Cadiz, Lisbon, Funchal … No Go

A big change! To our itinerary, that is. One that is going to delay our “Spanish Farewell” since the ports that have been added to replace the ones we lost belong to Spain.

Here’s more about the information Captain Rens had to share with us when he came over the P/A system just before our departure from Malaga.

Looks like the low pressure front in the English Channel and Bay of Biscay is continuing to move in our direction. In fact, by the time of our planned arrival in Lisbon the day after tomorrow, the sea state is expected to be in the 18-21 feet range. So, the storms put paid to both Cadiz and Lisbon.

As well, the Portuguese port pilots are preparing to strike, which will impact maritime operations in Funchal … where using a pilot is compulsory. Captain Rens said that they looked at going to the Azores instead. Yes, also a Portuguese port. But there the pilots are supplied by the navy, so no problem in that respect. Except for the impact from the storm.

So, the three ports ahead of our 7-day run down the Atlantic to Florida are now all canceled. In place of Cadiz tomorrow, we will have a day at sea. Then, we will call on the Canary Islands — Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on the 5th; Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the 6th. And instead of a 7-day crossing, we’re going to have a more southerly 8-day crossing.

Changes are changes. C’est la vie. We’ll roll with the punches with which we’ve been hit.Read more