First news from the Skipper

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Ken’s First Update…

“Jack and I arrived in Horta on the same flight from Lisbon. the pilot came down to land on runway not once, not twice but three times. The third time he turned the plane around and landed on the runway from the opposite direction. Didn’t build moral in the plane. the guy next me was starting to say “hail marys’. once down (and kissing the runway) we figured the sail couldn’t be any worse.

We filled with water and diesel. Loaded food and moved the boat to the custom dock for checkout. Since Matt wasn’t due in to after customs closed we decided not disclose his existence. Matt arrived on time he were waiting for him at Pete’s bar. A round of beers, walk to the boat and we were off by nine in the evening – Matt was only in Horta for an hour so no customs was necessary.

Winds were good, sun was out and we weaved thru the Azores islands and out to the Atlantic sailing north. Winds have been a solid 15 to 20 beamish from the west. Always sailing seven plus knots – day was sunny and nice. No foul weather gear for this crew. Working on three hours, off three hours, new person every hour and hot bedding – three sleeping quarters each shared by two crew members who never work the same shift. morning of day two wind is still solid but from the south east – drizzle and sailing seven. No boats, no shore only a few dolphin every now and then. let “otto” do the sailing.”

Departure from Horta!

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Well, long & busy 2 weeks. But Ken, and crew (Jack, Jason, Matt, Bryce and Paula) are on the boat, and from iboattrack, the blue dot is movin’! Paula had 8 days of prep time in Horta and her blog shows she “met the neighbors” and seems to have fit in. (were we surprised? NOT!)

Jason and Bryce got there in time for some sunny days in order to get the boat logo painted on the seawall. Long standing tradition for the sailors that come and go. Jason was ambitious enough to get the logo in stencils before he left and lets just say, “VERY IMPRESSIVE”. Don’t think it will be a while before the paint fades and another sailor paints over it.

Enjoy the few pictures I got from them. I begged and made them promise to send pic’s of Horta before they launched. Hoping for a crew picture, but it hasn’t arrived, and I doubt we will see “the crew” until Amsterdam.

As I get updates from the boat, I will post them. Remember, http://www.iboattrack.com/, and Paula’s blog. (not sure will get it updated while she is at sea, but you never know). http://www.gratefulcook.com/

Parting words from Ken (aside from the personal ones) were predictions of winds of 20-25knots for the next several days. He was confident that they would be “rippin'”. How many of you have heard him say that before!

Happy Sailing all!

Horta to Amsterdam – One day away from Departure

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At Madison airport a couple hours early for the flight back to Horta. Why you might ask. In my carry on I have one alternator, a glue gun, a Poly planar speaker, a mast head circuit board, four tubes of stainless steel carbon adhesive, ten feet of mast tape – an al Queda checkers dream. We were in a deep discussion on the rules of liquids and tubes and . . . it is seven am or more locally known at the airport as “shift change”. Bingo the glue tubes are a go and my friendly checker is off! Sixty pounds of carry on boat parts are thru the checking process.

I now am one qualified boat guy. Passed the first part of my VHF licensing process (yes in international waters one person on the boat must have a USA FCC Section 80 VHF license. I now know more radio acronyms then you can possibly imagine) and I took the section 7R license test for radiotelephony in international waters. Passed my offshore, cruising boat and bareboat tests and on the water training (thanks to Matt). US Sail awarded me my international proficiency passport for offshore European waters (should be an international competency passport but those dirty dogs in the US senate refuse to sign the UN resolution on offshore water requirements). Previously I thought the only requirement for offshore water driving was plenty of rum but no there are many more requirements. Leaving the sixth and final license – the well known CEVNI test – to be still passed. The CEVNI is needed supposedly to navigate inland European waterways – like for instance canals. The test takes thirty minutes and is given in English only in the very convenient country of England. Since the CEVNI is an acronym for four French words and the French love only two things – wine and bureaucracy – I best obtain my own CEVNI license before entering French inland waters. England is now on my return itinerary.

Hopefully the six legs of my frequent flier ticket will go smoothly and I will be Horta at Pete’s bar by noon tomorrow. The plan is to leave one beer after Matt the last of the crew to arrive in Horta. Next update will be from the water!