S/V Aphrodite » Atlantic Crossing http://www.sv-aphrodite.com Jeri, Michael, Brisa & Costa Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:45:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Aphrodite Makes Landfall at St Lucia http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2008/12/05/aphrodite-makes-landfall-at-st-lucia/ http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2008/12/05/aphrodite-makes-landfall-at-st-lucia/#comments Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:36:27 +0000 Michael Innis http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/?p=232 Following  18.5 days at sea, we made landfall yesterday morning at St Lucia, the largest of the English speaking Windward Islands, under blue skies whilst flying the spinnaker.  The last several  days of the trip we got to experience the trade winds that we had expected to have had all the way – I certainly [...]]]>

Following  18.5 days at sea, we made landfall yesterday morning at St Lucia, the largest of the English speaking Windward Islands, under blue skies whilst flying the spinnaker.  The last several  days of the trip we got to experience the trade winds that we had expected to have had all the way – I certainly didn’t believe that we would use nearly all of our fuel motoring.    After refueling ($4/gal.), we decided to tie up at a marina for a few days to clean the boat and do the laundry.  We checked in followed by snacks and drinks in a local pub, then we went out to dinner at a very good (expensive) restaurant called Buzz to celebrate our trip.  The name may have come from the loud sounds the local tree frogs were making.  The boys enjoyed a tripot stew of lamb, beef and chicken in a spicy Caribbean sauce and the girls had fish.  On Morazadeh’s recommendation we all tried wasabi mashed potatoes which were quite spicy.  Morazadeh headed home today and will arrive in time to celebrate Noelle’s 39th birthday at home.  Margi plans on heading home in a few days.  We will miss their company as will the dogs.  Speaking of dogs, they are not allowed to go ashore in St Lucia which is very sad for them and for us.  I am trying to contact the government vet to get an exception but we are on island time, mon.  Some pictures from the crossing are below:

]]> http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2008/12/05/aphrodite-makes-landfall-at-st-lucia/feed/ 0 Aphridite lands in Lisbon, Portugal http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/07/03/aphridite-lands-in-lisbon-portugal/ http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/07/03/aphridite-lands-in-lisbon-portugal/#comments Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:23:00 +0000 Michael Innis http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/07/03/aphridite-lands-in-lisbon-portugal/ We made landfall in Cascais, Portugal near Lisbon yesterday evening.  The sun was still shinning at 10 in the evening and the port looked beautiful.  We celebrated our crossing with a bottle of reserve Azorean red wine given to us by Pierre who stayed with us several days in San Miguel, Azores.  It was delicious, thanks Pierre!  Our crossing took 5.5 days, [...]]]>

We made landfall in Cascais, Portugal near Lisbon yesterday evening.  The sun was still shinning at 10 in the evening and the port looked beautiful.  We celebrated our crossing with a bottle of reserve Azorean red wine given to us by Pierre who stayed with us several days in San Miguel, Azores.  It was delicious, thanks Pierre!  Our crossing took 5.5 days, covered 970 nm, and felt like a magic carpet ride.  Stephanie is still with us and hopes to get her cast off today and we’ll get “the stewardess” back at full strength. 

]]> http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/07/03/aphridite-lands-in-lisbon-portugal/feed/ 0 Aphrodite in Terciera, Azores http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/06/26/aphrodite-in-terciera-azores/ http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/06/26/aphrodite-in-terciera-azores/#comments Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:18:18 +0000 Michael Innis http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/06/26/aphrodite-in-terciera-azores/ We have stayed here for much longer than we expected. The streets which were foreign to us just a few weeks ago now feel like home and strangers like family. Our experiences here are ones we are not likely to forget.This is a great story, one which is characteristic of how we live now and [...]]]>

We have stayed here for much longer than we expected. The streets which were foreign to us just a few weeks ago now feel like home and strangers like family. Our experiences here are ones we are not likely to forget.This is a great story, one which is characteristic of how we live now and how very fortunate we are.After spending several days working on the boat we decided to take a day of rest, rent a car and see this lush island of Terceira. The island is small so it did not take long to traverse half of it seeing some of it’s great wonders. After a fantastic lunch in a small sea-side restaurant, we stopped at a wine museum in the town of Biscoitos named for the small flat lava rocks that abound there. In the mountains, the mineral pools and volcanic flumes were less dramatic than on the larger island of Sao Miguel, as were the volcanic lakes and lagoons but there is a cave here which would knock your socks off! Algar Do Carvao is located in the center of the island. It is a volcanic cone in which an impressive pit developed between two different volcanic edifices. As we entered the cave we started a deep descent into the vent of the volcanic pit which then opened up to a huge cavern like area, followed by another steep vertical descent ending in a lake of crystal clear water. The cave offers perfect acoustics and is used occasionally for musical concerts. The top of the conduit allows light to enter the cave and supplies the necessary sun for the walls to amass with ferns and mosses, all the while we were aware of a steady light rain dripping down upon us. Unfortunately, our pictures do not do it justice.As we were returning to the boat we stopped at a cheese factory that was closed for lunch when we passed by earlier. While inside a young guy heard us talking about how similar the area is to San Francisco and Petaluma and initiated a conversation with us. Within minutes his fiancee was translating for us, we were introduced to the propitiator as well as her family and invited to watch the “running of the bulls” from the windows of her cousin’s home which opens directly onto the main street where the bulls are released! Well, it didn’t take us long to accept the offer and we proceeded to spend the rest of the weekend enjoying the incredible hospitality characteristic of the lovely, endearing people on this island. Words just can not describe the experience we have had over the past week. This is the week festival of Saint George which is a bit like Mardi Gras and is the biggest event of the year on this island and lasts 11 days. Parades occur every night starting about 9:300 and people stay out eating and listening to music in the streets until the sun rises. We truly felt enveloped by the islanders; were treated to incredible meals and opportunities which made visiting this island a most memorable experience.According to the Portuguese, the “Running-of-the-Bulls” in the streets started here, In Terceira, when the islanders resorted to using their greatest asset, their bulls, to drive an overwhelming forced of armor-clad invading Spaniards into the sea, thus defending their homeland. Now, the bulls are released into the streets a few times a year in celebration. Standing witness to that event was awesome.

Following the “Running of the Bulls” was a bullfight, unlike any other bullfight we have seen. The Portuguese do not kill their bulls! In fact they honor and respect them so much that if a matador spends too much time tiring him or does anything to cause undue harm to him the crowd displays disapproval by whistling (rather than booing). Instead of a massacre like previous bullfights we have seen, this one was more like a ballet between the horse, matador and the bull. The fancy sticks which are driven into the bull to represent a successful strike are not deep and cause little harm to the bull. It made the entire event charming and sportsmanlike.

We had planned to leave yesterday but we were invited to lunch by the proprietor of the best fish restaurant in the Azores, O Leme, which translates to The Helm and could not refuse. We feasted on 4 different types of local fish in the company of very good Azorean wines. We keep trying to take advantage of the current favorable weather-window and depart for the mainland, we but find ourselves feeling like ferrous metal being held by the magnetic forces of the island and its people. We are planning to leave this afternoon. I guess time will tell.

]]> http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/06/26/aphrodite-in-terciera-azores/feed/ 3 Bermuda & Azores Photos http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/06/20/bermuda-azores-photos/ http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/06/20/bermuda-azores-photos/#comments Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:19:44 +0000 Michael Innis http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/06/20/bermuda-azores-photos/ ]]>

]]> http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/06/20/bermuda-azores-photos/feed/ 0 Aphrodite in the Azores http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/06/13/aphrodite-in-the-azores/ http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/06/13/aphrodite-in-the-azores/#comments Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:29:58 +0000 Michael Innis http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/06/13/aphrodite-in-the-azores/ We have been in the Azores for 9 days with our biggest news being our additional crew. We have been enjoying each and everyone of them. It is Gideon’s birthday today so we have had several celebrations, starting with a bag of chocolates for him after breakfast (his passion) and will finish with a chocolate [...]]]>

We have been in the Azores for 9 days with our biggest news being our additional crew. We have been enjoying each and everyone of them. It is Gideon’s birthday today so we have had several celebrations, starting with a bag of chocolates for him after breakfast (his passion) and will finish with a chocolate cake tonight. Stephanie fancied herself quite handy with the hair clippers so all of the guys got hair cuts this morning. When she was finished she gave me a great cut too. We got a few “freshly sheared” pictures which we will post for you to see.The islands of the Azores are beautiful with warm wonderful people. We have discovered that Portuguese is Not Spanish and we are unable to communicate with them unless they know English. Today we order several mystery lunches, one which was OK, one filled with onion and the other which looked like shriveled up balls! Most of us are currently lying down while we try to digest.

The islands are volcanic so they are hilly with lush green, volcanic rich soil. Dairy farming is the primary crop, yielding an array of cheeses and other dairy products. The two port cities we have visited are European in style, narrow winding streets with all of the roads and sidewalks made of hand laid stones. The cities are built on the hillsides, giving us steep climbing opportunities. The local church rings her bells on the half hour. The country side is steep so the dairy farms are built in tiered, rock lined square plots giving the country side a charming and lush beauty.

Unfortunately the weather has been cool, cloudy and drizzly most of the days. We had one fabulously glorious day on our sail from the first island to the second one, and one afternoon of sun here, but the rest of the time it has been crummy. I haven’t needed long pants like this in years.

Aphrodite feels very cosmopolitan these days with a variety of English accents and word usage being spoken. It is quite hilarious to listen to the 4 of us. We have Stephanie, who is from England, using her proper English with accents on different syllables and expressions which even though they are English I still can’t understand what she is saying! Then there is Luke, South African, also using the Queen’s English, with his own phrases and word usage. And then there is Gideon, English as a second language with a strong Israelian accent. Stephanie is really darling and I hope to master some of her phrases before she departs. Aphrodite is a bit crowded, if not cluttered, with 3 laptops, various cameras, sunglasses and jackets laying about, but she is happy to be so well used and enjoyed.

Tonight we depart for the third island, but will return to this one before departing for mainland Portugal to pick up some parts and have repairs made to our electrical system. We depart for our final leg of the crossing sometime after the 16th. Arrival should be 5-6 days later. Luke fly’s back to South Africa on the 15th or 16th and will be replaced by Pierre, a young French Canadian who was on the boat which dismasted. He joined another boat from the first island to the second, but says he would prefer to sail on Aphrodite if we have room.Well, that’s an update. I hope to work on pictures and composing a web update while sailing tonight.

]]> http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/06/13/aphrodite-in-the-azores/feed/ 0 Update from Aphrodite http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/06/01/update-from-aphrodite/ http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/06/01/update-from-aphrodite/#comments Fri, 01 Jun 2007 23:41:03 +0000 SV-Aphrodite http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/06/01/update-from-aphrodite/ It is Friday, June 1st, and we have made it through the high winds and seas.  Everything is calming down and we are anticipating our arrival at the Azores.  We are still 500 miles out, so it won’t be for a few days, 3 probably.  We have been covering about 200 miles/24 hours. Two days ago [...]]]>

It is Friday, June 1st, and we have made it through the high winds and seas.  Everything is calming down and we are anticipating our arrival at the Azores.  We are still 500 miles out, so it won’t be for a few days, 3 probably.  We have been covering about 200 miles/24 hours.

Two days ago the lead boat dis-masted, leaving us in first place.  Not a desirable way to move into the lead.  We don’t know the details of the incidence, just that there were no injuries or damage to the hull of the boat.  The crew has jerry-rigged the rigging to allow the boat to continue sailing, albeit very slowly.  Everyone feels terrible for them, especially because they had not yet arrived into the area where the conditions are really treacherous.  All of the boats have had a difficult time.
The seas have been very erratic and steep.  Some of the waves we saw yesterday were totally awesome.  I always wish I could get pictures to post on the website.  Being in a catamaran, we do not get the rolling that the other boats get.  That is exhausting for the crew as everything inside the boat flys from one side of the boat to the other.  It is nearly impossible to make meals or even warm food up in a microwave.   We get josseled about, rendering grapefruit size bruises on me, but at least we
are not living on a constant tilt, love this catamaran!

Onward to the Azores.  I will let you know once we arrive.

love to all,

Jeri

]]> http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/06/01/update-from-aphrodite/feed/ 2 3rd Day at Sea http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/05/26/3rd-day-at-sea/ http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/05/26/3rd-day-at-sea/#comments Sat, 26 May 2007 16:53:44 +0000 SV-Aphrodite http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/05/26/3rd-day-at-sea/ The start of this leg of the rally was on Wed. at noon.  It was VERY exciting because the winds were 25+ knts with 7′ seas.  I got to take Aphrodite over the starting line.  Our start was good, but not great.  We were probably in the middle of the pack.  But within one hour [...]]]>

The start of this leg of the rally was on Wed. at noon.  It was VERY exciting because the winds were 25+ knts with 7′ seas.  I got to take Aphrodite over the starting line.  Our start was good, but not great.  We were probably in the middle of the pack.  But within one hour we managed to pass up all but three of the boats!  Since then we have pushed into second position. Being a multi-hull, Aphrodite can not point as high into the wind as the mono-hulls.  The conditions were very challenging for
the first two days with all of the boats getting beat up a bit.  But, the winds are expected to change from NE to SW which will allow us the FLY.  We’ll see if we can catch up to the fastest mono-hull in the fleet.

Today, Fri., the winds have died down considerable, as well as the seas.  This is what sailing is supposed to be about.  I think I mentioned that we took on an extra crew member.  His name is Gideon.  His presence has made this a much easier trip for us because everyone can get up to 6 hours of sleep in between watches.  We are enjoying him very much, learning about life in Israel.  We hope to visit him in his home town once we are in that area of the MED.

I just wanted to let you know that all is well.

Love,

Jeri

]]> http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/05/26/3rd-day-at-sea/feed/ 2 Bermuda to the Azores http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/05/23/bermuda-to-the-azores/ http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/05/23/bermuda-to-the-azores/#comments Wed, 23 May 2007 13:23:01 +0000 Michael Innis http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/05/23/bermuda-to-the-azores/ The repairs are finnished, we are provisioned and we are raising anchor for a 12:00 race start.  Some of the boats will remain in Bermuda for 2-3 extra days for the Bermuda Day Celebration.  We feel the winds are most favorable to leave now.  We acquired a new crew on Monday.  His name is Gidon, [...]]]>

The repairs are finnished, we are provisioned and we are raising anchor for a 12:00 race start.  Some of the boats will remain in Bermuda for 2-3 extra days for the Bermuda Day Celebration.  We feel the winds are most favorable to leave now.  We acquired a new crew on Monday.  His name is Gidon, he is a 32 year old sailing instructor from Isreal.  He was on another boat with an unfortunate situation so we are happy to have him join us.  He is a really nice guy with a good sense of humor.  We will try to keep everyone informed of our progress.  We love receiving your emails that let us know you care.

 Michael, Jeri and Gidon

]]> http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/05/23/bermuda-to-the-azores/feed/ 1 Bermuda http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/05/19/bermuda/ http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/05/19/bermuda/#comments Sat, 19 May 2007 14:00:34 +0000 Michael Innis http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/05/19/bermuda/ Since we arrived, the wind has been howling and or it has been raining so we have not had a chance to explore the island as of yet.  We met the rest of the group last night.  The husband of one young couple is a graduate of Campolindo high school in Moraga!!!  What a small [...]]]>

Since we arrived, the wind has been howling and or it has been raining so we have not had a chance to explore the island as of yet.  We met the rest of the group last night.  The husband of one young couple is a graduate of Campolindo high school in Moraga!!!  What a small world. The majority of the group are European, mainly English, returning to their home base after cruising the Caribbean.  Some of the boats go from rally to rally for the racing aspect of the experience so we have several fast boat in the flotilla.
No additional news….Just wanted to let you know we were safe and sound.

]]> http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/05/19/bermuda/feed/ 3 Aphrodite arrives safely in Bermuda http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/05/16/aphrodite-arrives-safely-in-bermuda/ http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/05/16/aphrodite-arrives-safely-in-bermuda/#comments Wed, 16 May 2007 18:50:00 +0000 SV-Aphrodite http://www.sv-aphrodite.com/2007/05/16/aphrodite-arrives-safely-in-bermuda/ We are proud of our accomplishment, and we arrived safely. As we approached Bermuda, however, the wind died and we had to motor/sail and/or just motor the last 25 miles. Otherwise we sailed the entire 1056 km which took 5 days 20 hrs. The other ARC Europe boats that left Florida are still a day [...]]]>

We are proud of our accomplishment, and we arrived safely. As we approached Bermuda, however, the wind died and we had to motor/sail and/or just motor the last 25 miles. Otherwise we sailed the entire 1056 km which took 5 days 20 hrs. The other ARC Europe boats that left Florida are still a day away. We will rest tonight and begin repairs to the spinnaker and trampolines tomorrow. The Anchorage is pretty and well protected. There a abougt 25 other sailboats here and 2 large cruise liners.
Clearing customs was easy. Another loss on the trip is our new Sony computer. It simply refuses to start up like it has no power. I hope we can repair it here or we may have to ship it back for repairs. When we get internet we will send pictures.

Michael & Jeri

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