Dream Times

Lisboa 14 September 1999

In consequence of a long sail trip from Falmouth passing the Biscay to Spain and later on to Portugal, The Dream Times has not appeared for the last 3 weeks. We are now back with a vengeance with news and reports from the world tour with S/Y Dream.

As mentioned in the previous number of "The Times" we had motor problems at our calling at Falmouth and our most important task was to deal this problem, which has been submitted to debate amongst other sailors. Some fungi that live on diesel caused our problems. During the digestive process some waste products are caught in the fuel filter and clog it up obstructing the diesel. We had to empty and clean the fuel tank and unfortunately it just had been filled. Flemming pumped diesel into buckets and NP poured it watchfully into cans. In the meantime Dennis and Michal looked for anything that could store diesel in town. Among other things they came up with a mayonnaise bucket and from a grill bar some former deep-frying oilcans.

Having spent many hours in the engine room it was nice and clean and with assistance from some other incredibly friendly inhabitants we got a new gasket and borrowed a screw-tool and made a new die for the diesel lid. Late in the evening she was started and the sound was perfect.

In Falmouth Thursday morning at 5 am the lonely sailor, Harry, hits us. He is stuck to our wind rudder. We tried to push him away from the rudder but as he is still carrying the mainsail he pushes back enormously. Fortunately he didn’t destroy our wind rudder (in that case we would have had to navigate by hand all over the Biscayne), but our nice ladder was totally broken and some of our rails and stanchions were damaged. And Harry was not insured. Later that day the harbour master came to us and said, "Guess what- Harry just hit another boat" We got 100 £ to cover the damages. After this event we named our wind rudder Harry.

28 August we left Falmouth and England. The first days the weather was fine but on fourth day the wind rose to 25 metres per second and we only used the storm jib but nevertheless the ship heeled over enourmously. In the afternoon 2 waves with the size of our mast arose on the port side. We are unable to make a turn and the only thing we can do is to hold on and hope for the best. The first wave is OK but the second wave hits the boat alongside and the boat takes a list. The cockpit is filled with water. The ship was low down that the masthead just hit the water. At one time Dennis was hanging in a warping end and his feet had no contact with the cockpit. When the ship was on an even keel again Flemming miraculously served dinner. How he was able to keep the pot boiling is incomprehensible.

At midnight the wind calmed down and we decided to proceed to Islas Cies to rest and to dry all our clothes. We arrived 2 September.

The Bay of Biscay was not only a heavy sea. One day a big flock of Atlantic dolphins at least 20 came to our boat. Almost all of us succeeded in patting the imposing animals.

3 September we went diving and snokeling. Mikkel shot a nice fish with his harpoon. We spent the night in the open enjoying the starlight.

5 September we called at Leixões, a rather small port, but all the same the first person we met was a Dane. At night Dennis and Flemming decided to make a Cape Horn night- They are still hoping to convince the others of a trip round Cape Horn instead of going through the Panama Canal.

Saturday 11 September we shape a course for Lisbon. A perfect wind and the old lady made 7 knots.

Sunday the wind grew stronger and it was necessary to take the spinnaker down. On our way to Lisbon we passed a small island, Berlenga but we had to leave because of a small ferryboat.

At Cacais we found our toilet wrecked. To keep the record straight we must warn you of vacuum toilets. Dennis tried with heavy strokes of a pump and succeeded in producing a fountain of… well you know what…at a height of 1,8 metre (read: floor-to-ceiling height)

We all turned in and spent all Monday making it function again.

After this we set sails for Boca De Belém and at the entering we made no less than 10 knots. It constitutes a new record. In Boca De Belém was possible to be hauled up on the slipway for repairs. Why, how… Read all about it in the next edition of "Dream Times"

Sport results:

Denmark - Italy 3-2

Chess tournament Dream Open:

The final results will be revealed in the next edition. It should be mentioned that Michal has taken a lead

Saying of the week:

10 knots

Achievement of the week:

The Bay of Biscay – piece of cake

Editors

This edition has been written in close co-operation with the crew of S/Y Dream. We thank for the special enclosure written by Dennis and Michal.

 

F. Krabbenhoeft and Niels P. Thuesen

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