“In the vastness of the sea, we find our strength not just in calm waters, but in the storms that test our resolve.” Alison Gieschen It has been a while since my last…
Tag: trans atlantic passages
Stranded in Cape Verde
To make a recap my last blog post, Sailing to Cape Verde, the start of the voyage began with intentions of a direct crossing to the Caribbean. We were well provisioned, all systems functioning, and we were eager to get to the next phase of our circumnavigation. We had been forced to wait a month…
Sailing to Cape Verde: Tips and Insights
Every year, a flurry of excitement engulfs the Canary Islands as sailors from around the globe converge in this Atlantic archipelago, gearing up for the epic sailing rite of passage, crossing the Atlantic to the Caribbean. The Canaries, famous for their expansive harbors and comprehensive marine facilities, serve as the perfect staging area for sailors…
Return to the Canary Islands – Sailing in Circles
“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.” ― Roy T. Bennett Today, I chose happiness. I may rant about the trouble we’ve had leaving the country of Spain, and their…
Navigating the Canaries: What to Know Before You Go
“May the winds of adventure carry you to the Canary Islands, where each island is a chapter, and every wave whispers tales of timeless exploration.” Alison Gieschen We spent two seasons sailing Portugal, Spain, and the Mediterranean. When it came to time to take the pilgrimage to the Canary Islands to prep for crossing…
Setting Sail or Going Stale: The Best Food to Have on Board for Bluewater Sailing
“At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much.” Robin Lee Graham When we first moved aboard our Taswell 43’, cast off the dock lines, and headed out to sea, every cabinet, every bilge, every empty pocket of space aboard our boat was filled with stuff we thought we couldn’t live…
John Kretschmer Passage – Part 5
John Kretschmer Passage – Part 5 ” A tourist remains an outsider throughout his visit; but a sailor is part of the local scene from the moment he arrives.” – Anne Davison We remained on course, sailing forward with an eye behind, watching the large ship following us drift farther and farther away. We went…
John Kretschmer Passage – Part 4
John Kretschmer Passage – Part 4 “She watched the gap between ship and shore grow to a huge gulf. Perhaps this was a little like dying, the departed no longer visible to the others, yet both still existed, only in different worlds.” ― Susan Wiggs, The Charm School It is an eerie feeling the first…
Getting There – John Kretschmer Training Passage – Part I
“To believe in luck, you must believe that the universe is a roulette wheel and instead of paying out to us what we have earned, it pays out only what it wishes. But it is not a spinning wheel of chance, it is a work of art, complete and framed by eternity.” (Dean Koontz, Innocence) …
Staying Healthy at Sea
Staying Healthy at Sea With the prospect of leaving behind the safety of home and land, there comes to mind a plethora of concerns. The first thing people usually ask me when they learn that my husband and I are planning on sailing around the world for 10 years, is…”Aren’t you afraid of storms?”. Only…