Transatlantic: A long stopover

We arrived at Terceira and rushed to get hauled out but thought nothing of it really. We had a family reunion to get to in the states and needed a safe place to leave Wisdom while we flew away. We thought we would spend a few weeks in Terceira and then start sailing through the other islands to visit during the winter. Then after a few months, we would sail off to mainland Portugal.

HAHA!

We ended up staying there for 10 months! While on the hard, we decided to take on some refit projects that we had been discussing and always saying “we will tackle it later”. Well, now was later, and we decided to start the small projects.

One project was to strip out and rebuild the head, the other project was to strip out and rebuild the galley.

The head was just the tip of the iceberg, during the strip down process, we discovered a lot of rot in the bulkhead and therefore the “cosmetic refit” became a structural repair. The galley, thankfully was not a structural refit, and remained as a cosmetic refit.

The shower floor was lowered about 6 inches, allowing me to stand up in the shower for the first time in 7 years! The shower area was expanded and the storage lockers were made more usable for our blue water cruising lifestyle.

The galley countertop was switched from plywood and formica to butcherblock mahogany. The sink was switched out from a rusting stainless steel double sink to a very large single composite granite sink with an integrated drying rack. The stove was also switched out for a gimballed stove/oven.

All these modifications made cruising and living aboard so much better, but it took a very long time. I anticipated about 2 weeks for the head, but it took 6 months! The galley managed to remain on schedule and was finished in about 3 weeks.

By the way, we also had our topsides spray painted.

When all was said and done, we launched and just didn’t want to leave! We spent 8 months working on the boat, and then lingered for an extra 2 months before we realized that we were about to fall into the same trap that has snared so many cruisers we had met there. The common story is: “I pulled in for a few weeks, and now 10 years later, I’m still here!”

We finally made the conscious choice to set sail and head on for our voyage towards mainland Portugal.

Transatlantic: Faial to Terceira [Day 48]

We crossed the Atlantic and made landfall in the tiny archipelago called The Azores on the island of Faial in the port of Horta. According to the marina manager, this port is the 4th most visited marina in the world; though they were not able to tell me who the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd were. Regardless, this marina was packed and we needed to find a place to leave the boat for a few months while we flew home to visit with family in the states. This marina was completely full, but they were kind enough to communicate and coordinate with the marina in Angra do Heroismo in Terceira for us.

Angra had space available for us to leave the boat on the hard while we flew back to the states. At this point, we thought we were going to spend a short period of time on the hard while we did some minor maintenance on the boat before sailing on; little did we know!

The sail from Horta to Angra do Heroismo was short and sweet. We made the passage in a full day, starting at around 8am in Horta and arriving at around 8am in Angra, then next day. Sometimes we do dream we were that fast, and then we wake up from that dream and realize that reality is much slower on a sailboat.

The interesting thing with this passage is how quickly we made it given the predicted winds and times given by Predict Wind. No, we do not pay for it or use it, but a friend of ours in Horta did pay for the full version and ran the numbers for us. I looked at the sky and based on the barometric pressure and the cloud formations decided that it would be a good time to make that passage, but Predict Wind warned otherwise!

Well, Predict Wind anticipated us having a head wind the whole way and taking around 1.5 days to make the passage. The truth is we had a beam wind most of the time and managed to make the passage in only 24 hours! The winds were much stronger than forecasted and blowing in a very favorable direction. This let us sail safely and quickly through the islands and arrive at the beginning of the day instead of coming into port in the dark like Predict Wind anticipated we would.

This is my gripe with weather routing programs: They are only as good as the data that is put into the program, and that data is not very good. The weather is finicky and there are way too many variables to possibly calculate exactly what is going to occur on ever square unit of the entire surface of the world!

I have many friends who have found themselves in very dangerous situation simply because Predict Wind said it was safe to go or if they left at a certain moment they would have “X” conditions. The truth is, forecasts tend to be wrong which means your planned route will be wrong as well!

I am not saying that my brain is better at planning out the weather by simply looking at the sky and fully comprehending everything around me. No! What I’m saying is that I can look at the sky and see that it is good to go, or not good to go. We always leave somewhere early so that if it takes us all day and all night to get somewhere, we then have all following day to arrive and get into the harbor! It’s not that we “know” what specific time we need to come and go, and especially what specific hour we will arrive! All of that is a mystery to me and I won’t know until I get there.

I strongly feel that people blindly follow what technology tells them without doing something as simple as looking at the sky and seeing what the clouds are doing. Are the clouds speeding by really fast? Are they streaked out across the sky? Are they whispy? All of these indicate that the winds up there are moving really fast and the surface winds will eventually follow. They also mean that the weather is changing as this weather is going away and something else is going to fill in the void. With skies like that, I think twice before deciding to go out to sea. I know that if we go, it will be a rough and wet ride, and definitely not a comfortable sail!

If I look up at the sky and see fluffy white clouds that are gracefully floating along in the sky, not moving too fast but also not stationary; then I know that the weather out there will be calm and settled. If there is wind, the wind will probably hold steadily for as long as the clouds remain. If the clouds start to move faster, I know that the winds will pick up speed. If the clouds start to rocket up into the sky, I know that a squall is going to form and we should prepare while it is still calm.

I do not fully understand everything that is going to happen in the weather, and I do not know what the weather will do in the future. I do know what the weather is doing now, and what the clouds are saying the weather will be doing in the next few days. If it looks like weather I want to sail in with winds in the right direction, then we will set sail and ride the winds that blow. No programs, no electronics, no computers. Sailing in its simplest form with its simplest of properties: a sailor and a yacht.

4 Outdoor Activities You Should Try This Summer

Who doesn’t get excited about summer? Sure, the heat can get unbearable sometimes, but there’s always a solution for that. The best thing about summer is that there are so many activities that you can get into that are fun, keep you fit and make the summer worth looking forward to! This is why we’ve made a list of 4 outdoor activities that you should try this summer.

1. Kayaking

Kayaking is a ton of fun, and if you haven’t tried it yet, then it’s about time! This is a great outdoor activity that you can either do on your own once you have some experience, or with a bunch of friends. Get your own kayak, but before you do, make sure that you check out what the top 20 best kayak brands 2020 are so that you invest in the best one. When you have your own kayak, you can do it anywhere, at any time whenever you feel like it. It can be challenging or relaxing, depending on the water you’re in, and it’s something that keeps you fit, and kills time in the best way possible.

1. Surfing

Surfing is something that you should certainly take up. We all love looking at the sea and the waves, and sometimes we waddle in when the tide isn’t too high, but wouldn’t it be great to actually take on those waves and learn how to ride them? Surfing is an amazing summer activity because not only do you get to counter the heat, but you also learn to form a bond with the sea, and it’s really something incredible to experience, and gets pretty addictive… it’ll take on your whole summer!

1. Yoga

There’s always so much action going on in the summer, but who says outdoor activities have to be strenous and harcore? Summertime is one of the best times to do outdoor yoga. Imagine doing it while you’re at the beach, or early in the morning in the park. You get to stretch, keep your body fit, and do wonders for your circulation. Learning how to slow down and control your breathing is almost magical as it counters many issues because it really knows how to lower your high stress levels.

1. Rollerblading

This may seem like an unusual idea, but if you think about it, there’s nothing more fun, liberating and convenient when it comes to summertime outdoor activities! Grab a pair of rollerblades, put your protective gear on, and take on the town anyway you like. You can do it by the beach, or you can do it while running chores. It’s healthy, it’s fun, and gets you to places a lot faster.

The thing about summer is, there are so many things to do outdoors because the weather is fitting. You can venture into the water or you can take to land with a number of activities, and the best part is, you know you’re never going to get bored because there’s so much to do! So what are you waiting for, take on the summer with a blast! 

Complete Buying Guide: Type, Size, and Price of a Canoe

If your family likes visiting places with a lake or a river, it might be a great idea to invest in your very own canoe. Gliding swiftly across bodies of water in a beautiful canoe is an easy and enjoyable way of experiencing the great outdoors. They were used by wilderness explorers and Native Americans before for trade and exploration. Today, more people are enjoying the designs and materials of canoes for touring, racing, camping, and other similar recreational activities.

Choosing the best canoe for you and your family can be a challenging task, especially since there are so many options to select from. Here are a few information you need to know so you can purchase the right one:

Choosing a canoe type

There are several types of canoes to choose from. The first one is recreational canoes. They are easy to paddle and are perfect if you like flat water paddling. They’re an excellent choice for people who enjoy birding, fishing, photography, and general paddling. They’re very stable and easy to control, but they’re not as agile as the other canoe styles.

The second type you want to look into, is versatile or multi-purpose canoes. They are built to handle whitewater rivers, but they can still be enjoyed on calm lakes. They have great maneuverability and more capacity compared to recreational canoes. You can also opt for high-volume canoes that can handle heavier loads.

River canoes are for adventure-seeking people. They are abrasion and impact-resistant, which makes them perfect for running rapids. They also have high sides to protect you from splashes.

Choosing the right size

The dimensions of your canoe can help you decide which one to purchase. You must consider the people who will be using the boat before purchasing it. For example, if you’re planning to purchase a canoe for family of 5, choose one that can accommodate all members and their gear. Consider the activities you want to use the boat for as well. 

The most popular canoes are in the 16 to 17 range. Longer ones are easier to paddle over lengthier distances once you get them up to speed. If you’re planning a long touring trip, look for a boat at least 17 feet in length.

It is also important to note that the wider the boat, the more stable it is. If it is narrow, it is easier to paddle. You should also remember that you can keep the water out of your canoe and increase its capacity by opting for tall sides. However, keep in mind that taller sides make the boat susceptible to the wind.

Getting value for your money

Most outdoor shops start gearing for the winter season at around the first of October since the unsold boats have to be stored. Because of this, prices go down. You might want to consider buying blemished canoes since it is common to scratch it even with your very first use. Wood-strip canoes usually retail for up to $3,000, which can be a fair price if they’re purchased from professional builders.

Purchasing the perfect canoe can be daunting, but with a little research and canvassing, you’ll be able to get the one that will suit you and your family’s needs. Now, all that’s left to do is to bring it to a nearby lake and enjoy it!

Sintra, Portugal

If you ever thought the Magic Kingdom was magical, then just you wait! When Disney was looking around for inspiration, this palace was visited and used as inspiration. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, endless plains, and an unhampered view of the sky, this castle really is king of the hill.