Flying Buzzard

January 19/09

Ola from Las Palmas!

We left Porto Santo and six hours later arrived in Funchal. It was quite a nice place but really built up and commercialised. The cruise ships were in, the Aurora seems to be following us, they don’t stay long, half a day at most it seems.

We had the customs guys on board, mainly because we’re somewhat different to the boats they usually see. We also managed to sample the local produce, i.e. Madeira wine and passion-fruit licqueur. Mike went fishing and we had our first home-caught supper.

We left Madeira on 9^th January and arrived in Las Palmas on the 11^th, made a slight detour to the Salvage Islands but it was pretty desolate and blowing so we didn’t stay around. Had dolphins with us for quite some time, they really are amazing to watch as they dance round the bow and cavort about. Glenys saw a whale but I couldn’t quite make it out.

As luck would have it our friend Gonzalos was in Las Palmas so we met up and he took us out for supper to a local tapas bar where he is well known … it was wonderful to see him and also go places that we wouldn’t have otherwise. He took us to the local wholesale market which was quite something, oh and the potato sellers.

We met up with a Canadian/USA couple who have been sailing round the world for nearly 9 years. They came out to the Buzzard and were so impressed. It was good to meet people who are out there doing it and know that we’re not the only mad ones!

It’s really nice here, we’ve had a few days of strongish wind but the sun shines and it’s about 22C … slightly different to what most people are experiencing at present. The locals think it’s cold and are all wrapped up for winter.

We are going to be here for at least another week as we’re trying to organise fuel and filter spares and then it’ll be off to the Cape Verdes.

Cheers for now … Jules, Mike and the FB Crew xx

PS For those interested, Nellie and Toby are doing well. Neither of them have been seasick and in the bad weather they get special couch privileges which keeps them happy! Nellie hasn’t been ashore since we left Maryport but Toby is getting to be quite the international traveller and is much admired everywhere he goes.

January 6/09

Happy New Year!! Although it already seems quite some time ago.

Didn't make it to Madeira in time for the fireworks. We left La Coruna on 28th December and hit bad weather (force 8/9) for three nights, two days, and 27 minutes! We had a head wind and were down to 1.5/2 knots. Luckily the Buzzard did us proud even though we didn't feel very excited by the bouncing around we were doing.

Tim and Bex left us in Coruna to travel on their own for a while but may well meet up with us again in Las Palmas.

We're currently anchored off Porto Santo ... of which we'd never even heard until a week ago, it's 28 miles north-east of Madeira and about 7 x 2 miles. The sun is shining, the beer is cold, and we've finally got our shorts on!! If only they'd stop playing Christmas Carols ...

Heading off for Madeira tomorrow, via a couple of hours fishing and the 'deserted islands', should be there for a few days before moving on to the Canaries.

Cheers for now ... Mike, Jules and the Flying Buzzard Crew

PS Hopefully soon we'll have a proper blog up and running.

PPS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REPLY PLEASE, PLEASE SEND IT AS A NEW EMAIL AND KEEP IT SHORT AS THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THE SAT PHONE CAN RECEIVE THEM.

December 21/08

Ola from La Coruna!

We left Newlyn last Tuesday, after saying goodbye to Mark who jumped ship on to a fishing boat to get back to shore, and we even got some fish thrown in for good measure. The winch is working well and brought up the anchor fine … sure beats doing it by hand.

Biscay was relatively calm but the quartering swells made us roll quite a bit which we could have done without, but that’s part of life on the ocean wave(s).. Tim, Ed and Bex saw their first dolphins at 1.30 in the morning.

No real problems coming over and we made good time, arriving in La Coruna on Friday, exactly three days sailing, George (the autopilot) did a fine job but was tested at times…The crew are getting used to watches and settling into ship board routine.

The sun’s shining, which is taking some getting used to, and although cool at night it’s about 20C during the day.

After some radio and mobile calls we managed to get tied up alongside the commercial quay, originally we were designated an anchorage about 5miles away and in the next bay over..

We’ve had a couple of days much needed R&R (and tapas, and vino …) and will do some maintenance on Monday and Tuesday. We’ll probably stay here now until Christmas and then set off for Madeira for New Year. The next leg will be the equivalent of all we’ve done so far (5 to 6 days) but the weather should be calmer … and definitely warmer.

Cheers for now …. Mike, Jules and the Flying Buzzard Crew xx

December 14/08

Greetings!

We finally left Maryport about ten days ago, got stuck in the deepest, darkest south west Wales for a week with weather and few technical teething problems, waiting for parts and our sat phone (no you can't phone us, we can't afford it, however it will mean we should have email access ... once we work out how to use the bloody thing!).

From Fishguard (Wales) we came down around Lands End to Falmouth where we anchored for two nights to escape the southerly gales. We're now in Penzance/Newlyn, very close to Lands End. We're here in the morning to try and get a few more needed parts but then we have a four/five day weather window to get across Biscay to La Coruna in north west Spain, for some much needed R&R and tapas, and vino, and ....

From there we have about 700 miles to the Canaries (about six days). Apart from the few teething problems (like the heat exchanger plugging, the windlass blowing up and having to cut our anchor off (which a very nice man picked up for us for free)) the crew is settling in and the engine and boat are glad to be back at sea.

We'll keep you updated when we can ...

We're on our way home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers for now ... Mike and Jules and the Flying Buzzard Crew

PS If you send any emails please don't add any attachments as we're not able to download them. Thanks.

ian@ianlaval.com