Tuesday June 10, 1300 (1:00pm) Bobby and I are in the cockpit of Orion’s Light. We were talking about things sailors talk about while at see in a small boat that has traveled a journey some 3,400 nm. At some point both of us said we are kind of sad, the end is in sight. Sad only because it has been a wonderful trip, maybe a trip of a life time, and soon it will be over. The trip is coming to an end, an idea that was faint thought not even a few days ago when Lisbon seemed and was so far away. We are clearly happy to be so close to the end and to have successfully sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. OL seems to be of a different mind and want’s to get to the dock, like a race horse after a big race. We keep adjusting our sails to slow her down to arrive tomorrow around daybreak. She will have none of it she keeps speeding up racing to be tied up to a dock for a well deserved break and a good wash. We have visited Bermuda, and Horta on the lovely Island of Faial in the Azores. We took a day trip to Pico and explored its unique vineyards, we told stories, sometimes two or three times, we laughed, we have bonded as a crew. This bond or rather the breaking of the bond as we soon go our separate ways is the source of sadness. That said we are all anxious to get home and pickup where we left off, changed for the better i’m sure. I will bring home a new perspective more in the moment. I look forward to seeing Mia and getting into our grove. I can already hear Cooper and Kit barking at the door as I walk into our wonderful home, our adventure over and a adventure begins anew.
We have been trying to catch a fish since we left St Augustine. Kevin was our ringer and we were sure he would snag us a Mahi Mahi or a Yellowfin. I know he hasn’t lost his touch but there was no fish dinner on our way to Bermuda. Wade let it slip that he was skunked as well when he delivered his Alaskan trawler to Annapolis just before we sailed from Marathon. Was the pace set? Were we to have no fish after sailing 3400 nm? We thought so at least until we heard the telltale sound of line striping off the real the afternoon of the 8th. Fish on!!!! We slowed OL down as much as we could. I shouted get the cockpit cushions below or “Mia will hang us all”!!. Fish blood is very tenacious and our cockpit cushions are a lovely cream color. Bobby was on the rod slowly reeling our yet unidentified catch. Wade called for the gaff which I dug out of the lazaret. I jumped onto the swim platform with the gaff ready to hook our catch and get it onboard. Bob stood by with the filet knife. It was the most excitement we had in a few days. Finally the fish broke the surface. It was an Albacore!!!! We could all see that it wasn’t a big fish but it was a fish and we caught all 18 inches of it. We got it in the boat, rather clumsily on my part. We quickly dispatched it and Wade, being a vet and a surgeon, was unanimously voted to filet our prize. He did just that and in no time we had two filets in the fridge to go with our hamburgers for surf and turf on our last night. A fitting last dinner at sea. We emailed a picture of our catch to Kevin and he was happy for our good fortune but then advised us that it wasn’t sporting to rob the nursery. He may have a point. but……..
Monday June 9. We loose track of time out here, possibly because the watch schedule is our main time keeping mechanism, so noon comes and goes before we realize it. Someone eventually thinks of lunch around 1500 so if dinner not well planed it becomes an afterthought. We had not planned dinner so we heated up two pizzas we bought in Horta. they were warm and filling. It was cold chilly night and OL sailed along in brisk 20 to 25 kt winds on port tack ticking off her now usual 8.5 to 9 kts all night long. Each in our own turn kept our lonely vigils scouring the radar and horizon for traffic. No traffic was sighted. When the sun came up it was still overcast winds about the same and we were one night closer to our destination.
Tuesday June 10. Was another chilly day with winds still from the N-NE. We were about 220 Nm from Lisbon at sunrise. The seas were a bit confused so the ride was somewhat uncomfortable. We started to pick up some shipping on radar but they were far away so we never sighted them.
Wednesday June 11, today. Things have improved. The wind shifted to the S – SW as predicted by our two weather routing services. They have been remarkably accurate which has helped us navigate the weather. With their help we have been able to stay in favorable winds as well as taking advantage of wind shifts when they come. Their weather and routing information was invaluable. I would not care to do a trip like this with our their services. The day was mostly overcast all day until it was time for our happy hour. Our happy hours feature proprietary blend of fresh popped popcorn, not microwave, with our special oil mix. We have all taken a solemn oath never to divulge our secret recipe, less we be visited by the ghost of Orval Redenbacher. Who really wasn’t a Redenbacher. Look it up. The popcorn was accompanied by gin and tonics with lemon or lime. Bobby made the drinks and did such an exceptional job he was unanimously voted OL’s bartender for life with all the honors there by bestowed. Brother Bob, Wade and I put our efforts to the main dish of surf and turf. Wade did the final prep on our albacore, I fried the potatoes and onions and brother Bob fired up the Q and grilled the fish and hamburgers to perfection. It was a full court team effort for our last meal at sea. We ate in the cockpit with a light breeze coming over the stern. with the sun shinning down on us we felt tike the luckiest guys on earth. We cleaned up turned OL back to course and are now continuing the last 70 nm to Lisbon.
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