Category Archives: Preparations

Oops-Hopp

17. July 2015Katja Henke

Since Wednesday noon, the captain is back on board and now we have the disease introduced from Germany (Cold) well in hand.

So we decided this afternoon at four o'clock, tomorrow to take the plunge on the Portuguese mainland, Since the weather during the next week should be much less favourable.

Bustle of events followed the decision, but now all is well prepared for the 800 Nautical miles distance. We will keep you up to date and submit the reports of the last week in the Azores, Once yogesh Porto have reached.

Yet again on the go

27. May 2015Katja Henke

We spent the whole Tuesday with planning the next stages of our journey. With reasonable Internet access here, we also once again all necessary updates on computer and, Play charts and our navigation. Also we were looking for a suitable dive base for our Azores underwater adventure. Then stood down at the end of the afternoon, We continue sailing on Thursday to Horta on Faial. This was so our originally planned first stop in the Azores. We will visit Santa Maria until end of June again, around here to dive. End of may the diving season had begun here anyway still do not really. Da sind wir wohl etwas zu früh aufgetaucht 🙂

For the evening we had our Swedish neighbours by and invited Kateryna by the SY SCARLET on a glass of wine on the SUMMER. Arrived on Monday morning shortly before us and were only removed a box from us. Already during daytime we had understood well and many similarities (as for example, the given name :-)) discovered.

Since you Yes special guests always something very special to offer, We had one 19 Selected years of old Bordeaux. This turned out to be opening as pretty unwilling. He almost 20 Years old corks had removed only in very small crumbs, and it took a while, bis wir zum eigentlichen Flascheninhalt vorgedrungen waren 🙂

Did that but the funny round no demolition and after the wine the Lords on a tamperproof rose drinks with screw cap, the Poncha resurrected on Madeira (Mix drink made of rum with fruit juice). Auch der Korken einer weiteren Flasche Madeirawein stellte sich nicht quer 🙂 und so saßen auch die Damen nicht auf dem Trockenen :-). Around 1 pm we finished the fun round with the fixed plan, the experience sure to repeat.

According to late and tedious the Wednesday morning started. Erstaunlicherweise sind wir aber trotz der interessanten Mischung von weiteren Kopfschmerzen verschont geblieben 🙂 So bereiteten wir unseren nächsten Segeltag vor, baked bread and some dishes cooked in. In the afternoon we met Steffen Wahoo diving, the dive center of Santa Maria of our choice. The personal impression in nothing was the good impression of the website. We are looking forward to end of June, wenn wir wieder auf Santa Maria sein werden und viele interessante Tauchgänge unternehmen werden 🙂

How many times longer shocks tonight remained cold the kitchen on the buzzer. Instead we went with via and Kateryna again to Vila do Porto and tried the restaurant recommended by the harbour-master. Wie so oft ein guter Tipp 🙂

In the there was another one in the port of Marina “Farewell pina colada” on the SY SCARLET. About eleven o'clock, we had to finish the evening but unfortunately already. Tomorrow morning at seven the alarm would ring relentlessly. To arrive on Friday in the light at Faial, must we punctually throw off the lines at eight.

Aber in gut zwei Wochen werden wir uns auf Terceira wieder treffen 🙂 und darauf freuen wir uns jetzt schon.

Welcome back to Madeira

19. May 2015Katja Henke

The time is in Germany as always “as in flight” past and today it went already back with airberlin from Düsseldorf to Madeira, back to our SUMMER. Eine Woche hat sie es ohne uns aushalten müssen 🙁 und das sah man ihr auch an. Apparently moved in the last week a small sandstorm on Madeira and had covered everything with a dark brown sand layer. The Calima from the Sahara across the Atlantic has transported the sand up to Madeira. For better adhesion, probably even a little rain in the game has been, as much, that the sand could perfectly set on all white and polished surfaces.

Before Dietmar first went under deck, missed he first an extensive wash his SUMMER, while I took out the two large travel bags below deck. As always we had tried, Luggage on the amount of 23 Pounds to exploit. 22,5 Kilo has brought our a travel bag on the scale :-). The other bag was but just too small for such amounts. In the two kilos had fresh strawberries my backpack and 2 Pounds asparagus found place. Die Gepäckkontrolle hatte sicher beim Durchleutchen unserer Taschen kräftig den Kopf geschüttelt 🙂

We had decided already in Germany, to break up as soon as possible in the direction of the Azores. And the weather promises to be perfect for the trip. Still, stable, the wind blows from North-East and a change is not in sight. Morgen werden wir die Einkäufe erledigen und Donnerstag gegen Mittag wollen wir uns auf den Weg machen 🙂

Azores weather :-(

12. May 2015Katja Henke

Since we are in Madeira, We watch the weather, because the next blow to the Azores is almost with 700 Nautical miles long.

A low pressure area after another passed in the last few weeks on the Azores and brought much wind or even storm or hurricane and unpleasant high waves. For us it was clear anyway, that we go could sail only after our return from Germany, aber bisher hätte sich für uns auch kein akzeptable Wetterfenster gezeigt 🙂

To the Declaration of a weather map:

We would like from the Green marking needle (bottom right of the picture) to the Red (top left of the image) sailing (black line). The colors in the map represent the wind at a given time. From blue, green up down to the orange/red, increasing the wind. The numbers right indicate the wind gusting beside the small weather icons in the cards and the arrows the wind direction. The number of the small weather icon specifies the wave height.

So we had this day very nice strong ( up to 47 Node) Get wind on the nose. Das will ja nun wirklich niemand 🙂

Aber ab heute war es das 🙁 Fünf Tage optimale Bedingungen, Wind between 10 and 20 Nodes from the right direction and barely wave. Did you do that now?

Tonight we are sitting on the plane to Germany. The weather we might move a good week?

Travel arrangements

11. May 2015Katja Henke

When it comes to Germany, needs to be done before much. Not only, that the packages already stacked with my parents, We have ordered in advance on the Internet, travel always useless things, you are just too good to throw away or give, back to back. It is always a good opportunity, mal ganz gründlich klar Schiff zu machen 🙂

On the other hand, you want even people, meet you again after a long time, etwas mitbringen 🙂 Madeira hat ja mit dem Madeirawein und verschiedenen anderen Leckereien viele Möglichkeiten, others to make an unusual joy.

Since shopping (with a few exceptions, in General four wheels or a hull have) not so Dietmar thing is, I went to Funchal today afternoon alone. After my last purchase in the market Hall, I was on the hat. Here I would all get, what I wanted to do with, but would also match the price or would I annoy me again?

Arrived in the city the huge cross ship in the Harbour was just me. Today, hustle and bustle was right here. So I was not the only victim least and could look around the market stalls at rest.

After my last shopping experience, I took a stroll through the market first, to compare the prices. All goods are actually awarded, but many signs are draped beautifully between the goods, that you can not read the price. Oder die Schrift ist extra klein und undeutlich 🙂 Die Preisspannen waren wirklich beeindruckend. You could pay between one and ten euros for a kilo of Annona. And so it was not, that the expensive ones had the better quality and vice versa. So I bought two large Annona and had to shell out for a euro, also I took a kilo of passion fruit bananas for scarce three euro. I was allowed to choose even myself that, so that migrated only beautiful fruits in my bag . So shopping was fun.

So I can each, He's coming to Madeira and to Funchal, highly recommend the market Hall, denn mit offenen Augen hat man hier unglaublich viel Auswahl und super Qualität auch zu vernünftigen Preisen 🙂

After two hours, I had done all purchases and drove back to the port. Packing tomorrow still enough time is. Tonight, emails are written again diligently, the blog updates and the newsletter sent. A good feeling, If everything is on stand, before it disappears. Tomorrow in the morning we're still together beautiful clean boat, the last wash and just in time to 17 Our plane in the direction of Düsseldorf will take off and watch.

Bye-Bye La Palma and “Goodbye” Canary Islands

20. April 2015Katja Henke

Tomorrow it starts at nine o'clock to Madeira. We will probably be two or three days. This time we have homework in the luggage, because unfortunately I haven't managed previously, everything, What we have seen in the last week, to write in the blog. So we are probably the crossing also use, our reports to write, and to sort the many photos.

The week on La Palma was beautiful, versatile and eventful.

At the end of the week we look forward, wenn Ihr auch wieder mit dabei sein könnt 🙂 Bis dahin bitten wir um etwas Geduld.

We realize ship for Madeira

20. April 2015Katja Henke

It went to dinner humid cheerful closest tomorrow some more leisurely to the point. After breakfast, we wanted to first in the diving center, our cover pay and “Say goodbye”. On the way to the bus stop, Steffi ran us in the parking lot on the way. It's time really unusual: La Palma diving 71st up service via mental telepathy.

The Goodbye was not easy it us. We will sure miss the great team and the great dive sites. That's why we made it quick and painless and sat an hour later on the bus back to Santa Cruz. On the way to the port, we bought some fresh vegetables for the crossing. I first started the Breadmaker on the buzzer and then began, To cook before food for two days.. You never know, wie es einem unterwegs so geht und wie die Bedingungen sein werden 🙂

Against half past six in the evening we had one last time with Raphael and Johanna agreed to dinner. This time but in the city, and not on the buzzer, denn vor längeren Segeltouren bleibt bei uns die Küche kalt 🙂

We were somewhat surprised, als es schon gegen sechs bei uns an der Bordwand klopfte 🙂 Mit einer großen Tüte Avocados standen Caro und Ronny am Steg. Today is your day, and so she had seen us in the diving center. Um sich persönlich zu verabschieden sind sie extra für uns zum Hafen gekommen 🙂 Wir fühlten uns wirklich sehr geehrt und waren sehr erfreut 🙂 Wir überzeugten sie, still a bit to stay and to go after with the others together even in the town.

We were then full strength against seven and were on the way into town. On a small square with a picturesque fountain there was an inviting tapas bar, on the terrace we us cozy made it. A beautiful last night with good and funny talks faded away around 11 P.m.. Morgen wollen wir ja fit und ausgeschlafen in Richtung Madeira aufbrechen 🙂

Busy on the buzzer

19. April 2015Katja Henke

For tonight visit had said on. Giselher by SY SOUTHERN CROSS widower since Thursday and to the opportunity we had invited him for dinner today. So I set off in the market Hall in the city, to fill our fridge again with fresh vegetables. The market hall was picturesque, but unfortunately quite small. The offer was also unfortunately a bit short of my expectations. The farmer's market on La Gomera or Tenerife had convinced me more.

But of course I got everything, what I needed and was back at noon on the SUMMER. Just in time, to hang my laundry from the washing machine to pick up and illegal manner on the buzzer, because it is in the Marina Santa Cruz de la Palma “Hang laundry” prohibited on the boat. But what are you going to do, I had not other ways yes. Because the Marina Office was closed on Saturday afternoon, I assumed, dass es keine Probleme geben würde 🙂

Suddenly, Dietmar iPhone rang. Phoned our friend Raphael diving. Last night we had invited Joanna and Raphael still welcome on the SUMMER, now the two already on the doorstep were. But dear guests are of course always welcome. Especially if you or a bottle of wine and two six packs have beer in the luggage (This really is not a mandatory condition and has especially pleased)

A short time later we sat together at the coffee and biscuits in the cockpit and was followed by seamlessly to our funny conversations yesterday. Our common friend Frank was of course a theme and the successful dive trips in the last days. So we came by sticks on sticks and the time just flew by in the flights. Dietmar was still an extensive SUMMER tour after the coffee, while I met already the initial preparations for the evening meal.

Soon the skipper Giselher advanced the round and knew with his sailing stories awarded to the entertainment of the round to contribute. Our galley could cope with easily two additional guests for dinner and so stood a long, cosy and later also wet fun evening nothing more in the way.

The captain sacrificed even a bottle of fine port of Churchill from Porto. Mehr braucht man über diesen Abend dann auch wirklich nicht mehr sagen 🙂 Lustig war`s 🙂 und so schön spontan. We will miss you. Aber man trifft sich ja bekanntlich mindestens zweimal im Leben 🙂

Waiting “La Palma – Weather”

8. April 2015Katja Henke

Actually Dietmar wanted to keep our time in La Gomera as short as possible, but he had made his statement without the wind and that is it crucial for us. Yes, our next shock should go West towards the island of La Palma. Because we want to sail further from there directly to Madeira or Lanzarote to Madeira, had we decided with a heavy heart, not to sail to Tazacorte. Tazacorte is situated in the West of the island and would be a strategically awkward port of departure. That's why we wanted to control this time de la Palma Santa Cruz, this as you know is on the East side. Even though the city was very liked us, the Marina is missing but any charm. Also was always swell in the Harbour and the boats rocked even on windless days vigorously back and forth and pulling on the lines.

Die ungünstige Wettervorhersage bescherte uns noch drei weitere Tage auf La Gomera 🙂 Dietmar hatte sich schon morgens darauf gestürzt, all to clean out lockers, clean and reorganize. Loomed around noon, that I could probably no longer hope, to convince him to a trip, I set off alone. I had picked me out two hiking tours on the Internet and decided, the longer of the two tours today alone to undertake. Maybe I could convince Dietmar on next Thursday, to accompany me. Und da wäre eine kürzere Tour bestimmt ein gutes Argument 🙂

Since I had already missed the 12-o'clock bus, I promised myself a taxi to the starting point of the tour, the Roque de Agando. It is located right in the middle of the island. From here I wanted to run back La Laja above the village of San Sebastian. Tried the Canary taxi driver in polite small talk during the twenty minute taxi ride. He was totally unmoved by the fact, that I understood not even every 20th Word. I would really like, What a life story he himself had put for me together. In any case, a boat came, My husband as the Kapitan, but person even eight more in it before. Sehr merkwürdig 🙂

Once at the top but something was me queasy to mute. Good 1100 Altitude is below me San Sebastian. Hoffentlich hatte ich mich nicht wie beim letzten Mal auf La Gomera bei der Auswahl meines Wanderweges total verschätzt und würde mich morgen vor lauter Muskelkater wieder nicht mehr bewegen können 🙁 Aber jetzt konnte ich sowieso nichts mehr ändern. I marched so go and enjoying the great view. The path went though quite steeply downhill, but with the climbing Hermigua not to compare.

The weather was hot and dry and I progressed well in the sparse pine forest. The climbing on the uneven path awaited me this time at the beginning of the tour, later I would continue on a small country road. Das kam meiner Kraft und Kondition sehr entgegen 🙂

After nearly one and a half hours, the village came into view La Laja. Now, I could continue on a flat road. During my entire trek to San Sebastian, I not once met twenty cars. Over several reservoirs, Fields and lush gardens I came slowly back to civilization.

I found also this handsome detached house on the edge of my trail. Geschickter Handwerker gesucht 🙂 wäre wohl ein passender Titel auf der Verkaufsanzeige. Maybe I Dietmar should even suggest this new challenge.

After over five hours and strenuous 15 I arrived again kilometers at the buzzer. Dietmar had accomplished during my absence of miracles and vorbildlichst on front man brought back boxes. As a reward, I conjured up still a delicious dinner and then put the feet up in the Salon.

The next morning the drive I was missing something, very enterprising looked over the breakfast table while Dietmar. Spontaneously we decided, that he now would go diving with Andi, while I a domestic- and would insert the Office day.

Our last day on La Gomera we wanted to go hiking together. This time, with the 12-o'clock bus in the direction of Hermigua, we chose the first stop. Irgendwie ging es hier nur bergauf 🙁 – No matter where I looked. Well, now I wanted to show no weakness and strode briskly forward.

The route took us from a stunning vantage point to the next, Right at the beginning to the Roque Jaragan uphill and later San Sebastian neatly downhill.

Auf unserem Weg wurden wir genau beobachtet 🙂

As we in the afternoon after 11 Km in San Sebastian were on the marketplace, hatten wir uns den anschließend großen Eisbecher redlich verdient 🙂 Jetzt mussten nur noch die Wanderschuhe verstaut und das Boot seeklar gemacht werden. Tomorrow morning we wanted to go early, order to arrive more easily during daylight hours in Santa Cruz on La Palma.

The captain is back :-)

4. April 2015Katja Henke

Da Ostern in Spanien ja einen Tag früher endet als in Deutschland starteten wir mit einem ordentlichen Osterfrühstück in den Samstag 🙂 Der Hefezopf sollte ja auch nicht alt und trocken werden, fresh it tastes of course best.

Previously I had been quite busy. Just in time to after 8: 00, I was short on the farmer's market in Las Chafiras, to meat, Fruits and vegetables to buy. Then I had extended even our rental car for two days, Since we had moved the planned crossing to La Gomera on Monday because of the prevailing West wind.

After breakfast we plundered Dietmar travel bag with all brought things. Yesterday evening, or more precisely this morning, we were both too tired for this. Only against half past one in the morning we were from the airport again on our SUMMER back. With the heavy bags came under other more spare parts such as z.B. Starter motor etc.. an Bord. You can never have enough on Board of.

Dietmar had missed yesterday the Spanish Easter celebrations. To enable him also an insight into the Spanish tradition, We drove to Guia de Isora.

In the small town, the passion of the Christ is traditionally represented with elaborate flower arrangements, distributed will be issued in the old town.

The creations were really beautiful and impressive to the part. We had much pleasure but with the accompanying Declaration sheets. While the English translation in our opinion was still useful and comprehensible, had the German translators come up with mostly exciting creations of set of.