Dinner Party on Windancer and Kalliope
02 June 2008 | Horta Marina, Faial, Azores
Jim Rapelje
We haven't blogged in a few days, sorry. So there we were within 60 miles of Faial and coming out of the night. Bob was on watch and he saw the volcanic peak of Pico on the horizon, just visible because the clouds had not yet met the horizon. It was 5:10 in the morning but there it was, something, we knew it was Pico, what else could be visible from this distance. Pico is a volcanic peak 2351 meters tall, very tall folks.
Well, the clouds covered it soon after we sighted it and we motored through the day knowing we would make land today, a very good feeling. This crossing will only be 11 days, very fast, it's all good.
As we came closer the island became visible. What a sight, different from anything I've seen before, sheer cliffs, lumps of rock sticking out of the ocean, and always Pico looming up in the background. A completely unique topography, like nothing I've ever seen before. It's in the middle of the ocean folks, the middle, only serious sailors come here and we're some of them, very proud. I've wanted to do this my whole life and here I am, how do you explain that, you can't.
We're under power, no wind, we round the point to see Horta, very cool, we're here, we made it. Truth be told it was an easy passage. Sure, we had mechanical failures but we dealt with them and succeeded, we felt good about that, very good.
Horta is beautiful, every building is white with an orange roof, every one, no exceptions. We moor up the boat, look at each other with confidence and head to Peter Caf�' Sport, the place to be in Horta. This place is a sailors mecca, you have to be at sea for at least a week just to get here. It's very cool folks, and we're very proud to have done this. Oh yea, we have a few drinks at Peter Caf�' Sport, just a few. We meet up with the crew of a boat we met on the high sea, Summer Breeze, a great bunch of people. Well the night went on as intended. We were having a great time, talking to the other sailors, all with the pedigree of making it to Horta. This is it folks, worth the effort and the beer and wine at Caf�' Sport flowed easily.
It's Sunday, the night after and all is well, ok one of us kind'a fell down last night, has a few "marks" on his face to show it. All is well though and we enjoy the day, looking at Pico, what a sight. Looks like space ships flying over the peak. Some weird weather pattern causes Pico to "wear a hat", that's right looks like a cloud hat on Pico, what a sight.
That night Windancer hosted a dinner party. Summer Breeze has no food, the grocery store closed early on Sunday, they missed it. And moreOne of the ARC sailors picked up an eel caught by a fisherman during the day. We clean it on the breakwater with the help of Paul a new friend we met on the dock. The dinner party is a complete success. Pasta and eel on Windancer then on to Kalliope for more absolutely wonderful comradery with the ARC sailors and more eel expertly prepared by chef-skipper Louis. It was a great evening folks, doesn't get better than this.
How do you describe this experience, you can't unless you're here. it's absolutely wonderful, the visual experience, the people, the fact that you're in the middle of the ocean and you sailed here. It's off the charts folks, we're all very lucky guys.