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!

Bermuda!

Kiwi made landfall at St George s yesterday morning. A short stop to collect mail, water (to replace what we lost because of water tank leakage) and check out America 's Cap!

Alright, here we go

After a day of last fixes and fun (shark watching, swimming and dinghy sailing) at Salt Cay Kiwi finally sails out to the high seas. With great help from Jelle, downloading weather files with iridium works now. Crew is familiarized with the boat and spirits are high. Bermuda, here we come!
-Sanja, Eva, Emma and Angela -

First 4 nauticals done

Yesterday, heavily loaded with fruits, vegetables, instant noodles, chocolates and some 560 litres of water and 300 l of diesel, Kiwi managed to made her way out of the harbor of Nassau! First day was planned short for allowing continuation of some last minute preparations using the mobile coverage from civilization. We struggle with getting Iridium communication work with our windows 8 computers... and might have to rely on calls and sms's for weather forecast.

The sailing out of the harbor was a relief, because that means and end to enormous money usage for now. (Bahamas is not the cheapest place to stock up for a voyage) We had great winds and currents against us and discovered a large water leakage in one of the water tanks. Anchored up, fixed the hole (hopefully) and started to work on resting and relaxing before hopefully heading out tomorrow

Thursday - beyond any lists

-Top up of the propane bottle
-Seeing my regular Nassau dentist (once more)
-Tidying up the boat, making space for the crew
-Welcoming Emma!

Wednesday - almost through the list

Another meal at Poop deck (yes, that's what the bar in the Marina is called)  to celebrate a day without fatal failures

Today
-I found Kiwi's compass from a cupboard and installed it outside, to show that I am taking this crossing seriously. Serious sailboats heading to the Bermuda triangle have compasses. Ours shows mostly the magnetic field of the hull it self and not so much the Earth.
- the navigation computer has an own electric contact now ( yes dad, there is a fuse)
-the engine room got a wash and fresh oil sausages
-started to make a list (for å later blogpost)  of 'almost incidents ' which almost cancelled the whole crossing.
-I realized, cheesy as it sounds, how greatly I am supported by my family and friends, who keep sending encouraging messages and offering their help where they can

Tuesday already

-Through away 300 kg of carbage and unnecessary scrap, fun and rewarding and necessary thinking how heavy loaded with water and supplies Kiwi will leave Nassau
-removed the broken anchor from its chain using sophisticated method of hand saw combined with patience
-That was it, was a little tired and useless today: p

....and Monday

-Engine oil exchange, new oil filter
-Fuel filters
-Impeller check

-Cleaning fresh water filter

Haven't seen much daylight today. It was a rainy day anyway with several thunder cells passing over Nassau. Let it rain now, and please good weather only for the crossing : p

Nassau - Preparations for Atlantic crossing

Saturday and Sunday:
-Cleaned watertanks
-Washed and desalinated all mattresses
-Laundry
-Bought more seasickness pills and pain killers
-Tested Iridium connections with Philipp