Picking Up Where We Left Off - Touring a Volcanic Island

On the original itinerary, today was to be our embarkation date for our transatlantic passage. Concern about low winds and high waves delayed our departure for another day. We spend the morning continuing to pack and prepare the boat before Captain Jim declared Morpheus ship-shape.

That left us (barely) enough time for a power tour of the island. A few days earlier, while waiting in the airport on the flight to Tenerife, Kim asked a local in line for their recommendations of things to see and do. The answer was succinct - drive to the top of the mountain and go to a black sand beach. After a scramble to find a driver we were on our way. Captain Jim decided to stay with the boat and double check preparations.

It's been a recurring theme on this west bound transatlantic adventure that we are picking up where we left off after making the east bound crossing five years before.  True for assembling the crew, true for eating and drinking, and it was true for touring a volcanic island. In 2013 it was tour of Faial after we landed in the Azores. In 2018 it is tour of Tenerife before we depart. Some pictures from the day.

We drove through the rain and fog into the cold volcanic moonscapes at the top of Mount Teide.

The summit is often shrouded in clouds, but we climbed into sunshine and amazing atmospheric conditions.including an ice rainbow (ice halo? icebow?).

As we cross the summit and descend on the south side of the Island through the Corona Forestal National Park the terrain gets greener, wetter and warmer

The sun sets, and we find the beaches along the promenade of  Puerto de la Cruz in the dark.

Mission accomplished. Island explored. Tomorrow we sail.

MW Ship's Log May 16 - Genius is as genius does

Dateline: 10:00 A.M. Wednesday May 17

Status:
165 nm traversed on Day 1 of the Sao Miguel => Cascais, Portugal passage. It's been mostly sail and little motor since departing the Azores 24 hours before.

I'd like to take this opportunity to make a correction to the last post. I may have inadvertently created the false impression that only one of the crew had a hangover as we departed Ponta Delgada Marina. This is incorrect. The correct count was three hangovers and one sleep deprived zombie who was probably too jet-lagged to notice that he was also hung-over. The general consensus was that Phillip's coffee concoction, although delicious, was a mistake. Interesting to note, regardless of crew condition, I found the departure to be our smoothest, easiest, least stress inducing de-docking marina exit yet. Make of that what you will.

As a statistical footnote: Bob traversed 11,000 miles and nine airports during his 40 hour jaunt to California and back. We're glad to have the crew again complete and back on a four man watch rotation.

Discussions continue on how Bob should make up his four missing watches during the Faial to Sao Miguel passage. Some feel he should simply stand a an eight hour watch and get it over with. I believe that would be too punitive and am advocating a different scheme - each of us can play the "Bob card" for one watch during the rest of the passage. Felling a little too warm and comfy in your bunk when it is time for that 3:00 AM watch? Just roll over and say - "Let Bob do it."

The first day sailing from Sao Miguel was essentially a re-run of the departure from Faial. Nice easy sail in sunshine traversing the South coast of the isle.

Smooth seas, favorable winds, lots of birds and interesting sights on the verdant island rolling past our port beam.

Then we emerge from the protective shadow of the island. Mixed currents, shifting, gusty winds from 18-26 knots, squalls, and heavy confused swells. Lot's of bouncing around and the crew mostly below deck when not on watch. Double reefed and no jib most of the way. Still picked up 165 miles.

Most Interesting Sight We Did Not See:
We passed within 30 miles of Ferrelgas - An active volcano that rises over 9,000 feet from the floor of the ocean to within 10 feet of the surface.

Dinner:
Deb's delicious Texas hash for those who trusted their stomachs at dinner time. Otherwise - Ramen Noodles.

Quote of the Day:
"I feel like a genius for deciding to stay in port last night." Captain Jim basking in the sunshine, enjoying the perfect sailing conditions just before we emerge from the protective sheltering effect of Saint Michael Island.

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