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Indian Ocean, October 2017
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Written in 2016
It has been almost 4 years since we started our journey sailing around the world and its only now we have been encouraged by kiwis to share our story with the world.
It was mid 2012 when we first left the protection of every day living and headed into the vast blue of nature and the unpredictable weather of the North Atlantic. We seek only the education of the natural world and the people who live in it, with a little help from some modern technology. We wanted our three children, Josh-7, Sadie -2 and Jacob -1, to have a good start in life and to see and feel what the world has to offer them.
Carpe Diem, a 12 metre Bavaria yacht with three double cabins and two heads was ample room for our growing family. We were quickly made aware of other people's strong options about what they thought was the correct boat to take off shore. Our boat was not on that list, but 4 years on, we can clearly say that we have gone everywhere a Bavaria is not intended to go. She has kept us safe and catered for our every need.
It was mid 2012 when we first left the protection of every day living and headed into the vast blue of nature and the unpredictable weather of the North Atlantic. We seek only the education of the natural world and the people who live in it, with a little help from some modern technology. We wanted our three children, Josh-7, Sadie -2 and Jacob -1, to have a good start in life and to see and feel what the world has to offer them.
Carpe Diem, a 12 metre Bavaria yacht with three double cabins and two heads was ample room for our growing family. We were quickly made aware of other people's strong options about what they thought was the correct boat to take off shore. Our boat was not on that list, but 4 years on, we can clearly say that we have gone everywhere a Bavaria is not intended to go. She has kept us safe and catered for our every need.
Final good byes to England and on course for homeward bound. ( St Helena Island and New Zealand)
Onboard carpe diem 2016 by joshua and sadie
Current location: Simons Town South Africa, heading home to St Helena Island in the South Atlantic Ocean 2017. Only 1700 nautical miles to go and we will have circumnavigate the world.
earlier videos and photos of our sailing adventure to come!
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The approach to the northern coast of Spain early that morning was not what we expected in relation to the weather forecast. Thick fog had set in with visibility of no more than 50 metres. Our manual fog horn which was located in the port cockpit locker, was brought to the children's attention. They were informed of the marine collision rules and they blew the horn in turn, one long and two short every two minutes, it was great entertainment for them. The blasting horn echoed off the white wall of fog, we listened for a reply between intervals which never came.
It was only ten nautical miles off the coast before the fog started to clear and the sea calmed by the shelter of the mainland. This was the start of a new problem which we were aware of. A fishing trawler heading towards us, going too fast to tow a net. We monitored its course for a while and established it was on a collision course. I tried to call them on the vhf with no reply. There might have been a language barrier. I have heard that the Spanish fisherman could be quite menacing. I have also heard that as a nation they love children. We gathered the children and we all stood on the deck and waved vigorously! We watched the trawler change course and as they passed our stern, they waved back, much to our amusement! Now that the danger had passed we were able to focus on piloting to our very first landfall, La Corona.
Bay Biscay, North Atlantic
We left Dartmouth 50 21.31 N 003 34.42 W at 1600 on the 4 th August to cross the notorious English Chanel and the Bay of Biscay. We found by travelling at night, we could see the ships coming for miles, with a little help from the AIS and using the separation zone to our advantage, we were able to tuck behind the ships as they past. Some sailors find the night passage a little daunting but we found the yacht more functional as the kids will normally be asleep and we can concertate on the sailing.
The crossing only took 3 days with the Bay of Biscay becalmed for 2 days and 1 day of 35 knots of Easterly wind with a 3 metre swell. It was just the foggy landfall and the odd fishing vessel that caused a little concern.
The crossing only took 3 days with the Bay of Biscay becalmed for 2 days and 1 day of 35 knots of Easterly wind with a 3 metre swell. It was just the foggy landfall and the odd fishing vessel that caused a little concern.