Thursday we met Terry in Plymouth and Karen signed of Felizia. Had a few beers in the harbour and a bag of chips for dinner.. Next day we made a trip with the ferry into Plymouth and walked around for a few hours and a few beers. Sadly Karen left at 5 Pm as we headed out of the harbour. We have had strong winds since we left Plymouth, sailing at 9 to 10 knots for hours. Crossed the English channel at Dover today at about 10 am. Had 20-30 ships in the channel around our position at the time, so it was tricky to find the right time to cross it. With the strong SW wind we went across at an average at 9 knots, so me made it without being hit.. Did not sleep much during the night since we were coastal with a lot of ship around. I suggested to make a stop at Dunkerque since it was on was on our heading with the wind we had, and Armando and Terry agreed to have some beer and baguettes. We have about 580 miles left and the weather seams to be in our favour regarding strong winds. That will probably be the last update before Norway. Out.

We arrived in Falmouth, England Sunday 22th at approx 6 am, and completed our atlantic crossing !! The leg was about 1220 Nm. We started Friday 13th at 2:30 pm, 4-5 hours after Advalorem and Sea Squared. (we came in about a day sooner then them) It took us 8 days and 15 hours. (207 hours) which gives an average speed for the whole leg of 5,89 knots. We had periods with light winds so we run the engine for 53 hours and spent 192,77 liters of diesel.  One of the first days we had gale winds and our last 48 hours we had winds 27-35 knots. The first day (friday) was really nice, we had several hours we were doing 9-10 knots!! Top speed (Speed over ground) was 12,6 knots. Saturday the waves had built up to 5-8 m coming aft making it difficult for the autopilot to steer, so did some hand-steering and had to reef. First one reef in the main, then the second reef and a couple of reef in the genoa. As we did our approach to Falmouth during the night, we had to use our storm reef in the main, and still did 6 knots. We had 6-8 huge tankers coming out of the south irish separation zone which on our chartplotter showed up as triangular markings aiming at us like torpedoes. Managed to find an opening crossing their heading. It was like crossing a highway. As we came further in we had daylight about 5 am, making it easier to spot all the net the fishermen set  out here. 

Click hereto view some photos from the Azores - Falmouth leg.

(This blog entry was supposed to be published 19.06, but had problem sending it from my sat phone so here it is a little late..)
We left Marina D’Angra in Terceira Friday 13^th  (great day for ocean crossing) June at 14:30, and have now been out to sea for exactly 6 days. Our position now is 46°30'142"N, 12°54'056"W. The trip counter shows 853 Nm and we got 380 Nm left to Falmouth, UK at a course of 53 degrees. This means that our average speed so far has been 5,92 Knots, about a knot less than expected. At our current speed of 6,5 knots we will arrive Sunday 04:30, but expect it to be a few hours later due to lack of wind. The rhumb line distance is 1175, and if we go directly from here we will do 1233Nm, adding only 58 Nm.  (click "Read more")

Have uploaded some photos, you will find them in the gallery under trips- bermuda-azores (http://www.tp99.net/index.php?option=com_rsgallery2&Itemid=40&gid=4)

In a couple of hours we are leaving Marina D'Angra on Terceira heading for Falmouth, England. We were in Horta on the island of Faial until sunday, and sailed over to Terceira, a 75 Nm sail. Horta was packed with boats and sailors, but the city here, is much nicer. The ARC has split up a few days ago, some going to Lagos but most going to Falmouth. As the last 3 boats we are leaving with Sea Squared and Advalorem. We have been waiting for a good weather window to leave, that's why we're still here. Now the winds looks good, and we'll follow the rumble line.  

We have done our provisioning and filled up diesel and water. Have not found out why we lost all water last time, must have been a combination of open valves, pump running and a tap open. Anyway, we have spare bottles of water if it should happen again.

Kevin have left the boat and got a ride with Eclipse to Sao Miguel were he flies back to Ireland. Have Karen as a new crewmember back to England. She was a crewmember on Pouncer a boat we met in Antigua, and already then talked about the possibility of her joining in here since Pouncer didn't have a position for here after Azores. Armando is still with the boat going to England and maybe further. He is going sailing with Severence, a ARC boat, around England, but doesn't have a exact date yet.

A couple of days ago we rented a car and drove around the island, visiting a vulcano and a wine museum and some small villages. The days go by walking around and spending time with other sailors. Haven't been so much party here as in Horta, which is good..

We expect to use about 8 days to Falmouth, and average of 150 Nm a day. Well, got to go, we're off :-)

Today it's Friday and 13 UTC when I am writing this. We have got messages from several people back home that our position on the ARC website has not been updated. I have sent the position, but it probably happens the same thing as when we tested it, it changes in the automatic receive system to the ARC. The ARC cannot tell me why. So I am now sending a copy to Fionn in the ARC, and hope he can fix this.

Our position 23.05 at 12 UTC: 32.45N 54.41W. We have done 532 Nm since  Bermuda, exactly 3 days ago. That gives us a daily average of 177 Nm, and an average speed for the whole leg so far at 7,38 !!

That is far better than expected. Until yesterday we were going straight east to avoid the worst of the strong winds above us, but are now going at 78 degrees. 1306 Nm left to Horta in the Azores. With the same speed we will be there saturday 31.5.