Peter's Cafe Sport

Friday 16 July 2021

Soooooo, here we are. Negative test result Wednesday so cleared in and free to wander around at least until Monday when another test is required. Horta is similar to St. George's in that streets are narrow and buildings old. Virtually all sidewalks are mosaics of sailboats, anchors, geometric designs, etc. using light and dark rocks. Somebody put forth an amazing amount of effort. After Bermuda, prices are pleasingly low. Eating out is not expensive and food has been excellent.

Perhaps the most famous sailor bar in the world is here on the waterfront, Peter's Cafe Sport - one hundred two years old, where one may expect to see yachtsmen from around the world. Many we've met are European or North American, but some from as far away as the South Pacific and Malaysia. Restaurant has everything from breakfast to dinner and a fine cup of espresso or latte. The bar's specialty is Gin do Mar (gin of the sea), which is traditionally mixed with tonic and a lemon slice. Blended with Licor de Maracuja (liquor of passion), it's good. One may sit inside or on a deck overlooking the harbor. Having Wifi it's a great place to squander extended intervals of one's life. A bit of trivia: the place is named for Jose Azevedo, but the captain of a ship he worked on called him Peter because he looked like his son and the name stuck.

Horta Marina is completely full with boats rafted three deep on the walls and filling the harbor. This after many just left for the mainland. If able to find a blank space on any vertical or horizontal surface many crews leave a memento. Virtually every bit around marina is covered in thousands of paintings from boats passing through. Some are fairly rough, but most are quite artistic, typically colorful, averaging half to a meter square and usually containing pictures, boat names, crew and year. Like all of Horta, unique.

Saturday

Sailmaker scheduled to repair torn genoa Monday and Mid Atlantic Yacht Services checking on replacements for broken windlass parts and refilling propane tank (with butane). Fresh market this morning provided fruits and veggies. Supermarket supplies nearly everything else one could want except fresh milk... it's all boxed UHT or powdered. No cows? Also no local prawns (shrimp) so restaurants serve shipped-in frozen. On your next visit stick with local fish which has always been good.

Noticing water leaking from generator enclosure and assuming problem was raw water pump, discovered drip out of hose connection leading to broken impeller blade trap. Back pressure from restriction? Had procrastinated clean-out due difficult access... OK sure and laziness. Ah well. Also discovered leak around impeller access plate as seal had failed. Fixed both after wine and dinner with wounds to prove it.

Sunday

Thinking wind would be light waited until this morning to remove genoa. It wasn't. Taking it down was some fun, but getting it folded and into a bag on side deck for transport was a real hoot. Anyway, done and ready to take ashore for 1800 pickup.

Expended some effort a few years ago by replumbinmg water system with charcoal/sediment filter that hindered working on Yanmar diesel, always leaked, was precariously mounted in only semi-logical location and, while seeming a good idea at the time, was really unnecessary. After today it is no more, with wounds to prove it.

- Following dinner with several libations, so be warned.

Waited almost a week to send this load, so will end now and save further embarrassment for next dump. For that eventuality (huh?) will likely have comments about covid vaccines. Suggest you skip if, depending on political persuasion, you have a strong sense that you may disagree. Do not make assumptions, just eschew to be safe. If you don't know what eschew means, you should also eschew... whatever.

Jack & Jan