Friday 14 August

Friday 14 August
L35*-50'N,Lo025*-30'W Madeira 475nm at 112 degrees
We left Horta on Wednesday, the day after a gale came through, and the ocean was quite rough; on board the boat it was very uncomfortable. Three British men who were rafted beside the boat ahead of us left Horta a few hours behind us. Their boat, Arctic Smoke, is somewhat smaller than Advent II, and not so robust. We left Horta and went into the lee of Pico where the water was calm. I saw them on the AIS about ten miles behind us. When we emerged from the Pico lee both of us were beating into the 20/25 knot wind and very choppy seas. They stayed about ten miles behind us. Things were bouncy on Advent and I wondered how things were with them on a smaller, lighter boat. About dark they turned about 30 degrees off the wind, looking to me that they would not take the seas so much on the bow and have an easier ride. About 2100 they were out of AIS range, 20 nm. Now today I am wondering how they are doing. We now have a beautiful day and perfect sailing, just right for Arctic Smoke. I also wonder where they are. Sailing off the wind for a better ride means they are west, and they want to go east.
Just on the edge of Horta there is a supermarket. It is about two miles away; not a bad walk but too far to carry provisions. They will provide transportation back to the boat if you buy a lot of stuff. Tuesday I walked there and filled up two shopping carts, spending lots of euros, They have a shopping cart system I really like that I had to ask how it worked. On the handle of each cart is a chain about 10" long, just the distance between the handles of carts when they are shoved together. The chain has a latch on it that fits into a slot on the front of the handle of the cart behind it, locking them together. To get a cart you push a 1 euro coin in a slot on the back of the handle which pushes the latch out of the front, freeing the cart. When You finish with the cart you shove the cart into the nested carts, insert the chain with the latch, and it pushes the coin out and you get it back. It is b ound to save the market a lot of money. So I filled two carts and called for the driver. He did not take me straight back to the marina, but gave me a tour of suburban Horta. In town the houses were exactly on the narrow sidewalk which was exactly on the narrow street. There seemed to be two doors per house, a "front" door and a garage door. No windows, but windows with little balconies up one level. I assume there were gardens in back. In suburbia the houses were generally white masonry with red tile roofs, with yards, generally with a low while wall, front gate. I appreciated the ride-around. Something I ddid not see was any sort of a movie house, theater. Maybe Hollywood hasn't yet found Faial. But they can really put on a festival.
Still beautiful sailing We are making 130 degrees at about 4.5 knots. Calm seas very beautiful. I wonder where Arctic Smoke is?
Reef Early
Bill Doar
s/v Advent II