plus they couldn’t take our size boat. So, we stayed again at the lovely Pendennis Marina. <p>Tried another Fish and Chips outfit, but same verdict: dripping oily, soggy stuff… What happened with the good old days… Crispy Fish and Chips… Ah well the times change. <p>Did some additional shopping, and prepped ourselves for the Gulf of Biscay crossing. By what I could check weather forecast wise things should be fine…. But… it turned out to be something else… <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_i37xZhoA0c/VGz26ZHEh5I/AAAAAAAAGok/YT_9o5bibC0/s1600-h/FAL11.jpg"><img title="FAL1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="FAL1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-o5ZirLh-gq8/VGz27_UN5zI/AAAAAAAAGos/jLrgbFB6Wtc/FAL1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="516" height="414"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NVzyALvL0II/VGz3B8ryUrI/AAAAAAAAGo0/j17JbYi0cig/s1600-h/FAL1a1.jpg"><img title="FAL1a" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="FAL1a" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5xGxMxUxLQk/VGz3Dtke4FI/AAAAAAAAGo8/cMAJgp6SUv0/FAL1a_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="514" height="316"></a> <p>Be good <p>Pieter Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-84337551789725574232014-11-12T08:00:00.000-02:002014-11-12T08:00:03.536-02:00London. Sept 2014 <br />
Dear Friends, <br />
Left SV Lumina nicely tied up in Dover, and we went by train to London. <br />
It turned out to be a great visit of three days, so we had lots to do and to see… Some highlights: <br />
· London Eye, wonderful views from high above <br />
· The busy atmosphere in the City <br />
· A visit to Greenwich, the Maritime Museum and Observatory, standing on the 0 Meridian.. a must for sailors <br />
· Madamme Tussauds wax museum <br />
· Fish and chips again <br />
· London is expensive, we managed to stay in a very dodgy hotel of Liverpool street. Lucky it was only for one night. <br />
· Change of the Royal Guard in front of Buckingham Palace <br />
· A visit to the local pub with Gustavo, Simone’s son (friend of Dora). <br />
· The amazing mix of modern arquitecture and centuries old buildings. <br />
Time for us to return to Dover and on with our journey. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fJzrtksF-zQ/VF_x39msXcI/AAAAAAAAGlI/tZtKro7F1lg/s1600-h/UK3%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="UK3" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sb9klXytS-A/VF_x6SH8P3I/AAAAAAAAGlQ/XGcMHqP9Tcs/UK3_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="273" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="UK3" width="346" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JJiTDj0Cxf4/VF_yBBxv58I/AAAAAAAAGlY/W0PZ0eyTZdE/s1600-h/UK4%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="UK4" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Nyp6iOf7t7c/VF_yDYYWXfI/AAAAAAAAGlg/oBxZG_LIzew/UK4_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="266" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="UK4" width="338" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FMV3aVYfluc/VF_yJbe2gbI/AAAAAAAAGlo/SquZBbd9-Vo/s1600-h/UK5%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="UK5" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TwDZnzUJ3sg/VF_yMdBy2vI/AAAAAAAAGlw/xLkzTuFN8Fc/UK5_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="240" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="UK5" width="310" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-va4gfHyE_7M/VF_yTKu1FOI/AAAAAAAAGl4/H_4Gcbv0Fks/s1600-h/UK6%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="UK6" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5-TFEpCyHIo/VF_yUxQAzmI/AAAAAAAAGmA/muv-i3uwpQY/UK6_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="UK6" width="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VkiQ368H28g/VF_ydKkxIhI/AAAAAAAAGmI/k8UxSkSeTWA/s1600-h/UK7%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="UK7" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dZ4ssXwgYLk/VF_yekxQQjI/AAAAAAAAGmQ/9IZvFjUzD5k/UK7_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="UK7" width="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fBf4tTfcuIQ/VF_yhYGy8nI/AAAAAAAAGmY/6Y05t_c1hnM/s1600-h/UK9%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="UK9" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nvhX9grKJbY/VF_yix5a7qI/AAAAAAAAGmg/ijvwEhP5-JI/UK9_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="263" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="UK9" width="340" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-84GKChcrluk/VF_ymoCKLtI/AAAAAAAAGmo/BiUePj7i9XM/s1600-h/UK10%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="UK10" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qoH7QQWysuY/VF_yods8EzI/AAAAAAAAGmw/Gv2L-8jb9M4/UK10_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="260" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="UK10" width="336" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fJflCmsSoLQ/VF_yr-hnCOI/AAAAAAAAGm4/p_7D8ayy87k/s1600-h/UK11%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="UK11" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ise8YXfrx2Y/VF_yt0WSPJI/AAAAAAAAGnA/N_t_JF8NyKQ/UK11_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="261" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="UK11" width="338" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ANEkBSA9wYI/VF_y29v0RYI/AAAAAAAAGnI/0hF_hLDPSR8/s1600-h/UK12%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="UK12" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Mbg74BOH-H4/VF_y608jPPI/AAAAAAAAGnQ/XXRhTc6S1CU/UK12_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="263" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="UK12" width="340" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Uc8eAOJG9IA/VF_zCZv4G7I/AAAAAAAAGnY/w0AQ-thj4gY/s1600-h/UK13%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="UK13" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MvR4oiG5P9s/VF_zEi294FI/AAAAAAAAGng/N7Uale227G4/UK13_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="202" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="UK13" width="343" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9tunpPVKsM4/VF_zLOMRDLI/AAAAAAAAGno/9MwZB8oCBQQ/s1600-h/UK14%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="UK14" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GYQ2XLJ2py4/VF_zNJlOo7I/AAAAAAAAGnw/mVStbDGAG0I/UK14_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="218" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="UK14" width="281" /></a> <br />
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Best regards, <br />
Pieter <br />
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Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-77089634755957451632014-11-11T06:42:00.000-02:002014-11-11T06:42:00.174-02:00IJmuiden to Dover, September 2014.<p> <p>Dear Friends, <p>We returned to where we started our Holland tour... In IJmuiden. We left Saturday morning from the Kornwerder locks and in a mystic kind of way (fog, no wind) made it to Lelystad (need to mention here that we and the boat became covered with little pesky flies, I mean it all was black from a thick layer of these suckers…ok they didn’t bite, but oh boy they left SV Lumina disgustingly slippery and dirty…). Anyway that is nature. <p>We had a great farewell lunch prepared by Dora, the fish was graciously donated by Anke en Dirk. Then the big and warm embrace with my parents… never easy indeed. <p>Bert went with us towards Amsterdam. After the Houtrib locks we even could sail and in the early evening we arrived. Working our way through the Oranje Locks towards the Java Island (where my brother lives)… it is prohibited to tie up, so we had an interesting touch and go deal going on… Bert got off and we went again into the heart of the city motoring towards IJmuiden (abt 18 nm). Pitch dark, some light rain and movement of large cargo vessels, just how we like it. We made to the locks and without a problem made it to the SeaPort Marina (again).. Tired and cold (hot soup) we tied up and after a hot shower, went to sleep. Sunday we spent on cleaning the boat, washing clothes and do some final shopping. <p>Monday morning early we left IJmuiden and headed for Dover. We made good mileage during the day, and so we passed the busiest part of the channel by daylight. Early the next morning we already saw the white cliffs of Dover again. We wanted to sail up the Thames River, but in hind side glad that we didn’t. It takes a lot of planning and careful studying of the tide tables to that, and besides all that, we couldn’t find any marina on the way that had room for us. So, Dover. <p>We stayed inside one of the two harbours protected by locks. The amplitude between high and low tide is almost 6 meters! <p>The next morning went by train to London… indeed London is calling… <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QFZFo8P9EKc/VF_tqk7VaAI/AAAAAAAAGkU/PY2inUjJsZE/s1600-h/HOL33%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL33" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL33" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TQqNBW8RdCQ/VF_ttLTI3DI/AAAAAAAAGkc/qFu4B8gySrI/HOL33_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="358" height="291"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AXJzjHpb2ss/VF_tvnYqj-I/AAAAAAAAGkk/tW0u3W_Ip8E/s1600-h/HOL34%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL34" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL34" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ASgfbN8O8dM/VF_txbDtcLI/AAAAAAAAGks/Y_nICh2i62k/HOL34_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="271"></a></p> <p>Bug attack on the IJsselmeer… Fog, no wind (just bugs…)</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OkXAHrLLKdo/VF_t0czSFnI/AAAAAAAAGk0/X43Sox1X9XQ/s1600-h/HOL35%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL35" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL35" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--7GlFzERnU4/VF_t1sAX0-I/AAAAAAAAGk8/oljf5ze02Bc/HOL35_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="704" height="194"></a></p> <p>Where are we?</p> <p> <p> <p>Cheers <p>Pieter Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-77661549534037712782014-11-10T06:25:00.000-02:002014-11-10T06:25:00.534-02:00A month in Holland. August 2014.<p> <p>Dear Friends, <p>I have to admit, it took a couple of days to let it all sink in… Once, a distant dream now made real. It was truly wonderful to be able to welcome my parents onto Onda Boa, which they did on Monday afternoon (in order to reach the city of Lelystad, we had to endure torrential rains in Amsterdam, and more rain and winds (against of course) from Amsterdam to Lelystad, but we made it. <p>The day after their first visit, my sister Janty came over for a visit, and we relocated to another Marina nearby (Flevo Marina), for practical purposes. At this Marina is the official Raymarine, and Volvo Penta dealer, plus they have attached to them a sailmaker. So, we became a service customer as I had them repair the genaker, make a new mainsail lazy jack cover, had the Raymarine GPS repaired, and even had to lift the SV Onda Boa on the dry in order to replace two worn prop shafts…. All in all a well needed but very expensive exercise. <p>Some highlights of our stay: <p>· Sailing on the IJsselmeer with my parents on several occasions, priceless <p>· Celebration of my Dad’s birthday. <p>· My parents staying on board for a couple of days <p>· Visiting with some good friends (Sjoerd, Marjolein and Charley in Amsterdam), Alvaro who travelled from Rotterdam to Lelystad, Sandra and her sister all the way from Germany, Hidde and Nicolet, ChrisJan and family. <p>· The party, rebaptising SV Onda Boa, to SV Lumina by my mother, in the presence of family and good friends, Chris Jan, Loek en Nel, Jan en Annie, Kees and Rina <p>· Purchase and installation of a cool and compact washing machine on board <p>· Having my brother Bert over for a couple of days <p>· Having my other sister Anke over for a couple of days <p>· The big Island of Vlieland expedition, sailing from Lelystad to the lovely island of Vlieland (my parents dream coming true) <p>· We even made it into the local media (interview in the local newspaper) <p>· Some real good family time <p>· Dutch food including: smoked eel, fried potatoes with mayonese of course, old dutch cheese, real thick plain yoghurt, chocolate, Calve Peanutbutter, Bread, lots of it.. (Dora and I gained some weight) <p>· Visit to Amsterdam, including the Heineken museum, and the BullDog Café (if i remember well…) <p>· Visit to Rotterdam, Euromast etc. <p>Then it was time to go, the hard part, saying goodbye, never easy… But a great warm feeling of mission completed… returning to base… <p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IViZtbgwECo/VF_Nr0iLsiI/AAAAAAAAGdw/NPa7qyp6q-E/s1600-h/HOL7%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL7" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL7" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-StoT3eBTX6s/VF_Nw0Zn4dI/AAAAAAAAGd4/qa9teEZAAb4/HOL7_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="247"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DdVh6U3OKFI/VF_N5IJykOI/AAAAAAAAGeA/eG23rEoU26Q/s1600-h/HOL6%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL6" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL6" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OV679EyM6Lg/VF_N-URHHiI/AAAAAAAAGeI/kqvrisqg8Bg/HOL6_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="246"></a></p> <p>Torrential rains in Amsterdam One of the many locks….</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6wgxebJnlt0/VF_OCiTjS1I/AAAAAAAAGeQ/UJ_P3hOndyw/s1600-h/HOL8%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL8" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL8" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-na9lSqgiPmQ/VF_OGngfXXI/AAAAAAAAGeY/feUjEQBm8rE/HOL8_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="347" height="278"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iwXMxRY6slo/VF_OPTK9Q_I/AAAAAAAAGeg/kMw_W80n7qM/s1600-h/HOL9%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL9" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL9" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Gr0gkWzy5YY/VF_OTXvJFGI/AAAAAAAAGeo/-THGQyPhbjI/HOL9_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="351" height="287"></a></p> <p>The Dutch way…. Flevo Marina Lelystad</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-64FpNZuZMIY/VF_Oc9Ey2PI/AAAAAAAAGew/RXQWKIQHj3Q/s1600-h/HOL10%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL10" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL10" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-w8XQDPzoG44/VF_OhpiF_yI/AAAAAAAAGe4/7USuTt0Yoos/HOL10_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="347" height="268"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-x3jUtaIXeoU/VF_Oxao7gFI/AAAAAAAAGfA/Sdp7gP0hVNs/s1600-h/HOL11%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL11" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL11" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nAJvwC8cA0U/VF_O2LIX3wI/AAAAAAAAGfI/IPMTOPmdHZs/HOL11_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="348" height="269"></a></p> <p>Obviously Amsterdam Also the dutch way… by bike</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TeFhlYeLheM/VF_PCbb9lXI/AAAAAAAAGfQ/uapeF-nTZWE/s1600-h/HOL12%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL12" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL12" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Q1G9_rZU8us/VF_PJGH5CnI/AAAAAAAAGfY/Srk1LZznnmA/HOL12_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="272"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fgah7TVDjJw/VF_PNpfBquI/AAAAAAAAGfg/8ESTSb6RZS4/s1600-h/HOL13%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL13" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL13" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-enq4nR27O5Y/VF_PQ_J7Z5I/AAAAAAAAGfo/McNlBgTLUAs/HOL13_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="353" height="273"></a></p> <p>This is how you make it….. This is where you taste it (Heineken museum)</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-luENvwzaAY0/VF_PU1ERkAI/AAAAAAAAGfw/sjXEUbxAe2w/s1600-h/HOL14%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL14" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL14" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mMztLxFcKJc/VF_PhVp4olI/AAAAAAAAGf4/qDHS_ZIXVzA/HOL14_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="268"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-k79rviay5Xg/VF_PlrhhfdI/AAAAAAAAGgA/grXsO9uSKYc/s1600-h/HOL15%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL15" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL15" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2xGbUmOkzHc/VF_Pnh1WKiI/AAAAAAAAGgI/6hrwAsczHis/HOL15_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="274"></a></p> <p> A great new asset</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7R7vt95YdlY/VF_Pr3T_sUI/AAAAAAAAGgQ/N-YpOBefEdE/s1600-h/HOL16%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL16" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL16" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-A1nMBVpr_5o/VF_Ptigbm2I/AAAAAAAAGgY/9QsoXo6kzrs/HOL16_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="265"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bk3YjfVC104/VF_PyGnNRoI/AAAAAAAAGgg/u57_JKVm04A/s1600-h/HOL17%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL17" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL17" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GP2_P5UMaTo/VF_P0EqWasI/AAAAAAAAGgo/14kejtdSzqA/HOL17_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="357" height="276"></a></p> <p>One of Doras many talents…. So cool…. Happy parents on board…</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-L6j0Xjfzcjg/VF_P496s0MI/AAAAAAAAGgw/mJ-_KLKeRMQ/s1600-h/HOL18%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL18" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL18" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xaev2Ivn9M4/VF_P6QRsOFI/AAAAAAAAGg4/nmQ3aH2HQL0/HOL18_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="268"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cKz4BihOBLQ/VF_P_T5FNYI/AAAAAAAAGhA/v1L2JRodBPM/s1600-h/HOL19%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL19" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL19" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WwryfCr6Y28/VF_QAgPnZVI/AAAAAAAAGhI/Utdb0c3DU9o/HOL19_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="274"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WtFzf9WONXI/VF_QF_z2mHI/AAAAAAAAGhQ/M3AFrKmMfiE/s1600-h/HOL20%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL20" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL20" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hZeeiqv9oNQ/VF_QH36vnRI/AAAAAAAAGhY/N-JEoIB0rbc/HOL20_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="341" height="269"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-r9w_xpwY99I/VF_QLr2LMAI/AAAAAAAAGhg/JjR4kbRUtWo/s1600-h/HOL21%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL21" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL21" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-miaiHE4U7ZA/VF_QN4zPAWI/AAAAAAAAGho/2Xw6pH1MWyk/HOL21_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="356" height="275"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6Ke6mC6Ve3A/VF_QSeRLPaI/AAAAAAAAGhw/X5gO-n8U6rI/s1600-h/HOL22%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL22" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL22" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HdU3b8nbXLY/VF_QT9FuDUI/AAAAAAAAGh4/AbHuU6WRV2U/HOL22_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="334" height="258"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Hhgh2Ef_GYs/VF_QYuTxagI/AAAAAAAAGiA/wZBNf-TWRSI/s1600-h/HOL23%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL23" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL23" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-T9iWOFs-vOc/VF_Qckp8fpI/AAAAAAAAGiI/TKyYBaameCI/HOL23_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="271"></a></p> <p>She still beats me (checkers) Good morning all…</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6ejCTzmT48U/VF_QizPzsRI/AAAAAAAAGiQ/__MFEtPV9Is/s1600-h/HOL24%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL24" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL24" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gnIuyPyBUJ4/VF_QkyM4lgI/AAAAAAAAGiY/egUKoNU08NA/HOL24_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="257"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EG61AYu61tU/VF_QphYEJHI/AAAAAAAAGig/54D36gNT4SU/s1600-h/HOL25%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL25" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL25" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3GnqNzQM16o/VF_QtXsjx5I/AAAAAAAAGio/XcdAPWOrh1g/HOL25_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="268"></a></p> <p>Visit to Rotterdam.. … and the neighbours came to visit</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CLGRY4ttkhY/VF_QyWSMH2I/AAAAAAAAGiw/ah7xjMEQiFI/s1600-h/HOL28%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL28" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL28" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-P-x6QKs3uNo/VF_Q23FSzyI/AAAAAAAAGi4/n9VGaNh5zq4/HOL28_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="334" height="196"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HWC2Xhs2D5A/VF_Q8OMR_jI/AAAAAAAAGjA/LACAob0Jy6A/s1600-h/HOL29%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL29" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL29" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qkX3JYkOGvU/VF_Q_zgvbEI/AAAAAAAAGjI/XDVt7uhZBWs/HOL29_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="341" height="201"></a></p> <p>Mom official Safe journeys Lumina (thanks Mom)</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CA9MWvqDUQU/VF_RH8m-EmI/AAAAAAAAGjQ/Hr0cm5Jgwls/s1600-h/HOL30%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL30" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL30" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QwiZLtiHpVw/VF_RJylvhdI/AAAAAAAAGjY/CeiIJJ28wjM/HOL30_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="328" height="259"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--Sx3Q8_Epws/VF_RNgJD6hI/AAAAAAAAGjg/qjsaP7ngXL4/s1600-h/HOL31%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL31" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL31" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yYoJT6eGbL8/VF_RPo0FzEI/AAAAAAAAGjo/nFvfC6-YdiE/HOL31_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="209" height="270"></a></p> <p>The guest at the party (thanks) Article local news paper</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yrHVxS9pCWk/VF_RSAo36GI/AAAAAAAAGjw/VVZKe1R8T94/s1600-h/HOL32%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL32" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL32" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UElt1gh0_oc/VF_RTgqkHFI/AAAAAAAAGj4/wp2fhHfTgMk/HOL32_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="522" height="403"></a></p> <p>It was awesome…Mission completed…</p> <p>Enjoy <p>Pieter Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-65020878215501065532014-11-09T11:28:00.001-02:002014-11-09T11:28:04.879-02:00Dover to IJmuiden. July 2014.<p> <p>Dear Friends, <p>We were about to cross one of Europe’s busiest shipping traffic lanes and we had to weave our way through this. Again the Comar AIS proved itself again to be one of the most important navigation tools on board. To make our day, fog was upon us. Not only was the busy shipping lane our concern, but also the existence of several windmill farms. The one at the Thorton bank we didn’t see (fog) but certainly heard it, as we came too close I guess. <p>Around midnight we made the crossing in front of Rotterdam Port, and armed with the AIS information, made it kids play. <p>Sunday, July 26<sup>th</sup> 2014, we entered IJmuiden Port, and as Dirk had planned to be picked up by his brother, to rush by car to Germany to surprise celebrate his Dad’s birthday, we tied up nice and easy at Seaport Marina. <p>It was great to have Dirk along on this rather difficult and technical leg. So, once again, thanks for the support. <p>Then, we realized that my parents and oldest sister Janty, had come to meet us in IJmuiden, but they thought we would proceed directly through the famous locks. So it took some time and communication to be able to finally meet up. My Friends, what an emotion… So good to see them. We made it, with the SV Onda Boa sailed to Holland. Proud. <p>They couldn’t stay long, and we were going to see them again the next day, in Lelystad. <p>Under normal circumstances a piece of cake, to get from IJmuiden to there… but as it turned out… nothing easy at all… <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-G1qxLSK7lfI/VF9rLk3jhlI/AAAAAAAAGcY/UoNfJh3vUB4/s1600-h/HOL5%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL5" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL5" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2vyGL7kFGWE/VF9rPyHfwEI/AAAAAAAAGcg/-71aYQNovao/HOL5_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="320"></a> <p>Comar AIS at work… great aid <p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DXRITRLnW0k/VF9rWdjSF8I/AAAAAAAAGco/mBDHjKVQAGE/s1600-h/HOL1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vqYZYKaLHUA/VF9raLtBzzI/AAAAAAAAGcw/SqlArYs2xDQ/HOL1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="348" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GgOrGjoTEL0/VF9rhxgDg_I/AAAAAAAAGc4/dG4JjUfK_G4/s1600-h/HOL2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fWgobr1T1kA/VF9rlgpyPeI/AAAAAAAAGdA/plVABV6xIXw/HOL2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="339" height="267"></a></p> <p>The long awaited embrace…. A lot to talk about….</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KCvWn65TC1A/VF9rsjWRQFI/AAAAAAAAGdI/3FVOgOVvOXc/s1600-h/HOL3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fXS3HXAkXtk/VF9ruZMCHMI/AAAAAAAAGdQ/1dhonVM2gRE/HOL3_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="341" height="264"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TxkJAF47DyU/VF9r1TeJH2I/AAAAAAAAGdY/ZzeOI8ij1D8/s1600-h/HOL4%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="HOL4" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="HOL4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-egmgLrcb08I/VF9r4O3KzDI/AAAAAAAAGdg/4UsEKn4HzWY/HOL4_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="267"></a></p> <p><font size="1">Seaport Marina IJmuiden…</font> D<font size="1">utch welcome delicacy…French fries, mayonese and Heineken beer</font></p> <p> </p> <p>Dutch greetings <p>Pieter Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-28480556358614135042014-11-07T06:54:00.000-02:002014-11-07T06:54:00.027-02:00Falmouth to Dover. July 2014. <br />
Dear Friends, <br />
Tide tables, we tried it, calculated it, tried to understand it, but by the time that all is said and done, we came to understand that the concept is rather simple: the tide is either in your favor, or the tide is against you (mostly against you…). In our favor (some 6 hours) we gain almost 2 knots, otherwise you loose those 2 knots. Of course light head winds, trying to sail but we saw better results in motor sailing. Our strategy was that if the current was becoming too strong, we would drop the hook nearby a coastal town or so and wait for 6 hours… This plan never had to be executed and so we ploughed on to Dover . (Watching the white cliffs coming closer, Dirk even hummed a song abt these white cliffs..) <br />
We went inside the Dover Marina, to refuel, but didn’t want to stay inside, as they use a lock system, and only around 9 o clock in the morning the lock would be opened. We anchored outside, and tried to set up an expedition to land (more luke warm beer and more fish, fat and chips perhaps??). Then, trying to put some air back into the battered and worn out dinghy, it became clear…. Damaged beyond repair… so even if we tried, we couldn’t make it to shore. <br />
Not to worry, Dora was preparing a great pasta dish, when we got raided by the British coast guard. Very descent, but thorough guys. No messing around (including drug testing kits). All was good and in order and they left abt 20 minutes later (didn’t want to stay for a late lunch). <br />
The plan was to leave the next morning at day break… The final stretch to IJmuiden… <br />
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Sunset Dover Harbour <br />
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Take Care <br />
PIeter <br />
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Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-49887261725600617482014-11-06T06:08:00.000-02:002014-11-06T06:08:00.071-02:00Bayona to Falmouth (UK). July 2014.<p> <p>Dear Friends, <p>Crossing the Gulf of Biscaye… I’d heard tales of nasty storms and recollections from my past, watching the weatherforecast when I was a little boy, I vividly recall the weather guy talking about yet another depression in the Gulf of Biscaye… Nothing ever good would come from this place. Well, our forecast was rather positive for us at least no storms predicted. A lot of local fishing boats, a close encounter with a whale, and flying the Beast in too much wind, resulting in a blowout and therefore unuseable Genaker. We had great meals, watched movies during shifts and in 4 days we had Falmouth in front of us. In some occasions had to use the engines in order to keep at least some descent boat speed. <p>I hadn’t done my homework properly, and so on arrival in Falmouth, didn’t really know where to go (plenty Marinas…), we finally settled for the easy to reach Penndenis Marina, mind you not cheap, but conveniently located. <p>The check in procedure was easy and uneventful, and so of we went for our long awaited luke warm beer and of course Fish and Chips. <p>During the time I spend in Australia, I became fond of this culinary delight, and so our first try here was a bit of a disappointment: both the fish and the chips.. dripping wet with grease… Also the use of vinegar on chips is totally lost on us. <p>We explored the town, the usual visit to the supermarket, laundry and Dirk trying to grasp the logic of the tide tables…. This was a new thing.. studying… Tide tables… <p>Well, re stocked, clean clothes.. of we go to Dover… <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9sSOuWdWaoI/VFlAIDGigLI/AAAAAAAAGZ8/hKWoiRdqis8/s1600-h/FAL1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="FAL1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="FAL1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vy069rfiNQc/VFlAJkP2s3I/AAAAAAAAGaE/ztfL2ek57x8/FAL1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="413" height="319"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Yp8DbSk6crk/VFlAP-uHaeI/AAAAAAAAGaM/HyiccB-Hfk4/s1600-h/FAL2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="FAL2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="FAL2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-q39MjrXi9rw/VFlARaOAVoI/AAAAAAAAGaU/MEy70BEGwCs/FAL2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="234" height="317"></a></p> <p>Port of Falmouth Our neighbours….</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZMQwGjUpDq0/VFlATTFgGYI/AAAAAAAAGac/8k3DxGVBGGw/s1600-h/FAL3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="FAL3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="FAL3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nvOHDw_u0JA/VFlAVCUoAcI/AAAAAAAAGak/dPgVO8tkunw/FAL3_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="312"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7xtuOkCz-l8/VFlAWpQ4ijI/AAAAAAAAGas/ivr1AUo6TYY/s1600-h/FAL4%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="FAL4" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="FAL4" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0CaPtBNaItk/VFlAXtg3d4I/AAAAAAAAGa0/N3SQvS7g7Cw/FAL4_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="245" height="332"></a></p> <p>Yep…Luke warm beer for the crew Fish and Chips and Grease</p> <p> </p> <p>Bye Bye <p>Pieter Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-46623276481131722014-11-05T06:50:00.000-02:002014-11-05T06:50:00.085-02:00Lisbon, Porto, Viana de Castelo and Bayona. July 2014.<p> <p>Dear Friends, <p>There we were, beating against the elements… Northerly winds (and waves) and after a nights sail, a nice grey rainy and cold Sunday morning…. Enough of this and we anchored in the nice and quiet harbor of Peniche. A hot shower, some great food and snacks and we didn’t even bother to explore the village. Stayed in and watched movies and rest. <p>The next day, more wind and more waves against… so the first leg was going out to return at around midnight, towards Porto. We arrived around midday the next day, in a very modern Marina. Great staff and great infrastructure. Before my brother in law Dirk from Holland arrived we had a couple of days to explore this nice and picturesque town, including a visit to the museum of Port wine (ofcourse). We took our bikes out and were able to go places. We also met with a colleague from Dora (Rodrigo) who was doing a post doctorate study at the university. <p>We went to the airport to welcome Dirk, and the next day was spent in finalizing groceries and cooking gas. <p>Early the next morning, we left Porto trying to get to A Coruna. And guess what?... More northerly winds and waves… and despite the sun, bitterly cold. After half a day of beating into this, we decided to head for Viana de Castelo (still Portugal, but very near Spain). And just before we tried to get into the harbor breakwaters, a 40+knot wind gust… no time to lower anything and so with those strong winds we rushed towards what we hoped calmer waters… however tide was going out and so the current was against us… I decided to switch on the engines, and noticed that there was no cooling water from the SB engine, but …. As we were almost there… we could make it. <p>Dirk showed great seaman ship and was able to get the Onda Boa tied up, against a 4-5 current in the outside pier of the local marina. <p>Early the next morning, we discovered that the hot exhaust fumes from the SB engine had damaged the exhaust system (Vetus) and water was leaking out. Seemingly no repair possible and ofcourse no spare. With the great support of the harbor master, the Vetus representative was located, and the new piece ordered. Tuesday afternoon it arrived and immediately installed. In the meantime we had time to explore the village and the castle/church up the steep hill. Great sites. Dirk, early bird, had already checked out some shops, and treated us on fresh bread and chocolate croissants. He had observed a large amount of fish swimming around in the marina and around the Onda Boa, and so, of course being from the lovely Island Vlieland, he managed to catch three of those… immediately prepped and made for a great lunch (the locals don’t eat those fish….). <p>Anyway, early next morning, leaving Viana de Castello… Fog.. and I mean thick fog banks… Again a new sensation, not a nice one. The weather stayed like this until we reached Bayona (Spain). There we needed to refuel and since we now were in Spain for a couple of hours, wanted to lunch on genuine Paella. That was great. At sunset we left Bayona, and only hours later to be covered by another fog/mist situation. Dirk and I took turns and had to dodge a lot of local fishing boats (no AIS). Anyway, we were on our way, and since the weather looked favourable, we didn’t bother to first go to A Coruna, but instead we headed straight for Falmouth (UK)…Luke warm beer and fish and chips was waiting for us… <p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-P-yknHb3DGE/VFk8Habwz0I/AAAAAAAAGW4/hI5YBh3HtGw/s1600-h/PORT1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="PORT1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PORT1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xNttrfSxFLs/VFk8I4p474I/AAAAAAAAGXA/1YQE0qFuEWw/PORT1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="265"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NWVT1A8Ua4M/VFk8KqhmvlI/AAAAAAAAGXI/SuAb1mqExlE/s1600-h/PORT2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="PORT2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PORT2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xGKiUMr4uIk/VFk8MB1Co_I/AAAAAAAAGXQ/WTaFw0t5Dk4/PORT2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="267"></a></p> <p> Water taxi across the Douro Great Marina</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fk9JQyXLV78/VFk8O5uQaiI/AAAAAAAAGXY/JQNamxic9d0/s1600-h/PORT3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="PORT3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PORT3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IoW7ZazZ3e0/VFk8QNSoaKI/AAAAAAAAGXg/c0Sn52XgsRw/PORT3_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="265"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kYTbYiBjZOc/VFk8Rr9SsmI/AAAAAAAAGXo/jJb6XVG_gWA/s1600-h/PORT4%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="PORT4" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PORT4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AbdaxjYsbWQ/VFk8TAc4RrI/AAAAAAAAGXw/tlhikom2728/PORT4_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="341" height="264"></a></p> <p> Porto Afternoon in Porto.. ready for some wine</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OofyPbSXl04/VFk8WYwmd7I/AAAAAAAAGX4/zxfWtMa0FYI/s1600-h/PORT5%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="PORT5" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PORT5" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Oyoq8mk5gUg/VFk8XsQrVvI/AAAAAAAAGYA/93fYn2jNBng/PORT5_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="268"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eLs9cd_z8o8/VFk8ZpC7KBI/AAAAAAAAGYI/yZBaRAxnIU0/s1600-h/PORT6%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="PORT6" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PORT6" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fMgP2tPqfnk/VFk8amDQeBI/AAAAAAAAGYQ/tTgC9PxyzYA/PORT6_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="261"></a></p> <p>Getting a taste of Port Wine and some home made Cod fish…</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5PKRWPrtd7g/VFk8iS07PaI/AAAAAAAAGYY/dKoS27PRhy4/s1600-h/VIA1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="VIA1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="VIA1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-44nLBblBDA4/VFk8jqlNS7I/AAAAAAAAGYg/_s7Nssr0Qh0/VIA1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="268"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MbrblnCdK6M/VFk8lhR9-eI/AAAAAAAAGYo/4ehTgN-mo8o/s1600-h/VIA2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="VIA2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="VIA2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CHkQ36iuGnc/VFk8mnb7sFI/AAAAAAAAGYw/ndGSlEYlPtM/VIA2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="265"></a></p> <p> Viana de Castelo from above</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-r3Sf8uo7alA/VFk8o8eeQaI/AAAAAAAAGY4/l4AmsSHrv0k/s1600-h/VIA4%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="VIA4" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="VIA4" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XpUl3RqSV3o/VFk8qM8ps9I/AAAAAAAAGZA/9dR8UwAwWVg/VIA4_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="347" height="268"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qx2vEVnNTiE/VFk8sO0mTII/AAAAAAAAGZI/sN8G_6_uZuk/s1600-h/VIA3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="VIA3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="VIA3" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wxF6xYZ7nhA/VFk8t14HueI/AAAAAAAAGZQ/ikqfV45Byg0/VIA3_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="341" height="264"></a></p> <p> The Onda Boa Crew (Thanks to Dirk)</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4peTY-Wv4Zo/VFk8weI4frI/AAAAAAAAGZY/aSpHMGU7vDM/s1600-h/BAY1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="BAY1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="BAY1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Jm-GOg6dsOA/VFk8xQ2kt4I/AAAAAAAAGZg/mOcRL__nIqw/BAY1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="265"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MoA-VBu2lH4/VFk8zkw4pcI/AAAAAAAAGZo/vKctPR_4f7k/s1600-h/BAY2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="BAY2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="BAY2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EFY4mS9xCN4/VFk81LBBiXI/AAAAAAAAGZw/n7hD2P9PM8c/BAY2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="266"></a> <p> Bayona, Spain Paella… <p> <p>Best regards, <p>Pieter Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-86782591276529464652014-11-04T16:40:00.001-02:002014-11-04T16:40:01.757-02:00Faial – Lisbon, Sintra, Fatima, Monte Portugal, Obidos June 2014<p> <p>Dear Friends, <p>And so we left Faial, with gusty winds and choppy seas... First of all, trying to weave our way out of the several islands in the archipelago, and soon we were able to point the bow towards Lisbon. <p>It was under these conditions that we broke the ultimate speed record of the Onda Boa: 16 knots (surfing down a wave obviously did help…).. anyway, later on Dora caught a tuna fish (lucky for the fish, she/he met a pleasant death by overdose on alcohol… just put sugar cane rum in its mouth and it will drop dead…) so we thought… Later Dora is certain that when she started making a great fillet, the fish did sort of come back from the dead… Anyway, soon after this first one, we caught another. Since Dora had lost her appetite ( I mean knowing that you perhaps cut up a fish when it is still drunk… not for the weak at hart…) so all of a sudden Giovanni and I had to handle a mad volume of Tuna (sashimi, later on grilled…) too much actually. <p>My birthday was celebrated on board, including a marvelous cake, a great dinner and drinks, another day to remember. <p>Cold (night shifts of 3 hours), and during the day Dora took 3 hours… so, all in all we were making our way to Lisbon and 7 days after we left Faial, we arrived in Cascais. <p>In the middle of the night, before reaching Cascais, we had to cross two traffic lanes: first the South bound and the north bound. Very happy that once again, the Comar AIS did its job perfectly and we managed to stay clear from potential dangerous situations. <p>I decided to stay for two days in the top notch Cascais Marina (too expensive… ), we had to say good bye to our friend and awesome crew member Giovanni. <p>Cascais is a lovely place and since the world cup soccer just had started we were able to see some matches in the crowded pubs. <p>We left Cascais and sailed up the river Tejo to another top notch super marina: Parque Nacoes Marina.. great location. Here we had to wait for the autopilot computer to arrive and be installed. <p>Meanwhile we had esteemed visitors over for lunch, friends of Dora (Edson, Karin and his father Sr Zico..) <p>We learned that renting a car was not so expensive, so we left Lisbon and went for Sintra. Great historic place, and there in a small wine and olive oil shop, we started our own hunt for the perfect olive oil. Monte Portugal is the name and after being quickly educated about the ins and outs of olive oil we tried to find the place. Thanks to the navigator app on the smartphone, found the place. Great reception by Joao (owner) and we decided to stay overnight in one of their great renovated, stylish cottages (including a now indepth crash course on olive oil). <p>Since we were mobile, went the next day to visit Obidos a very old (but now restaurated) city, completely embraced by a protective wall. <p>Enough land travel, and back to sea… The computer was installed and the autopilot was working again..What a relief. <p>We headed back to Cascais, finalize some grocery shopping and of we went north… Porto… And we knew it wasn’t going to be easy… beating against the notorious northerly winds… <p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ddTXGLIcICU/VFkcDXkCuwI/AAAAAAAAGOw/M8Ny2gpmZMM/s1600-h/TRAV72.jpg"><img title="TRAV7" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV7" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6PXT3CkP1R4/VFkcEo6mdRI/AAAAAAAAGO4/4ov45zB5IgQ/TRAV7_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="353" height="278"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2mqVMCZJHMs/VFkcGS15seI/AAAAAAAAGPA/50uzFkEm9Qg/s1600-h/TRAV116.jpg"><img title="TRAV11" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV11" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uXyFBSY5L9M/VFkcIPLs1mI/AAAAAAAAGPI/ju-YmnbBKc4/TRAV11_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="272"></a></p> <p>.. Fish getting drunk.. ..Gearing up for yet another shift (cold..)</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QJfi5EU3KKU/VFkcJT5Hu7I/AAAAAAAAGPQ/nhVkuKgz1d8/s1600-h/TRAV131.jpg"><img title="TRAV13" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV13" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WjI193Aof9k/VFkcKzixzLI/AAAAAAAAGPY/SJ3VbiEsFBE/TRAV13_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="268"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FMLik6ic2hY/VFkcMCShKmI/AAAAAAAAGPg/fJCUWUSJ0bQ/s1600-h/TRAV95.jpg"><img title="TRAV9" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV9" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5TXAl1dCen8/VFkcMzyIMYI/AAAAAAAAGPo/M9vIRShVVXc/TRAV9_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="265"></a></p> <p>… Captains birthday. …Arriving at mainland Portugal</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DBVPN5Qh6nY/VFkcOWleMaI/AAAAAAAAGPw/L6zCc3tXnwY/s1600-h/TRAV151.jpg"><img title="TRAV15" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV15" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yem3-6tJUik/VFkcPWo6r4I/AAAAAAAAGP4/V3RU34A6Lbc/TRAV15_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" height="260"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Dt3lO2HgB3Y/VFkcQlsGJxI/AAAAAAAAGQA/PHPufcoypqk/s1600-h/TRAV162.jpg"><img title="TRAV16" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV16" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SpCWX5DPSxk/VFkcRZHq9yI/AAAAAAAAGQI/jXZuY2r8QX4/TRAV16_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="214" height="267"></a> </p> <p>Giovanni checking Cascais .. we have made it…</p> <p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4FZsiquTZc0/VFkcSqS7duI/AAAAAAAAGQQ/fZgtnmeH2wQ/s1600-h/LIS13.jpg"><img title="LIS1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LIS1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BzKv51sFQe8/VFkcTpQCcBI/AAAAAAAAGQY/iQ5AlhrDOtE/LIS1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" height="260"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-X3gvM5UXjz4/VFkcVUpObmI/AAAAAAAAGQg/nd62sFZRABo/s1600-h/LIS23.jpg"><img title="LIS2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LIS2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rVzBHkwilKo/VFkcWTiUAbI/AAAAAAAAGQo/apNMIXN5FEE/LIS2_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" height="260"></a></p> <p>Sailing from Cascais to Lisbon</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eVgXuyPeMxQ/VFkcXubMfhI/AAAAAAAAGQw/cbAQu94Ne9I/s1600-h/LIS32.jpg"><img title="LIS3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LIS3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ju8rP49WcKA/VFkcZOzxtcI/AAAAAAAAGQ4/hUos5p4mt80/LIS3_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-r3Ymf9t6R0M/VFkcbNzdnUI/AAAAAAAAGRA/DPekGRwFdUs/s1600-h/LIS42.jpg"><img title="LIS4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LIS4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RQ8d2kTalx8/VFkcceDDXFI/AAAAAAAAGRI/DVB6cfklFw4/LIS4_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3cy_UpixQxA/VFkceT45nyI/AAAAAAAAGRQ/HqySfqATpIY/s1600-h/LIS52.jpg"><img title="LIS5" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LIS5" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HdC9C6QMPfE/VFkcfIJpR9I/AAAAAAAAGRY/Ja9_zGPT2sc/LIS5_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nNM5P5tz9B0/VFkchA9vwmI/AAAAAAAAGRg/K5HkpFqapW4/s1600-h/LIS63.jpg"><img title="LIS6" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LIS6" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vrFqYyL7UcA/VFkcio_o12I/AAAAAAAAGRo/8aZI-kmhVoM/LIS6_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="313" height="242"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-d_dHijWEm50/VFkckfCxb4I/AAAAAAAAGRw/snNE4Y-397s/s1600-h/LIS73.jpg"><img title="LIS7" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LIS7" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-X_IC7-l8nh8/VFkclpmoKYI/AAAAAAAAGR4/p0pTrpsDhHo/LIS7_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="308" height="238"></a></p> <p> ..Friends from Brazil…</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CuCB9FlDer0/VFkcnQy5tmI/AAAAAAAAGSA/d8Btf-PhorE/s1600-h/LIS83.jpg"><img title="LIS8" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LIS8" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fcIG_U3XuKU/VFkcodzQ6OI/AAAAAAAAGSI/sI5A1DwBL3Q/LIS8_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="317" height="245"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SLiMjopzfEE/VFkcqbHf-FI/AAAAAAAAGSQ/ClMPWO925oE/s1600-h/LIS93.jpg"><img title="LIS9" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LIS9" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Xi12t1Ul8ZI/VFkcrQmQF0I/AAAAAAAAGSY/v71U7Gj0gus/LIS9_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="312" height="241"></a></p> <p>Lisbon</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jcQ-ICHubhI/VFkcs3EHavI/AAAAAAAAGSg/7TCf5FQ2f_Q/s1600-h/LIS113.jpg"><img title="LIS11" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LIS11" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Hi3ix1OjSfU/VFkctib4tGI/AAAAAAAAGSo/bP4c8pQMaNU/LIS11_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="316" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dTqyEpvBF6M/VFkcwFm2rzI/AAAAAAAAGSw/DFbXsVuwT5A/s1600-h/LIS123.jpg"><img title="LIS12" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="LIS12" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ehm48PxVtso/VFkcxH6yeCI/AAAAAAAAGS4/fXA1YnzySag/LIS12_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="315" height="244"></a></p> <p>Pasteis de Belem… so good… The Dutch winning a soccer match</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sKtheBNQPBU/VFkczD3C_uI/AAAAAAAAGTA/sthGj5NMQ8o/s1600-h/SIN15.jpg"><img title="SIN1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="SIN1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GKIOe4YbXjg/VFkcz7J6f8I/AAAAAAAAGTI/lplNMls7hMo/SIN1_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="203" height="165"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-q0JSa-aigRE/VFkc1gMddEI/AAAAAAAAGTQ/dmMHjNMJmlU/s1600-h/SIN25.jpg"><img title="SIN2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="SIN2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-td2ggi-1SkU/VFkc2nQ6ctI/AAAAAAAAGTY/51GMeRmNMhg/SIN2_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="253" height="158"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NJbY_KWhEWk/VFkc4eTQmdI/AAAAAAAAGTg/cD_uOGnxeOA/s1600-h/SIN37.jpg"><img title="SIN3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="SIN3" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fCugSxsZXAM/VFkc5qKsgVI/AAAAAAAAGTo/CrVo0S69DBA/SIN3_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="213" height="165"></a> <p>Sintra <p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FpJNen7RXGI/VFkc7X5BIwI/AAAAAAAAGTw/RSot5eL4AKM/s1600-h/MP13.jpg"><img title="MP1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="MP1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-f2R9l-gfCc0/VFkc8oRLXlI/AAAAAAAAGT4/iE8dAARVfqk/MP1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="307" height="238"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--GqZqQfLiGE/VFkc_jNNAbI/AAAAAAAAGUA/r02OHbAgVmM/s1600-h/MP23.jpg"><img title="MP2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="MP2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NuFoF4Mk9pc/VFkdAxZsczI/AAAAAAAAGUI/QJvA6gELT8c/MP2_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="316" height="244"></a></p> <p>Monte Portugal… Olive Oil, Cork Recently harvested cork tree</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-08S2IZ1FyJo/VFkdC9xjdqI/AAAAAAAAGUQ/6T1kgPLan3A/s1600-h/MP33.jpg"><img title="MP3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="MP3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0vGevw_ACLs/VFkdD3lhQ2I/AAAAAAAAGUY/s_-Z9dNCjdM/MP3_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="301" height="233"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2gtwpJx7Uc4/VFkdF_xIi0I/AAAAAAAAGUg/6yhKz6YhuQQ/s1600-h/MP43.jpg"><img title="MP4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="MP4" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mzQ8n1uIg10/VFkdG8rj5tI/AAAAAAAAGUo/RqQWEU-9Pwk/MP4_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="310" height="240"></a></p> <p> .. charming guest houses at MP</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xfwCdQwK2QE/VFkdITehgHI/AAAAAAAAGUw/rMHiU-1XGMw/s1600-h/MP54.jpg"><img title="MP5" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="MP5" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yWG9KgDCxEU/VFkdJfwq3yI/AAAAAAAAGU4/8-0o3r-w4oE/MP5_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="204" height="276"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eK-qz2O0bGo/VFkdK04fGLI/AAAAAAAAGVA/qZaWk6qrCcc/s1600-h/MP62.jpg"><img title="MP6" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="MP6" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FsiJYfUcGB0/VFkdL6AjfKI/AAAAAAAAGVI/gkextnwLXX4/MP6_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OVO03Jv-Gt0/VFkdPrIsm4I/AAAAAAAAGVQ/7L7dodR_emg/s1600-h/MP72.jpg"><img title="MP7" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="MP7" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iuDHkfo3AC4/VFkdQau8YjI/AAAAAAAAGVY/6Qxvy5IfsJA/MP7_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p>Their internationaly acclaimed olive oil</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3O3oqX50w14/VFkdSUFNJPI/AAAAAAAAGVg/JANLBEgCGJw/s1600-h/FAT13.jpg"><img title="FAT1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="FAT1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2Od5vXqH2qk/VFkdTW-4RhI/AAAAAAAAGVo/hyof44JKmQo/FAT1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="315" height="244"></a> <p>Fatima <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1LqQnmlxkjI/VFkdU7WyNAI/AAAAAAAAGVw/RXcxgaF-1H0/s1600-h/OB13.jpg"><img title="OB1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="OB1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oZNvaXLUzQI/VFkdV5eAukI/AAAAAAAAGV4/wp7BkpSdlzk/OB1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="352" height="272"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-O0TN2zmGqLw/VFkdYh5BvcI/AAAAAAAAGWA/rgw1UouGAws/s1600-h/OB23.jpg"><img title="OB2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="OB2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LewyhnrIg_0/VFkdZzqpVmI/AAAAAAAAGWI/J8EJPsAAPis/OB2_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" height="260"></a></p> <p>Obidos</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9eh9QKHVztk/VFkdbotSoII/AAAAAAAAGWQ/R8sjYiWhQSg/s1600-h/OB33.jpg"><img title="OB3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="OB3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-e0-LbyEbdo0/VFkdcocPcOI/AAAAAAAAGWY/Ec4IoeBEGw8/OB3_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="265"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nFIwTQ-kuNU/VFkdefdJfuI/AAAAAAAAGWg/LPmYJeFJXHo/s1600-h/OB43.jpg"><img title="OB4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="OB4" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-t9Tyvo7vCKo/VFkdfNaDXeI/AAAAAAAAGWo/t_LlUB2bAaY/OB4_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="351" height="271"></a></p> <p>Cheers <p>Pieter Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-61033793304486287522014-10-14T03:00:00.000-03:002014-10-14T03:00:06.483-03:00From Flores to Faial . June 2014.<p> <p>Dear Friends, <p>The passage to Faial was rather un eventful, cold however, and demanding as far as hand steering was concerned. We left Flores late morning, to arrive 24 hours later in Faial. <p>We had a close encounter with a large whale, swimming in the opposite direction… beautiful, but kind of scary at the same time. <p>In Faial we anchored in the busy protected port of Horta, and officially cleared in, customs, immigration etc etc. We are now in Europe. <p>Here contacted the Raymarine representative/tec guy, and he confirmed my darkest expectation: the built in computer of the auto pilot: bust, kaput end of story. Immediately I ordered a new one, only to be picked up and installed in Lisbon. This meant another 900 Nm hand steering. <p>We explored the island (rented a car) for a day: pretty, but cold and mist…and wind… <p>A lot of wind actually, even gusting through the anchorage… And at one evening, when returning back to SV Onda Boa, we noticed several people on board, engines running etc… What happened was that somebody had anchored ontop of our anchor chain, and with the gusts of wind his boat started dragging anchor and also our anchor… Anyway quiet an ordeal, because the guy went with his dinghy to Onda Boa, he climbed on board, found my secondary anchor (Fortress with plenty of line) and he wanted to place the second anchor. During the gust wind and wave action, he must have miscalculated and, so the story goes, his dinghy flipped over, and fell in the water smashing his head on the anchor: hospital and stitches… The guys on the Onda Boa, when we arrived ,were French sailors from another Catamaran, and so they knew what they were doing (lucky us). Anyway, we had to find a new anchoring place, but pitch dark, crowded anchorage and stiff gusts of wind, made us decide to move to the opposite side of the harbor and tie up on the big old concrete wall. <p>I couldn’t locate the unlucky sailor, but I trust he recovered well. We checked out, and left for the 900 nm to Lisbon. <p>Cold strong winds where awaiting us… long hours on the steering wheel.. and thanks to Steve Jobs/Apple for creating the iPod…. <p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-z5gJ1cHp4vM/VDrz-Vrw8aI/AAAAAAAAGMA/tlB696bzLPE/s1600-h/TRAV1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2wzcAgq_6KU/VDrz_FJL2II/AAAAAAAAGMI/5RpvYRFcNPs/TRAV1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="358" height="282"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Y6Zpuwyn4Rs/VDr0AhbL2hI/AAAAAAAAGMQ/tjuxIZ9T85c/s1600-h/TRAV2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jhHgdcrgFmc/VDr0BrAd0hI/AAAAAAAAGMY/j-W49FCarMY/TRAV2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="261"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-r0cZFx8flAI/VDr0C4rxlXI/AAAAAAAAGMg/I_bOW0QVOgs/s1600-h/TRAV3%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV3" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QMXpSW-M18A/VDr0DXjVQPI/AAAAAAAAGMo/B61YXkomUB4/TRAV3_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="279"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Lp9b525Qjcg/VDr0Ere-LuI/AAAAAAAAGMw/iunAucEzp1s/s1600-h/TRAV4%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV4" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sDaAFcyDZDw/VDr0FORX4TI/AAAAAAAAGM4/juEHpUIzSQ0/TRAV4_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="335" height="259"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-u59ieZaX0wc/VDr0GdLqwoI/AAAAAAAAGNA/n67jnNUO944/s1600-h/TRAV5%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV5" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV5" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Yh-Ku9VeZcE/VDr0G_5BrOI/AAAAAAAAGNI/k2ex8d7nVSs/TRAV5_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="347" height="268"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-imegP1PZUbA/VDr0H1deg4I/AAAAAAAAGNQ/Za6fusnAhSY/s1600-h/TRAV6%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV6" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV6" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tbkH8XKt67A/VDr0Inu1DCI/AAAAAAAAGNY/CtauglJ48BE/TRAV6_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="265"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8uTv1tOQvZ0/VDr0JsznfVI/AAAAAAAAGNg/sKyPJcNy90Q/s1600-h/TRAV7%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV7" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV7" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rGXMbCohon4/VDr0KCLpnoI/AAAAAAAAGNo/rCsEGqSmymE/TRAV7_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="687" height="214"></a> <p>Stay Calm <p>Pieter</p> Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-8593845867699402792014-10-13T03:00:00.000-03:002014-10-13T03:00:02.022-03:00BVI’s to the Azores, The North Atlantic crossing May/June 2014<p> <p>Dear Friends, <p>It is not an easy task to describe this passage, such a mixture of emotions, impressions, insights… <p>It took us 22 days to arrive on the island Flores and experienced in total three days of calm, no wind whatsoever. We had lots of dolphins, and closer by the Azores some awesome sightings of whales, even a meeting with a Dutch sailboat (SV Tulip, from Sneek). <p>The crew worked great together, the routine of 3 hour shifts (myself, Giovanni and Pedro) worked out excellent (3 hours on duty, 6 hours of sleep and relax). Dora was responsible for the food, organization and intake discipline.. (Chocolate, and coffee..). <p>Pedro and Giovanni made a great effort in keeping our log book up to date, and in digital form. After a couple of days indeed the routine set in, and personally it felt as if we had entered in to another dimension… SV Onda Boa was sailing inside a bubble, this bubble was our universe, and Onda Boa our truly and only Life Support System. <p>Pedro has made a great blog of our crossing (<a href="http://decaronapeloatlantico.blogspot.com.br/p/blog-page_28.html">http://decaronapeloatlantico.blogspot.com.br/p/blog-page_28.html</a>) and includes our log book (for those of you interested). He also is responsible for the most fantastic pictures (and short movies). <p>Some comments about the weather: <p>Usually in early spring the so called Azores High pressure system establishes itself and makes the winds coming from the Eastern quadrant, and following a semi circle passing Bermuda at some 350 nm in theory it is normally an easy ride… of course my friends, not this time. Instead of the Azores High, we were mainly experiencing a stubborn Low pressure system, disrupting the steady winds. At one time we tried to outsmart this low pressure system, but in hind side, with our type of sailboat (or I guess any type of cruising sailboats, going on average 4-5 knots, you cannot outsail a weather system, as you are not able to sail fast enough). Anyway, so we there were days of more wind (and waves) and some days with no wind, but on average things have been fine. <p>Some highlights: <p>· StandUP paddle board maiden voyage, somewhere in the Atlantic during our first windless day <p>· Dora’s birthday, and the crew efforts to make it an unforgettable moment <p>· Not catching any fish (except a barracuda near the BVI, which we promptly returned to the seas) <p>· Launching of two bottles with a message <p>· The daily competition: who predicts the last 24 hrs distance (price: chocolate) <p>· The discussions, the jokes and the use of the Beast… (the signature 138m2 Genaker sail). <p>· The haircut, new style Onda Boa look… <p>· The absolute absence of noise, most notably during our second becalmed day.. <p>· The daily email exchange with Gabriel of SV Rodeo, who still was in ST Maarten and our weather man… <p>· 4 days before arriving in Flores: the autopilot gave up… Old style hand steering… pick your star at night… <p>Then having Flores on the horizon, and in the meantime… the nights had become cold. For some it was a relieve to see land, for others (me)… more mixed feelings. <p>The day after we arrived, Pedro had to leave and flew from Flores, via Lisbon back to Brazil. <p>A day was spend in cleaning, repairing, re stocking some items, and of we went for the island of Faial. With Pedro gone, Giovanni and I had to find an acceptable shift schedule, as we still needed to handsteer…. <p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XvxaWhMz2Bk/VDqyKTVBRAI/AAAAAAAAGDo/hEcKEIxQKnM/s1600-h/TRAV1%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-e3x5oMvcuoU/VDqyLblBFdI/AAAAAAAAGDw/Uor9nytoqH4/TRAV1_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="307" height="238"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hyBANUBJgz8/VDqyM9Q0esI/AAAAAAAAGD4/jFbvpohwRB0/s1600-h/TRAV1%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CzR53uLHk0c/VDqyODVV-3I/AAAAAAAAGEA/WAGAn7FLLUo/TRAV1_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="335" height="238"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AKTb6S45wBY/VDqyP68B9OI/AAAAAAAAGEI/xLkupI_IuIE/s1600-h/TRAV2%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-S54OcpVeuWI/VDqyRHVALUI/AAAAAAAAGEQ/isKm4BxFPFk/TRAV2_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="307" height="238"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lsK2HkJ2TGA/VDqyScOBhLI/AAAAAAAAGEY/iQwypJ_in5A/s1600-h/TRAV4%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV4" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV4" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_gEZjLFWX-I/VDqyTCaFYCI/AAAAAAAAGEg/6EaD6OPcLBI/TRAV4_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="334" height="258"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-thfHVvlBGUM/VDqyUhTesAI/AAAAAAAAGEo/JM5dV6GzdG0/s1600-h/TRAV5%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV5" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV5" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mDUYccVf5nU/VDqyV9p1kjI/AAAAAAAAGEw/XW3UPx2OSXE/TRAV5_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="309" height="239"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gm8j4aaWqGo/VDqyXB-TLUI/AAAAAAAAGE4/s6ZrNJYL-5k/s1600-h/TRAV6%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV6" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV6" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sxR_BhgVlac/VDqyYUWMOLI/AAAAAAAAGFA/2UK01nwKpyk/TRAV6_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="248"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DxYdR7TYtPs/VDqyZ0IBUCI/AAAAAAAAGFI/3Ar0IYUpiHA/s1600-h/TRAV1%25255B16%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Jyz3fG9KHIg/VDqyay4gFCI/AAAAAAAAGFQ/r0zQW9T3ibs/TRAV1_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="312" height="216"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-naqL1Y5qswU/VDqydJQtFdI/AAAAAAAAGFY/dW_zvCc41ro/s1600-h/TRAV2%25255B14%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ok0CV-jGcPk/VDqyevA8rVI/AAAAAAAAGFg/m0qlP3hyqh0/TRAV2_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="315" height="218"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-h03-iAPyYg4/VDqygGPE2_I/AAAAAAAAGFo/1BPOzQgeKbA/s1600-h/TRAV3%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV3" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XSZloD2Bnms/VDqyhqSjMLI/AAAAAAAAGFs/jcniMEjJfL8/TRAV3_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="313" height="216"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-f51fdDb2ZRE/VDqyiw5cZeI/AAAAAAAAGF0/r1O6EY_NROI/s1600-h/TRAV4%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV4" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV4" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pQG7VBdJS-k/VDqykL3IceI/AAAAAAAAGF8/jaXZSVARdCU/TRAV4_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="224"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oFgnTEH7fl4/VDqylkhWd9I/AAAAAAAAGGE/QAZspVuL2UA/s1600-h/TRAV5%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV5" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV5" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eVfYjaa6Xro/VDqym9jhCYI/AAAAAAAAGGM/Az-e4fhGnsY/TRAV5_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="317" height="219"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hma5HgUumHk/VDqyoht7PrI/AAAAAAAAGGU/4ftdPrqOdkQ/s1600-h/TRAV6%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV6" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV6" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2Kc80IjfoKg/VDqyphXzFpI/AAAAAAAAGGc/_mdHl3NbEuc/TRAV6_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="315" height="223"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dKoaAnaLqIw/VDqyq-XeFPI/AAAAAAAAGGk/bybFIDwTm7k/s1600-h/TRAV7%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV7" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV7" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dxUQjOyADB4/VDqyrq8SAYI/AAAAAAAAGGs/VeoN2Fai96o/TRAV7_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="315" height="223"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-O3HmOWtuZoc/VDqys5UDAOI/AAAAAAAAGG0/hF1lmmG0jYw/s1600-h/TRAV8%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV8" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV8" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-t5b3I9tHu6M/VDqythGQulI/AAAAAAAAGG8/O8wCduXKe_s/TRAV8_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="322" height="223"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-E2-eHJM6-Yc/VDqyvOv4_rI/AAAAAAAAGHE/SM0KwFRxsGA/s1600-h/TRAV9%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV9" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV9" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Bj6-9OqJgGI/VDqywDCwuJI/AAAAAAAAGHM/jfgxN8BYu84/TRAV9_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="317" height="219"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-D4kMiB1a9IU/VDqyxbTc7RI/AAAAAAAAGHU/WPtWOfMiBkE/s1600-h/TRAV10%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV10" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV10" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1DeLmclh5hs/VDqyyaHCMeI/AAAAAAAAGHc/KiTkt0JQaD4/TRAV10_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="221"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XoH7ajeWwB8/VDqyzVF0xbI/AAAAAAAAGHk/_gU8_M-P_4E/s1600-h/TRAV3%25255B14%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ijIk2mZsFqY/VDqy0CSvhrI/AAAAAAAAGHs/mZPR-s0zzNw/TRAV3_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="318" height="246"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HLUQW9sf6wU/VDqy1R1BGII/AAAAAAAAGH0/fXFrQ5A5TkI/s1600-h/TRAV11%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV11" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV11" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HVuXGauPnQI/VDqy2Jre53I/AAAAAAAAGH8/fSYT1RcM8pU/TRAV11_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="321" height="246"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ykit8m5CSWc/VDqy3d0PIJI/AAAAAAAAGIE/XszUbDf1J6Q/s1600-h/TRAV2%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FZtOmapO8Hk/VDqy4E8KkAI/AAAAAAAAGIM/FoWevKbdSOw/TRAV2_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="313" height="216"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_5tzOSvs2fo/VDqy5Xo-ODI/AAAAAAAAGIU/6Oep2jIVwac/s1600-h/TRAV3%25255B16%25255D.jpg"><img title="DCIM\100GOPRO" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DCIM\100GOPRO" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LdfWcDeQczI/VDqy6UW_rxI/AAAAAAAAGIc/VKz0OGNzJU0/TRAV3_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="328" height="259"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6iF9donlQwM/VDqy7v0baFI/AAAAAAAAGIk/lhMqfIBG-qA/s1600-h/TRAV4%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img title="DCIM\100GOPRO" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DCIM\100GOPRO" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-W0mLJWuN-zw/VDqy8tvPTRI/AAAAAAAAGIs/eRaEGXrVJHM/TRAV4_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="312" height="241"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-S0ILVb8O5gA/VDqy9siP0hI/AAAAAAAAGI0/DwTkpl1N9qs/s1600-h/TRAV5%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img title="DCIM\100GOPRO" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DCIM\100GOPRO" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RqyaROui_xo/VDqy-53zgvI/AAAAAAAAGI8/oL87-OnSd84/TRAV5_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="253"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GyZ2m57Ungg/VDqy_0wkqsI/AAAAAAAAGJE/Vx3_S2cKW40/s1600-h/TRAV6%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV6" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV6" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yxZCMpAhnpY/VDqzAvGizTI/AAAAAAAAGJM/0TI_Z09oi6M/TRAV6_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="221"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vDnzzzVEC-I/VDqzB5MRfMI/AAAAAAAAGJY/xxIsVrl0qqk/s1600-h/TRAV7%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV7" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV7" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zrZiexx4VoI/VDqzCyQsCVI/AAAAAAAAGJg/Cjp549-YuyE/TRAV7_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="317" height="219"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QzQJGB3tLso/VDqzEBJfsKI/AAAAAAAAGJo/e0JCb9bTsL4/s1600-h/TRAV8%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV8" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV8" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9xbaedQdN6c/VDqzFThJO0I/AAAAAAAAGJw/ZK6GcQkxq5U/TRAV8_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="321" height="222"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-aKoNspOXFgo/VDqzGn0z1vI/AAAAAAAAGJ4/Tf_NiGX6UGk/s1600-h/TRAV9%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV9" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV9" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3TmMwkgNldk/VDqzH8_kFmI/AAAAAAAAGKA/dmWxNRnhyaE/TRAV9_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="312" height="221"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2l48VevE_jE/VDqzJhc0AFI/AAAAAAAAGKI/5GkI75fgpLs/s1600-h/TRAV10%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV10" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV10" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KktzCDvpF20/VDqzK8wpR4I/AAAAAAAAGKQ/z9JoEGHsuxA/TRAV10_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="327" height="226"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-697TWjtuogY/VDqzMivxAyI/AAAAAAAAGKY/KVkqdFHjAEI/s1600-h/TRAV11%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV11" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV11" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bvm7mhXpsHc/VDqzOwNHMNI/AAAAAAAAGKg/CtyO6tbribA/TRAV11_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="316" height="218"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-M4XKWVMQUC4/VDqzQeBWdCI/AAAAAAAAGKo/j9xALUPhEns/s1600-h/TRAV12%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV12" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV12" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zCCJklXff4w/VDqzRWtnBhI/AAAAAAAAGKw/k9MgCIMI44U/TRAV12_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="325" height="225"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5N7Jg90FBls/VDqzS0hZ_KI/AAAAAAAAGK4/CgIg1sMC4z8/s1600-h/TRAV14%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV14" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV14" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RSKjC_bQGEs/VDqzT7Fdc4I/AAAAAAAAGLA/tLZ7M2MRfn8/TRAV14_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="328" height="227"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bARNCe8Sgxo/VDqzVmYfuHI/AAAAAAAAGLI/A5WCjzY7QeA/s1600-h/TRAV15%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV15" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV15" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-twP0X9j70gw/VDqzWl9OofI/AAAAAAAAGLQ/Y5YtWpZ5G-A/TRAV15_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="328" height="227"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7V7dHNZ3dIg/VDqzYBave3I/AAAAAAAAGLY/G3q9f49ONkc/s1600-h/TRAV16%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV16" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV16" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-urOWXnsKkvE/VDqzZqYbWpI/AAAAAAAAGLg/oi74vOhltD8/TRAV16_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="326" height="225"></a> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-srBy8sSWYws/VDqza7sxgDI/AAAAAAAAGLo/jqlnuPTH_O0/s1600-h/TRAV13%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="TRAV13" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="TRAV13" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rO3f-2BCRqE/VDqzcpZBr8I/AAAAAAAAGLw/30kakBMwTmc/TRAV13_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="519" height="517"></a> <p>Greetings <p>Pieter</p> <p>Ps: Most pictures: by Pedro (Also check his blog:<a title="http://decaronapeloatlantico.blogspot.com.br/p/blog-page_28.html" href="http://decaronapeloatlantico.blogspot.com.br/p/blog-page_28.html">http://decaronapeloatlantico.blogspot.com.br/p/blog-page_28.html</a>)</p> Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-20353327206568104292014-10-12T12:31:00.001-03:002014-10-12T12:31:02.778-03:00St Maarten. Again. May 2014<p> <p>Dear friends, <p>We had a lot of things on our to do list. Repairs and maintenance. Lots of trips to Budget Marine and Island Water world. We also met Carlos and Sandra of SV Namaste, Gabriel and Monika of SV Rodeo, Rita and Rubens of SV Doris, Ria and George of SV See You, Marco and Isabel of SV Vento Macio and so a great group of people. Happy hours, tec support, dining at the best Moroccan restaurant on the Island, more tec support and more happy hours. … <p>We had decided not the get the boat out of the water (paint was still ok), and the rudder shaft bearings I could easily do with the boat in the water (so I thought…). <p>This project alone was supported by our new friends and with a lot of hard work, managed to change the said bearings.. only to find out a couple of hours later that the alu pipe surrounding the shaft had become swiss cheese and so the whole engine compartment was full of water…. Big shocker of course and we had to take Onda Boa out of the water (again). We did this on the French side (PolyPat) just after the bridge. And since the boat was on the dry, we did decide to clean and apply a new layers of antifouling paint. As time was running, I decided to go for the McGyver solution… and Tony from the UK, master in fibre glass applications, made a fibre glass structure around the alu pipe all above the water line, so that problem was solved. Of course one thing led to another (in a nut shell, had to purchase and replace: a new Vetus raw water filter (the old one broke when I tried to re install all the hoses etc), two new iron elbows for the exhaust at both engines, now I got the originals from Volvo ($$$$) and we ended up sanding and applying two coats of a great brand of antifouling. <p>As usual, a boat on the dry is always a stressful situation, but we managed. Boat back in the water, 5 days later. We were able to get the boat clean again, as the marina yard is just sand and dust, and with the tropical St Maarten breeze, you can imagine how things looked after 5 days on the hard. We had the Onda Boa cleaned (inside and out), just to have all our work destroyed in a couple of minutes… another boat was lifted out of the water and on the dry, just next to the dock where the Onda Boa was happy back in the water. The keen workers blasted away with their power wash machine to clean the bottom of this boat, and so the wind put a big part of the black antifoul paint back onto the nice and clean and White Onda Boa… Needless to say we were rather P..ed off, and had to start all over again. All in all, it was not such a good experience to be in this ship yard (dusty/dirty and still pricy)… <p>Anyway, we were back in the water, and a big thanks to Gabriel of SV Rodeo, for all his support (electrical issues mainly). Then we needed to concentrate on prepping the boat for the crossing. In the meantime, it was decided to add Pedro on our crew list (he was all of a sudden without a boat to go across and so it was an easy fit). <p>It took at least three days to get all the stuff on board. Planning on max 30 days, with 4 people, how much do you need of everything? This task was mainly figured out by Dora. Not only what to buy, but also where to store it all once on board? Finally, we were ready to go…. A farewall dinner at a local Moroccan restaurant with Carlos and Sandra from SV Namaste and Gabriel and Monika from SV Rodeo. The next day we sailed (back) to Tortola, BVI.. to pick up the genoa sail and also our last search for the mystery SUP paddle board…. <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-466CQTHNPws/VDqePBYdsTI/AAAAAAAAGAg/NXR5uD1Ycww/s1600-h/SMX1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="SMX1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="SMX1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5H6wDyJXmBw/VDqeQUHXsfI/AAAAAAAAGAo/1s8JdPVVgus/SMX1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="318" height="246"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FumzuYr1G4c/VDqeS4cDzeI/AAAAAAAAGAw/TcucKm26Rfw/s1600-h/SMX2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="SMX2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="SMX2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-H2X1pSUX7bs/VDqeUMmfOSI/AAAAAAAAGA4/btDGr9ebAGs/SMX2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="313" height="242"></a></p> <p>St Maarten, French Side Marigot View of Marigot Bay</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bhMzJm-HmyY/VDqeV7QXH1I/AAAAAAAAGBA/AtFd7lIodxY/s1600-h/SMX12%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-u1jIpCyXnt4/VDqeXbAQglI/AAAAAAAAGBI/FwGrkVCSMtk/SMX12_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="247"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PPFTkMzpo18/VDqeY6OJ4lI/AAAAAAAAGBQ/u-gqrEac65E/s1600-h/SMX4%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="SMX4" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="SMX4" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wZ6v0PIOWDM/VDqeZ45JRhI/AAAAAAAAGBY/SOnJrbSHCOU/SMX4_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="313" height="242"></a></p> <p>Happy hour, the boys Birthday of Gabriel, on board</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JiddABtFliI/VDqea66NTDI/AAAAAAAAGBg/jvXBDj-D6Zs/s1600-h/SMX13%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8m94M47IYxo/VDqecEkKjYI/AAAAAAAAGBo/fS3_Fxn9cCw/SMX13_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="247"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_jZ_BUOHF_Y/VDqedl557dI/AAAAAAAAGBw/lAUXUu3sdVc/s1600-h/SMX14%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="SMX14" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="SMX14" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BLY3aQ4uJ0Y/VDqeeaANADI/AAAAAAAAGB4/RPemV2n0y0M/SMX14_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="209"></a></p> <p>Alu tube turned into Swiss cheese The glitter, glamorous Caribbean life</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pfcw4YBlhN8/VDqefxGAEBI/AAAAAAAAGCA/sJnMUl16abg/s1600-h/SMX6%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="SMX6" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="SMX6" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kZeCXkq_ymY/VDqehHDklzI/AAAAAAAAGCI/Ko0GNp0QMfA/SMX6_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="255"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kHYHwNDyrCA/VDqeiLc7MUI/AAAAAAAAGCQ/qIhrF4QxDsg/s1600-h/SMX7%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="SMX7" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="SMX7" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aVkARWW-10k/VDqei6XjHHI/AAAAAAAAGCY/4OCkYFojtrc/SMX7_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="248"></a></p> <p> Haul out once again Some deserved R&R</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-H2_uCl7d7xs/VDqekcgDqeI/AAAAAAAAGCg/0E0Ueh9Egbo/s1600-h/SMX8%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="SMX8" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="SMX8" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vVMCEKfMUrI/VDqelqgYT2I/AAAAAAAAGCo/CJq_kvfboew/SMX8_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="333" height="258"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SG_CzmVffuM/VDqenIrUK8I/AAAAAAAAGCw/JbJVp4Kho9w/s1600-h/SMX9%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="SMX9" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="SMX9" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PSsMbR0JeEA/VDqeoTmzXKI/AAAAAAAAGC4/Yq6Lbqn_1jw/SMX9_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="322" height="249"></a></p> <p>A little grocery shopping…. …Plenty of storage room ?</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5kbmLm5wiQk/VDqepjB1UII/AAAAAAAAGDA/gUBEZtfJDwY/s1600-h/SMX10%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="SMX10" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="SMX10" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nehFX3MVWB0/VDqeqb7TOUI/AAAAAAAAGDI/se_4tj5okPA/SMX10_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="334" height="264"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-he340Vcewy4/VDqer-MDOQI/AAAAAAAAGDQ/HmuoGl-rxA0/s1600-h/SMX11%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="SMX11" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="SMX11" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SIG35otGZrc/VDqetNYUDOI/AAAAAAAAGDY/WgjtzOtwEsU/SMX11_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="257"></a></p> <p>The true heroins, Monika, Dora, Sandra Farewell guys and thanks….</p> <p>All the best <p>Pieter</p> Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-26281553185595180072014-10-03T18:59:00.001-03:002014-10-03T18:59:55.435-03:00British Virgin Islands, almost full circle. .April/May 2014<p> <p>Dear friends, <p>We left Isla Vieques in the early hours, full moon, soft breeze and had to cover aprox 50 nm to reach Tortola (BVI). Although some choppy seas and easterly winds (of course).. we arrived around 14 hrs at Sopers Hole , West End, in Tortola. A very crowded anchorage (most moorings where taken), but we managed to squeeze Onda Boa in a secluded spot (on anchor). Went to shore to celebrate this mile stone! Beers and nachos. The custom clearance was according to British standards.. no hassle, no fuss, just pay and no worries. <p>The next day we went to Nanny Cay Marina (a high end full service marina) for the watermaker repair and final measurements for the new genoa. Lincoln (repair for Spectra Watermakers) found the culprit very quickly.. a busted pressure tube, and as it still was under warranty, he ordered a new one and replaced the whole thing a couple of days later. Thumbs up for Spectra and Lincoln. Also Bob, at Doyle Sails has done a great job, the only down side was that we needed to practice patience, as the delivery was going to be only 5 weeks later. <p>We ordered on line a SUP (stand up paddle board) at Tower Paddle boards, thinking that delivery would be within 7 days. … <p>In the meantime, we explored this beautiful sailing paradise.. Wonderful islands, great infra structure (resorts, restaurants etc). It became clear why this is the sailing hot spot of the Caribbean (and sailboat charter paradise). We went to check out Peter Island, Copper Island, Norman Island, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke all of them with a different feel to it. <p>The downside of this place is that in general all is very expensive (fuel, supermarket etc).. We did not have any expense with anchoring (never used moorings) and our base became Manuel Reef Marina in Sea Cows Bay. <p>We met Sandra and Franz of SV Gabriela, and also Mark from the UK (charter captain) and a host of other sailors. <p>Remember that SUP? Well, my friends, I will spare you the details but our mission to take delivery of the thing, took very long and had us taking a ferry to St Thomas (US Virgin Island), and later on sailing with the Onda Boa to this island, to try to out smart the US Post service. To no avail… Only early May we were able to finally get the thing onboard. Anyway, during our stay at this island, our trusty, but old, anchor windlass gave up on us… We had seen this coming but it still is a sad good bye. First I thought still that the malfunction had something to do with a bust electrical relay. So went to check at Budget Marine. There we met Scotty, a Budget Marine employee and also a live aboard, and as a matter fact we were anchored just in front of his boat. Anyway and again, longer story short… he sold me his (new) Lowfrance windlass (1200 w power instead of the 800 w of the Goiot). His price of installing the thing was reasonable and so it took most part of a Sunday to dismantle the old one, put the new windlass in and get everything hooked up again. It was an unexpected expense, but now we were happy to be able to rely on a good and powerful windlass (so we thought, only with the help of Gabriel (SV Rodeo) in St Maarten, he finally solved all electrical and installations errors.. but that is an other story). <p>We had things to do and decided to leave for St Maarten (for prepping the boat, get supplies and all these other 1001 things that need to be done for an ocean passage.). <p>The 80 nm that needs to be covered between BVI and St Maarten has caused problems for many sailors, however we were lucky, or no, not lucky, we just picked the right weather window and were able to sail overnight to St Maarten. What a grand feeling to drop anchor in Marigot again. Full circle. <p>No time to waste… <p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9ioE86uuPKI/VC8b93FqVZI/AAAAAAAAF88/dLRnSFh3o_0/s1600-h/PR6%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="PR6" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PR6" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SLffeL_PcL4/VC8b-q5KOGI/AAAAAAAAF9E/FICETZ-5Fyo/PR6_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="339" height="285"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wM7lIb_U6nk/VC8b_TJMqcI/AAAAAAAAF9M/bBVqDPV30OQ/s1600-h/20140316_163901%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="20140316_163901" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="20140316_163901" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1pOe6nFrejE/VC8cAM5rC6I/AAAAAAAAF9U/4EphHMPNFJQ/20140316_163901_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="215" height="290"></a></p> <p>In the distance.. BVI Sopers Hole</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-awA0n680FSA/VC8cBD0r2NI/AAAAAAAAF9c/z6v1Ym21jJo/s1600-h/BVI1%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="BVI1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="BVI1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wCaVXA5bBJo/VC8cCG83c3I/AAAAAAAAF9k/1aqkThBTdyk/BVI1_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="310"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AlBnAm-yjZQ/VC8cDKsso4I/AAAAAAAAF9s/sZCxTsLtqxY/s1600-h/BVI3%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="BVI3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="BVI3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YWZ91LJ3AoE/VC8cEpMwgaI/AAAAAAAAF90/Lhe8n94iTUY/BVI3_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="333" height="314"></a></p> <p>Lunch on board Onda Boa Sea Cows Bay from above (good workout)</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dkwQpPLhYmQ/VC8cFm3fVfI/AAAAAAAAF98/lMv36_aTv0Y/s1600-h/BVI5%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="BVI5" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="BVI5" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VfM7fj3Ux4M/VC8cGhkckAI/AAAAAAAAF-E/WZfx7uLbz5U/BVI5_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="369" height="285"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MGqO80MyzFc/VC8cHh62gkI/AAAAAAAAF-M/eGnDDXZowiw/s1600-h/BVI6%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="BVI6" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="BVI6" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YY_E_Yxqjkc/VC8cIWxWyDI/AAAAAAAAF-U/4MCJvcuFpp8/BVI6_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="330" height="281"></a></p> <p>Copper Island Anchorage Nanny Cay Marina</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9nuCWmtJTZ8/VC8cJhbW0jI/AAAAAAAAF-c/sHsk7zZ_M7w/s1600-h/BVI7%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="BVI7" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="BVI7" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8xKvrvE22hU/VC8cKFDII_I/AAAAAAAAF-k/R8Hw4eNNZDE/BVI7_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="373" height="288"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Hy-pxyo4IUY/VC8cLVNqf7I/AAAAAAAAF-s/8jLxpUhPeK8/s1600-h/BVI8%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="BVI8" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="BVI8" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-W4DlxFsOwWo/VC8cMPgju5I/AAAAAAAAF-0/1yT_j4K1QAc/BVI8_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="325" height="289"></a></p> <p>Some nice little squalls to play Jost van Dyke Island</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-m9n0ISi6rTo/VC8cM1A0WKI/AAAAAAAAF-8/m8d5gICrspc/s1600-h/BVI9%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="BVI9" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="BVI9" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lW0vaVDrR2c/VC8cNsn7u-I/AAAAAAAAF_A/LnCw002Ohpk/BVI9_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="373" height="288"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zKS5Niui4LU/VC8cOm-qtVI/AAAAAAAAF_M/zXCoVyZHzRs/s1600-h/BVI10%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="BVI10" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="BVI10" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pV_0WYQdhVI/VC8cPaLFXaI/AAAAAAAAF_U/1pXZr2PoNEc/BVI10_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="322" height="287"></a></p> <p>Anchorage Virgin Gorda Eye balling out of the reef…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yzLKs7iuXyU/VC8cQHO3yqI/AAAAAAAAF_c/HtN4ksKGn4s/s1600-h/US1%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="US1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="US1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-d-SCPGBVBmQ/VC8cQyUHwfI/AAAAAAAAF_k/lQz1dydMK_E/US1_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="368" height="305"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4JLARngDeyw/VC8cSFnwzaI/AAAAAAAAF_s/cU0m2pXAsu0/s1600-h/US2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="US2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="US2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7LvpH5k9fIQ/VC8cTur3oSI/AAAAAAAAF_0/dmnIsby3VS0/US2_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="299"></a></p> <p>Anchorage Red Hook USVI Idem</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0Kghz8Oot00/VC8cUxhizwI/AAAAAAAAF_8/SzLtN-1LmfQ/s1600-h/USVI1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="USVI1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="USVI1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ORLfOqTD-Ms/VC8cWK41xtI/AAAAAAAAGAE/pycVRxVh4H0/USVI1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="278"></a></p> <p>Dinghy parking USVI</p> <p> </p> <p>Have fun <p>Pieter</p> Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-32309777500680724812014-08-01T03:55:00.000-03:002014-08-01T03:55:00.062-03:00Mona Passage, Ponce and Isla Vieques, Puerto Rico. March 2014<p> <p>Dear friends, <p>Prepared for the worse, hoping for the best.... <p>The so dreaded Mona Passage was kind to us… There was a stiff breeze and some seas, but at least the winds came from a rather Northerly side and so we could kind of easily motor sail towards Puerto Rico. <p>We go straight to Ponce on the south side of the Island. At around 07 oclock we entered the canal towards the yacht club. Anchored out in front of the club and I went to the office of the club to learn about the check in formalities (you are supposed to call a 1-800 number to get the custom guys to your boat), however we don’t have a local sim card (yet) so that is not realy a practical thing to ask new arrivals, if you ask me). In the office they pointed to a phone I should use which I did and a stern voiced clerck told me to tie up the boat to a designated area and that the officials would show up soon and that I was not to leave the boat, nor dump garbage…. <p>So, dingied back to Onda Boa, weighed the anchor and we were able to tie up on the specific border protection area on the fuel dock. <p>Soon in enough two officers showed up, with a kick ass attitude. They wanted us to be sure that we knew we were now in USofA territory. Which we weren’t as PR is well…PR.. anyway got the questions out of the way, and NO we are not going to dump our garbage, nor flush the toilet and so on and so forth. <p>The Yacht club was going to charge a descent amount of money to use their infra structure, so instead, we just dinghied over to the small fisher warf, and took a taxi to the customs building to finalize the red tape (Brazilian flagged vessels are charged with additional fees for entering and leaving the country, as for instance US flagged are equally charged when they would move into Brazilian waters..). Then we went to check out the Ponce historical town centre. Nice, but nothing outstanding. On our way back we stopped at a large shopping centre (coffee and wifi), not before checking out a supermarket… From the taxi driver we learned a thing or two abt the relation between the UsA and PR (for instance didn’t know that only US originated cargo vessels are allowed to berth at PR ports, and so the PR only can get US (controlled)products. <p>After two days around and about in Ponce, we headed for Isla Vieques (Spanish Virgin Islands). We left Ponce in the afternoon, amidst a building up of thunderstorms, but were able to stay clear of those. A non eventfull overnight sail to Isla Vieques. Most lovely anchorage. Went to check out how and where to do the official clearing in. To learn quickly that there wasn’t such a thing. No office, no sign no nothing. Very un American actually. Not to worry, found a beach front pub, cold beer and wifi. The next day we went to rent a scooter, and totally easy rider style we crossed around the island. It dawned on us that, we could have anchored out in Ponce, without any of the clearing in redtape. Nobody would have noticed. Ofcourse it is not the best thing to do, but after all the effort (both time and money) to get the visum, it feels like a bit of anticlimax. Anyway, not to worry. Isla Vieques is a nice little island and used to be used by the USA military (bombing target practice etc). Also it has a mega super radar antenna in order to catch Colombian drug smugglers amongst others. <p>It was time for us to leave for the BVI.s… <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-G2WNY2YDVSU/U9LgRbNOefI/AAAAAAAAF4w/3IUUDWJt8-Y/s1600-h/PR15.jpg"><img title="PR1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="PR1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dRB7_gB0gbo/U9LgTLt0vxI/AAAAAAAAF44/dFZeEakclos/PR1_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lTUlkd37Hl8/U9LgVkR6ZyI/AAAAAAAAF5A/8_KL6tJUZQY/s1600-h/PR25.jpg"><img title="PR2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="PR2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YnWqfwx9U7M/U9LgXNBjB0I/AAAAAAAAF5I/7ZNHEqx89WI/PR2_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="273"></a></p> <p> Mona Island Excellent anchorage in Isla Vieques</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-h0g0YHCDd_Q/U9LgZ_0SkwI/AAAAAAAAF5Q/Dgvcn0NBo7o/s1600-h/PR33.jpg"><img title="PR3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="PR3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-a0zA9yOyNwk/U9LgbDwoYPI/AAAAAAAAF5Y/qgKeMTtmRK4/PR3_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="265"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9W0omtFKMV8/U9Lgemrl13I/AAAAAAAAF5g/It71ng1YjA8/s1600-h/PR43.jpg"><img title="PR4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="PR4" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Vncc6aZ2DNM/U9LggI_6GPI/AAAAAAAAF5o/-Hvr-IkjvxY/PR4_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="263"></a></p> <p> Beach front street, Isla Vieques Easy Rider</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1zLnOUqPQRQ/U9LgjlJBvuI/AAAAAAAAF5w/WUxg59lPnHk/s1600-h/PR53.jpg"><img title="PR5" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="PR5" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-h6siYvWOlyM/U9Lgk9cZmkI/AAAAAAAAF54/hs7srtLjqyk/PR5_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="265"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7ydZNekISr0/U9LgmJGUQFI/AAAAAAAAF6A/oNt6KQnsBKw/s1600-h/20140310_1825504.jpg"><img title="20140310_182550" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="20140310_182550" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZkfxI_FnRZk/U9LgnOewLtI/AAAAAAAAF6I/jLTgpHZFyfQ/20140310_182550_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="341" height="264"></a></p> <p> Speedy Gonzalez .. Thanks for the advice…</p> <p> </p> <p>Best regards,</p> <p>Pieter</p> Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-48916266130135104222014-07-31T03:51:00.000-03:002014-07-31T03:51:00.245-03:00Isla Catalina, Casa de Campo and Isla Saona. March 2014<p> </p> <p>Dear friends, <p>We left Boca Chica in the afternoon, with a stiff breeze on the nose, but managed to get out the harbour and motorsailed towards La Romana. At day break, we were close to Isla Catalina, and decided to anchor out at this beautiful location. <p>Lucky for us there were no cruise ships so we wondered around the island and just enjoyed a sunny afternoon. The next day was almost without wind and before we went to Casa de Campo Marina, we stopped at the NE side of the Island as we were told it was good diving there. <p>Tied up on a mooring and geared up. We both came to the conclusion that once you have experienced diving in Bonaire, the next place needs to be really special and something different from the norm. This was not the case…. Actually on the shallow before arriving to the drop of the coral wall it appeared to be a dumping site for all kinds of rubbish. Such a pitty. Again, we can only hope that the local governments will help to educate and improving waste management. <p>On our way to Casa de Campo. Indeed a very posh and exclusive yacht club. Basically for high end motor yachts and certainly not geared up for sailing boats. During the manouvre in getting Onda Boa stern to, between two fingers the gear cable of the Starboard enginge broke so that was kind of complicated. Anyway managed to tie off, but was immediately told that I could not undertake any maintenance work whilst at the dock. With the help of a kind stranger, I arranged some sturdy wire and was able to repair the gear cable. <p>On the yacht club grounds is also a supermarket (high end prices as well), but ofcourse very convenient. <p>The next day we left early to go to Isla Saona. It was a marvelous short trip and arriving at the Island, mouthwatering scenes of pristine blue water, palm tree beaches, paradise in short. <p>This island is visited by hundreds of day trip guests from nearby resorts. Checked out the crowds and had a nice day. Mentally preparing for the so dreaded Mona Passage between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. On the north side of the DR and PR runs a tremendous deep trench and on the passage between the islands the depth are a couple of hundred meters. This, depending on the winds can create a savage sea (and current)… Hiho, of we go… <p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2uGMJw1WeA4/U9LfbRpp43I/AAAAAAAAF2Q/rJrSzNZHJBM/s1600-h/Domrep177.jpg"><img title="Domrep17" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Domrep17" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Zt629WMO_e8/U9LfcprCXOI/AAAAAAAAF2Y/aoCsXmIfTGs/Domrep17_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="429" height="337"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--eHpvw8fPKs/U9LfeXKGdtI/AAAAAAAAF2g/Sshd7auJ79k/s1600-h/Domrep189.jpg"><img title="Domrep18" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Domrep18" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Dk7qHfj1j7I/U9LffZTEWzI/AAAAAAAAF2o/6vWOy1Ga9gQ/Domrep18_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="335"></a></p> <p>Isla Catalina…. eye candy.. A day at the beach</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PZ5bFRdjF-o/U9LfhD1XNzI/AAAAAAAAF2w/gPs10NB59S4/s1600-h/Domrep218.jpg"><img title="Domrep21" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Domrep21" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6Jwt_DbG8w0/U9LfigjMCmI/AAAAAAAAF24/3fNVsIyPsMg/Domrep21_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="292"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RW-pEksYe6k/U9LflFJYXNI/AAAAAAAAF3A/c7V6Os6PaX4/s1600-h/Domrep1910.jpg"><img title="Domrep19" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Domrep19" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nCB9TNkaH6Q/U9LfmbEv70I/AAAAAAAAF3I/cV1qYIjt5jA/Domrep19_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="292"></a></p> <p>It is just too much The good life</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UkIntYW8M0w/U9Lfn1EMI8I/AAAAAAAAF3Q/X9yWyfkdJl0/s1600-h/Domrep124.jpg"><img title="Domrep12" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Domrep12" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sQB6Ka_xJd0/U9LfpPzyNzI/AAAAAAAAF3Y/c_9fN5O4yok/Domrep12_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="277"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5KWqaAEUQ2w/U9LfrCEIjSI/AAAAAAAAF3g/GGp22UvQt9w/s1600-h/Domrep135.jpg"><img title="Domrep13" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Domrep13" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-edIc6icRDMk/U9Lfsscx9AI/AAAAAAAAF3o/6OhmaozhWU4/Domrep13_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="330" height="275"></a></p> <p>Isla Saona Just awesome</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-D7OwZgbZ5eo/U9LfurGCbjI/AAAAAAAAF3w/QOa4QdKeaPA/s1600-h/Domrep144.jpg"><img title="Domrep14" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Domrep14" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5mXj596ex10/U9LfwBIekLI/AAAAAAAAF34/wLYYAHkTlWY/Domrep14_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="278"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YBJ9Ge47c9U/U9LfxtSlisI/AAAAAAAAF4A/YoFnWN4fuMI/s1600-h/Domrep154.jpg"><img title="Domrep15" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Domrep15" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9k4_Z0Md7hI/U9LfyojwWgI/AAAAAAAAF4I/PbNNca2_Z_0/Domrep15_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" height="273"></a></p> <p>Why not stay somewhat longer? Never enough</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-R7O1D-K0h30/U9Lf0UCef1I/AAAAAAAAF4Q/JkgapQszB7E/s1600-h/Domrep163.jpg"><img title="Domrep16" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Domrep16" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LALGZR37-W8/U9Lf13-BseI/AAAAAAAAF4Y/VOLTduCZadc/Domrep16_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="266" height="361"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ADBq-z4rzHc/U9Lf3VVey3I/AAAAAAAAF4g/lhV68gLJiOE/s1600-h/Domrep203.jpg"><img title="Domrep20" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Domrep20" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WsurnOfTbq4/U9Lf4WKXt5I/AAAAAAAAF4o/XbeFyWvZ9Lw/Domrep20_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="262" height="355"></a></p> <p> The captain …and ready to flow…</p> <p> </p> <p>Later</p> <p>Pieter</p> Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649646837248446729.post-11799414182708478182014-07-30T03:49:00.000-03:002014-07-30T03:49:00.196-03:00Boca Chica, Dominican Republic.March 2014<p> </p> <p>Dear friends, <p>After a quiet overnight sail(we did stop in Salinas, but was an uneventful stay, we took in fresh water, and used the internet connection of the only hotel in the bay) , we arrived in Boca Chica and decided to anchor at the Zarpar Marina. Tip top class out fit. Great and helpful staff. As the free cruising guide author Frank Virgintino has this as his base marina, he actually threw a great party for all cruisers at the marina. Great local food and drinks… a big thanks to Frank and his staff. <p>We endulged in going to a real supermarket, so that was awesome and restocked. We went and explored (using our bikes) the surroundings and found that here the population should educate themselves on proper waste management because garbage was flying around everywhere. <p>We also visited the capital Santo Domingo. We walked around a lot in the hussle and bussle of the town. Needed to get new fuel filters so that took us basically all day. We also visited a modern shopping… It was already dark, when we caught the bus back to Boca Chica. We were able to cram our selves in the last seats in the back of the bus. More passengers entered, and a funny situation occurred as two more rather heavy built guys, according to the instructions of the bus driver, were suppose to take seat next to me… except there wasn’t a seat available. Our friend insisted however, because the bus driver told him so. And so he tried to squeeze himself in, and as the first law of Sir Isaac Newton tells us… two bodies cannot occupy the same space… this wasn’t going to work. In fact I invited the guy to sit on my knee, but that was harsly denied, and all of sudden it turned into a rather tense discussion on race, color etc.. spiked by a drunk passenger as well. So, we were glad we arrived back in Boca Chica. <p>After months of not having seen a hair salon from the inside, it was Dora`s treat to go to hairdresser/nail salon… I used that time to bike around town and check out the location. <p>It was time to leave Boca Chica, and head for La Romana, Marina Casa de Campo. <p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OqfPlNKjWVY/U9Lewq25KAI/AAAAAAAAF1A/DCe8RW5ra3k/s1600-h/DSC_02857.jpg"><img title="DSC_0285" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_0285" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IFvBApZpuI4/U9LexhTPwwI/AAAAAAAAF1I/fYtHTwaBBkY/DSC_0285_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="219"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ze559XZ6yJc/U9LezDr4pCI/AAAAAAAAF1Q/-zUQQT2_FVw/s1600-h/DSC_02877.jpg"><img title="DSC_0287" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC_0287" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-P5QHXCGsmGg/U9Le0SwMlII/AAAAAAAAF1Y/lYRCTQWQpQg/DSC_0287_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="355" height="227"></a></p> <p>Zarpar Marina in Boca Chica..1st class <font size="2">Designed and managed by a sailor.. Good stuff</font></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-C-oWJB7PZ24/U9Le2vHNIVI/AAAAAAAAF1g/qGITNFddve8/s1600-h/20140311_1918034.jpg"><img title="20140311_191803" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="20140311_191803" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-At2UaQPCuCs/U9Le4b_k-KI/AAAAAAAAF1o/jOFOQL87Jyw/20140311_191803_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="233" height="316"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3-bG1UTJZ4c/U9Le6fGFbiI/AAAAAAAAF1w/5f88jblb7w0/s1600-h/Domrep104.jpg"><img title="Domrep10" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Domrep10" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-z_4ah1EjhF4/U9Le76iLpLI/AAAAAAAAF14/VI8oqTKL9SE/Domrep10_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="231" height="313"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fW-UNbUc0W0/U9Le9jT8Z9I/AAAAAAAAF2A/n5qahbKgxSk/s1600-h/Domrep114.jpg"><img title="Domrep11" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Domrep11" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UKK17qp-mF8/U9Le-wdps0I/AAAAAAAAF2E/LwnU86XWScw/Domrep11_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="229" height="310"></a></p> <p>Franks Party Zarpar Marina Happy Dora</p> <p> </p> <p>Warm Regards,</p> <p>Pieter</p> Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17583300222709049776noreply@blogger.com0