Yacht Delivery Blog

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...

We arrived in Cape Verde pretty excited about its name. Turns out, whoever decided to call it "Green Cape" must have either shared a naming philosophy with Iceland and Greenland, or possessed a truly brilliant sense of humor. Because let's be honest, "Gray Lump Covered in Orange Dust" might be a more accurate, if less inspiring, moniker. In just the short time we were in Cape Verde, the boat got a healthy coating of orange dust. It wasn't the most glamorous makeover.          One thing that did surprise us was the number of yachts in the harbor that looked a bit worse for wear. Sails flapping, masts were broken, and a general air of abandonment hung over some vessels. It was a stark reminder that the Atlantic crossing can turn dreams into nightmares in a hurry. I can only imagine the challenges a serious onboard failure would present here. Spare parts would likely be scarce, and shipping anything in would be a time-consuming and expensive ordeal. Factor in t...

As they say, smooth seas never made a skilled sailor, and our little adventure is certainly providing some valuable lessons in adaptation. The unusable sail was definitely a setback, but true to form, we're already brainstorming solutions. Technology has truly come to the rescue in this case, thanks to Starlink . Not only did it allow us to research the marina, fuel situation, and clearance procedures in Cape Verde, but it also unearthed a glimmer of hope for our oversized sail! We've found a lead on a sailmaker who might be able to help us by cutting it down to size. It's a long shot, but it's a possibility far better than yesterday's outlook. On a slightly more alarming note (at least from this sailor's perspective!), we managed to sail right off the edge of our current chart. The thought of approaching unknown islands and making an unplanned landfall is enough to send shivers down anyone's spine. Yes, sailors of yore did it all the time, but with a signif...

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....

We're absolutely flying today! Averaging a steady 7 to 7.5 knots, thanks in part to the Volvo (those engine hours are creeping up nicely) and a fantastic push from the following wind. Gusts of up to 24 knots keep things exciting, and every now and then, we catch a wave that propels us forward at a thrilling 10-12 knots – surfing on the open ocean, what a feeling! The wildlife sightings are picking up, too. Yesterday, a pod of dolphins entertained us with their playful antics, and we even spotted a whale cruising by, maybe 150 meters from the boat. The lack of birds, however, is a bit concerning. It always makes me wonder if overfishing has depleted the food sources in these areas. With the absolute game changer of starlink we had a quick chat with the folks at the marina yesterday, and they assured me they'll be waiting with open arms (or maybe an open limo and a brass band, if I'm lucky?). The best part? A noticeable improvement in temperature! Looks like my complain...

Well, we've finally made that long-awaited turn south! No more heading towards New York for us – smooth sailing (literally) towards the Canaries. Dry feet are definitely back on the agenda, much to the relief of our increasingly damp socks. The northerly wind is picking up just as predicted, clocking in at 15-20 knots. While it pushes us nicely in the right direction, the good kind of push also comes with the not-so-good kind of chill. Yesterday, a realization dawned on us – the engines need a 200-hour service as part of the warranty, and they only had about 25 hours on them at the time. So, here we are, juggling a bit of engine time with sail power. We're alternating between running one engine at a time for 6 hours while using just the headsail. This should get us closer to that magic 200-hour mark. Not the most exciting solution, but hey, preventative maintenance is key, right? Speaking of excitement, yesterday did bring a brush with a navy patrol boat. Thankfully, we didn...