Open sea / Crossing Galicia-Azores (EN)

🇬🇧20th May – Vila Franca do Campo – Sao Miguel – Azores (from the logbook)

The offshore trip…

There is the idea that you have of it, what you plan to do… and what you really do.

I had planned to do a watercolor painting of the sea every day. Well, finally I made 3 scribbles with a bic pen in my notebook.

I had planned 4 or 5 good books to read during my shifts. I only read one, fortunately it was magnificent. (Ultramarines – by Mariette Navarro)

We had planned to have some good little dishes prepared by Titine for the crossing. I ate white rice and noodles for breakfast.

I had planned to work on my Portuguese fado songs. Finally “la maman des poissons” with my son on the deck was enough.

I thought I would learn the names of the constellations but I stared at the weather vane the whole time.

It’s that there was wind, some wind, and sea, good tight swell, high and short. The crossing was exhausting but Lady Flow showed us that she was made for it. Our friend Seb (Sébastien Roubinet) who offered to route us, had warned us: “the slot is good, it will be steep at the start, uncomfortable throughout, but you won’t find a better window in this season.” And he was right. The swell didn’t let us down, but neither did the wind and the Lady flew by at an average of 6-7kts. Galicia-Azores in 6 days!