Madeira Start
The two Keith’s got up early to take the car back. Others prepared and we got various lines ready etc. It was important to go through the safety procedures with everyone so we all know what we are doing bearing in mind we will be offshore for a few days. This included Fire, Flood, Heavy Weather, Drogue deployment , Abandon ship and a new one – Orcas. It is also important that everyone knows where the safety equipment is and how to operate it. It therefore takes time and some things had changed since the training days. We therefore were not ready to leave until 10.45am.
Our plan had changed from the original and we now planned to go straight out from Mezagon to the shipping lanes and then to turn west along the south shipping lane to the TSS at the western most point of Portugal -Cabo Sao Vicente and then to steer a course for Madeira. For those who do not know the shipping lane it is like a boat motorway – there is a west motorway for all ships going west and they all fall in line and then say 5 miles further south there is an east motorway for those going east. A yacht can cross the motorway, but it must take care and ideally make the shortest crossing of the motorway. This is common for example in the English Channel and crews have to be on high alert as these cargo ships can go up to 30kts and can be on you in a flash, so we need to monitor progress. Our chart plotter (maritime sat nav helps) as we can see the boat on the screen and can click on it and it will tell us the name – how fast they are going, size etc but more importantly our nearest collision point and how long in time that will be. We like ideally to have a mile distance at least. A TSS – is a traffic separation zone and yachts can enter but must do so at right angles and make the shortest crossing possible. Most try and avoid TSS’s for obvious reasons.
We departed the marina and headed out to the waypoint we had made the other side of the shipping lanes. It was a pleasant day but very little wind so we had to motor and for mile after mile we had to dodge the lobster pots. We then began to feel the ocean motion and could see various tankers ahead. Eventually when we got to about 80m the lobster pots ran out. This was the section we were most at risk of meeting the Orcas (some of whom damage boats by damaging or biting off rudders).
Our strategy involved a number of things such as:
1. All on deck
2. Take off autopilot (so it would not be broken if the rudder is bumped)
3. Deploy lines from center cleats
4. Deploy sand off the back (interferes with their sonar)
5. Put the emergency pole end in the water and bang it with a hammer
6. Play heavy metal on the stereo
7. Motor out of the area as fast as possible and if necessary to reverse towards them or on a circle.
This was not a nice thought and we hoped we would not need our plan. We stated the crew shift patterns which are 2 on each shift with 4 hours shifts during the day 8.00am to 8.00am and then 3 hour shifts at night between 8.00pm and 8.00am. By 6.00pm the wind came in 10-14 kts and we began to sail which was good but there was a bit of an ocean swell which started to grow. We then started to encounter the tankers and we had to call the odd one or we could clearly see we would avoid them. We had wraps for lunch and then chili con carne for supper eating out of dog bowls as it is the safest way to ensure you can eat and it is not sliding off plates etc.
We started to settle down to doing shifts, sleeping or having naps, eating etc. and getting used to the routine. However, the swell was 2-3+m waves and it made for a rocky rolly night with waves crashing over the bow and the boat creaking as it went along. The wind also grew so we reefed and had to reduce sail which slowed us a bit but made the conditions a bit more manageable for those attempting to sleep between shifts.
We were on our way and although we contacted marinas in Madeira none could confirm a berth for us yet so we hope when we get there that we will find a space. We were getting our sea legs again. Luckily touch wood no orcas so far.
If you have any questions, comments, suggestions – do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com