27th - 30th May - Frustrating last days of a seagoing month

 Sunday 27th, was a rainy but pleasant day of preps, shopping, customs, immigration, berth payment etc and a final visit to Peter's bar for steak, chips, and beer. Also met many old friends and acquaintances. We slipped from Horta at 1000 on Monday 28th with waves and farewells to friends old and new. A pleasant rolly quartering wind and sea takes us goosewinged out between the islands to give us a glimpse of Pico, Terceria, and Graciosa. Pico's huge peak seems permanently covered in a cloud cap, and the island is often in shade and looking a bit gloomy. Finally clear of land by 1800 and back into a big ocean swell. We are overtaken by a huge modern ketch with carbon bowsprit, counter stern, and teak deckhouses. She is strange mix of victorian, edwardian and space age and not to everyone's taste.
Studying our weather advice in detail makes us wonder if it was wise to leave as there is a big low with a gale forming up just to the N and W of us. We will need to get some easting in PDQ if we are not to be hammered too much. Skipper's pork escalopes and spuds for supper and we get the storm jib lashed on deck. At sunset we are passed by Scandanavian square-rigger Gunilla, a jolly fine sight.
Night falls to give us an orange segment of moon, and a flurry of dolphin visits.
Tuesday 29th is a working breezy day starting with spicy mushroom scrambled eggs. We manage some poled out off-wind sailing and try to receive Herb (The famous Atlantic weather man) on the SSB hiss-box. During the day, the Atlantic rollers start building big-time, and we start reefing down as the wind rises before the large developing low northwest of us. By nightfall it is chilly and dark, as the skipper curses galley spillages and crashes needed to get out a chicken curry. Using all our balancing skills, we have our curry and beer below decks . Later on, rising wet and misty winds, and the occasional narrowly missed passing ships seen through the murk, and on ais, enliven our watchkeeping.
Wednesday 30th is hugely windy and rolly with mighty waves tossing us about scarily. The gale is set to last all day and well into tomorrow. Autohelm is doing a sterling job, although power use will mean more engine running. At least the rain is holding off. By 1800 we have huge following seas, so we decide to drop the main and run under rolled genoa . This makes us even more rolly but is less of a steering load.