Ponta Delgada to Porto Santo Passage Summary

Hi everyone,

We had a pretty good 5 day, 4 night passage from Ponta Delgada on the Azores island of San Miguel to Porto Santo in the Madeiras.  We arrived at 1630 Azores time (1730 local).  The passage was mostly a very close reach with an ENE wind instead of the forecast NE wind.  We motored for 10 hours on departure, then for 4 hours on arrival, due to lack of wind and slatting sails.

Zen Again & Metzi at Porto Santo

We sailed in loose company with Moody 44 OCC sv Metzi, departing within an hour of each-other.  In the lighter winds we held on to them, but they 'walked away' when the breeze got up.  We finished about 6 hours after them.

Here are the usual plots...

Track

Arrival

Graphs

Here are the vital stats…

    • Distances/Speeds

        • Route Distance = 542nm

        • Log Distance = 548nm\

        • Track Distance = 549nm

        • Duration = 4 days 8 hours

        • Average speed over ground = 5.3 kt

        • Average day's run = 127nm

        • Best day's run = 131nm

        • Minimum boat speed = 3.5 kt

        • Maximum boat speed = 7 kt

    • Weather

        • Minimum wind speed = 1 kt

        • Average wind speed = 10 knots

        • Maximum wind speed = 18 with gusts to 24

        • Apparent wind angle range = 50 to 150

        • Seas up to 1m

        • Swell up to 2m

        • Overcast each morning with occasional light rain showers, clearing most afternoons

    • Engine

        • Total = 14 hours

        • Driving = 14 hours

        • Charging = 0 hours

    • Failures

        • Water leak at a foredeck fitting flowing into the head bilge via headliner and stringers

    • Stars

        • Tasker mainsail and Tides Marine SailTrack

        • WindPilot vane gear (steered well when apparent wind over 10 knots)

Departing Ponta Delgada

Most of the passage was a close reach, almost 'full & by'.  Sheets eased only very slightly.  Full main and 1 to 2 furls in the yankee.  During stronger winds we dropped a single reef in the main.  We had a nice waxing moon, nearly full on our last night at sea.

Sailing under cloudy skies...

...and occasional sun

The last night and day of the passage saw the wind backing slowly around into the N.  This allowed us to ease sheets but reduced apparent wind.  Overnight we put a reef in the main to reduce slatting and carried on sailing with the full yankee.  That worked pretty well.  Eventually in the last afternoon we were running out of time to arrive in daylight and the apparent wind was dying and well aft so we motored in.

During the passage we tested our SSB with sv Metzi.  And we learned our Vesper Cortex AIS transmit range (with new Class B SOTDMA) has 18nm range.  That's about double the range of old Class B transmitters. 

Ahoy Porto Santo

Approaching the anchorage

It's great to be back in Porto Santo.  Last time we were here was 2021 when Covid certificates were necessary and the number of cruisers fewer.  By happy accident we're here for their annual Christopher Columbus festival which should be fun to see.

After arrival we met the crew of OCC sv Asteria.  They're joining the OCC Macaronesia cruise in company.  We hope to sail in company with them, sv Metzi and others for the next few weeks.

The foredeck leak has been happening since we departed St Pierre.  Its origin wasn't clear and passage by passage we're figuring out ' who dun it'.  Yes, as usual with water leaks, its a detective story.

We hope this was our last windward passage for a while.  Looking forward to some downwind sailing!

Trust all's well where you are.