Testarossa - Shift Colors - Arrived Azores! Safe N' Sound / Friday 27 May 2016 / 1027L //

Testarossa Daily Message: Shift Colors - Arrived Azores! Safe N' Sound / Friday 27 May 2016 / 1027L //"What port awaits us, Davy Jones' or Home?" From Middle Passage, by Robert Hayden"Azores!" From S/V TestarossaAs of 1027L hours on 27 May 2016, our position is: 38*31.927'N /28*37.493'W. We are pierside, starboard side too, seawall, main marina,Horta, Azores. Note: Land was sighted at 0655L. Finish line wascrossed at 0913L. Landfall was made at 0950L. Ship's work commenced at1010L. Customs clearing still underway. After an unofficialtransit time of 9 Days / 20 Hours / 52 minutes, S/V Testarossa arrivedsafe and sound in Horta, Azores. Boom Broken, Water maker inop,mainsheet frayed, crew tired & needing showers, but all in all - noworse for the wear. Twas a good crossing. And...uhh. read more...

Testarossa - Last Day at Sea Prior to Azores Landfall / Thurs - Fri 26-27 May 2016 //

Testarossa Daily Message: Last Day at Sea Prior to Azores Landfall / Thurs - Fri 26-27 May 2016 // / Late Entry // "Land Ho!" Cry of the sailing lookout, since time immemorialThe day prior to making landfall is always special. To be sure - youcan feel it in the air – in our case literally, as we were still making agood 9-10 knots ship's speed and over ground on a good breeze. But whatwe mean is, the excitement of the crew was palpable. Everyone wasexcited and giddy about finally making it to the Azores. Plus, I thinkwe were all exhausted, and tired of living "on the edge"...we were readyfor the heel to stop! What does all this mean? We couldn't sleep that well the night before, inspite of everything. And for various reasons:The proverbial wedgie in the starboard aft cabin, the angle in. read more...

Testarossa - Almost There! 149NM's to Go! ETA= ~0700L Friday 27 May

Testarossa Daily Message: Almost There! 149 NM's To Go! ETA = ~ 0700L Friday 27 May / Thursday 26 May 2016//As of 1419L hours on 26 May 2016, our position is: 38*10.893'N /31*49.089'W. We are steaming 106* COG making 7.6 Kts SOG, underdouble-reefed main and shortened jib, 149 NM's from the Azores. Note:Our ETA Azores is 0700L / 27 May 16. "Of all things that drive men to sea, the most common disaster, I've come to learn, is women..."Excerpt from, The Middle Passage, by C. Johnson, Pg. 1We continued to smoke along yesterday - making great time underway,still sailing away under our boomless main, and full headsail. Luckily,the wind gods have continued to favored us, as a strong breeze stayedwith us, even freshening overnight. The 2nd watch reported several waveswhich doused them. One wave. read more...

Testarossa - Grind On! Grind On! Eight Days and Counting

Testarossa Daily Message: Grind On! Grind On! Eight Days and Counting... / Wednesday 25 May 2016//As of 1343L hours on 25 May 2016, our position is: 38*24.274'N /35*59.910'W. We are steaming 105* COG making 7.0 Kts SOG,under main andmotor, 348.9 NM's from the Azores. Note: We expect to arrive Azores inapproximately 2 days (Sometime Friday 27 May) Yesterday began andended on a high note. As related previously, the events of yesterdaymid-morning and early afternoon, could not have been more exciting. Ok -well they could have been. But as far as sailing goes - it was about asgood as it gets! We had a spectacular dinner - probably the beston board so far - and impromptu birthday party afterwards. I don'tthink I had mentioned yet that Captain George had been slaving away inthe galley. He was. read more...

Testarossa - Fish On! Fish On! Fish On....

Testarossa Daily Message: Fish On! Fish On! Fish On... / Tuesday 24 May 2016//As of 1257L hours on 24 May 2016, our position is: 38*10.099'N /39*38.815'W. We are steaming 094* COG making 6.6 Kts SOG,under mainand motor, 519.5 NM's from the Azores. Note: We have just adjusted ourship's time to Azores local time. "It's a fish...It's a Mahi! It's a Shark! It's a Bigggg Tuna! It's a..." Marlin! Blue Marlin!At approximately 1030L, the starboard side fishing rod reel began tosing out...Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr... Fish on! Fish on! Fish on - cried Lorrie! Felipe to the rod, Captain George to the rod. Throttle back, prepare to land a fish! And the reeling commenced...As Captain. read more...