In this section we record our experiences. We've bundled our journal entries into the different areas of the world we have visited. Use the navigation bar on the right hand side of the page to go where you like or use the Journal Summary below for highlights.

Preparing for the trip - in April 2005 we move aboard Free Spirit berthed in Brighton Marina and began preparing for the trip. On our way - leaving Brighton on 12th July we cruise along the south coast of England 'failing, winning, having fun, getting frustrated but most of all learning'. A wet week in Falmouth - more preparations... in rain.

Dirty seas, bleak skies – dismal conditions bring seasickness and anxiety. Entering foreign waters – sunshine and dolphins revive us.  Making landfall but not before a beating - near gale force wind and huge seas hit off 'The Coast of Death'.

A week in La Coruna – we explore “this lovely Spanish city”. Cruising with Dart Warrior – cruise of the Rias of northern Spain in company with another yacht. Foggy Passage and arrival in Portugal – Bayona to Cascais. Racing south with Dart Warrior and Restless II - with a flotilla of friends we sail south to Lagos on the southern tip of Portugal. Relaxing - three weeks of relaxing exploring and boat work in Lagos.

Overview – some notes on our anxiety and the planning of this passage. The passage -  a lumpy start, dodging convoys, headwinds, prop shaft worries, then fair winds, leaping dolphins and a beautiful landfall in company with our friends on Kika. Read our daily reports while on passage.

Isla Graciosa – landfall and relaxation on this tiny island. Underwater worries – that squeaky prop had to be checked. Confused seas, hard decisions and truancy – rough trip to Las Palmas for start of ARC rally, poor weather reports forces us to make a hard decision. Tropical storms and hurricanes – hit by a tropical storm in Las Palmas.  Leaving Las Palmas – some last minute hitches and concerns before we can leave to cross the Atlantic.

Heading off into the unknown – we leave Puerto Mogan. Slamming around breakin' stuff – two days out we suffer poor conditions and a spate of equipment failure. African landfall – a brief stop in the Cape Verdes to check the boat and rest. Working out squalls and engine worries – tortured by light winds then flattened by squalls. Halfway there and the trade winds arrive at last – finally strong winds arrive giving better speed but also huge waves. Squalls torment us. A Christmas Day concert heralds the clearing skies. Caribbean landfall – arrival at St Lucia on New Year’s Eve.