Yacht Delivery Blog

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...

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...

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...