Yacht Delivery Blog

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...

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....