Greetings from Viva!
I must apologize for the delay of this log, which will be the final installment of B´s Deep Thoughts aboard Viva. Compared to life at sea, where time seems to be a limitless resource, the hours spent on land pass like seconds. One minute we´re taking on fuel upon arrival, and the next thing I know three days have flown by.
So I guess I just gave away the ending, but.... VIVA MADE IT! For Petra this is the culmination of a journey that began with the ARC crossing of November 2007. 19 months and one circumnavigation later Viva is safely at rest for the moment in Lagos. Neptune and the Atlantic certainly made us work for our success right up to the very end. The final leg from Ponta Delgada to Lagos was, in a word, brutal. Strong winds and high seas right on the nose for 6 days. It was a wet and wild journey. Sadly it was too much for Hugo, our newly resurrected Autohelm. After being repaired in Horta (see previous log entry), Hugo performed admirably for the first 5 days of the trip before deciding that he once again needed a rest. R.I.P Hugo.
After surviving the fierce wind and waves with all sails and body parts intact, you would think that we were deserving of a nice relaxing cruise into port. However, this was not to be the case. On the final day, after the winds had died and the sea had calmed, in rolled the fog. Sailing past Cabo de Sao Vincente and Ponta da Sagres, we should have been gazing at some of the most spectacular cliff coastline in Portugal. Instead we were straining to see the end of our bow. To my untrained eye the similarity between the caldeira at the top of Faial and the Portuguese cliffs was uncanny. Both are a lovely shade of solid gray. Keeping one eye constantly on the radar screen, we were able to successfully navigate the soup with only one close call. At one point a fishing boat emerged along our side, close enough for us to buy some fresh lunch if we wanted. It was with a great feeling of satisfaction that we finally glimpsed the breakwater entrance to the harbor of Lagos.
Needless to say, after enduring that particular leg, the beautiful weather, beaches, bars, and people of Lagos have been most enjoyable. Sunday night was the final awards dinner of the 2009 ARC Europe. Another wonderful evening thanks to the ARC organization. Last night Josh, Giulia, and myself treated Petra to a Thank You fish and sardine dinner at a great tiny local restaurant. I´ve been saying a lot of farewells and best wishes the past few days as crews and yachts embark for home or the next adventure. However, the hardest good bye to say will come on Wednesday when it is finally time to leave Viva. Hallberg Rassy builds a nice solid boat (I was especially grateful for the strong hull and rigging on the last leg) and Viva performed wonderfully. I´ll never forget her for carrying me safely across the Atlantic on my first crossing.
Thank you, as well, readers for following Viva´s ARC Europe journey. I hope you´ve enjoyed these little slices of life on board.
So long and best wishes,
B.
(aka Brian Roesler)