Ireland at last... and France!

As I said before, we did not have much time to enjoy the Acores. Once tied to the dock and while clearing customs, I went to check out if our painting from last crossing was still there… and I found it. This is one of the traditions here when you cross, to make a paiting representing your boat and the team. Time was too short this time to make one… what a shame really!




We just had time to do the washing while enjoying a few drinks in the sun with some spanish guys we met at the pub, and with whom we ended up at the restaurant and spent the evening with. Unfortunately not much time to visit Horta, a lovely town, as after Jordi checked the weather forecast the day after, green light was given to leave right away. We went shopping and left in the middle of the day.

We left on a gorgeous friday, with an outstanding view on Pico, the summit of next island, clear for once!

Not much to say really in terms of sailing, pretty laid back, not much wind, on the nose or 15 to 30 knots downwind.
Only one exception a day where we reached 12.6 knots on a surf… nice but nothing compared to the 19 knots we made on a surf during our trip from Bermuda to the Acores!






We celebrated Jordi’s 32nd birthday on the 24th of May and Rachel baked a strawberry cheesecake, Jordi's favorite dessert; Then, it was Rachel’s 37th on the 27th, a good occasion for me to make a chocolate mousse with pieces of caramelised orange skin... delicious... No special occasion needed for a tarte Tatin and its chantilly surrounded by chocolate sauce… miam! Nice to be able to cook on a flat surface, the advantage of a catamaran compared to a mono hull. We were usually cooking for lunches (Rachel did mainly as I was on watch) and she baked several times some fresh bread which we enjoyed heaps.


We hardly saw the sun on this trip, a thick fog covering the whole white sky, with not much visibility, giving us the impression we were somewhere on the Lochness in Scotland! Back to wearing wet socks, and freezing at night because of the humidity! It gave birth to interesting fashions…

Again, many dolphins on the way… and no fish! Damn it! We really did not understand what happened and why we did not get lucky once!
We had at least a quiet trip, no storm and no stress… funny how finally the part of the trip we were fearing the most turned out to be the easiest!

Saturday the 31st of May, here we are in Cork, Southern Ireland, safe and sound and happy to be on land again. The owner of the boat welcomed us warmly and after a late night, I flew back to France, happy to see my uncle, aunt and grandma.
Now, I have to sort out my life and decide what I want to do and where I want to live... meanwhile, I have enjoyed a 13 hours sleep and feel more rested. Next, try to get myself into a new life, a normal one maybe ???