Hi all! Hope everyone is fine.
First of all, our condolences to the Newman Family on the passing of Fred Newman.
As you all know, we left on the 14th of May on an overcast day with some lightly rain. Well, I wasn’t look forward to the sea sickness part, but finally this time I took some medication that has work. The only side effect was that I was feeling drowning. I was taken 1 a day, just in case!
I couldn’t say the same for the first 2 days for the Skipper. Oh boy! For the first time I saw the man throw up. Well, he said that was the worry about the boat. On the third day he was fine.
Our shower was very nice every time! Where was our friends Liz and Lize on this time?
We saw a beautiful Dorado, about 1.5m long, showing the little ones. Probable was a female. To beautiful to kill! On the day 5, two brown birds landed on the boat.
Day 7- On the doldrums! Flat sea. Blue sky. No wind. Absolutely no wind! Decision to make: Heading close to the shore (that was 200 miles away). For safety, in case we need more diesels. We were 22 miles to the Equator. Towing a fish line, hoping to catch some fish, but not too big. Well, no on this time! The wind came enough to move us along, but with the help of current we were making 3 to 4 knots.
On that night
We saw two satellite and Steve saw a shooting star.
Day 8- Crossed the Equator! We didn’t do the ritual, so Neptune gave us the treatment 2 hours later: Rain squall with wind speed from 45 up to 52 knots. The wave was up to 4 to 5m. I was very in touch with GOD, much so in the night when Steve was doing the watch alone. But the boat settles in and we were sailing comfortably, thanks to a good FURUNO autopilot. I didn’t felt a thing. About 2 hours later everything was fine.
Day 10-When we went to the deck to have a shower, we saw a bird lay down there. Steve picked it up and noticed that the bird’s wing has broken. He put the bird in a shelter place and let the nature take its course. We tried to feed them, but no luck. On the 3rd day the bird has died. I made a prayer and Steve throw the bird in the water.
Day 12-Our Wedding Anniversary! The special lunch Steve made was: kidney beans with onions, spaghetti, caned meet with fried pineapple rings. After lunch the engine was turn on because no wind and the sail were flogging, but Steve saw in the distance lots of clouds, hoping to pick up same wind. As we approached, the wind turns to be a head wind, straight on the bow.
If we tacked to port we will sail towards land at night, but if we tacked to starboard we would be out of our destination. So, we decided to motor through and hope the wind changes long the way. At 15:20 the engine was turn off.
Steve did some maintenance on board. Two of the reefing blocks on the boom were jammed, due to one of the ropes chafed through and had to be shortening. Little of hammering and spray we got then loose.
The sunset was beautiful; the night was beautiful as well. The stars was so bright, we manage to see two satellite. Looking at the sky brought me my childhood! When I was living in Sao Paulo with my family. I was probably at age of 7 or 8 years old. My mother was washing the carpet outside the house and I was helping her. She left the carpet all day in the sun. At night, before she took it inside, I lay down on it and looked the sky, was beautiful as this day!
Day 13-School of dolphin came to give same show for 3 day. We were on the bow of the boat, so nice. I almost could touch them. Lots of yellow seaweed for miles on. The next day, the school of dolphin came again. We were watching them and a splash came from one of them. As we stayed there, one dolphin looked us and then flapped his tail and ones again splashed us.
Day 19-We arrived on the Island from the back side. Long way, but worth it! Both of us were on the cockpit, listening to the local radio station. The water was clear green; the Island was beautiful, hot and sunny day.
As we enter the Boca De Monos, the motor started to miss. When we needed it the most, after running perfect for hours.
We manage to make it through, but when we were almost at Peakes marina the motor died. We manage to get tow on to a buoy and flag down the water taxi to go ashore to do our paper work.
We had spend 11 days in the company of JC, Dan Jelsema and his partner Malva and they daughter Muriel.
So, we are at Ribeira Adventure Club. A nice place to leave your boat. If any of you want more info go to Luciano Zinn’s blog. That is WWW.ribeiraadventureclub.blogspot.com. I will send a new email with more info about it.
We are looking for a crew to going back with us to South Africa in August. So if anyone is interested please just contact us for father information.
Love to you all.
Renata & Steve
