Wednesday, 8th of August 2012, 5:20 am / The window opens

Already yesterday in the evening we started to push my boat to the tide mark, so that we can leave quickly in the morning. A mistake, as we will see later. It's still dark and only 5 am, when the break's noises wake me up. Everything seems to be ok; the water hasn't reached my boat so far. Sabrina is still dreaming under the SurfPoint's roof, while I'm packing the first things. But as I've walked the beach up and down, the dilemma starts. I run. "Sabrina! Wake up ... the break is about to destroy the steering gear!" I've never seen her changing from tight sleep to action that fast. Great show ;-) Still half asleep, she catches me at our sprint from the beach to the water. All-out we get the boat up again. The upper fix of the rows is broken again and the connecting pipe is twisted. Still, our black humor survives, though we are in a bad situation and we joke about the fact that Sabrina managed not to break her legs without her lenses and at 50 km/h - in spite of all the fun-boats and sunshades in her way. While I reduce the damage, she bravely takes care about everything that has to be done to finally leave the beach. Joao, the photographer, is here with his equipment…we turn the front to the break to return to the hard waves again and again, as if they had



waited for us. The water breaks down over us and Sabrina shouts "What are we doing? ... going back?" I answer "never give up", turn on the outboard motor and maneuver our yacht to one of the moored buoys, 200 meters in front of the break. I resent about always touching the break with the back of my boat. Will I never learn? While I'm waiting at the moored buoy, Sab and me are using hand signs to tell each other, that she will try to get the rest of the stuff to the boat, using a Surfpoint's kayak. Meanwhile, I check the outboard motor. It won't start. I pull and pull. Gas is coming out of the carburetor. Aw. This can't be true!
It's an important "window-day" to surround the cape and everything seems to go wrong. Two hours of waiting, getting wet, and a pack of chips later, Manuel, the beach manager comes close with his 60 PS Tender, to get the tired outboard motor safer to the beach. A camper provides me with a toolkit that is still shiny and I work and clean like a devil. Nothing. The whole beach-team pulls at my outboard motor hauling rope, as if it would be an attraction at the annual fair. Three times for 2,50 ... Nothing! The engine



won't start and I'm slowly realizing that our window closes. Getting a paddy? Playing psyche games? Chilling at the beach? No! On Thursday morning I'm on the road with Jaoa. We start our trip at 8 am, off to a solution that's 50 km away. We don't have money, but I carry the guarantee certification. ;-) A problem for me is not a problem anymore. It stopped being trouble a long time ago. Now, a problem is the beginning of a story - as it also is this morning. I can't tell everything. After 12 hours and 2 tries, the outboard motor is fixed. Are there garages that tell you (even in case of a guarantee) "Not my problem"? Yes, there are. Did I make a grown Portuguese that I barely know cry while waiting for my outboard motor? Yes, I did - telling some of my stories. (Big moment - really!)
Is it possible that the Jet Ski Europe champion tells me "no - leave it - it's free for you"? Yes - everything is possible. Don't fill with yourself with all the problems - stay cool and wait for a new story. It will arrive. Always!



It's Sunday, 12th of August 2012 / Sagres "the end of the world"

I'm Andreas Gabriel and I'm about to succeed over the Cabo Sao Vicente. Sabrina probably will have to leave before the next window opens. I'll be alone out there. It will start with the first light on Tuesday. A new story will begin ... that is as sure as a wet, cold butt!