Category Archives: São Miguel

Baptism of fire 2. Part – Now wind really comes into play

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Once we had mastered the first challenges but pretty neat, decided further to increase the level of difficulty the fate. For the next two days, neatly much wind was announced. A thick depression would traverse North of us. Although we had set our course significantly farther than necessary after South, Wind speeds were up 38 Node (Wind strength 8) announced.

We decided only the mainsail when downwind wind in the 2. Reefer to keep standing and awaited the things, die da kommen würden 🙂 Und der Wind kam mit Macht, too much rain brought with him and gave us a day's run (Driven nautical miles in 24 Hours) by 182 Seemeilen 🙂 Sonst blieb alles erstaunlich ruhig im Schiff 🙂 Während meiner Wache saß ich unter Deck und polierte Beschläge :-), While Dietmar slept peacefully next door. All 10 I checked minutes radar and AIS, but no other ship was far and wide to discover. Bei dem Wetter schickt man ja auch nicht einmal seinen Hund vor die Tür 🙂 Auch nach dem üblichen Wachwechsel um ein Uhr hatte Dietmar nichts zu klagen und ich schlief wohlverdient und friedlich 🙂 So hatten wir unser erstes schweres Wetter gut hinter uns gebracht und im Laufe des nächsten Tages ging der Wind auch wieder auf angenehme 15-20 Tie back. Als kleine Belohnung für die letzten beiden anstrengenden Tage tauchte ein Pottwal direkt neben unserem Boot auf 🙂 Schon der zweite den wir treffen, Since we're on the road with the CESARINA.

On our drive to Vilamoura, we should make a more wind-rich experience. In the meantime we had in lighter winds Genoa, Mainsail and mizzen set and enjoyed the pleasant half wind sailing speed more than eight-node (We wanted to get as fast as possible :-)) Out of nowhere a dark rain cloud suddenly appeared. A squall! (local low pressure system) This had not only properly downpour, but also really windy in the luggage. Before we have a chance to the react had, We were already located in. Of 15 on 35 Node up in less than three minutes. Quickly we did close the hatches and felt, how our CESARINA put just a bit on the side, then to pull away with 9 nodes. It was wonderfully stable in the sea and held the course without shooting in the wind, wie es eine kleinere getan hätte 🙂 Trotz der beeindrucken positiven Erfahrung ihrer Seetüchtigkeit haben wir uns vorgenommen, to avoid more squalls or to meet only with customized sail area. You must not challenge Yes happiness. At some point, our first big trip went to then but the end. We arrived at Vilamoura on Thursday night about eleven o'clock at night. Much to our surprise we were waiting. Emil and Marita stood first on the pier and little later also at the jetty, to take our lines. Both of us fell a stone of the heart, als die CESARINA dann endlich sicher am Steg vertäut lag 🙂 Endlich angekommen! Everything had worked perfectly! Darauf mussten wir unbedingt anstoßen 🙂

Baptism of fire

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Now it was serious. On the Saturday afternoon we had made all preparations, to us on the about 840 Nautical miles long back in the Algarve Vilamoura to make travel from the Azores.

Still quite happened us quite strange. Although we were flown with two large travel bags in the Azores, but somehow, incredibly many things were missing, that we had such a long sea routes like this one. Only the really necessary and safety had found in the luggage space. In addition Pieter and Rini had a basic set of tools, Signal equipment and kitchen equipment on the CESARINA. On board all but was still pretty unusual and strange. Let's see how we together the next few days would pluck us, wir Drei 🙂

The first challenge was also equal the berthing for two with 20 Knot crosswind, He put us firmly on the bridge. Es hätte ja auch entspannt losgehen können 🙁 Nach ausgiebiger Diskussion der Ablegestrategie gelang Dietmar das Manöver aber mit Bravour und ich stand mit dem bereitgehaltenen “Emergency fender” völlig arbeitslos am Bug 🙂 Während Dietmar uns sicher aus dem Hafen steuerte, had I do heavy work. For such a big boat has also correspondingly large and heavy fenders and mooring lines long and thick, die jetzt ordentlich verstaut werden wollten 🙂 Das war doch deutlich mehr Arbeit als auf unserer SUMMER 🙂

To play the entire five and a half days in detail, würde wohl den Rahmen sprengen 🙂 Also beschränke ich mich nur auf die besonderen Highlights!

Especially difficult for us “Roles sailing spoiled” was the conventional rig of the CESARINA. Setting, Reefing or mountains of the mainsail is always connected to a trip to the mast, What when there are waves, Darkness or rain can be really uncomfortable. So we were content us initially only with the (Roll)Genoa, Let our CESARINA raumem wind well seven node of which noise. After the wind strength and direction had stabilized, We decided, to take us before the onset of darkness on the setting of the mainsail. Just in case but in the 1. Furling, to be on the safe side the coming night.

Little blue-eyed Dietmar set out equipped with safety vest and harness in the direction of mast, while I steered the ship with the bow into the wind. Now the CESARINA was so unfavourable to the shaft, that Dietmar had been the first shower behind, bevor er überhaupt am Mast angekommen war 🙂 Jetzt lohnte sich das Ölzeug auch nicht mehr 🙂 Aber für das nächste Mal würde er sicher besser gerüstet sein 🙂 Das Setzen des Segels dauerte zwar noch ziemlich lange, ran but without complications. So happy we could book the first sailing manoeuvres as a success.

So we sailed motivated and relaxed in the first night. After dinner in the cockpit, I assumed the first watch, While Dietmar comfortably in the booth back. Gegen ein Uhr war dann Wachwechsel und ich durfte bis um sieben Uhr ausschlafen 🙂 Und schlafen kann man ganz hervorragend auf der CESARINA. Your length, Their weight and the sleek shape are eerily comfortable ship movements. In addition our bunk is airy but not more so nice and wide as on the SUMMER, but it absolutely seaworthy. You can't have everything, Yes.

Just for me the CESARINA has another advantage: Sie schlägt mir fast gar nicht auf den Magen 🙂 Nachteil ist, now at first I have to Cook. Sonst konnte ich mich immer die ersten Tage davor drücken 🙂 Dabei musste ich feststellen, that the locks of doors and drawers work something different than on the buzzer. Is very important on the CESARINA, You must push the button to close back in the drawer, otherwise, it is namely not locked. And with more wind and angle the cutlery drawer flies then just unchecked through the entire Salon. Fortunately she has just missed me. This never happened to me.

 

Arrived – Seven days and 864 Nautical miles

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In the penultimate night at sea on the way to Porto came's unfortunately just as it was announced: namely stormy! It ended with the peace of mind. Despite gereffter sailing we ran between seven and eight nodes, really very nice, But if we continue sailed with this rate, would we, arrive in the morning at two o'clock in Porto. Not enough, It would be pitch black. Also low tide would prevail at this time. Two circumstances, that we wanted to avoid in any case for safety reasons.

Our last sea day brought us some rest, but just so's the darkness again right around could go at breaking. With gusts up to 30 Node and Messier until partly also sinister sea, We rushed our goal against. First to arrive after sunrise in Porto, had set the course Dietmar, we sailed until midnight of towards the North-East, and later would turn South towards Porto, to extend the distance.

The sea was rough. Early morning, a large wave caught us so adversely from the side, that it flooded the whole cockpit with cold water of the Atlantic Ocean. Obwohl sie vorher noch von dem am Seezaun befestigten Bananaboot abgebremst und abgelenkt worden war 🙂 Durch die Wucht der Welle wurde die sehr massive Stütze zusammen mit dem Bananaboot um gut einen halben Meter nach innen gedrückt. The water ran partly from the cockpit through the stairs in the boat. In addition, the water was pressed even by the force of the wave through the vents on the ceiling in the shower. The breakers have even thrown and power off the 220V. That was already a bash and we were once again very pleased, dass wir ein so stabiles Schiff besitzen 🙂 Gut, that just at this moment nobody was outside on the deck…. At least that would have been a very refreshing shower.

I was somehow quite struck that night. Undefined header, Dental- and ear pain made me tired and cranky. So Dietmar gave me night awake free today and I was allowed to have neatly shake me till sunrise in the bunk.

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In the morning, six type land was in sight at last as planned. Portugal presented itself at its fresh. 16° stood on our thermometers, but it was the Sun in a cloudless sky. When we arrived in the Douro River, were many fishing boats on the way. The wind eased and relaxed we could put the buzzer in the port. Now once a proper breakfast, then a hot shower and then another well-deserved round “Mattresses Horch service” 🙂

 

 

Oops-Hopp

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Since Wednesday noon, the captain is back on board and now we have the disease introduced from Germany (Cold) well in hand.

So we decided this afternoon at four o'clock, tomorrow to take the plunge on the Portuguese mainland, Since the weather during the next week should be much less favourable.

Bustle of events followed the decision, but now all is well prepared for the 800 Nautical miles distance. We will keep you up to date and submit the reports of the last week in the Azores, Once yogesh Porto have reached.

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Hot springs with sea monsters :-)

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On the first, We wanted to drive for Furnas some murky day of my mother with us on board. Here there are fumaroles as well as various hot springs. Particularly worth seeing that should but old Terra Nostra hotel with its large park, and the giant, be warm thermal bathing lake. The visit had been laid warmly us by various sailors at the heart. Also it has to get us, nur dunkle Badekleidung mitzunehmen und sich von der Farbe des Thermalwassers bloß nicht abschrecken zu lassen 🙂 Das konnte ja heiter werden 🙂

The main attraction of Sao Miguel is signposted at all conceivable corners of the island. We took along the way on the North Coast. After several photo stops at the many, ausgeschilderten “Miradoren” We reached the midday ” Lagoa the Furnas”. Auf dem Parkplatz wurden wir direkt gebührend empfangen 🙂

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Unfortunately we had even no treats for the young lady. We wanted to change that in the future but. Aber im Moment standen wir einfach nur mit leeren Händen da 🙁

We headed up once to the fumaroles. For this, it needed no sign, you had to follow only the columns of steam and the smell of the sources.

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So, we have also witnessed a “According to guide of special spectacle”. There were pots with “Cozido” buried in the hot Earth, to heat these underground. Cozido is a stew of various meats- and sausages with vegetables, You can make it without volcanic activity and which is generally very popular in Porugal. Hoffentlich bekommt es hier keine zu kräftige Schwefelnote 🙂

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After an extensive tour, we had the urgent need for fresh air. Am Seeufer hatte der Gestank ein Ende 🙂 Hier stand auch ein Imbisswagen, the something special in the its range had. Cat dry food ! 🙂 So konnten wir bei unserer Rückkehr zum Auto die Fellnasen doch noch glücklich machen.

Satisfied, we continued in the city centre of Furnas. Parking spaces were scarce unfortunately, but we finally found one in front of the local soccer stadium. So we walked a short distance through the city to the Terra Nostra Park Hotels. The entrance was quite expensive for Azorean ratios with six euro per person, but it was well worth it. The park with Lakes, Is beautifully landscaped creeks and caves. Everywhere it flourished in a wide variety of shapes and colors.

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Only the thermal lake, with an opaque “Brown broth” was filled, had we leave still left. It is a special pleasure???? We were still not convinced and once needed a small strengthening. The bar of the Terra Notras was wonderfully suited hotels. Nach leckeren Sandwiches und einem Gläschen Wein waren wir bereit für die Herausforderung 🙂

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Und es war toll 🙂 Mindestens “Bath tubs” warm 🙂 und total entspannend. Who can claim, Once in a 30 x 50 Meters large bathtube in about one and a half metres water depth and swim to be ? 🙂

You should watch only on the sea monster. Die können einen ganz schön in die Füße beißen 🙂

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After the bath, we found, that not only dark swimsuit, but also dark towels by advantage would have been. But why is there finally washing machines?

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On our last vantage point we got rid even the remaining cat food, which we had purchased this afternoon. Apparently the wild cats around the vantage points around have settled and with good reason: Denn an jedem Aussichtpunkt ist auch gleich ein Picknick-Platz 🙂 Und wenn nicht zufällig irgendwelche Touristen Katzenfutter dabei haben, something from here sure often times for the hungry Pack. So the gang was at home but not so mopsig like our German cats, but fortunately still far away from a malnutrition.

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Family holiday

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Dietmar was already on Tuesday morning in wanderlust. On Wednesday morning, he would (At last) fly to Germany and to take part in the 25 H race of VW fun Cup at Spa. I wanted to take advantage of his absence, um einmal wieder richtig Urlaub zu machen 🙂 Und damit ich nicht so einsam sein würde, had I invited especially love family visiting from Germany: meine Mutter 🙂

Anyway, far too many people lived on Sao Miguel and especially Ponta Delgada to Dietmar taste. According to the other islands, it was also a little culture shock for us. Here live together as many people as the other eight Islands on Sao Miguel. Ich war aber am Dienstag trotzdem auf Inselerkundung eingestellt und wollte mit dem vorbestellten Mietwagen lieber früher als später aufbrechen 🙂

Nevertheless, was already clearly but then after lunch, When we were finally on the way. Our excursion was at first under a lucky star. The weather was pretty much to be desired and when I me right on the edge of the city of Ponta Delgada also still firmly proceeded, war der Ausflug eigentlich gelaufen 🙁 So beschlossen wir für uns, an diesem Nachmittag besser getrennte Weg zu gehen 🙂 Ich ließ meinen Mann mit seiner “Ring mood” am Hafen zurück und machte mich alleine auf die Socken 🙂

Sao Miguel is the island of hot springs and it steams and stinks in many different places.

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My first exploration led to the next hot spring and the associated fumaroles. Good, that's no “Smell photography” are, denn die Schwefelgase können schon recht unangenehm stinken 🙂

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Unfortunately you could in the place visited by me, use the water of the sources just in a not particularly inviting bath house in old bathtubs. So also no one gave this “Pleasure” Hin. Such an uncomfortable day a warm bath would have been something great, especially for sailors without bath on board.

But in Furnas, which should be possible in the next few days. Other sailors had raved about this place and very recommended visit. It is then for the next few days on the to-to list.

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So I brought even a little criss -cross through the western part of the island, aber das Wetter trieb mich dann doch zurück zum Hafen 🙂 Ab morgen soll aber wieder die Sonne scheinen. Best conditions, with my mother make the island uncertain.

Wednesday after breakfast we made our way to the airport. He was just around the corner and the Marina in the flight path. Good, that here mass tourism still not arrived. Die Lärmbelästigung hielt sich somit in einem akzeptablen Rahmen 🙂

Dietmar would disappear with same machine direction Germany, with my mother angekommt. Everything was perfectly organised. So we drank a farewell coffee at the airport, caught my mom in the “Arrival” AB, put the Dietmar “Departures” off and were an hour later back on the buzzer.

After the luggage and the souvenirs from Germany safe on the boat were stowed, We had to get into the holiday mood, a lunch in the restaurant at the port taste us. After such a long time, there is of course much to tell – especially, wenn Frauen unter sich sind 🙂

My mother was just as eager and curious to the island as I. Deshalb vertrödelten wir keine Zeit 🙂 Dietmar kaum weg als wir auch schon mit dem Mietwagen unterwegs waren.

Our first destination was the fog Lake, It is located pretty much in the middle of the island. In my travel guide, he was described as especially beautiful, If there above the clouds spoil one not the view. Und heute sah es sehr vielversprechend aus 🙂

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The Lake was actually scary beautiful. Down on the shore, one could also observe even a few a few people while bathing. Leider fehlte uns sowohl für die Wandertour als auch für ein Bad die nötige Ausrüstung 🙁 Aber aufgeschoben ist ja nicht aufgehoben.

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Außerdem schoben sich doch hier oben schon wieder ein paar lästige Wolken vor die bestellte Sonne 🙁 Daher flüchteten wir lieber hinunter an die Küste und ließen am Strand noch ein bisschen die Füße im Wasser baumeln.

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Back in Ponta Delgada's continued in the old town. Here we had to find out more, What of with the “Holy Spirit”-Festival has to, the of the 9. up to 12. July will be celebrated in the city.

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Preparations were in any case already in full swing. The city centre was beautifully adorned with flags and pennants.

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A large Crown was built on the square in front of the gate of the city. After dinner we made unsafe the Internet on the SUMMER to find out, What to see will be here in the next few days. The website was quickly found, aber sie war leider nur in portugiesischer Sprache verfügbar 🙁 Das Problem war für uns ja nicht neu. Tomorrow we will try, with the help of “Leo” some clarity in the matter to bring. It would also be nice, auch etwas über die Hintergründe der Festivität zu erfahren 🙂 Aber Eile mit Weile. Tomorrow is another day.

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