Transoceanic Expedition 2005: On-board Diary
Under winds of 40 knots. Tuesday, June 7th, 2005
Author: Xavier Pastor
Date: June 7, 2005
When silence reigns on board, it is a sign that no one feels like touching the keyboard. It has been the case with us the last couple of days, when the sea has been quite rough on us. As we draw near Lagos, in the Portuguese Algarve, the final stop in our Atlantic crossing, we are having the worse weather of the entire journey. The arrival in Azores is traditionally considered the end on the crossing, because the distance between Bermuda and Azores is the largest route for those who choose this course. However, outside this archipielago, we still have a good day's run ahead of us. We must not forget that the Azores are the summit of the Atlantic dorsal mountain range. When we set sails from its ports we still have another week of navigation through the Atlantic, before arriving at the first port of the European continent. And the weather is not favoring us on this crossing. We have winds of 35 to 40 knots, with high tides and sometimes really strong tides.
The migration of turtles and the case of Lucky. Sunday, June 5th, 2005
Author: Ester Casado
Date: June 5, 2005
Today, we encountered a small turtle swimming all alone. This reminds me that we are navigating on marine turtle’s main migration route.
Until relatively recently, the life cycle of marine turtles was unknown and it was not until 1986, when the American biologist Archie Carr-one the foremost experts on marine turtles in the world-published his theory that turtles nested on beaches of North America followed a round migratory journey along the Atlantic, using Gulf Currents. I say round journey, because the turtles come back to nest at the same beach where they were born. In 1993, Spanish researchers Ricardo Aguilar, Julio Más and Xavier Pastor-two of them are Oceana members-corroborated this hypothesis, adding new data on populations of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Read More...Night guard duty, daytime guard duty. Saturday, June 4th, 2005
Author: Ester Casado
Date: June 4, 2005
During last night guard duty, the only new development was the proximity of a merchant ship that came close from the port side of the Ranger. Their potent headlights caught us by surprise, and it made us think it was a fishing boat; but they turned the lights off, and kept only the normal lights on. The ship kept coming closer and Bibi identified it as a merchant ship, so it was appropriate to establish radio communication with them to confirm our position.
“ Ship in position 35 degrees 17N and 26 degrees W, this is the Ranger. Do you copy? Over ".
“ Ranger, Ranger, ship in position. I copy. Over. ” They answered alter a brief wait. Whew!
“ We are at 2 degrees from your starboard ” Do you see us? Over
“ Yes, I see you, no problem ”
“ Ok, thank you and have a good watch. Stand by channel 16 ”
They had seen us, so our possible concern was gone.
Read More...Nocturnal luminiscence. Friday, June 3rd, 2005
Author: Ester Casado
Date: June 3, 2005
My first nocturnal guard duty has provided for a perfect lesson taught by Bibi, though young, she is a highly qualified sailor, and with her fresh personality and serenity, she has instantly gained my trust. Throughout my three- hour guard dury shift, Bibi has taught me how to keep watch for any anomaly that may occur along the route, check for wind speed, or keep an eye on the horizon for some ship.
Read More...Diving by the volcano. Thursday, June 2nd, 2005
Author: Xavier Pastor
Date: June 2, 2005
Nearly Fifty miles from the islands of Pico and San Jorge is the location of the Joao de Castro ridge, an underwater active volcano standing at 1,000 meters from the bottom and whose summit is just 13 meters from the surface of the sea. The sight around them is impressive, because of the methane gas emissions in the form of sumbarine fumaroles we can see and in general the hydrothermal activity observed around is worth seeing. There are also very interesting ecosystems emerged in the area: it is an illuminated oasis at surface level, in the midst of a dark world at the heart of the Atlantic.
The visit to the surrounding area of Azores was planned since before our ship arrived in the archipelago, but our interest grew as we read scientific works on this underwater volcano and as we exchanged ideas with researchers from the Department of Oceanography and Fishing from the University of Azores.
Read More...Mountains emerging from the sea. Wednesday, June 1st, 2005
Author: Ester Casado
Date: June 1, 2005
Our arrival at Horta (Faial) marks a new shift of crew members, but crew members at the Ranger are used to changes and always welcome new additions with a smile. Houssine, the underwater photographer, who was with us from the fist day, had to go back home for family reasons. Carlos and Guayo also left us, to take care of activities at the office. Two new sailors have embarked: Xose Manuel Gándara, a Galician based in Pontevedra, whose passion is sailing, and Nano Valdés, from Mallorca, who joins our expedition after navigating for 4 months onboard the Snooty and the writer, Ester Casado, I am the Director’s assistant, at the European office of Oceana.
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Week end in Horta. Tuesday, May 31st, 2005
Author: Xavier Pastor
Date: May 31, 2005
Horta, the capital of Faial, is a small port city that was able to maintain its charm through decades, keeping the style on all buildings, restauring facades, and making sure no urban aberrations are built. They took care of every detail in order to preserve the city’s tradition and uniqueness. At the same time, its inhabitants have gained economic prosperity, and we perceive a sensation of affluence and general wellbeing among its 16,000 inhabitants.
It is a relief for a Mallorcan to find that some island inhabitants from originally poor regions have not necessarily become destructive beasts to the landscapes, cultures and ecosystems. Economic progress is possible while still maintaining respect for all that. Azores is a proof of this. A contributing factor may be the existence of governors among the islands who are endowed of some level of sensibility and decency.
Read More...Period and semi colon. Tuesday, May 31st, 2005
Author: Eduardo de Ana
Date: May 31, 2005
Today is my last day onboard the Ranger, after crossing the Atlantic from Bermudas to Azores. Tomorrow, Ester Casado, Executive Assistant at the European office of Oceana will come onboard, to continue narrating the events on this Transoceanic Expedition that began last January 17th.
Starting tomorrow, I will be at the office again, coordinating the European section of our webpage, together with the rest of the departments, and facilitating the process so thte work we carry out at Oceana for the research and protection of the oceans may be instantly known by anyone who needs it, thanks to internet, this transmission tool capable of reaching the entire world.
Read More...Oceana Wavemakers. Saturday, May 28th, 2005
Author: Eduardo de Ana
Date: May 28, 2005
During our second day in Horta, we were visited by Duncan, one of the more than 300.000 Oceana collaborators from around the world. As soon as he knew, that the Ranger would be in Azores, he got in touch with us, to offer his collaboration
Read More...Welcome to the Ranger in Horta ( Azores ). Friday, May 27th, 2005
Author: Eduardo de Ana
Date: May 27, 2005
After my latest night guard duty in this Atlantic crossing, I have been able to sleep a few hours before Nuño and Carlos played the bugle.
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