Email 28 September

If you have tried to get through on the boat email you may have been bounced as it only accepts emails from those on the accepted list.  By sending you this e-mail the problem should be resolved and you should now be on that list so feel free to keep in touch!  Please though, no attachments.  And if you press the ‘reply’ button can you make sure any copy of previous emails is deleted – it makes a big difference to our very slow link.

Despite our intentions to anchor off Porto Santo the other day we elected to stay in the marina. Turns out that the local authorities charge you for anchoring (only place any of us have heard of where you are charged for anchoring).  Not only that but to anchor off the shore, bouncing around in the sea with no facilities, costs more than staying in the calm and shelter of the marina with as a much electricity and water as you want and a perfectly good bar along the quay.  No competition!

Saturday we went for a sail a couple of miles off Porto Santo and brushed up on our man overboard procedures (with a fender – not a real person you will be pleased to hear).  None of us have done it since we sailed round Britain last year so it was good practice and nice to get out on the water.  Saw my first flying fish.  Very weird thing.  First I thought I was looking at some sort of sea bird but it looked like a giant green dragonfly.  They actually appear to fly along just off the sea surface and not just jump out of the water and back in again.  Today (Sunday) we have sailed around the island of Porto Santo in perfect weather.  It took six and a half hours, which is significantly shorter than the time it took to sail round Britain last year.  Deep blue water, a good breeze and hot sun with ‘Bat out of Hell’ over our speaker system (for some reason Vaughn Williams’ Sea Symphony was vetoed…).  Tomorrow (Monday) we are off to Madeira which you can see on the horizon about twenty miles away.  About 5 hours sailing. 

Around Porto Santo