Giant cabbage leaves and Azorean banana skins were overtaking the ship while the sunset falls later and later. After some calm during the night, the full moon shone at the beginning and gave way to a cape of clouds. This morning, the mainsail needs to be repaired. The wind is increasing northwest, so it’s all […]
As expected, we have been hit by a front. We are closing the door on the Caribbean and opening the white horses. Royal furled at the end of the afternoon. Main sail brailed up before the night. And before the night, some thunder has been heard. Just in time to start setting the extra deck […]
At worst this ship is a compelling object. With her sails up, galloping over the sea, she is a thing of beauty. This voyage feels one part ‘Neverland, one part business, a dash of hippie and sprinkle of ‘Papillon. In the last few months I’ve bled, been beaten and bashed for this boat. I’ve only […]
In the evening a fair wind returned to bring us to the mysterious island of Los Aves. For many years, I have been sailing in the vast Caribbean Sea, and this light house, one hundred and twenty miles west of the Lesser Antilles, is something in the chart where you never go. Drifting there is […]
Where or When Does One Thing End and Another Begin? I had imagined blurry lines, but figured quickly that all seems clearly defined: The sky above touching the horizon, the ocean below with numbers of depths unimaginable. I know nothing about sailing, well, maybe now after 10 days, a little. Borders. We already crossed several, […]
The departure maneuver was tight in the bay of Sainte Anne, Martinique. We anchored nicely after Le Marin marina behind all the sailing yachts. During our stay for a week, 3 other yachties arrived and anchored quite close. The catamaran in front of us had to hive up the anchor when we left. The sound […]
The sun rises And lets a billion orange-golden loops loose To chase a billion black circles A soft breeze is slithering Over the mercury glittering And Venus twinkles from above Oh look: a rainbow, double, over there (where we just were) A nice couple: sun and clouds Their raindrops drying on the shrouds […]
A ship on shore is something mystical. On my way to the dock, from the other side of the canal, I was looking up at Tres Hombres majestic bow, coated with a fresh layer of anti-fowl, in a deeper colour than before. It’s odd that even though a ship, when ashore, is pulled out of […]
We left Spain and Portugal behind us and are now heading towards La Palma. The wind blows straight from behind and the waves are rolling, rolling, rolling. More than a month ago we left Den Helder and set our sails. For me the first time sailing in my life. An amazing new adventure with all […]
On a previous tall ship journey I was awarded “minus sixty salty points” by a seasoned sailor for wearing a glove on one hand. On that trip I developed a healthy aversion to anything ‘yaughty’ – thrilled by the experience of sailing under square sails and without such preposterous inventions like winches and epoxied laminate. […]
