Getting close to departure.

Sitting in Horta  Azores and watching qualifying sails.  Not easy for those that have left it late.  Nice to see that they are determined and real  sailors.  I had it easy doing the qualifying in summer and feel guilty that my sails were so easy and very slow.  Even my sail from Horta to Lisbon was a piece of cake.  Spent most of my time watching movies and reading books.  The Orcas did give me a bit of stress though.

I did try to get some bad weather to test the boat and myself  and got a bit hammered  but it was still not the same as those trying to qualify in the Baltic or Adriatic in autumn.  My hats off to them (never wear a hat but you get the drift).

Nuts sitting in Belem marina being looked after by Clube Naval de Lisboa (Antonio my mentor).  He is looking after my new outboard motor as well. He is a star!!

I bought a Honda 2.3hp because of the good reviews on all websites I could find  and the fact that it is air-cooled and doesnt need a fresh water wash after use.  It is a bit more noisy but if it makes noise it means it is working. I see on several blogs that other skippers have also chosen the Honda. Not the cheapest option but maybe the best for the Setka ?

1st bag packed - 43 dehydrated meals plus a bunch of sardine and tuna pate tins as well as some normal tuna and sardine tins.   Can take 46kg of bags on my flight so might as well use it.  Also bought a new stainless steel kettle for boiling water as I melted the handle on my previous aluminum one. It got used a lot.  I love my coffee and all meals need boiling water.  If my cooker fails Im FU ..? ##@## ED. 

My cheepo cooker uses 1 can of butane in about 8 days.  Breakfast coffee, mid morning cofffee, after lunch coffee, late afternoon coffee, dinner dehydrated  food and an evening coffee.  Never tried actual cooking on the stove only boiling water.    Got 12 cans in cockpit storage box.   Should keep me going for a bit  Got a very small frying pan and some olive oil and cant wait to dispatch a a Mahi Mahi and give it the taste test.

Getting close now.  Today 2 boats withdrew from the challenge. It is a huge disappointment to me but I think it is an even bigger disappointment to them.  They had already qualified and gone through all the complicated stuff but I guess there are always other factors that we are not aware of.  I wish them well and and maybe we can sail together in the future.

There are several other entrants  that have gone quiet. Maybe they  should express their

 intentions or withdraw publicly so all the participants know what is up.

Lets go sailing in these amazing yachts!!