Yacht Delivery Blog

The wind and waves finally started to ease off yesterday afternoon which continued  throughout the night, offering a much-needed break. We're now motoring directly towards Panama and aiming to be anchored by this evening. A good night's sleep will be very welcome. This marks a significant milestone in our journey. Since leaving France on June 5th, we've logged an impressive 5,900 nautical miles (or 12,000 kilometers). Factoring in stopovers (4 days in the Canaries, 3 days in Cape Verde, and 4 days in Trinidad), our total sailing time comes to 37 days – and weve gone roughly a quarter of the way around the world! We're more than halfway through this incredible trip, and we can't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Navigating the Atlantic hurricane season without incident has been a welcome accomplishment. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the season unfolds. The next hurdles involve getting measured for the Panama Canal and securing a transit slot. Hopef...

The wind is a steady 40 knots now, whipping up seas to an impressive 5 meters. For our landlubber readers, 40 knots is around 80 kilometers per hour, so imagine sticking your head out the window on a  motorway – that's kind of the feeling we're getting right now! While things wouldn't exactly qualify as comfortable onboard, we have plenty of sea room and most importantly, we're safe. An extra layer of challenge emerged as we're beginning to encounter the shipping traffic who are also approaching Panama. Craig had his work cut out for him on watch, dodging ships with the AIS alarm blaring its warnings. A couple of monster waves have crashed into the cockpit, forcing us to keep the doors shut. Our trusty fans are working overtime trying to keep things a bit more bearable inside. With belongings gradually migrating to the floor and joining the existing floor covering that's already relocated to the starboard side, it's clear things are a bit rough out there! As...

We had a real spicy night last night! Winds topped 30 knots and the waves were absolute monsters. That's why this blog update is a bit late – I was determined to capture a photo of these giants, but taking a decent picture of a wave in those conditions proved impossible. Just imagine a massive wall of water chasing you down, finally catching up to the boat and starting to break at the crest, ready for its close-up... only to have the resulting picture show mainly a splash. Maybe I will see if Craig will go in the dinghy to take a pic! Yesterday evening brought a shift in the wind direction. As it started pushing us uncomfortably close (and by "uncomfortably close" I mean less than 50 nautical miles) to the Venezuelan coastline, we initiated a gybe (a sailing maneuver to change direction). There are a few reasons we prefer to keep our distance from that particular shore: Heavily armed Venezuelan fisherman with a penchant for piracy (need I say more?) The aforementioned mon...

The weather forecast is now playing out around us. We're currently enjoying a healthy 20-25 knots of wind from behind, pushing us along nicely in the right direction – a welcome boost on top of the favorable current. This stretch of Venezuelan coast is known for its strong easterly winds and large waves. That's why we've strategically stayed well offshore, beyond the 1000-meter line. This not only provides calmer seas but also keeps us clear of most traffic. We anticipate many vessels will try to cut the corner for a quicker route, but we're happy to avoid the potential chaos! We are also happy to keep off the coast for security as its not considered to be a safe area. The forecast predicts this following breeze for the next few days, which will put us within striking distance of Panama. With the wind coming directly from behind (aft), we're currently sailing efficiently with just the headsail. Back in Trinidad, we debated squeezing in another fuel run. The heat, th...

We're making excellent time down the Venezuelan coast, thanks to a healthy current pushing us in the right direction. Yesterday, we logged an impressive 210 nautical miles in 24 hours – a new record for this trip! For our non sailing readers, a quick sailing term explanation: sometimes, when winds get very strong, a technique called "running with bare poles" comes into play. This means removing all sails from the boat. Even without sails, the wind can catch the surface area of the mast, propelling the boat forward. Our current situation is similar – no sails deployed. However, there's a key difference! Right now, there's no wind at all. Instead, our trusty twin Volvos and full fuel tanks are providing the power, taking advantage of the favorable current. We've settled into a familiar rhythm with our watch routine. Three hours of sleep with only the sounds of waves lapping against the hull and the gentle hum of the engines is a welcome change from the blaring s...

We said our goodbyes to Trinidad a little after sunrise yesterday, fuel tanks full and spirits high. Trinidad itself is an interesting mix – everyone seems to be in a perpetual state of "waiting to party" with a laid-back island charm. Everyone we encountered was incredibly friendly, and the atmosphere crackled with the potential for a spontaneous dance party at any moment. It also meant not much happened. Unfortunately, the lack of available marina berths forced us to anchor, making dinghy logistics a bit of a challenge, especially given the climate. Our quest for cash, fuel, and a local SIM card turned into a bit of an unexpected chore that very surprisingly took a day and a half. It seems the location where we anchored has a dual personality – TTYA (Trinidad and Tobago Yachting Association) and TTSA (Trinidad and Tobago Sailing Association). To add another layer of confusion, there's another TTYA a few miles away. Imagine the taxi odyssey that followed! A planned one-h...

We're happy to announce that we've arrived in Trinidad and are currently anchored in Chaguaramas. After a successful journey, it's time for some well-deserved rest. We'll be taking a few days to clear customs and recharge our batteries before setting sail for Panama. The blog can continue then. It was fantastic to see land! And we are definitely looking forward to a few nights uninterrupted sleep.

We're making excellent progress towards Trinidad! Last night, we passed south of Barbados and are now approaching Tobago. The anticipation is building – we expect to see land later today and then make our way down the coast​ of tobago  this evening.​ And to reach Trinidad first thing tomorrow morning. ​First light will allow us to enter the channel on the west side of the island. From there, it's a couple of hours to the customs wharf, where we hope to check in and finally get some well-deserved rest before the midday cut-off. On a positive note, the engine vibrations we experienced the night before seem to be a thing of the past. While we were still encountering a lot of seaweed yesterday, the vibrations didn't return. Curious to investigate further, we decided to take a targeted approach. We aimed for ​the biggest clump of seaweed we could see, and sure enough, the vibrations started again. A quick dip of the GoPro on a stick revealed ​w​hat we suspected: seaweed on the p...

Our progress towards Trinidad continues, but not without a minor setback. Last night, we encountered some strange engine vibrations. The intensity fluctuated, sometimes barely noticeable and other times more pronounced. This had us wondering if they'd been present all along and we just hadn't noticed. However, around 11 pm, the vibrations became strong enough to warrant taking action. We shut down the engines, folded the propellers, and restarted everything. After some testing, it seemed the starboard engine was the culprit, exhibiting slightly worse vibrations. The reason? The mystery remains unsolved. My best guess is seaweed. There are large clumps of seaweed floating around, and it's possible some gets caught on the blades of the props causing the vibration and dislodged when the propellers fold. We'll know for sure once daylight allows a proper look overboard. This whole ordeal served as a reminder that even the best-maintained boats can encounter unexpected issues...

The finish line is getting closer! With less than 500 nautical miles to go, I can practically hear the steel drums playing a welcome song to Trinidad. We've already sent all our clearance documents over to "Junior," and hopefully, he'll have everything ready for a smooth arrival process. My mental image of "Junior" is a bit outlandish – a towering figure over 2 meters tall with a massive beard and a weight to match. It'll be interesting to see how close reality gets to this picture! Cruising through hurricane alley at a leisurely 6 knots isn't exactly the most relaxing way to travel, so there's been a lot of reading happening on board. Yesterday, we came across some interesting information about the red dust I've been complaining about. Turns out, it might actually be a blessing in disguise! These Saharan dust storms blowing across the Atlantic are a common occurrence at this time of year. And here's the good news: the dust disrupts hurri...

We're definitely over the hump! While i wouldn't call it a blazing sprint to Trinidad, we're steadily chewing through the miles. Yesterday, we logged a respectable 161 nautical miles, which is not too shabby. Our wind is sitting around 10-12 knots apparent @180 degrees. Not exactly ideal sailing conditions, but it's a gentle push for our trusty Volvo that keeps plugging away. The fluffy cumulus clouds we were expecting havent appeared, replaced by mainly overcast skies. At this point, even a bird flying in a slightly unusual pattern has me reaching for the latest weather grib files, just to make sure there aren't any surprises brewing on the horizon. Thankfully, so far, everything remains a reassuring shade of green – all systems go for our arrival in Trinidad! The one system that's definitely not "a go" is my blog inspiration. Its gone. Bloggers block has officially set in.The ocean's can be incredibly calming, but let's face it, it can also b...

The tropics decided to skip today. The sun is gone, replaced by a sky full of dark grey clouds and even some rain. Not exactly tropical. The wind is also acting up, fluctuating wildly between 5 and 25 knots. Despite the weather's best efforts to dampen our spirits, there's good news,. We're well over halfway to Trinidad with around 800nm to go, and our estimated arrival date is looking like Saturday. I even managed to get in touch with "Junior" who's going to help us with customs clearance. From what I hear it's going to be a bureaucratic adventure involving carbon paper and triplicate forms – a whole different kind of challenge. And definitly not something i enjoy. Adding another layer of complexity is the marina situation in Trinidad. Apparently, thanks to hundreds of boats that rushed to get south before the hurricane, there are no berths left. The place is even more crowded than usual! Luckily, we only plan to stay for a few days – just enough time to ...

The life onboard definitely has its own rhythm. Three hours on watch, three hours off – it leads to a lot of solitude, strange sleep patterns (waking up at odd hours seems to be the norm!), and a constant awareness of what's going on around the boat. High-stress situations can pop up unexpectedly, but thankfully, they're usually interspersed with stretches of peaceful calm. Napping whenever possible becomes an essential skill, and household chores find their way onto the agenda even in the middle of the ocean. On a new boat, especially one that hasn't been fully tested yet, keeping an ear and an eye on the mechanical and electrical systems becomes an additional, ever-present responsibility. The wind situation remains unchanged. We've decided to make a beeline for Trinidad, opting to motor directly there rather than risk staying in what feels like a bullseye. The internet, while a fantastic tool for weather forecasts, current checks, and tracking, can also be a double-ed...

The wind, it seems, has a mind of its own. Yesterday, it decided to veer a little further east and weaken considerably, making it practically useless for our purposes. Not wanting to dawdle any longer than necessary, we've made a strategic course correction. We've fired up the engine and are now heading at 260 degrees – 10 degrees south of our original path, but still aiming slightly north of Trinidad. Our hope is to catch some northerly winds as we progress. If not, well, there's no harm done. However, the weather forecasts aren't exactly optimistic on that front. The good news is that even with the weak apparent wind hovering around 7 knots, it's still giving us a gentle push. We're maintaining a steady 6 knots at 1800 RPM, and fuel consumption is very economical at around 3.7 liters per hour. So, even though the sails aren't doing much billowing at the moment, we're still making good progress. Our range with this engine efficiency is huge – around...

Light winds today presented the perfect opportunity to test out our modified gennaker! Remember that sail that was a little too big for our needs? We also had some issues with the retrieval system when we first looked at it. Limited repair supplies on board meant getting creative – we jury-rigged a solution using cable ties. With a little dose of trepidation and some, shall we say, "enthusiastic" stress testing and finally a "she'll be right!",, we hoisted the modified sail with Craig at the sheet and yours truly as the designated "deck gorilla." We filled it with wind, and guess what? Success! Not just success, mind you, but outstanding success! Considering the less-than-ideal circumstances – the makeshift repairs done in a remote location (that "grey lump covered in orange dust"), the unorthodox measurement method (a rope pulled up the mast in 25 knots!), and the tight deadline (tomorrow!), even MacGyver himself would be impressed by our i...

The wind slowly eased off during the evening and decided to take a vacation last night around 4 am, with the apparent wind a mere 8 knots and well aft, we fired up the starboard engine and furled away the headsail. Up until then, we'd been cruising comfortably since leaving Cape Verde with a reefed main and full headsail, keeping the apparent wind at a steady 120 degrees. This sweet spot lets us make good progress (around 160 nautical miles a day – yesterday, a very respectable 159!) without putting undue stress on the autopilot, the boat, or the crew. The weather models predict light winds for the next couple of days. No problem – we'll keep chugging along, making easy miles with a combination of diesel and what little wind we can catch. Hopefully, the real wind will pick up again around the weekend. Our course for now is westward, staying north of the rhumb line to Trinidad for another 500 nautical miles. This area has a higher chance of wind, which is exactly what we need. T...

Let's be honest, the middle of the Atlantic isn't exactly a thrill-seeker's paradise. Sure, there's a certain mystique to sailing vast expanses of open ocean, but for a blog post, it can be a bit, well, monotonous. Believe me, I'd much rather be racking my brain for interesting content than living through hair-raising adventures! Calm seas and steady progress are exactly what I like during these passages, even if they don't make for the most exciting storytelling. The middle of the ocean isn't really the place for excitement anyway – better than the edges, at least, where all the rocks are! But hey, that's the beauty of this journey – sometimes, the uneventful stretches are the most valuable. Clocking over 160 nautical miles a day in the right direction with a favorable following wind – that's a success story in itself! It brings peace of mind, a sense of accomplishment, and the knowledge that we're steadily ticking off the miles on our journey. ...

Not much to report from the high seas today, except for a rather disturbing sight. Our AIS (Automatic Identification System) continues to pick up a significant number of fishing vessels, most likely Korean or Chinese, with miles of long lines trailing behind them. It's a disheartening reminder of the ongoing plundering of the oceans. These factory operations, processing fish directly at sea, further exacerbate the problem.  I've addressed this issue in previous blogs, and it's a tragedy that often goes unnoticed by the public. After all, how many people witness this destruction firsthand? Existing international regulations seem utterly unenforced, leaving these vessels free to pillage the seas with impunity. On a lighter note, from a yacht delivery standpoint, things are going well! We're making excellent time in peaceful conditions, with an apparent wind of 11-15 knots, slightly aft of the beam. It's been a bit too windy to test out the gennaker yet, and we'v...

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...