Another day, same ocean

First it was repairs that held us in the Azores, now it is weather. A violent storm coming from the South West is battering us right now with 36-knot winds and heavy rain. We are waiting for it to subside to start on our crossing to the Isles of Scilly.

The good ting is that in its wake we will get favorable winds. The drawback is the possibility of more depressions getting through because of the weakening of the Azores high. This should normally protect us from heavy conditions in June, but this seems not to be the case this year.

So we sit inside while the winds buffet the boat and the rain prevents us from wandering outside. We read, talk and use the internet for weather updates and blogging.

Yesterday was good, with some sun and the first warm weather in a while. We walked around the town, to Monte Brasil and the fortress. Later we went to the bull run in the streets of the old city. A lot of people, many tourists and four bulls made up for two hours of local folklore.



Today, however, the conditions are nasty for venturing outside, so we wait, sleep a bit and try not to get too bored. The temperature outside is only 18°C, the humidity 100%. I am waiting for a handyman to bring us a fabricated spare part for the autopilot, so even if I could, I wouldn't get out. We've got some laundry drying inside so humidity here is also helping get the experienced conditions feel worse than they are. We may have to switch on the heating later, which is the first time since we are in the Azores.

Later today we'll fill up with diesel and water and get some last minute shopping done, so that when the weather does improve, we're ready to go for the 1100 Miles back to Europe.