Skip to main content

Oceans

Another day on the Atlantic, and Mother Nature continues to throw us curveballs. Yesterday, the wind was reaching gusts of up to 32 knots. Thankfully, it calmed down considerably overnight, but droppedto a gentle 6 knots. Unfortunately, that meant a few hours of motoring until it decided to pick again this morning.
Right now, we're sailing with a comfortable 15 knots of apparent wind, but it's coming from a bit further aft than ideal. Still, we're making progress, and that's what matters.
On the domestic front, there have been some culinary triumphs! Craig, bless his heart, whipped up a massive bucket of cottage pie before we left. We froze it in portions, and the trusty microwave has been working overtime heating it up for our meals. While the transfer from container to plate might not win any awards for presentation, let's just say the taste more than makes up for it! This delicious creation has become our staple diet, and luckily, we have enough for another week. Looks like Craig might single-handedly prevent scurvy on this voyage!
The Atlantic continues to reveal its secrets. Last night, we had our first visitor from the tropics – a flying fish landed on deck. A welcome sign of things to come, even though the nighttime temperatures still have us reaching for those warm pants and jackets.
Speaking of perspective, if we could truly visualize the vastness of the ocean, I don't know if anyone would dare to cross it in a 50-foot yacht. Right now, with the visible horizon about 12 nautical miles away for someone at sea level, it feels manageable. We just keep chugging along, one horizon at a time. But then you zoom out on the chart plotter, and the reality of the immense journey ahead hits you. It's a humbling reminder of the power and scale of the ocean. We've barely made a dent in the voyage ahead of us.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Off We Go

The dream of a seamless yacht delivery aboard the Fontaine Pajot 47 seemed like a solid plan. However, life, with its unpredictable currents, threw us a curveball. My trusted crewmate was struck by the ever-present Covid! Even though he's as tough as old sea boots, it definitely slowed him down. The pre-departure days were a delicate balancing act. While the initial concerns about a sick crewmate were undeniable, a strong sense of purpose took hold. Provisioning, finalizing paperwork, and familiarizing myself with Namarie became a mission with Craig putting in 110% effort despite his 20% health. Constant communication with my recuperating crewmate ensured a smooth handover of duties, keeping the team spirit alive despite maintaining physical separation and wearing masks. Stepping aboard Namarie, the initial awe at her sleek lines and luxurious interior was palpable. However, the euphoria was tempered by a healthy dose of respect for the vessel's complexity. The sophisticated na...

Last 24hrs

This is our last full day and night at sea. Tomorrow, we'll be tied up in the marina in Tahiti , and I'll be turning off the engines for the last time. The main and headsail will be dropped and stowed away, and I won't be touching the sheets or halyards again. It feels peculiar to think that Namarie and I have kept each other safe throughout this incredible journey, and in a few days, I'll be on a plane heading home. On this yacht delivery Namarie and I started in the Bay of Biscay and headed south into the Atlantic, getting to know each other along the way. We made a brief stop in the Canary Islands, our last contact with Europe before heading further south and leaving footprints in the red dust of Cape Verde. We left West Africa behind and headed further west across the Atlantic, dodging hurricanes and grabbing fuel and provisions in the southern end of the Caribbean. From there, we pushed onwards through the Caribbean Sea to Panama and the canal. Pretty soon after, ...

Banana For Scale

Today, let's take a moment to reflect on the journey so far and what lies ahead. Forget bananas for scale – this adventure is measured in Atlantic crossings! We've already completed roughly one such crossing, getting to Cape Verde from La Rochelle. Another awaits us to reach the Caribbean, followed by half an Atlantic crossing from the Caribbean to Panama, and then… buckle up… two more Atlantic crossings to reach Tahiti from Panama! While traversing the Atlantic is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most, doing it back-to-back is a whole new level of adventure. Thankfully, we have some incredible technology on our side: exceptionally detailed weather models that provide reliable forecasts up to 10 days out. Considering our average daily distance is around 150 nautical miles, that means we can see weather developing 1500nm in front of us and plan around that! We primarily rely on ECMWF and GFS models to track weather patterns. For the past 7 days, we've been closely monitor...