Sundowner II log – 2005 update 11 - E mail from Ewoud (sorry for delay!!)

Buenos diaz Dennis, Sandra (and of course Johnny, Anna and all the others I know in Portimao),

Thanks for your message of yesterday! Great to know that you’re all doing well, but to be honest I can’t imagine something else than you together only having fun. Without any doubt! My English is still not that good as I wished it would be, but I’ll just give it a shot!

First of all I’d like to know how your ‘new year-celebration’ turned out to be; was there some firework? Did all the inhabitants of Portimaos’ harbour party together or in separate groups? And did you get drunk or shall I just skip that one…? :)

Next to that I’m quite interested what the weather in general is like and what you’re doing all day?! I heard something about playing volleyball? How are the others in the harbour? I saw loads of English boats berthed during my stay in the beginning of November, and also quite some magnificent, talented, smart and friendly Dutch people. :P But are those not a bit old for you young minded dudes?

When do you want to go sailing again? What are the further plans? Dennis, weren’t you the one that told me enthusiastic about the train trip you and Sandra wanted to make in the winter? Do you still have those plans?

I think it was somewhere in the end of November that you saw Eep van Triest, the Dutch guy with the blue, little boat? Did you hear anything of him afterwards? What were his purposes? Maybe you’re still in contact with him but otherwise it might be interested to know that Roelof (the Dutch solo sailor you met in Povoa de Varzim at first) is following a Spanish course in Cadiz! And Bas and Alex, the guys of the Double You succeeded crossing the Atlantic and are enjoying the rum punches these days!

Now something about myself, as I promised yesterday. After a lovely period in Povoa de Varzim (with a BBQ, a dinghy race and a fuck-off party at Eduardo’s place) it was time for me - and Roelof - to go on. We went to Figuera da Foz and funny fact is that I beat Roelof with two hours! I was totally exhausted after those fourteen everlasting hours of sailing under spinnaker, but I was first and celebrated this event with a drink – four o’clock in the morning :) After Figuera I went to Nazare and together with Roelof I sailed up from that harbour until Peniche. Roelof decided to call it a day and went – wise as he was – into the safe harbour. I myself wanted to go on to Cascais directly because the harbourmaster of Nazare told me there was some wind from the south upcoming (and I didn’t feel like waiting in Penice). He was talking about force three to four, starting to blow the next day. One a.m. in the morning I found myself back in a little gale which made the sailing less fun, especially the tacking which was my duty. It took me an eternity to reach the safe harbour and when I finally reached the pontoon I’d steered for twenty six hours, nonstop… That was a bit tiring yes!

I stayed in Cascais for eight days and met some old friends again (also Johnny and Anna!). Then I hoisted the sails again and saw the harbours of Sesimbra, Sines and Baleeira (the last one is an anchorage as you might know). I met other sailors and remarked that most of them were older, less into making fun and heaving parties. But I went on, visited Lagos, Alvor and then Portimao! Stayed there for a couple of days to wait for a friend and when he came aboard an awesome period of three weeks was in front of us! It was so nice to talk to someone you know very well, who has the same age and tells you loads of stories about the people you know from home… From a long time ago! Together with him – his name is Bas – I went to Albufeira, Olhao (that harbour is for free!) and afterwards in one line to El Rompido – Spain again! In that place my parents just appeared with the bus (half an hour before we dropped the hook!). They’d put their boat behind a mooring for a period of three months and now came back to continue there voyage (by the way, these days they’re visiting the Canaries). One week long we worked on their boat, hired a car and had a lot of fun with each other. [I almost forget to say that when we left Portimao we saw the “Balder” at anchor, unfortunately the crew was not aboard when we sailed around the blue boat!!]

After seven days Bas and I waved at my parents for a last time and went to the sea again to sail a bit more the south. We entered the ports of Mazagon, Chipiona, Cabo da Roche, Cadiz and Barbate but especially I was a bit disappointed about the sailors we met there – if we already met someone… Bas left, I waited for some westerlies and then continued my voyage. I was so happy and proud to reach Cabo Gibraltar! Wow! I skipped that English harbour (I’m sorry guys but you have to understand that there was some wind and that really is an exception in the Med, so I wanted to take the benefits!) and sailed on to Sotogrande, a terrible glamour harbour. Marbella followed and was even worse. Then I decided to skip that ugly part of Spain and make a big journey. I found Almerimar on my way and that was a nice place with a lot of sailing boats awaiting the summer season. I was very happy with some contacts I found there , but also in Amerimar the same story if you’re talking about the people; retired, boring etc. After a week I went on to Aguilas. Maybe you can remember a Dutch trimaran entering Povoa, with four people aboard? I called them with my telephone when I anchored outside Aguilas because they life there! I had two lovely days and then left the place again. I got out again and – as usual – there were a lot of gusts while on open water. This time, however, the gusts were so strong that I was forced to totally reef the sails and search for shelter as soon as possible. Again I was very pleased with my small boat, because of the size only I was able to find a very small berthing place in the marina of Cartagena. I didn’t have that many contacts in the harbour and so the Christmas celebration was a bit silent for me, but with all the sunshine, a lack of Christmas trees and snow I almost forgotten that others were eating turkey while I went to the Burger King! I really don’t have sad feelings about those two days!

The 27th of December Daan – another friend – took the plane and joined me for two weeks. Unfortunately the first four days there was a gale and afterwards no wind at all! We had to cancel our plans to go to Ibiza and celebrate the New Year up there, and waited in Cabo de Palos for a little blow to appear. A quarter to twelve we saw a little rocket flying through the air but afterwards there was nothing! No party at all! A bit disappointing it was but we promised each other that we would have a big big party on Ibiza in two days…! But because of a even bigger big big high the wind didn’t appear for a long time. Under engine we reached the harbour of Alicante and Daan left BOB eight days later. He went home and I stayed in the marina, alone. Hardly anyone to speak with.

I was really hesitating if this was my dream. I called my mum and dad several times and we came until the conclusion that I was damn lucky with the period which I had had, that most of the Spanish coast in the Med was unpleasant and that I just had to give it another try. Every journey has it’s ups and downs and this was a down. So when – after 18 frustrating days with a feeling of more or less isolation – the wind finally returned I was very happy to go sailing again!

After bringing a visit to the marina of Calpe, I left the mainland and got to Formentera where I am right now! It’s a lovely island, the nature is really beautiful, the people are friendly and I just love the feeling that I’m away from the ‘big world’ for a while. However, still I hardly met any sailors and also the last trip was one with terribly much gusts, unpredictable seas and a sometimes suddenly changing wind direction…

Right now I think the Mediterranean is not really a sailing area I like, but that’s purely my opinion, based on a very short period of sailing in this sea! I don’t want to dissuade you from going in to the Med, not at all! But this is how I feel about it.

These days I’m searching for new purposes. The idea of continuing my journey to Greece is cancelled, maybe it’s interesting to complete my voyage around Spain and Portugal by sailing to the upper northern part of Spain. And, for instance, go through the Garonne canal and sail home via the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel?! I don’t know, and still I’ve got half a year left before I have to go studying so there’s enough time left to think en enjoy!

So that’s my story, I’d love to hear something of you guys! You know my email-address now!

Best luck to all of you and greets!

Ewoud

P.S. On the internet I saw that there’s a Dutch VOR70 (a 70 feet boat which will be taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race) being prepared in Portimao. Did or do you notice anything about that project? And if so, do you maybe have some pictures of that awesome yacht? :)
Hehehe, an online BOB forum! Sounds great! Already had a look on your website the other day and saw my own BOB picture; awesome! Just to be sure I also send my mail to this address.
Keep on going dudes!
The Dutch BOB-member!
P.S. When do I finally receive my BOB-flag?