Adagio - Home stretch for Adagio

It appears as though we will be making landfall in Horta sometime tomorrow afternoon (05/29/16). The winds are holding for now, and if we need to motor in the last hundred miles we can do so with the remaining fuel and have plenty of reserves. If the winds DO die down, we won;t hesitate to motor in as the need to stay ahead of the next weather system outweighs considerations for engine time and fuel burn. That's just the way it goes.

This morning was our first encounter with thunder and lightning along our path, a single cell just ahead of us and several larger ones to the north by a few miles. Thankfully the storms pressed ahead and north faster than we were going so we only encountered the one noisy one and the rest were just washing the boat off for us. I imagine had we been a few miles north it would've been a different story. I know that squalls and thunderstorms are a normal part of passage-making but it doesn't mean that I want to seek them out for the thrill of it all. Lightning is awesome to behold, and I've done enough weather study to understand its dynamics but dangit, it can be ~loud~ and scary when it is close by and it makes everyone uncomfortable ("get some stuff and put it in the oven" was the going talk when we got a close one today :)

The trip has been the longest sailing leg Robin and I have ever down, out-pacing the Caribbean 1500 by nearly 400 miles. It's been a good ride, and except for a couple of minor issues (a light bulb, a squeaky sheave, maybe a spot to repair on the sail and maybe some gear grease needed in the autopilot) it has been a flawless crossing. Lynn broke a nail, but aside from a couple of the compulsory head-knocks and boat bruises everyone has come through trip in fine shape. We've enjoyed good meals and good rest underway.

The dolphins came to play again this afternoon, marking about the 7th consecutive day we've had their company. Yesterday we did get to spot some whales and of course there have been the ever present jellyfish. The ocean is just teeming with life, and we're lucky when we get a glimpse of what lies below from our floating ringside seat. It is all very inspiring when you get down to it.

This afternoon, while we were sailing with a quartering tailwind, I had a chance to address that little light bulb problem, and finding out that it was indeed NOT the bulb led me into a bit of investigation with a flashlight into some netherworld spots where I found a connector that had simply wiggled off its terminal. Tightening it up, we now have the little red light we all love so dearly back in action :) Oh, were it only so easy to find some of the other mysteries aboard. Doing serious work or troubleshooting underway is a very challenging aspect of sailing. Everything has to be colored with care for motion, lost tools or parts and whether or not the repair is even achievable at sea. Thankfully, if it isn't a debilitating item, it can go onto one of the cute little sticky notes for attention at a later time.

Thanks in advance to all who've followed and supported the Rally. It's been a learning experience of great value. We are certainly looking forward to the Azores and to the eventual arrival in Lagos!

Gary
Adagio