I’m awoken at 0330 local time by the call of nature on our eighth and likely penultimate night in the Marina Mindelo on Ilha São Vicente in the Cabo Verdes. In the dim light from the marina’s dock lights I see Max sleeping peacefully on the settee. Hazel is too small for any kind ofContinue reading “Anchors Away!”
Category Archives: 2024 Voyaging
The Reunion Islands
Although the real Reunion Islands are in the Indian Ocean, on my last night in the Canaries as I think back about my time here, I realize that this archipelago will always be my personal “Reunion Islands.” Not only for Rhett’s and my reunion but for our reunion with sailing friends. It reminds me ofContinue reading “The Reunion Islands”
The Fire Island
As a lot of people know, I’m not nearly as prolific when Rhett is onboard so please excuse the timing on this post. I started it when Rhett and I were on the island of Lanzarote (blue star in the upper right below). I made landfall there on November 6, sailing from Madeira and RhettContinue reading “The Fire Island”
Pictures at an Exhibition
Given I’ve got limited time but near unlimited bandwidth (a rarity lately), I’ll make this post text lite and photo heavy. It’s 1100 local time in Madeira and I’m waiting for the squally cold front from the remnants of subtropical storm Patty to pass so I can start sailing the 275 miles to the islandContinue reading “Pictures at an Exhibition”
All Systems Go
Hazel’s ready, the Captain’s ready, the weather looks good, no orca encounters or sightings over the past several days—we are ready to roll. It’s about 2130 here (9:30 p.m.) and I’m just about to “turn flukes” as Melville would say in Moby Dick. Tomorrow morning about sunrise, we’ll return our marina access card (and getContinue reading “All Systems Go”
Navigate and Orca-Strait
…of course I could have just as easily titled this post “Navigate the Orca-Strait” because we’re doing both at the moment. On one hand there’s the hour-to-hour, degree-to-degree and minute-to-minute navigation, but without high-level and mid-level sailing plans—the “orchestration” you might say—the navigation is pointless. As the Cat said, “If you don’t know where youContinue reading “Navigate and Orca-Strait”
Just Passin’ Through
Tomorrow we sail! I pulled out my ship’s log and see that we arrived in Marina Almerimar on Saturday, September 14th. At the time, I was expecting a visit of 10 days that could reasonably stretch into 2 weeks. If you had told me then that we would be here 4 weeks, I would haveContinue reading “Just Passin’ Through”
Watching Paint Dry
It’s an instant of clarity when I happen to experience the core of a metaphor, the sinews of a simile—when a figure of speech animates itself and dances on the stage. I find it happens more frequently in my sailing life than in my other life. This week, as Hazel’s spa time continues, I hadContinue reading “Watching Paint Dry”
Hard Life
In terms of women in my life, Rhett and Hazel have their similarities, and differences. Both enjoy—dare I say demand?—spa time. Furthermore, I’m learning that as a person often oblivious to these needs (a.k.a., a guy), that there’s a relationship between physical size and the spa time needed. For Rhett, it’s the bliss of aContinue reading “Hard Life”
Seasonal Skull Scratching in Sardinia
…sure, the alliteration is cute and catchy, but change the context slightly and this blog post title could be read as a medical condition. However, time is short and it’s fitting (as you’ll soon see), so I’m going with it. I toss, I turn, I give up and give in to wakefulness. Rolling over inContinue reading “Seasonal Skull Scratching in Sardinia”