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Leaving Ares, Spain: Dart Warrior in the morning mist    
Journal

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.

EUROPE 2005
ATLANTIC OCEAN 2005
WEST INDIES 2006
WEST INDIES 2007
BERMUDA 2007
ATLANTIC OCEAN 2007

 

JOURNAL SUMMARY:
1. Europe 2005 1750 mile cruise through Europe
2. Atlantic Ocean 2005 3000 mile trip across the Atlantic Ocean

PART ONE EUROPE 2005 – 1750 mile cruise through Europe
England – cruise of south coast from Brighton to Falmouth

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.

Bay of Biscay – 520 NM direct passage from Falmouth to La Corona, Spain

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'.

Atlantic Spain & Portugal – cruise from La Corona, Spain to Lagos, Portugal

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.

South from Portugal to The Canaries - 625 NM, 5 day passage

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.

The Canaries – Isla Graciousa, Lanzarote and Las Palmas

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.

PART TWO ATLANTIC 2005 – 3000 mile trip across the Atlantic Ocean

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.