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Firefly - Firefly now heading to Portosin



Firefly left ARC Europe when the fleet departed to Santa Maria. We are heading independently to Portosin in Ria Muros on NW Spain....we left Ponte Delgado on Sao Miguel at 1200 on Friday 8th June in order to get ahead of the light winds now surrounding the Azores. We have sailed 310nm so far and have 540nm to go.
 
However, we are still in touch with the fleet via SSB Radio and via the earlier net we heard that Lumikki has all of the wind as usual....we wish everyone bon voyage.
 
Our intrepid crewman Mike was replaced by Steve just before we left. In fact Firefly left the dock as Steve came aboard. Mike was a ‘greenhorn’ long distance sailor .... and he was the author of the prize winning poet that we posted on our blog during the passage from Bermuda. Below is a copy of the letter we have just sent to Mike’s better half, Gráinne, thanking her for letting him join us for the passage.....
 
 
Dear Gráinne
 
We have been meaning to write for a while.... We had expected to have to report something like; sorry we didn’t realise the volcano on Pico was active, that we were sure the bike brakes had been tested or that the bull was just being friendly!. Fortunately none of these points needed to be made and we hope that Mike is now back in your safe hands. So thank you for lending him to team Firefly and the trip would not have been the same without him; anyone who wins the team a bottle of wine for his creative and amusing blog writing is a worthy crew, his sailing skills were not bad either.Also his donation to the drinks cabinet on his departure was very well received and generous.
 
There are a few things we though you might like to know that we have learnt;
 
He has a annoying habit of walking down mountains with at least one hand in his pocket yet still managing to catch a maiden in distress on her way down,  while the rest of us struggled with all hands and feet in contact with terra firma and no maidens in sight!
 
I know you were hoping that this trip would get such sailing antics out of his system, we’re afraid this may not be the case; we don’t think his study of the for sale adds in our boating magazines was for casual interest and you may hear the strange words Hallberg Rassy frequently spoken on his return and excessive scanning of yacht broker web sites. Sorry he might be hooked so it is probably best to put your requirements into the boat specification as soon as possible e.g. warm water sailing, two hulls are better than one and definitely an on board Jacuzzi!
 
Fortunately his paramedic and rescue skills were not needed on board although he was diagnosing for family at home and word got around the fleet of his skills so don’t be surprised if his helicopter makes the odd detour to meet up with new sailing friends when they need help!
 
So thank you, he was a great sport and crew mate.
 
best regards
 
Paul and Peter



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