Sundowner II log – 2005 update 10 - E-mail to Ewoud

Hi Ewoud

I am writing this while laid in the sun waiting for the others to arrive and play volleyball. We were a bit tired after a heavy night watching and celebrating United’s victory over ARSEnal. The last couple of months have flown by and it has been a real bonus having Status Quo and Balder here and also another young couple Debbie and Shaun on Kit Kat from England. While not in each other’s faces it is nice to meet up most days to play volleyball which seems to be our only form of exercise other than the long trek to go shopping, there are also the odd nights watching Dvd’s or consuming the local wine at 47 cents a litre and beer at 22 cents a can. There are of course the beach parties and walks along the coast all Bobs together, the Christmas period was particularly good with everybody mucking in and supplying the food and drink, New Years Eve was great with plenty of fireworks and fun also a party in the local bar until nearly dawn. The Real Club Nautico de Bob (Sud) has grown in members - it’s good to know there are likeminded people around to help share problems, source things and make deals. Karl is Commodore Sud, he borrowed a car and drove us to Faro airport on Saturday to pick up Mair, Commodore Nord from Guernsey, who is here for a weeks holiday. We also checked out Albufeira and Vilamoura and it looks like Portimao was a good choice for the winter rest. The Bob squadron has come into it’s own on a few occasions when everybody has pulled together and helped, we even managed to find our anchor and chain after the fender marking it disappeared out in the bay, also when Massimo on Manta had engine problems Bob’s mechanics sorted it. We did have an amusing day when five of us left to move on to Albufeira and were all back at anchor and beach partying four hours later due to the bad sea and wind conditions. I think we had got a bit rusty after a few weeks at anchor and hadn’t checked the weather. We did quite well with our dodgy engine and managed to sail off and back onto the anchorage. Our tidal skills came to the fore when we built a big Bob sand castle it was so big the state mechanical digger couldn’t level it the following morning as he was in danger of getting stuck in the moat, it was still there because the sea had barely reached it and being a high spring tide was still there nearly a month later. There must be other Bob’s here as the word Bob has appeared carved in big letters on the cliff face it could only have been done before daybreak or they would have been spotted. And must have taken a few sessions.

Sorry to have only good news but that’s how it is, there are down sides like money and things and as we don’t tend to read or hear too much news or mix too much with any others here as the majority seem to be like retired school teachers or just plain snobs. We managed to get a move out the way up to the south basin with no neighbours except local small boats and Karl, Julie and Buddy on the pontoon opposite and of course the bar only a few boat lengths away and fronted by the beach. The break water is a solid wall as opposed to the floating one in the north basin where the big swell has caused some damage - at times it would be more comfortable at anchor. The marina pulled a fast one the other day when they asked for some money they wouldn’t give the agreed 10% discount as we hadn’t paid up front, after a bit of unpleasantness they agreed to let us have it only to charge us at the increased 2005 rates TOSSERS. But at least it’s the same for everyone as no one knew of their new policy and the extra cost wasn’t much more than two crates of wine (12euros).

The weather has been great but the water situation is pretty serious as it hasn’t rained since November when it caused flash flooding. It rained so hard it flooded our engine compartment which then overflowed into our berths and saloon taking days to dry out books, clothes and photos. The funny side was a lad was due that morning to repair our battery charger and it would have been amusing for him to lift the hatch and look into the berth half a metre full of water and tell us the cause of our electrical problems also the small dehumidifier was working and it looked like it had done a good damned good job! We have paid up to the end of February. The river Guardiana is our next goal, we may stay a few months. We hope to be in Italy by next winter but we’ll see what happens in the meantime. We need to buy some solar panels and fix the engine and install our new windows. We are always in search of work to help our funds and the other day an English guy, Dave, who restores and builds new and traditional wooden Portuguese boats, asked us to rig his latest one as he was too busy. Well, Karl and I fitted the sail, stepped the mast and long boom (sprit). It sailed lovely, so nice that we were going to ask Dave if he only gave us 10 Euros each could we use it the next day to sail up the river on the tide as it is supposed to be beautiful. Well, all was fine until we did another tack ready to sail back downwind, there was a loud crack to which Karl remarked “what the f*** was that?” the mast had broken in half and then when I was supporting it with the long boom that snapped in half also. So Dave now has a bit of work to do but he has asked us to re-rig it when the repairs are done.

8th February 2005 Nearly a week has gone by since I wrote the above and Mair has returned to Guernsey. We made use of the car we hired and visited the mountains followed the coast and up the river Guardiana stopping overnight. It was a nice break away for a couple of days and night. You asked about the ABN Amro racing boat, well it’s quite impressive and sails well and fast. They also do great parties one of which was the launch celebration that we gate crashed along with Buddy! We danced and drank into the early hours courtesy of the bank. The boat and team will be based here for 6 months before heading to Spain.

We really hope you manage to sort out your plans and on your return home pay a visit to Beaucette in Guernsey and meet your fellow Bobs in the Nord. But be prepared for a lot of partying and friendship. The entrance to Beaucette is very impressive but not half as daunting as it looks, just line up the marks and choose the right tide times as it does dry. You could also have an Ewar Hike around the whole Island which is well recommended.

Look forward to seeing you some time in the future.

Boa viagem.

Dennis and Sandra

PS. Is there an address we can use to forward your Bob burgee either back at home or a Marina that you will be calling at? We also have to do the same for everyone else if you are in contact with them can you ask them to contact us hopefully the forum will be up and running in the near future.