The getting north from the Canaries dilemma

Scillypete said:
Left Arrecife last Friday and arrived in Madeira early hours of Monday morning, now watching and waiting to probably head out towards the Azores . . . .. weather forecast watching is now my new most popular pastime and its mind numbingly depressing
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What was the wind direction etc?
S
 
skipper_stu said:
What was the wind direction etc?
S
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This way and that mostly . . . . . . on the Thursday the forecast was to be easterly on Friday but on Friday it had changed to NNE so I had a long bash up the coast and then could bear away between Graciosa and Alegranza, Saturday it went very light but was mostly fair and through the night into Sunday morning was NE 2-3, Sunday afternoon it went up to NNE and increased 4-5 so I was hard on the wind for the last twelve uncomfortable hours. Big swell the whole time and when the wind freshened on top of that it made for a very uncomfortable seastate.

First small step taken on the trip back home . . . . now for a few longer strides
 
Scillypete said:
This way and that mostly . . . . . . on the Thursday the forecast was to be easterly on Friday but on Friday it had changed to NNE so I had a long bash up the coast and then could bear away between Graciosa and Alegranza, Saturday it went very light but was mostly fair and through the night into Sunday morning was NE 2-3, Sunday afternoon it went up to NNE and increased 4-5 so I was hard on the wind for the last twelve uncomfortable hours. Big swell the whole time and when the wind freshened on top of that it made for a very uncomfortable seastate.

First small step taken on the trip back home . . . . now for a few longer strides
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Interesting, we did the UK bit, end of season on the hard for nearly 7 months at Faro. Its a mindset I suppose. In reality once this far south it is possible to continue using it!
S
 
Arrived in Ponta Delgada on Thursday and decided that open ocean sailing is not for me so delivery has been organised and I'm hoping on a plane home.

Massive marina here almost empty costing 12 euros a day for my 10 metre catamaran, the pontoons are well populated by seagulls though
 
Scillypete said:
Arrived in Ponta Delgada on Thursday and decided that open ocean sailing is not for me so delivery has been organised and I'm hoping on a plane home.
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You've done the hard bit now ... sorry to hear it's not working out.

I've felt like that sometimes after tough passages. Maybe it would help to chill out for a while, see how you feel.
 
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Scillypete said:
Arrived in Ponta Delgada on Thursday and decided that open ocean sailing is not for me so delivery has been organised and I'm hoping on a plane home.

Massive marina here almost empty costing 12 euros a day for my 10 metre catamaran, the pontoons are well populated by seagulls though
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Maybe you will change your mind after a rest, how was the Prout at sea ?
 
oakleyb said:
Maybe you will change your mind after a rest, how was the Prout at sea ?
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No my mind is well made up mainly to do with what happened just over seven years ago, I thought I was over it but clearly not.

The boat was fine and as ever capable of far more than I.

Thanks everyone for the kind words I do feel like I have wimped out but I also know there is no way I could do another long passage, bit of pottering around at home and some coastal stuff will suit me fine after this.
 
Scillypete said:
No my mind is well made up mainly to do with what happened just over seven years ago, I thought I was over it but clearly not.

The boat was fine and as ever capable of far more than I.

Thanks everyone for the kind words I do feel like I have wimped out but I also know there is no way I could do another long passage, bit of pottering around at home and some coastal stuff will suit me fine after this.
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Fair do's to you, single handed, how many days? Big seas from the forecast off the other forumite. I know going down the Portuguese coast, big 3 mtr swells, wind building up towards 30 kts, the incessant ness of it, it would start to get to me towards the end of the day. My swmbo is superb, she took it all in her stride and would cheer me up.
Stu
 
Scillypete said:
No my mind is well made up mainly to do with what happened just over seven years ago, I thought I was over it but clearly not.

The boat was fine and as ever capable of far more than I.

Thanks everyone for the kind words I do feel like I have wimped out but I also know there is no way I could do another long passage, bit of pottering around at home and some coastal stuff will suit me fine after this.
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Wimped out? What are you on about, you've got out there and given it your best, you have my respect(for what that's worth)

May I ask, what happened 7 years ago?
 
Scillypete said:
Yachting Monthly January 2013 issue no 1280 page 40 is where you can read about it, if you haven't already found bits and pieces from searches
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I've had a look and have found snippets of your ordeal and "wimped out" is not a description I'd use to label your latest adventure, far from it.

I'd feel safe in your company or as a member of crew, that's for sure.

As for phoning your wife before issuing a mayday, "as cool as ice" I'd say. :)
 
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