Our 5 best experiences since we set off
Arriving to spain from Arcachon - We felt like the early sailors exploring the world
It's been 5 months since we set off on our long journey. We have reached Sada in Spain, which is a small town located in Ria de Betanzos. The same Ria where A Coruña is located. Biscay is a thing of the past, and ahead of us lies the final stretch of the Atlantic coast before we can sail into the Mediterranean in the spring.
Our time here in Sada could turn out to be quite long. When we look at the weather forecasts, we are constantly hit by one low-pressure system after another, and the accompanying winds bring waves. We can sail in strong winds, but waves exceeding 1.5 meters start posing challenges for the crew.
With long prospects to continue our journey south, it's a good time for a recap of the best experiences we've had so far. When we discussed it around the table in the salon, it quickly became clear that there is a big difference from child to adult and even from helmsman to captain.
The 5 best experiences for the children have been:
Seeing dolphins
Catching tuna
Diving and playing in the harbor at Cudillero
Walking through the fish tunnel and exploring the tide pools in Laredo
Meeting other sailing kids and playing
We have seen dolphins jumping and playing at the bow of our boat in the English Channel, Biscay, and the Atlantic Ocean. And every time, it brought joy to Norah, Tristan, and Konrad. The two tuna we caught, and the nearly ten that have slipped away from us over the last few months, are high on the list, especially for Norah and Tristan.
In the harbor at Cudillero, the water was crystal clear, and with a visit from Bonito tuna at the boat and diving along the pier, it's also something that both of them look back on with great joy.
Dolphins swimming at our bow from Camaret Sur Mer to Concarneau
In Laredo, they both remember a short walk through a tunnel, the inside of which was decorated with paintings of marine creatures. Hammerhead sharks, whales, sea turtles, various fish, and divers. At the end of the tunnel, hours were spent exploring the secrets of the seabed at low tide. Shellfish, fish, crabs, and other interesting creatures were collected, and small homes were built for them from the small pools left by the tide.
At the top of the list, however, is meeting and playing with other sailing kids. Throughout the trip, we have been fortunate to meet other sailing families regularly. German, Dutch, English, and Danish children have all been added to the list of sailing friends, and their experiences with them are fondly remembered. Even here in Sada, we are fortunate to be moored alongside two other sailing families. A German family, where Konrad has found a 3-year-old German playmate, Liam, and Norah and Tristan enjoy the company of English Eric, Darcy, and Tilla.
Mrs. Captain's 5 Best Experiences
Seeing sunfish and dolphins
Exploring the tide pools in Laredo
The view over Biscay from Pointe du Toulinguet near Camaret Sur Mer
Fog sailing from Ribadeo
Raz de Sein and downwind sailing towards Concarneau
Captain's 5 Best Experiences
Sailing in strong winds toward Bilbao (short but +45 knots of wind)
Raz de Sein and downwind sailing towards Concarneau
Fog sailing from Ribadeo and exiting Biscay
Indulging in the French food markets
Visiting Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery
In Deauville, we were windbound for a period. Fortunately, we had the opportunity to rent a car and explore the surrounding area. Deauville is located on the coastline where D-Day took place, and a little further off the coast is Omaha Beach. A place that has been high on the captain's wish list, and it did not disappoint. The area, with its old bunkers, hills, and the tide, gave us a faint idea of the scenarios that played out in the area. The American Cemetery was an emotional experience, where we could clearly see several visitors who remembered and were briefly reunited with deceased relatives.
When we departed Camaret Sur Mer, we sailed through Raz de Sein. A narrow stretch of water between cliffs and rocks, along with tides, wind, and currents, creates unique conditions that have sunk many ships and cost many sailors their lives over time. We were well prepared and passed through the strait in optimal and gentle conditions, enjoying the journey to the fullest. But the forces that reign in this area were unmistakable, with the water "boiling and bubbling." Leaping tuna, dolphins, and a light fog rolling over the sea made the experience very special. After Raz de Sein, we had the opportunity to set our old and very colorful spinnaker. And as we slowly sailed towards Concarneau, we had a brief visit from a sunfish, peacefully swimming on the surface.
A commonality for the helmswoman and the captain is that it is often the natural experiences that are remembered. Whether it has been the view over Biscay from Pointe Du Toulinguet near Camaret Sur Mer, the sound of waves crashing against the coast in Lekeitio, and the turquoise colors in the water at Faro de Santa Catalina, or the encounters with animals in their natural environment, these are things that are strongly imprinted in our memory.
In the present, we have found peace.
It sounds cheeky, but nonetheless true.
The journey along the European coastline has been packed with experiences so far. The changing nature as the nautical miles have passed beneath our keel, the importance of food among the locals, and the small local businesses that have had their way of doing things over the years. We can really feel that the things we encounter along the way tickle our curiosity to learn and experience more.
The impatience we had at the beginning to continuously move on has gradually diminished, as we have realized that with wind and weather, we can do nothing to change our course.
Even though we are now in Sada, and the prospects of moving on are long-term.
We are right where WE should be on OUR journey.
Rounding the last cape of the Bay of Biscay
Leaving the bay of biscay market a big thing for us as we are now entering the last strech of atlantic water before entering the Mediterranean Sea