Sailing my catamaran
Friday, October 15, 2010
I was pickpocketed!!
So, I thought I would go to the University an use the library. I decided to take the subway. As I got on the train a fellow blocked my way and as I was trying to get past him another person lifted my wallet. I never suspected it while he blocked my way but immediately after wards when the train door closed I realized it. I had my computer and cell phone So I got off at the next stop. Found a MacDonalds looked up CIBC VISA and had my card canceled immediately. Now I will have the 'pleasure' of renewing all my cards (drivers license, etc. etc when I get back!!!!
Porto to Barcelona
We departed Porto the day after a storm. If we had paid attention to the fact that the pilot left the ship even before we were out of the port we might have been prepared for the swells. We were perpendicular to the giant rollers and the ship began to move from 45 degrees to port to 45 degrees to star board - back and forth continuously. It was wild, instant seasickness for most. Several giant crashes were heard from the galley. I am not sure what had been cooking as we left but later that day, those of us who could eat had mac and cheese. For two days we were rolling violently before the swells died down enough for us to resume a more or less normal existence.
The wind was from the south and we were sailing south along Portugal so there were no point in setting sails. On the fourth day we entered the Straight of Gibralta, Africa to the south and Europe to the North, amazing, unbelievable, cool - you take your pick. There were many fishing boats off the coast of Moroco. There were dolphins and pilot whales. We saw oval fins come out of the water. The students called - sharks. Others said turtles. They were of course sunfish. There were seabirds by the hundreds - there was so much life. I cancelled my Biology class and I had all but two of my students up on the main royal and main upper gallant yards. We were there for two ours and must have seen 100 sunfish. We could see deep into the clear water. Some of the sunfish were over a metre in diameter. We lost count of the dolphins but estimated over 1000. There must have been 20 or so pilot whales.
There was quite the current flowing out from the Mediterranean - there were whirlpools and two foot standing waves in bands. Ferries were crossing from Morocco to Spain. Plain ferries and cat ferries. Cruise ships were coming and going and there were of course many freighters.
When we turned north we were hoping for the wind to be behind us. It was for two hours but then changed direction and we actually turned around at night and went backwards - not by choice. The sails came down. I had set the fore course and helped furl for two hours. I must admit it's the sailing I love.
Two days from Barcelona we had a man overboard exercise and then we went swimming. The water was maybe 20 degrees C the water was clear and there was a depth of close to 2 km.
Below is Gibralta in the haze.
A storm had been raging off the French coast and we encountered some large rollers. There were branches floating in the water although we were far from shore so it must have been big. Another storm was advancing so we 'hurried' to get to Barcelona and arrived a day early. In the nine days of sailing from Porto we had sails up twice and for no more than for three hours - so disappointing.
Approaching Barcelona.
The wind was from the south and we were sailing south along Portugal so there were no point in setting sails. On the fourth day we entered the Straight of Gibralta, Africa to the south and Europe to the North, amazing, unbelievable, cool - you take your pick. There were many fishing boats off the coast of Moroco. There were dolphins and pilot whales. We saw oval fins come out of the water. The students called - sharks. Others said turtles. They were of course sunfish. There were seabirds by the hundreds - there was so much life. I cancelled my Biology class and I had all but two of my students up on the main royal and main upper gallant yards. We were there for two ours and must have seen 100 sunfish. We could see deep into the clear water. Some of the sunfish were over a metre in diameter. We lost count of the dolphins but estimated over 1000. There must have been 20 or so pilot whales.
There was quite the current flowing out from the Mediterranean - there were whirlpools and two foot standing waves in bands. Ferries were crossing from Morocco to Spain. Plain ferries and cat ferries. Cruise ships were coming and going and there were of course many freighters.
When we turned north we were hoping for the wind to be behind us. It was for two hours but then changed direction and we actually turned around at night and went backwards - not by choice. The sails came down. I had set the fore course and helped furl for two hours. I must admit it's the sailing I love.
Two days from Barcelona we had a man overboard exercise and then we went swimming. The water was maybe 20 degrees C the water was clear and there was a depth of close to 2 km.
Below is Gibralta in the haze.
A storm had been raging off the French coast and we encountered some large rollers. There were branches floating in the water although we were far from shore so it must have been big. Another storm was advancing so we 'hurried' to get to Barcelona and arrived a day early. In the nine days of sailing from Porto we had sails up twice and for no more than for three hours - so disappointing.Approaching Barcelona.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Sea-legs
You know you have sea legs when the warf is swaying and you need to get back on board not to feel queasy!
I was sitting on the wharf being on gangway watch when I suddenly noticed the wharf moving - it was so real I felt queasy and had to get back on the ship (which was bobbing in a wave from a passing container ship) to feel better.
I was sitting on the wharf being on gangway watch when I suddenly noticed the wharf moving - it was so real I felt queasy and had to get back on the ship (which was bobbing in a wave from a passing container ship) to feel better.
Bib wave
Look at this video from Sørlandet taken by Connors, one of my students.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga7yrEJk6ow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga7yrEJk6ow
Sailing to Porto across the Bay of Biscay.
We left St. Malo sailing with he wind from the north. This meant we could set some sails but the ship was rolling and pitching in what is called a confused sea, waves seemed to be coming from every direction. The combined pitching and rolling was an uncomfortable movement and many people were seasick - more than they had been before and that included me. We passed the famous lighthouse at La Chumen where the picture of the giant wave crashing around it and the man is standing by the door looking.
The second day I awoke with the ship level and pitching lightly and there was no sound from the engine (except for the sound of the generator which is always on). When I got on deck nearly all the sails were set and we were moving at a respectable 8 knots. What a sight. All the square sails except for the royal and the gallant on the mizzen mast were up and the yards were square to the ship. The wind was directly behind us. The Bay of Biscay can be horrendous this time of year but what we experienced was close to ideal.
After two days of this weather the wind died down and the sea became like a gently undulating mirror. We started to see dolphins, many of them. Someone said she saw fifty. I was fortunate enough to see five "playing" in the pressure waves at the bow. They are so agile and fast. We also saw pilot whales and I was lucky to spot a finback whale.
On the morning when we arrived off shore from Porto where the pilot was to board there was no pilot. It took about three hours before he did arrive and we sailed in a giant figure 8 waiting. Fishing is clearly a big enterprise here for there were fishnet buoys everywhere. The person on watch on the forcastle was frequently ringing the large bell, one strike for starboard, two for port and three for straight ahead and the first officer on the stern deck answered with the same sequence with the smaller bell, thus a deep sounding bell answered by the higher frequency bell. It is a very pleasant sounding communication system.
The pilot finally arrived and we sailed into a very industrial port with containers stacked high to the north and a million gulls making a racket over the fishing wharf where many boats were tied up.
Compared to the port in St. Malo, the water in this port was disgusting with all kinds of garbage in the water.
The second day I awoke with the ship level and pitching lightly and there was no sound from the engine (except for the sound of the generator which is always on). When I got on deck nearly all the sails were set and we were moving at a respectable 8 knots. What a sight. All the square sails except for the royal and the gallant on the mizzen mast were up and the yards were square to the ship. The wind was directly behind us. The Bay of Biscay can be horrendous this time of year but what we experienced was close to ideal.
After two days of this weather the wind died down and the sea became like a gently undulating mirror. We started to see dolphins, many of them. Someone said she saw fifty. I was fortunate enough to see five "playing" in the pressure waves at the bow. They are so agile and fast. We also saw pilot whales and I was lucky to spot a finback whale.
On the morning when we arrived off shore from Porto where the pilot was to board there was no pilot. It took about three hours before he did arrive and we sailed in a giant figure 8 waiting. Fishing is clearly a big enterprise here for there were fishnet buoys everywhere. The person on watch on the forcastle was frequently ringing the large bell, one strike for starboard, two for port and three for straight ahead and the first officer on the stern deck answered with the same sequence with the smaller bell, thus a deep sounding bell answered by the higher frequency bell. It is a very pleasant sounding communication system.
The pilot finally arrived and we sailed into a very industrial port with containers stacked high to the north and a million gulls making a racket over the fishing wharf where many boats were tied up.
Compared to the port in St. Malo, the water in this port was disgusting with all kinds of garbage in the water.
There was a Swedish ship in the harbour which is also a ship where highschool students attend classes and learn to sail.
St. Malo
St. Malo was the first port after leaving Kristiansand and with the rather horrendous crossing of the North Sea is was magical to step onto solid land. Arriving by ship gives a sense of emergence. This is a very different feeling that flying to a place gives you. With flying you are suddenly there and it is almost instant. With sailing it is similar to the evolution of life in the sea where some day an organism crawled onto land.
St. Malo, at least the old town where we docked, looked like an ancient town, a fortification, that had stood there for eons. Everything was constructed from rocks, from massive square rocks. It was thus totally surprising to hear that the Americans leveled the place during WWII. The Germans were using it as their headquarters but they got wind that the Americans would bomb the town and they all get out in time.
St. Malo had hundreds of restaurants and each evening we (sometimes just I alone) went out for dinner and had the most delicious seafood dishes (the seafood was so good so why eat anything else) with the most delicious red wine. I know that red wine does not go with fish but in my mouth it does.
There were lots of amazing sights but after seven days it was time to leave, we should only have been there for five days. In fact everyone had itchy feet to leave.
By the way, dod you know that Jacques Cartier was from St. Malo?
St. Malo, at least the old town where we docked, looked like an ancient town, a fortification, that had stood there for eons. Everything was constructed from rocks, from massive square rocks. It was thus totally surprising to hear that the Americans leveled the place during WWII. The Germans were using it as their headquarters but they got wind that the Americans would bomb the town and they all get out in time.
St. Malo had hundreds of restaurants and each evening we (sometimes just I alone) went out for dinner and had the most delicious seafood dishes (the seafood was so good so why eat anything else) with the most delicious red wine. I know that red wine does not go with fish but in my mouth it does.
There were lots of amazing sights but after seven days it was time to leave, we should only have been there for five days. In fact everyone had itchy feet to leave.
By the way, dod you know that Jacques Cartier was from St. Malo?
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