Finalmente left Terciera yesterday evening (yes, we left on a Friday) and are now at 38 deg 25" N - 24 deg 47" W . We are broad reaching on port tack on a heading of 80 M. Winds are 20-25 knots with some big (4-5 meter) seas. Steering in these conditions is a handful but we are consistently doing 10-12 knots with occasional 14's. Fun but hard to hold a decent coarse!
We had a great time in the Azores and got a lot of work done on the boat. However, we were not able to get a replacement flux gate compass from B&G for our autohelm. Nobody at B&G was able to or were interested in getting the part shipped to us. We had numerous promises and disappointments but finally resigned ourselves to hand steering another 2000nm.
The island of Terciera is a beautiful place, lots of history, friendly people who like Americans, most speak at least some English, and they make great pastries and coffee. I'm coming back!
Besidse the boat maintenance done during our stop, Finalmente now has a new washer / dryer, micrwave, blender,pannini maker, and frnch press coffee maker.
Babalu calculated that we coverd 3520 nm from Salvador Brazil to Terciera, Azores. We were at sea 21 days and hand steered the boat for 16 of those days.
We have about 2000 nm to Santa Margeritta, Italy. About 1200 nm to Valencia ,Spain, and about 1000 nm to the straights of Gibralter. We hope to make Gibralter in a week
More later, time for a nap.
Ray, Ni, Urban and Babalu
/EX