As my primary language is not English, there are probably some mistakes in my translation.
Remember that the person who speaks here is NOT me, Vincent Celier (
Hive account@vcelier), but Marc Allaria (
Hive account@marc-allaria), a French guy.
Heading for PORTO SANTO 2/3
The first waves of navigation in the great Atlantic are often described as painful in the accounts of navigators, then softening with the miles. In our case, it was the opposite! The exit from the Gibraltar Strait was as smooth as it was with a helping current and a rather flat sea. It was during the next night that the conditions changed very irregularly. Headwind where it was expected to carry, swell crossed where it was supposed to bring long regular waves; in short two rather painful days, and a rather incomprehensible irregularity.
Traveling with two sailing boats together at least allows you to cut the monotony and exchange a few jokes through VHF! It's nice to have a neighbor, especially compared with sailing solo at night. It allows us to have a watchmaker out of the boat who wakes us up when needed! It is also an opportunity to have photographs of your own boat under sail. Not easy to get when you sail alone ...!
The five days of navigation leading us to Porto Santo go without technical problems. The game of patience between Man and the Sea is best negotiated by the important daily rhythm to keep regular and busy. Meals at regular times, fun activities, steering from time to time, sports activities ... enough to make the best of these five days at sea, and unfortunately arrive as often ... at night!
