May 30, 2015

May 30, 2015

Night fall the morning before our arrival in New Bedford, MA the whole crew is on deck sputtering with puns and yokes as the bond of four people on a nine-day sea voyage solidifies. A unique way to form newfound friendships- enclosed spaces, wild sightings and fated by the raw elements. For much on the sojourn, we were the only humans within hundreds and hundreds of miles, hopefully we have done a fine job in representing humanity to the likes of the creatures and elements in the Atlantic, creating the likes of our own sort of community aboard a mass of canvas, fiber glass and teak.

During mid-watch, 10 pm to 2pm, Maravilha was surrounded by a large pod of dolphins- rambling and glimmering through the blackened ocean. It seemed as if they were escorting us into familiar waters, welcoming us back home. A US Naval Warship hailed all nearby vessels, warning them to stay 5,000 feet away. With chuckles, we refrained from replying that we were the US Naval Peace Ship, and if they came within 5,000 feet of us we would launch our kindness missiles.  The feeling arises as it does time and time again, with endless night hours of  great concentration on what might pass into your 360 degree orb of ocean- you begin to see things, things that are not really there. Imagination expands and extrapolates- bioluminescence begins to look like people holding flashlights, the darkened waters and cloud seem to be emulating the outline of a ships… Do you see that there- that sea-nymph maid of the mer? I now understand how the great mystical tales of the sea and its' fantastic creatures have come about. What long days of salt and sea does to you…

The pure thrill at the notion of getting the first glimpse of the islands as we near the home port was interrupted by the thick mist of fog that settled. Eyes were peeled for navigational lights, darkened silhouettes appearing through the fog. The  great mist prevailed, night into day-and we saw not a speck of green earth until the very last moments, entering the harbor with our caravan of good friends and family, coming out into the fog to welcome us home. Once fastened to the dock, the crew was crowned with vines and flowers, medals of starfish and sprayed with sweet champagne.  Reeling with joy at the lovely crowd gathered to welcome us, the prospect of digging our toes into solid ground, we celebrated the great victory.

Bravo- Maravilha completes the last 1,500 mile leg, as well as completing the full 9,000 mile trans-Atlantic cruise. Nine crew members enjoyed different parts of the trip, some staying on for multiple legs, and the Captain remained. With immense gratitude for the safety and success of the entire cruise, we thank all of those- and there were many- who helped in making this trip come to life.  

And so the story goes- Maravilha returns to the simple joys of Buzzards Bay, captain and crew to their respective lives- stories in hand, sea in heart.  

A toast to the Atlantic!

MEP

May 29, 2015

Sun up revealed glassy, rounded waters. Muted, silky colors moved smooth like thick ink, stillness enveloped us. To our stern a thick line of plump cumulus clouds, like a river in the sky, signifying the crossing of the Gulf Stream. The rumble-hum of the engine set the melody for the day, winds lying low. The celebratory final full day of sailing- we had freshly baked cranberry orange bread for morning meal.

Puttering about in the heat of the day, relishing the space and water and strange things that reveal themselves spuratically if you are watching close enough. Hours spent with eyes fixed upon the sea, enthralled by the energy waves lifting up tons and masses of sea, rolling them under us. We approach the Canyon, and the shallowing waters and closeness to land lends to abundant wild life. Jellies, weeds of the sea, tiny tiny fish, minature specks of life float by our yellow ship. Dolphins gallop alongside our hull, quite a magnificent sight.

In the interim, Victor is down below putting on the Elvis 68 Comeback DVD, jamming out and singing a tune here and there. What a fitting way to return to North America says Reese, to the sounds of the King of Rock..

Boat Delivery Bingo. Ever heard of it? Probably not, a coin termed aboard the S.S.V. Maravilha by documentations master Reese Pacheco. Seen dolphins? Great Check off B1. Man of wars, abandoned ships, Marlins, Mahi Mahi's you name it. Check, check. All that is left for the completion- a whale sighting. Low and behold, there was something big and black and shiny right in front of us- a great sperm whale. The massive sturdy creature moved around us and swam south. Bingo.

Mahi Mahi a la yesterday and canned brown bread for dinner. Quite the feast.

Boat fashion #2: Night Edition: Bright red squall suits complete with fleece onesies. Jedi Master Denis says "Welcome to New England. You put on pants and hat now."

 

MEP

 

May 28, 2015

I was really stretching the fibers of my creative extrapolation on what I would write in today's blog, as up until the events of mid-afternoon there was merely the usual 360 degree view of the ocean and little excitement unless you count turning on the engine due to little winds. The strange and intersting afternoon began. As the sun piled high above us, Denis spotted a rather large curved semi-floating debris on the horizon, seeming to resemble a hull of some sort. From afar the reflecting mass rose and vanished with the swell, glinting in the heat of the day. Altering our course to get a closer look, we saw that it was an abandoned catamaran- with a torn off deck and no mast or sails in sight. Calm, disturbing. We notified the coast guard of the discovery and it's location. The eery loneliness of the boat and the untold story of how it came to this tattered state cast a strange and quiet mood, a surreal sight to take in. Passing the wreck seemed ever so slow and elongated, all eyes were fixed upon the anomaly and the waters ahead in case of scattered debris.

Onward and North we continued. The wreck was no more than a glinting speck behind us when, wham! The crinkled coca cola can hit the deck. [The Coke Can-No Pole method was taught to Victor on their last trip from the Canaries to St. Lucia by Rui. The can is rigged so when there is pressure on the line, it hits the deck to let everybody know there is a fish, and also scare the bananas out of us since we had just passed a wreck.] Nonetheless, all crew went into action. The ziplocs! The water jug! Where is the knife! Get the gloves! Lightning indigo, lemon yellow and crisped cobalt muscle and fin whistled through the water, sending up spray and churned water as the pull in begins. A massive four foot long Mahi Mahi is lifted from the sea. A gorgeous creature, beautiful beast. Moments of respect and appreciation for the fish as the brilliant color fades. The fish is cut apart, filleted, guts thrown to the bird freinds and celebrated.

A strange and interesting afternoon, to say the least.

MEP

May 27, 2015

This morning we awoke to a few nudges to our hydro-generator by a mysterious watery shadow. The hydro-generator is a small propeller-like device that provides all the electricty for us as long as we are moving at a speed above six knots. A massive eight foot long Marlin seemed to think the whirling white pinwheel was some sort of fishy food and kept nuzzling its beak into it. The surprise visitor was welcomed with fascination, although we were concerned he would jump straight over our transom into into the cockpit. Marlin kept at the hungry antics, swishing about to keep up with the generator, long and strong fish body slicing through our wake.

Prior to this morning escapade, night watch consisted of Captain Pinheiro attempting to exercise his vocal chords with the songs of the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, and Dulce Pontes, as well as a sighting of the half moon fading into red and falling into the Ocean on the Western side! What a sight!(Some might call this moon setting). Those off-watchers attempting to get some shut eye exclaimed that the experience in the cabin was comparable to a wild Alaskan sleigh ride, waking up with wide eyes grabbing onto to the bulkhead. A wild, wild ride for those below deck.

Second round of bucket showers today- yes we like to stay clean aboard the S.S.V. Maravilha. Reese sports his 'boat fashion', consisting of navy fishing boots and slim grey short shorts- this, vogue. Portuguese man of war count up to twenty eight as of late this afternoon. I type this as the sun falls to our Western side, fading through amber, soft rose and fizzing gold. Gulf Stream to morrow.

MEP

May 27, 2015

1100 EST

Position 33 37.6N   70 19.8W

Distance to Padanaram 477 miles

Moving along nicely. Clear skies and an easterly breeze from the East at 15kts. We expect to enter the Gulf stream early tomorrow morning and then aim at our destination….Padanaram Harbor. Thus far we've sailed approximately 1000 miles since last Thursday….most smooth, fast sailing with the exception of one bumpy day. Meals on board have been fantastic with the creative touch from our steward, Mia!

This morning we had a visit from a 6- 8 ft Marlin who was attacted to our hydrogenerator. He/she made numerous charges at it before figuring out that it isn't edible and leaving us. It was quite entertaining.

Tonight's dinner will be spaghetti and meatballs with fresh pineapple for desert….very nice.

Until tomorrow,

vcp

May 26, 2015

A sun-filled breezy day unfolds before us, long deserved after yesterday's fifteen foot swells and grey skies. The waves looked as if they were great sea walls rolling underneath us continously. Revealed within these watery walls were three sleek dolphins galloping through the blue, a good sign in the midst of the grey mood. As Denis put it after his mid-day attempt at napping, it was as if we were riding in a washing machine- spin cycle. Living aboard a boat in the midst of the sea requires a great deal of acrobatics, and a good deal of humor as we find ourselves stumbling through the galley, grabbing hold of whatever is near to balance in the head, hip-checking walls and sliding across the floors to reach the cabins. Today the rocking has eased and we are making our way with good speed. On the horizon a mast was spotted mid-morning- and we befreinded a French sail boat 'Fil Au Vent'  heading to New York from St. Maarte-, who was in need of a weather report, we gladly shared. We now have a cheery caravan heading for the Gulf Stream, estimated time of entry into stream- Thursday early morning! Wooohoo!

MEP

May 25, 2015

Winds have stayed consistent and skies bright for the past four days, today we have a bit more cloud cover, rain and fluctuating winds. The crew is breaking into the foul weather gear, with hopes sun shines again very soon and we can shed these waterproofing layers. We are nearly to the halfway point, and approaching the gulf stream within the next couple of days. A Shearwater Tern befreinded us, enjoying our ginger snaps and staying close astern for the entirety of yesterday, picking at our scraps as we rinse our dishes off the stern. Hours and days blur, as the watch schedule takes over- harnesses strapped on, sails adjusted and course set- dawn and dusk, day and night all encompassing these tasks to move us forward. Nothing a bit of fresh fruit and some bright music  to turn around a rainy day.

MEP

May 21, 2015

So it begins, with a crew of four: Victor Pinheiro (captain & peruser of the high seas) , Denis Walsh (watch captain & tale-spinner), Reese Pacheco (deckhand & videographer) and Mia Pinheiro (deckhand & steward extraordinaire) .

After two days of preparations and provisioning we have released our lines from the volcanus St. John, USVI and begin our traverse to New Bedford, MA.

We have already been invaded by a wild donkey on our trek across the island, ousted a cheeseburger sized spider from aboard Maravilha, met a few funny fellows claiming the cats had more welfare than the people, and heard a slew of wild sea tales provided by Denis.

Me thinks this'll be a jolly good journey.

Stuff about conditions, wind and weather here….wind is from ENE 11-14 kts and is forcasted to stay this way for the next few days

MEP & VCP

Fish & Beautiful Skyscapes

Rainbow after a squall

Ryan Hughes with the catch of the day - Mahi Mahi

Full Moon over the Atlantic

Rui Guedes from Horta - Faial, our resident Marine Biologist and Master Fisherman with a "Wahoo"

Finish Line Photos



Rounding Pigeon Island to the Finish

 

 

 

 

What a crew!

 

 

 

 

1/4 mile from the Finish

 

 

 

 

 

The Columbus Hat!

Maravilha crossed the finish line on Thursday, December 11, 2014 at 06:24:44 completing the 2800 mile passage in 16 days, 23 hours, 24 minutes, and 44 seconds. We were the 63rd boat to finish out of 192 boats in the fleet. Today is Sunday,  December 14, 2014, and at present 36 boats are still at sea. Our actual finish position within our division will not be determined until all boats are in and corrected time calculations are completed. All is well on board....no significant breakage. Some damage to the spinnaker pole and some other very minor items but all in all not bad.

 

I will be posting more pictures in the next few days from onboard during the trip ..... so check back in!

 

Maravilha in St Lucia

A Happy Crew in St Lucia

Done...Pronto...Finito...No Mas...Sayonara!

We have arrived....Thursday, December 11, 2014, 06:24:44 am, after 16 days, 23 hours, 24 minutes, and 44 seconds of sailing across the Atlantic from Gran Canaria to St Lucia, Maravilha slipped around Pigeon Island and crossed the finish line in Rodney Bay. A very happy moment for the crew.

We were greeted at the dock by ARC staff who took our lines and handed us rum punches and a welcome basket from St Lucia....Wow...what a feeling!

Then came some champagne and a visit by Mom & Dad who arrived in St Lucia last Sunday.

Only a few minor chores this morning and then some well deserved R&R....and ofcourse that cheese burger and ice cold beer. Tomorrow morning we will tackle our to do list and get Maravilha back in top shape.

Stay tuned as over the next few days I will be posting pictures of the crossing.

We hope you've enjoyed following along as much as we enjoyed sharing this adventure with you.

Until tomorrow.

vcp

Day 16, December 10, 2014

Position   14 31.6N    59 07.4W

Distance to go:   109 miles

All is well and the end is near. Our expected arrival time is around daybreak tomorrow. The wind has held, albeit, on the lighter side but still enough to keep boat speed in the 6 kt range. It is very hot…oppressively hot…with the wind from astern there is little cooling efect from the breeze on deck. Any shadey spot has become prime real estate on deck. We have begun some pre-arrival chores such as completing individual as well as vessel customs declarations; health declarations, etc.. Also completed a minor chafe repair to the mainsail at  the lower spreader. Once we round the northern tip of St Lucia, the last few miles will be upwind. In preparation for that we have also removed the staysail and the inner forestay to make tacking upwind more efficient. This afternoon we will be doing some housekeeping to get the interior spruced up for arrival. Basically we are keeping busy so we're not watching the clock tick down. Tonight we will set our watches back one more hour to St Lucia time (1 hour ahead of EST).

Dinner last night was roasted chicken with spanish rice….very nice!

We presently have three boats in sight.

Looking forward to a nice juicey bacon cheese burger with a tall cold beer for lunch tomorrow!

Until tomorrow

vcp

Day 15, December 9, 2014

Position    15 08.1N     56 19.3W

Distance to go:  276 miles

All is well. A bit slow going yesterday. Lost the wind from late morning to early evening with wind speed dropping to 6 kts from astern (East). Not a lot of forward movement in those conditions. That pretty much ended our fantasy of a Wednesday arrival. The wind came back up late last night and has remained in the 13 - 16 kt range. Although it has backed to ESE we have not yet seen the forecasted ENE which should remain for the next few days. I do hope the shift happens as we have positioned ourselves south of the rhumb line in anticipation of the NE shift giving us a better -faster sailing angle to approach the finish.

The weather is quite nice…clear skies…sunny…80 degrees. No new fish to report, however, much heavier bird activity as we approach land. The seabird book is out as we do our best to indentify the species we are looking at. It is interesting to note that the birds seem as interested in us as we are in them. They approach and will do several laps overhead around the boat as if curiously assessing "what is this?", as we sit below looking up at them asking the same question…curious creatures we are.

Started working on a "to do" list of repairs/maintenance projects to complete once we arrive. Thankfully it is a short and rather simple list.

Last night for dinner was "Yahoo Beans" and brown bread from a can. Now you're probably asking what are "Yahoo Beans"? So…I'll tell you...

When my daughter, Victoria and Mia were much younger and Maria was working at the hospital I often found myself making a mid day snack for the girls and I on Sunday afternoons. So the three of us would go into the kitchen and pull down a couple of cans of B&M Baked beans and then procede to jazz them up a bit. We start by sauteeing diced onions;green peppers; and garlic. Add to that some diced chourico and hot dogs. Once that’s all browned add in the beans….then add a splash of ketsup; dijon mustard; molasses; honey; worcestershire sauce; and minces dried ancho chili peppers (just a pinch -potent stuff)….hence the "Yahoo".

There you have it…Baked beans with a kick. They were never quite the same twice as often ingredients were substituded but generally this is it. The girls loved the spontanaity of this cooking adventure as did I.

I believe the crew enjoyed it as the bowls were wiped clean…very nice!

So for the next 36 to 48 hours we will vigilantly continue the useless and non-productive exercise of watching the remaining miles count down on the GPS screen. I don't know why we do it but it happens everytime …. maybe by watching…the miles tick away faster?

Until tomorrow

vcp

Day 14, December 8, 2014

Position  15 44.8N     54 10.2W

Distance to go:   405 miles

All is well. Interesting day yesterday as we dealt with heavy squall activity all afternoon. We had been advised that once we cross longitude 52 30 that this was likely, and so it was. Unlike other isolated squall activity we've encountered along the way, this was a well organized large system with no hope of being able to slip between squalls. Within 3 minutes the wind went from 12 kts SE to 27 kts NE. The sky turned dark gray as though it was dusk but it was only 1:30PM. Then came the rain…Oh the rain! It was the hardest and longest period of rainfall I've ever seen. The force of the rainfall was such that it had a flattening effect on the seas turning the ocean surface into a marble looking surface. The splash of the rain on the ocean surface created a low lying mist which was whisked away in sheets by the wind. In hindsight, a rather spectacular display of nature. However at the present time we weren’t so impressed. Unlike other less organized squalls which we've encountered which last 20 minutes or so, this one went on for one hour and forty-five minutes with lighter rain lasting for another hour after that. Fortunately, the wind never became excessive and we stayed in control by dropping the mainsail and pressing on with a reduced jib. After that, the rest of the night was beautiful. The wind returned to the SE 13 -15 kts and behind us we enjoyed the view of a bright rainbow arching across a golden colored sky.

Sailing was good through out the night with good speed maintained. At present the wind remains from the SE and the spinnaker is flying. We expect one more windshift later tonight to the NE where it is forecasted to remain for the next few days.

Dinner last night ws roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and brown gravey…very nice.

While we can't see them there are four boats near us showing up on our instruments (AIS). As we approach the island over the next two days I expect more boats be converging on the destination now only a couple of days away.

Until tomorrow

vcp

Day 13, December 7, 2014

Position   16 16.6N     51 43.6W

Distance to go:  550 miles

All is well. Nice run over the las 24 hours, we covered 184 miles. The wind remains with us at about 15kts from the SE. It has been cloudy with frequent showers. Thunder and lightening is around but off to our north.

So…we continue to make good progress towards St Lucia. Arrival day still looks like Wednesday/Thursday, although recent progress has made Wednesday a bit more possible. Today is week two of the mustache contest so it is a mandatory shave day. I would say Ryan still holds a slim lead with Rui in second, I a close third, and Brad a distant fourth.

Caught another Mahi - Mahi this morning (80cm).

High-lite of the day was a visit from two Mink Whales approximately 15 feet in length, greenish/gray in color. They surfaced behind us and then played in our bow wake for five minutes or so. They spouted and exposed their dorsal fins several times and rolled to show us the white of their bellies. Its as if they know they are entertaining us…magnificant!

Dinner last night was spaghetti and meatballs with marinara sauce…very nice

Until tomorrow

vcp 

Day 11, December 5, 2014

Position   18 11.7N     45 59.3W

Distance to go:   897 miles

All is well. Another nice day. Sunny and clear. The rain squalls have ceased at least for now. Wind is a bit lighter from the SE today. At present the spinnaker is up and we're moving along at 7+ knots…quite nice. Starting to see some sargasso weed floating which is typical of this area…also a bird or two where they have up until now been non-existant. Very pleasnt night last night running down wind in 13 -16 kts of wind with a near full moon. The deck was fully illuminated…no flashlights needed. All is well on board, no problems to report.

Another fish onboard about an hour ago. A Mahi-Mahi measuring one meter (the big one). Presently being filleted and into the freezer it goes.

Dinner last night was pan seared pork loin with a red wine and balsamic vinegar sauce accompanied with roasted potatoes and carrots with fresh melon for desert…very nice.

One boat in sight today.

Until tomorrow

vcp

Day 10, December 4, 2014

Position  18 55.2N   43 33.9W

Distance to Go:  1041 miles

All is well. Enjoying nice weather and sunshine after a less than pleasant night last night. Rain squall after rain squall and irradic winds made for a long wet night. Winds veered from south to northeast in short time spans. Velocity was also up and down, requiring constant sail adjustment, amidst the pelting rain…not so nice. However, that's over for now and we're drying everything out from the interior of the boat to clothing. Sailing along at good speed now down wind ofcourse. We expect to pass the 1000 mile mark this evening…very exciting.

Caught another fish earlier today….A Wahoo this time (70cm). Very pretty creature…resembles a mackeral with its zebra skin pattern but much larger. It is already filleted and in the freezer for a future dinner.

Last night's dinner was Baked Mahi-Mahi with a garlic butter sauce (prepared by Rui) and pasta marinara, followed by a chocolate cake baked by Brad…very nice.

Two boats in sight today.

Until tomorrow

vcp

Day 9, December 3, 2014

Position   20 11.5N   40 57.7W

Distance to Go:  1203 miles

All is well. Breaking news: "Leopard of Finland" finished today smashing the course record by 2 days, finishing in 8 days 14 hours. Quite impressive. Onboard "Maravilha" we continue to push along. Had a good day yesterday, 179 miles in 24 hours. We expected to cross the 1000 mile mark on Friday but now it looks as though that may happen tomorrow. Weather conditions have been very stable and consistent. Winds in the 15 -20 kt range…abit lighter during the day and a bit stronger at night. We are now experiencing fewer squalls then just a few days ago which is nice. At present there are two boats in sight with several others on AIS. No new fish to report. The wind direction has been veering from east to southeast so we keep adjusting from a broad reach to a down wind wing/wing run. It is expected to back to the northeast in the coming days with similar velocities. Aside from the dailly chores and maintenance not too much more to report. When not on watch time is occupied by reading, watching movies, staring endlessly into the vast blue horizon and thinking of all sorts of things, etc. I'm well into my second book (Christianity - an illustrated history by Time Life Books), very interesting.

Dinner last night was Lasagna with steamed zuchinni….very nice. Looks like the Mahi-Mahi is on the menu for tonight!

Until tomorrow

vcp

Day 8, December 2, 2014

Position   21 34.2N    38 15.2W

Distance to finish:  1371 miles

All is well. Earlier today we crossed the half way mark. Now counting down not up and days remaining are (should be) in the single digits. Very encouraging. The next milestone is to break the 1000 mile mark, which should occur sometime early Friday. Psychologically it is much more soothing not to consider this one very long trip but instead a series of shorter ones. We continue to sail in the very typical trade-wind conditions… Easterlies 15 - 20 kts with an occasional squal to keep it interesting. Sunny and hot today (82 degrees).

Mahi-Mahi onboard….yes we landedour seconf fish today (60cm), Already filletted and ready for tomorrow nights dinner (conditions permitting).

At present there are no boats in sight but do have two showing up on the AIS.

Diinner last night was roasted chicken with pesto pasta and roasted fresh carrots…very nice.

We crossed the 37th meridian today so we once again set out watches back. We are now only 3 hours from EST.

We heard the Patriots lost…too bad…but Benfica won….nice!

Until tomorrow

vcp

Day 7, December 1, 2014

Position   22 41.17N     35 03.36W

Distance to Finish:  1559 miles

All is well. The wind shifted due East so we ran a bit North of the rhumb line thru the night. At dawn we jibed over and are now running downwind along the rhumb line in 15kts of wind. The skies are clear and it getting warmer (78 degrees). Another day of solid progress. We expect to cross the half way point tomorrow morning….YAHOO! We can soon begin to count down days in single digits. Some lighter winds are expected the next two days so we will try to position ourselves over the next 24 hours to in the stronger wind bands….we'll see how that goes. Everything aboard is good…the mustache contest is progressing well.

Dinner last night was spaghetti and meatballs with grape tomato and cucumber salid….very nice.

No new fish catches to report….except for a little fishing prank. While Ryan and Rui were down below doing dishes, Brad and I pulled in the lore and hooked on a pair of sandles and underwear and let the line back out. When it set it popped the baloon and we yelled "fish on". Out came Rui and Ryan to tend the line. Comments like: "oh it’s a big one"…as it got closer…"maybe a Tuna"….as it got even closer…."jee, this is different"…."Oh look it's someones shoes"….Imagine that!  Yes I have it on film…very…very funny. Hey there's not a lot to do out here!

Until tomorrow

vcp