Post 3

Day 8 - after leaving the US on April 8, which is now going to be considered 

Day two of “Just Live’s” first journey across the Atlantic. I think it’s time we start counting over using the days on the Atlantic going forward. So on this second day of the transatlantic crossing we are in the Bay Of Biscay and it’s actually very pleasant. It’s light winds and we are presently motoring at 5 knots. It was not so light yesterday on day 1, leaving La Rochelle at 9am. We had winds off the port beam of 15 to 20 knots, which made it quite sporty. This played to our favor, however, with a strong beam reach sailing between 7 to 9 knots throughout the day until sometime during the night. The sails came down sometime after my early morning watch, which ended at 2 AM.

Several first sightings already: (1) La Rochelle coast as we left her behind, (2) lots of dolphins before sunset and on my present 8 am watch this morning, and (3) the coastline of Spain several miles off to starboard. 

We should round the tip of Spain sometime tomorrow (Monday). Then the plan is to follow the weather pattern, which seems to want us to go south along the Spanish and Portuguese coast before crossing the shipping lanes a bit farther south. Then the plan is to cut directly across the shipping lanes (probably during the evening) and head straight for Madeira.  We will see what mother nature and Captain Anthony decides as the weather continues to develop and change as it usually does. 

Speaking of Captain Anthony, I think it’s time I introduce our Captain and crew. And for those of you that are wondering, no I am not the captain for this transatlantic crossing. I may be adventurous, but I’m not nuts! I was fortunate enough that the insurance company agreed that I had sufficient experience to be considered official-crew.

ACY put me in touch with Captain Anthony Richards who lives in England. 

Just Live will be Anthony’s 55th transatlantic, of which some 90 percent have been FP catamarans introduced by ACY. He started sailing over 50 years ago and has owned several boats over about 25 years mostly engaged in racing during which time he represented his country in international competition. He holds Yachtmaster Ocean and Yachtmaster Instructor qualifications as well as a “Masters degree in Applied Meteorology.”

A Masters degree in applied meteorology, wow! That got my attention!🤙

The second crew hand other than myself is Bartek Sonta. Bartek is originally from Poland currently living in Barcelona Spain. He is transitioning from a successful career as a paid hacker for IBM and other companies in the IT industry to sailing as a profession. He has sailed with Anthony in the past, and is 38 and single, if any of you single ladies are interested in meeting him. Bartek is only joining us until Maderia. And then he will fly back to Barcelona  for another crew job and Jerry will fly in from Fort Lauderdale to join us for the final leg across the Atlantic. Jerry just completed the last crossing with Anthony, plus one or two others as well. I actually met Jerry last year in Annapolis by coincidence. More about Jerry later once he is onboard. 

Well, that’s it for now. Time to get back to watching the dolphins.

Cheers, 

Paul

P.S. Remember, you can click on this tracker link to follow us across the Atlantic on an interactive map via Iridium Go - thanks to Captain Anthony.