Source: For Argyll
Only days ago Patrick Maclean, Press Officer for the Oban Lifeboat and its former coxswain, was telling us about the Oban lifeboat’s performances statistics for 2010.An inveterate traveller, constantly weaving new journeys back into seas, routes and ports once travelled in his life as a former senior member of the merchant navy and drawing in some news ones for the first time, he is now en route for the Amazon.
Patrick agreed to keep a diary for us on this cruise which will see them sail well up river into the Amazon rain forest area. Because of a catastrophic drought in 2010, the largest rainforest in the world actually gave odd more carbon dioxide than it absorbed - because so many if its trees dried and died.
On this cruise, Patrick’s main target is the four Amazon ports they will go in to. Last year he went through the Panama Canal for the first time, an adventure which did not happen during his service in the merchant navy and which he had long wanted to add to his portfolio of first hand maritime experiences.
He and his wife Liz sailed from Southanpton at 17.45 on 30th January and Patrick starts his diary with a typical ‘couple of at-sea’ days, to carry the sense of how these days work.
‘On 31st January, we rounded Ushant at 08.00, leaving it 37 miles off to port and doing abut 16.5 knots. The Bay of Biscay was unusually calm for this time of year, a little cloudy, with light Northwesterly winds.
‘We went to lectures during the day, some to prepare for the first port of call – Funchal in Madeira, then went to the Captain’s cocktail party before dinner, followed by evening showtime with a violinist, singer and comedienne.
‘On 1st February we rounded Cape Finisterre about 08.00, heading SW at 16 knots with Force 4 winds from the Northwest - therefore we are travelling in still air. It’s a beautiful sunny day. Up at 08.00, shower then breakfast. 10.00 was a wildlife lecture ant another on The World is Flat at 11.0011 follwoed by a concert from 12.00 to 12.45 with the Rosario Trio before lunch on deck.
‘After lunch we took to loungers (as in photograph above) and read until 14.45. This beautiful weather came after only 40 hours out of Southampton.
‘At 15.00 we went to a lecture on The Titanic Conspiracy, with at 16.00 a classical concert and a cocktail party at 17.30 hosted by travel Company ROL. At 20.00 we listened to the Rosario Trio again and then had dinner at 20.30. At 20.30 it was evening Showtime in the Neptune Lounge until 23.30. Bed? Perhaps. Or a piano player in the observatory for a while? Who said being on holiday was easy?
‘On 2nd February we passed Cape St Vincent – or Cabo de São Vincente, at around 08.00, at a distance of about 240 nautical miles off, still heading SW at 16 Knots or just over 18mph. Slightly cloudy but pleasant shirtsleeves weather on deck.
On 3rd February we berthed in Funchal ,Madeira at 08.00 – dead on time. Weather slightly overcast, temperature 17 degrees.
‘We’re about to go ashore and will find a Macdonald’s to send and receive emails before exploring.
‘Reports will always be of the last port we’ve been in – and the next one is Mindelo in the Cape Verde Islands.’