I just had two of the worst things happen this morning for the entire trip.
After getting fuel, I went to store to get a few provisions, tomatoes, cheese, sausage and more white wine.
I figure that was enough for 7days.
After the market, I’m walking back to boat and I realize my passport is not in my back pocket. Right away, I realize it probably came out when I pulled my phone out.
Ok. But I hoped I left it on boat.
I get to boat, enter thru the pilot house, take a quick look for my passport on helm, no luck, come bounding down the stairs, with grocery bag in each hand, sunglasses on, turn left for galley and guess what I don’t see?
I’d left the engine room hatch open, while fueling and I step onto air.
My whole life passes before me, well not really, just the last second.
Luckily my momentum allowed me get my arms and elbows above galley counter.
So no damage done.
I’m thanking everyone for that and figure I’ll find my passport now.
No luck.
So I’m ready to retrace my last stops, but I ask customs to call police first, while I return to boat and look one more.
I’m now waiting for the police to bring it. Someone found it on the street.
If rather be lucky than smart.
But I do love the Azores and Horta.
Wonderful food, people and drink.
And that’s all that matters.
I’m off to Ireland shortly, knowing all goes well that ends well.
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Author: Richard on Dauntless
I’m an eclectic person, who grew up in New York, lived overseas for many years and have a boat, Dauntless, a 42 foot Kadey Krogen trawler yacht. Dauntless enables me to not only live in many different parts of the world, but to do it in a way that is interesting, affordable, with the added spice of a challenge.
Dauntless also allows me to be in touch with nature. As the boat glides through the ocean, you have a sense of being part of a living organism. When dolphins come to frolic, they stay longer if you are out there talking to them, watching them. Birds come by, sometimes looking for a handout; sometimes grateful to find a respite from their long journey.
I grew up on the New York waterfront, in the West Village, when everything west of Hudson St. was related to shipping and cargo from around the world. For a kid, it was an exciting place of warehouses, trucks, and working boats of all kinds: tugs and the barges and ships, cargo and passenger, they were pushing around.
My father was an electrical engineer, my mother an intellectual, I fell in between.
I have always been attracted to Earth’s natural processes, the physical sciences. I was in 8th grade when I decided to be a Meteorologist.
After my career in meteorology, my natural interest in earth sciences: geology, astronomy, geography, earth history, made it a natural for me to become a science teacher in New York City, when I moved back to the Big Apple. Teaching led to becoming a high school principal to have the power to truly help kids learn and to be successful not only in school but in life.
Dauntless is in western Europe now. In May and June, I will be wrapping up the last two years in northern Europe, heading south to spend the rest of the year in Spain & Portugal.
Long term, I’m planning on returning to North American in the fall of 2017 and from there continuing to head west until we’re in Northeast Asia, Japan and South Korea, where we will settle for a bit.
But now, my future lies not in NY or even Europe, but back to the water, where at night, when the winds die down, there is no noise, only the silence of the universe. I feel like I am at home, finally.
View all posts by Richard on Dauntless
Dauntless at Sea 
Lucky devil! Have a great trip to Ireland … did you find someone to take the trip with you?
I too failed to notice an open engine room hatch….caught my self just in time…….could have been a HUGE issue….we were 25 miles off the coast of the Baja at the time……never did admit my error to the captain…..too embarrassed?!!
This is an amazing adventure you are experiencing and I (at 71) am incredibly jealous , but at least I can enjoy reading your blog. If, at some point, you are in need of an experienced passenger for a while, please do not hesitate to let me know. Have fun and be safe.
RB– thanks for writing all this up. I just got a break from my own peregrinations, which gives me the chance to read up on yours. bravo and fair seas . . . following winds . . . or you know what i mean.