Passage 2010
November 6th, 2010 – On the road
Saying good bye to the family and the small village of Riepe
in East Frisia (Northern Germany).
November 7th, 2010 – On the road
On the road towards Portugal.
November 8th, 2010
The adventure has begun!
Rudi and Gerd have left Riepe in Germany about 10:00 am on November 6th and arrived in Lagos, Portugal in the early afternoon today. They will be joined by Klaus and me (Malte) tomorrow morning to finish off the preparations before leaving Lagos.
As soon as I return from Portugal next weekend I will publish daily updates on their progress.
November 14th, 2010 – at sea
Comment from Rudi (9th Dec): We passed the breakwater of Lagos at 1006 and at 1015 we switched off the motor and set sail (Full main + Genoa). At first we were still under the influence of the coast. The wind was NW 2-2 with a confused swell. At noon we were in position 37.00′ N 08.44′ W . Days run: 1h 45 m Sailed: 7 nm Average speed: 4.0 kn Later when we came clear of the coast the weather turned rough with NW 5-6 with gusts and a swell of 4 m. We flew just the main reefed once.
November 15th, 2010 (C) - at sea
After leaving Lagos with some delay (see Logbook for details) we received the first position today:
35.35′ N -10.34′ W
Distance sailed in the last 24h: 132 nm
Speed: 5.5 kn
Weather: Cloudy
Wind: NW6 to N4
Swell: High
Comment: Quite a lot of traffic
Comment from Rudi (9th of Dec.): A good sailing day. Rough at first with NNW 5 and reefed main becoming N and then NE later. We flew the full main, Genoa and when the wind calmed down we used the blister. Mumpes showed what she is capable of if the wind is right. We made 135 nm.
November 16th, 2010 (D) - at sea
35.01′ N -12.16′ W Day’s run: 24 hrs Sailed: 89 nm Speed: 3.7 kn
Comment from Rudi (9th Dec): During the night (15-16) the wind calmed down and became ENE. Sailing was difficult with little wind and the swell still running. During the day the wind turned over S to SW 3. We flew full main and genoa mainly. The speed dropped,we could not head for Madeira directly.
November 17th, 2010 (E) - at sea
34.17′ N -12.28′ W Day’s run: 24 hrs Sailed: 60 nm Speed: 2.5 kn
Comment from Rudi (9th Dec): During the night (16-17) mainly SW 3. In the morning it freshened to SW 5-6 which remined so until noon. We flew the main with 2 reefs and the jib. We sailed as close to the wind as possible to make S. At about 1300 a front passed and the wind shifted over N to NE 5-6. We could now head directly for Madeira. However it was uncomfartable sailing with a confused swell.
November 18th, 2010 – at sea
Comment from Rudi (9th Dec): During the night (17-18) the wind turned from NNE 5-6 to ENE 5. We sailed a direct course with full main and poled out jib, some times the stormjib poled out additionally to windward on the second forestay. During the morning the wind turned E-ly and calmed down to 3-4. At noon we were in position 33.45′ N 14.46′ W . Days run: 24 hrs Sailed: 125 nm Average Speed: 5.2 kn During the afternoon and evening the wind turned slowly to ESE and then SE. We had to sail close to the wind again to make S. Main and genoa first later we changed to main and jib.
Full main, poled out jib and storm jib.
November 19th, 2010 – at sea – arrival Porto Santo
Comment from Rudi (9th Dec.): During the night (18-19) SE 4 turning to S and then SW 5-6 in the morning. Main with 2 reefs + jib. During the day decreasing and turning to W 3. Full Main + Jib. Close to the wind all day – tacking towards Porto Santo. We were expecting our spare rudder for the self steering there, which we forgot in Riepe. At 1430 we made fast in the Marina of Porto Santo. Day’s run: 25 hrs 30 min Sailed: 95 nm Average speed 3.7 kn
Lagos to Porto Santo: Total run: 123.25 hrs Totally sailed: 511 nm Total average speed: 4.1 kn
Left: Flagparade at Pto. Santo
Right: “Mumpes”, Gerhard and Mr. Homeier from “Trans-Ocean”
November 20th, 2010 – Porto Santo – sea
Comment from Rudi (9th Dec): We enjoyed our short stay. Unfortunately our spare part did not arrive. So we washed our clothes and did some small repairs and improvements. We also were visited by Mr. D. Homeier (representative of the Blue Water Sailing Club “Trans-Ocean”). One of the main tasks was to send a report (see November 21st) and to consult the weather websites. We found that it would be best to leave Porto Santo as soon as possible because of the developing weather pattern and try to reach one of the Canary Islands before it would get nasty. So at 1900 we left Porto Santo.
November 21st, 2010 (F) - sea
Received the following message from Gerd and Rudi:
“We arrived after 2 1/2 days with trailer and boat in Lagos S- Portugal on monday the 8th of Nov. in the afternoon. we covered 2750 kms from Riepe in Germany to there. The same day the boat was lifted into the water. Due to unfavourable weather we had to wait until Sunday the 14th before we set sail for Porto Santo late morning.
First we had good wind from the NW force 2-3 but it soon freshened to NW 5-6 with gusts and high swell once we left the shelter of the coast. Rough and wet sailing with just the main once reefed and a bit of genoa.
On Monday the 15th the weather improved and we tried various combination of sails in mainly NNW to NE winds around force 4 and made good speed. In the evening we sighted a 3 masted tall ship heading towards SE.
Tuesday the 16th saw us mainly in light winds from ENE 2 to SW 3 and near calms in between. In the evening we had the company of at least curious 2 whales coming close to the boat to have a good look at us.
On wednesday the 17th a rough day with winds SW 5-6 then a front passing early afternoon and the wind turning to NE 5-6 and sea and swell confused. Unpleasant movements of the boat under these conditions.
Thursday the 18th we made good again a nice distance with winds starting from ENE 5 turning over E ESE to SE forces 2,3,4.
Friday the 19th we expected to reach Porto Santo early morning but the wind turning to SW 4-3 and W later made it a challenging day tacking our way towards the end of the first leg. Landfall at 7 in the morning. At 1430 we made fast in Porto Santo Marina after approx 511 nm sailed in 123.25 hrs with an average of 4.14 kn.
Today is the 20th and after having a look at the weather forecast we decided to sail tonight to reach Tenerife before the conditions will deteriorate. As we now can no more make the start of the ARC we can take it easy and wait in the Canaries for the most favourable conditions.
Our best greetings to all of you and we will report again from the Canaries.”
Comment from Rudi (9th Dec): During the night we had very weak but favourable E-ly wind and flew full main, sometimes with the genoa sometimes with the blister. In the morning it became ESE and we used the full main + genoa. At noon we were in position 31.57′ N 16.20′ W. Days run: 16 hrs 30 mns Sailed: 73 nm Average speed: 4.4 kn In the afternoon we had SE 3-4 which decreased to almost a calm in the evening. Between 2100 and 2300 we drifted under bare poles in a near calm with light puffs of wind from all directions. The wind then came back from the S and from 2300 we sailed with full main + genoa again tacking towards the Canaries using every small windshift trying to make S.
November 22nd, 2010 (G) – sea
30.55, N -16.16 W
Distance sailed in the last 24h: 73 nm
Speed: 3.0 kn
Weather: Cloudy with showers
Wind: SE3 to 4
Comment: Have to tack constantly
Left: The wind self steering at work.
Right: Motoring towards Tenerife
November 23rd, 2010 (H) – sea
Cooking on such a small boat is a challenge: You cannot leave anything unsecured or unattended even for a second (including yourself). It will tumble over.
29.59, N -16.36′ W
Distance sailed in the last 24h: 84 nm
Speed: 3.5 kn
Wind: S3
Sails: Main+ Genoa
Comment from Rudi (9th Dec): During the night (22-23) S-ly light winds. Always close to the wind under genoa and main trying to make S. In the morning becoming steady SSE 2-3. In the afternnon becoming SW. While we were thinking at first that we could make La Palma we changed our course now for Tenerife. At around 1400 we sighted Tenerife. In the evening the wind died completely and we motored throughout the night with our 4 hp outboard on the most economic speed of 3-4 knots until 1000 next day.
November 24th, 2010 (I) – sea and Tenerife
28.46′ N -16.16′ W Days run: 24 hrs Sailed: 84 nm Average speed: 3.3 kn
We could start to sail again from 1000 in a SE breeze but we could not hold the NE Popint of Tenerife Cape Anaga. We decided to use the lee of Tenerife and sneak our way around the cape by motorsailing. And we got lucky and passed a great scenery close to the shore. At 1730 we moored at the Marina Tenerife in the Fishing Port (Darsena Pesquera). As this marina had no space we moved across to the marina Puerto Chico in the same basin.
Statisitcs Puerto Santo to Tenerife: Sailed: 350 nm Time: 94 hrs Average: 3.72 kn
A major decision according good seamanship – 25th of November 2010
It is Thursday, the 25th of November we have just finished looking at and discussing the weatherforcasts for the next week. It does not look great – the Azores High is pushed very far S. Bad weather with strong S-ly and SW-ly winds is expected and would delay our departure here. Also to get to a sure trade wind area we would have to go very far S, leave the Cape Verde Islands to the Starboard before we can think of making any W. This would extend the distance to the Caribbean considerably to about 3000 nm. Furthermore we would be under mounting time pressure as Gerhard has to work again in January and we can not be sure to make it until then.
Taking into account of the days lost already so far (2-3 days at Lagos, 1 1/2 day from Lagos to Porto Santo, almost 2 days from Porto Santo to Tenerife) we conclude that it would be against all sound seamanlike practice to attempt a crossing under these circumstances. You just cannot make a successful crossing under adverse circumstances and time pressure. So we decide heavy hearted to lay up the boat in Tenerife until November 2011 and continue then. Our thoughts are with the sailors of this year’s ARC who will encounter all these conditions and a french single handed sailor (Jean-Luc) which we met at Porto Santo and who left a day after us directly for Martinique. Though we at times cursed the delays caused by the weather we also feel grateful that they prevented us from attempting a crossing which would for sure be haunted by adverse conditions.Naturally we are a bit disappointed that we have to interrupt our passage. But we are also well aware that we already covered 861 nm in our small craft under not the best of conditioins.
The dream lives on with the hope that next year will be more promising.
The story continues on page Passage 2012 !