svkatface

Hi Mom, The boat is actually floating, in water, in a marina in Lagos. We made it in to the marina within a few minutes of our predicted time on the high tide on Wednesday afternoon. We motored the whole way so the sails have yet to be unloaded. Had a few adventures. The first leaving Lisbon. There was [...]

07 October 2017

Another beautiful day in Cascais

Hi Mom, I worked hard all day on the boat and took a small break to paddle to the praia. These poor girls were on a boat with a couple of guys and a few more of their girls friends. I could see they were running out of things to do and, since they had cerveja, I let them use my stand up paddle board for a while. The captain, Miguel, sent me this photo, so I could show how nice I am to help them enjoy their day. Just another example of the nice people you can meet on boats.

05 October 2017

Mosquito Coast

Hi Mom,

29 September 2017

In Cascais, Portugal - since Sept 22!

Hi Mom, Kathryn sent out a safe arrival message but you are correct in that I have not put a new blog entry in. I typed several during the 6 days at sea but could not ever get a HF radio connection to transmit them.

HF radio version

Hi Mom, FInally got a radio contact and so this is mainly a test. We did have a discussion with the immigration guy here at the marina. There is some more latitude than we thought but we are still looking. Have not had much from Lauren lately. Some conversation with Phoebe.

15 September 2017 | Angra do Heroismo

Leaving the Azores tomorrow - hopefully

Hi Mom, after 3 months in the Azores we will attempt to sail to Lisboa tomorrow. Should take about a week. Boat is topped off with fuel as we anticipate lighter conditions until about 200 miles off the Portuguese coast. Will try to update with the radio if I can remember how. Love Tommy

Sea Critters

21 May 2017 | Bermuda

Kat Venator

Yay, we are in Bermuda - anchored in the harbor near the Clearance/Customs House, along with, oh, 50 other yachts - some huge. Will likely stay here several days as it's free and easy access to St. George's town via dingy. Weather is GORGEOUS.

The first night of the passage, while I was on watch at 10pm, a Clown-cart of dolphins came alongside the cockpit where I sat, and began leaping in the air to get my attention! I swear that's why - because normally, dolphins prefer to ride the bow wave at front. These guys wanted to see who was on the boat! Every time one would leap - and look sidewise at me, grinning! - I'd shout "hello!" They took off after about 5 minutes. What a wonderful escort to the Gulf Stream! There is something so absolutely charmful and chuckley about them! I think we say 'a Pod' of dolphins, but it should be 'a Clown-cart'!

I felt blessed, and serene for quite a while afterward.

The next night, at about 2am - a flying fish landed on the deck near me and went into whirly-gig mode, flopping One million MPS! Tom and i had seen just a few of these creatures. in the sea, during the day. My visitor was 9 inches long, as thick as my wrist at her midsection, and lavender colored with lacy white angel wings. I tried to grab her to throw her back in, but SO slippery... plus, she freaked out! now TWO Mil MPS whirlygigging, and eventually got herself off the boat and back home.

I discovered my spectacles (for some nearsightedness) are more useful on the boat then I would have thought. To wit: Yesterday, Tom and I were uptop. Me: How is it that those Big Gulp drink lids can float /vertically/ in the water, like a sail? Tom: Those are Portuguese Man'o'Wars. Me: (puts on glasses) Oh! ... Seriously tho, it is great having my captain not only be clever and skilled at sailing, engines, electronics --but also be a terrific lay-naturalist! Tom can identify a great lot of fish, birds, etc - from memory. Amazing!

While on watch one night shift, I composed some possible narrative for your website, Dunx, which I will send soon. Is expensive to use cellular (eg, 50c per each text, dont even mention data transfer) so I will buy a 24 hour day pass and get a lot down then. Eg, I have a Float Plan ready, and will email tomorrow. Will also learn what my stock portfolio did in the past 10 days! For what it's worth knowing, when we are posting to the blog through the HAM radio, we cannot SEE the actual blog ourselves,(or comments thereto). On a wifi day, then we get to see, and can post pix - so look for pix tomorrow.

Comments