Kiwi sets out for high seas

Kiwi sets out to her last leg of the Atlantic crossing from Azores to mainland Europe in calm wind conditions and perfect sunshine. Stocked up with delicious Flores water and some more tin cans and chocolate. We were also lucky to get Camille onbord as fourth crew member. With her, we are down to three hours watches, have our own French teacher onbord and new input, stories and fun!

Flores - another favorite island

Early summer blossoms makes the place almost too idyllic. Being one of the most remote Portuguese islands, we didn't have to share Flores' idyl with many other tourists

On black volcanic beaches we met our old friends from the ocean - stranded Portuguese -man-of-war jellies

Flores is an island of cows

...luckily great part of the island is too steep for farming and great part of the lush and fairytale-like laurisilva-forest remains. Believe me, this steep terrain has been a challenge for us with practically no leg muscles 

Few pics from North Atlantic

Speeds under three knots meant possibility to swim, or more correctly, hang behind the boat on a rope. Beautiful black and white fish (pilot fish?) followed us on our journey

Half way dress -up party with the team "wear anything except clothes". Angela in sailbag and Sanja in driftanchor 

As we moved north, more and more clothes were needed. Angela starting her evening watch. She would do 6-10 (am and pm), Sanja 10-2 and Emma 2-6

Emma has hoisted the storm jib. We had so much wind that the smallest of sails were in use, the whole wardrobe actually 

Kiwi sails well in a lot of winds. Thats how she likes it best

Couple of days of calm meant better possibility for animal observations. Here are some common dolphins under poled out working jib.

Azores!

After 19 days at sea Kiwi reached Flores in Azores early this morning. The tiny harbor of Lajes was most welcoming and what we can tell (for actually being way too exhausted right now for any real exploration), Flores seems to be a charming small island with cliffs and waterfalls and more cows and goats than tourists.

The crossing went well, with winds between zero and forty knots from all kinds of directions. Rough seas broke the attachment for our kitchen stove we managed to have salt water leaking in to the drinking water tank (!) and had the dynamo of the engine falling off. These were minor challenges I realized meeting a fellow sailor here who crossed at the same time and lost part of his rigg, his roling furler and having a complete engine failure

Off we go!

With a best possible weather report in our hands, we'll head out towards Azores and Europe tomorrow morning. Our short visit in Bermuda has been great, the town of St George s one of the prettiest harbors Kiwi has visited and the locals most welcoming. With America's Cup and tall ships visiting the place at the same time, it's been very lively and interesting stop.

When sailing around with female-only crew, you receive surprising amounts of attention. We are the freaks, one-of-a-kinds, we are photographed and invited for drinks and meals and showers. People remember us and are utterly astonished. You could get irritated, I guess, but I can't deny the extra spice added to our experience by being the red boat of girls receiving special treatment :)

Sadly we had to say good byes to Eva, when she decided to fly over the ocean to be there to receive our lines on the other side. Wount be long : P, so long!