Places We’ve Visited

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Porto Santo typically experiences north/northeast winds due to the Azores High. However, in autumn and winter, the high shifts bringing southerly and westerly winds, waves and swells. Boats on both moorings and pontoons jerk and creak, creating sleepless nights. We watched many from the boatyard but in January experienced our first in-water storm.

When the Wind Blows in Porto Santo


After a tricky departure from the pontoon in blustery conditions, we returned to the boatyard to investigate the overheating propeller shaft. We made repairs, replaced damaged cutlass bearings, and recalibrated the alignment between engine and prop shaft. Back in the water, testing showed no overheating, allowing sailing plans to resume.

Why Did We Have An Overheating Propeller Shaft?




We were feeling low after our failed attempt to sail away from Porto Santo. We couldn't fix the propeller shaft bearings until a space came free in the yard. In the meantime, we needed to restore our spirits, so we went in search of some festive fun in Funchal.

Festive Fun in Funchal and Porto Santo





A vie of Porto Santo harbour from above
We had arrived after a boisterous sail from mainland Portugal to the island of Porto Santo. However, on approach to the island, the engine had failed to start. We'd managed to sail into the anchorage outside the harbour, where further tests indicated we definitely had a broken engine. What follows are our attempts to diagnose the problem and find a fix

A Sailboat With a Broken Engine


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Here is the full passage report of our sail to Porto Santo from mainland Portugal. On a sunny Saturday morning, we raised the main, and turned away from mainland Portugal. Our destination: Porto Santo, part of the Madeira archipelago, 435nm away. We initially had stronger wind than expected with a lively sea, but by day 2 this began to settle and enjoy the passage.

Sail to Porto Santo: Our Full Passage Report




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this is a post sent via the SSB. All is ok onboard. Our 24 hour milage was 148nm. The wind was more than expected during Saturday afternoon and evening, leading to a bouncy night as the seas built. Sunday morning the winds eased and are now as forecast, from the […]

Portugal to Porto Santo: Position Report Day 1



The first part in our 2021 refit series. In order to get Emerald out of the water, we have to endure the heart-clenching experience of seeing your precious home be lifted into the air. We look at the factors involved in choosing a boatyard and the types of liftout available for boats.

Refit Part I: Choosing a Boatyard