ORCAS
CHECK THE ORCA ENCOUNTER MAP
https://www.theca.org.uk/orcas/reports
SUMMARY:ย DROPS SAILS – TURN ENGINE ON – GO IN REVERSE
I wish you all the best and that you never experience anything like this.
POSTED BY
Recommendations for boaters if killer whales interact with the boat
If you are sailing and you come across orcas or other cetaceans and the orcas interact with the boat, the skipper/captain of the boat will adopt, whenever possible and do not create a greater danger, the following measures:
orcas sea
Prevent people on board from getting close to the bands, trying to place them in places that provide the greatest possible protection against sudden movements that could cause injuries or a fall into the sea, and against blows caused by the sudden movement of moving parts. .
In the event of an interaction, it is always preferable to navigate by motor than by sail and avoiding stopping the boat. You will navigate according to the characteristics of the boat itself and always keeping in mind the safety margins and the wind and sea conditions, towards shallower waters, until the killer whales lose interest.
In those cases of boats sailing under sail, it must also be borne in mind that the integrity of the daggerboard could be affected, and this could influence the stability of the boat, so it is recommended to lower the sails and navigate by motor.
It is recommended, always within the safety limits and characteristics of each boat, to sail as close as possible to the coast, where there is less probability of encountering groups of orcas, especially in the vicinity of the Barbate cove.
Any ship or boat that observes the presence of killer whales or other cetaceans, whether or not they give rise to episodes of interaction, will maximize compliance with the provisions of Royal Decree 1727/2007, of December 21, which establishes protection measures. of cetaceans, especially those aimed at avoiding behaviors that may cause death, harm, discomfort or concern to cetaceans and, in general, any of the behaviors indicated in articles 4 and 5 of the aforementioned Royal Decree.
Observe, and if possible, take photographic records of the orca specimens involved in the event. Observation activities will be carried out without disregarding precaution and compliance with the obligations of good marine practice, without prejudice to the exercise of any necessary decision for the safety of navigation and only when possible and safe, without expose the ship or vessel, the people on board or the cetaceans to greater risks.
Take into account any other new instructions or recommendations that may be disseminated to sailors.
The obligation that every captain/skipper has to report those events likely to be a danger to navigation is recalled, and, therefore, interactions with orcas must be reported through the corresponding Maritime Rescue Coordination Center.
CALIMA
ย African winds from SW – SE
A Calima wind, which brings sand from the Sahara Desertย is unpredictable so it can happen any time of the year, but it usually appears in the winter season between December and March.. It can last from 3 to 5 days or even up to a week and it is very dense, causing low visibility and extreme amounts of dust entering everywhere.
The word Calima itself originates from the Spanish word for โhazeโ. This haze is a layer of dust and sand brought on high winds originating from Africa. On occasion weather fronts in the south-west of the Canary Islands can increase wind-speeds even more. In these cases the Calima will escalate bringing very high temperatures with it, and is able to carry dust high above the Atlantic covering hundreds of thousands of square miles with a dense cloud of Saharan sand, sometimesย reaching the Caribbean.
DETAILS from 2020 Yacht Maya >>
ย 
One measure of air pollution is the amount of coarse particulate matter โ or PM10 โ in the air close to the Earthโs surface, another is aerosol optical depth (AOD) which is a measure of how much direct sunlight is blocked by dust and haze in the atmosphere. CAMS has been tracking both and, as confirmed by Aeronet observations, the CAMS forecasts of total AOD represented the event very well, including the longer-range transport.
In the Canary Islands, air quality was severely degraded for several days as a result of the dust storms, with high measured PM10 values.
Mid Atlantic Yacht Services Azores Sponsors the Ocean Posse
Mid Atlantic Yacht Servicesย 
Sponsors the Atlantic Posse
The North Atlantic is not for sissies or the faint of heart.
We are able to offer is a reasonable discount for winter projects involving longer, more involved jobs on yachts that choose to enjoy the delights of overwintering here.
We have a fully stocked chandlery with a broad range of parts and supplies assembled with the experience of 30 years of providing support services to transatlantic yachts in Horta. We represent Volvo Penta and Yanmar and can provide all parts, repairs and service for these installations. We carry a decent stock of Jabsco pumps and toilet parts, Imray and BA charts, pilots, cruising guides and almanacs, all manner of stainless fittings and hardware, blocks, Marlow rope, Stalok rigging terminals and 1x19 wire. We fill all types and shapes of gas bottles and are a Raymarine electronics service center, to name a few of our support services.
Duncan Sweet
CONTACT
http://midatlanticyachtservices.com/
+351 292 391 616
E: mays@mail.telepac.pt
AZORES to PORTUGAL ๐ต๐น