Firefly left ARC Europe when the fleet departed to Santa
Maria. We are heading independently to Portosin in Ria Muros on NW Spain....we
left Ponte Delgado on Sao Miguel at 1200 on Friday 8th June in order to get
ahead of the light winds now surrounding the Azores. We have sailed 310nm so far
and have 540nm to go.
However, we are still in touch with the fleet via SSB Radio
and via the earlier net we heard that Lumikki has all of the wind as usual....we
wish everyone bon voyage.
Our intrepid crewman Mike was replaced by Steve just before we
left. In fact Firefly left the dock as Steve came aboard. Mike was a ‘greenhorn’
long distance sailor .... and he was the author of the prize winning poet that
we posted on our blog during the passage from Bermuda. Below is a copy of the
letter we have just sent to Mike’s better half, Gráinne, thanking her for
letting him join us for the passage.....
Dear Gráinne
We have been meaning to write for a while.... We had expected
to have to report something like; sorry we didn’t realise the volcano on Pico
was active, that we were sure the bike brakes had been tested or that the bull
was just being friendly!. Fortunately none of these points needed to be made and
we hope that Mike is now back in your safe hands. So thank you for lending him
to team Firefly and the trip would not have been the same without him; anyone
who wins the team a bottle of wine for his creative and amusing blog writing is
a worthy crew, his sailing skills were not bad either.Also his donation to the
drinks cabinet on his departure was very well received and
generous.
There are a few things we though you might like to know that
we have learnt;
He has a annoying habit of walking down mountains with at
least one hand in his pocket yet still managing to catch a maiden in distress on
her way down, while the rest of us struggled with all
hands and feet in contact with terra firma and no maidens in sight!
I know you were hoping that this trip would get such sailing
antics out of his system, we’re afraid this may not be the case; we don’t think
his study of the for sale adds in our boating magazines was for casual interest
and you may hear the strange words Hallberg Rassy frequently spoken on his
return and excessive scanning of yacht broker web sites. Sorry he might be
hooked so it is probably best to put your requirements into the boat
specification as soon as possible e.g. warm water sailing, two hulls are better
than one and definitely an on board Jacuzzi!
Fortunately his paramedic and rescue skills were not needed on
board although he was diagnosing for family at home and word got around the
fleet of his skills so don’t be surprised if his helicopter makes the odd detour
to meet up with new sailing friends when they need help!
So thank you, he was a great sport and crew mate.
best regards
Paul and Peter