Happy New Year

Vancouver Canada, December 31^st, 2013

As of this month we will have come full circle with our travels overseas. 

From Canada to Panama by air last winter, Panama to Europe under sail for three month in the spring, and now our recent return to Canada from Europe again by air.  Our beloved “Ar Seiz Avel” is now safely stored “on the hard” at a wonderful marina in Vigo Spain and awaits our return sometime in 2014.

It was a true voyage of discovery. The daily challenges of wind, wave and changing weather kept us fully “in the moment” for much of the journey.  We relied on each other in a way that at times held the deepest meaning of life and death.  

Huge seas and Beaufort 8 winds. Harnessing up and then hoisting the storm sail while the monster waves crash over us as we ride the bow ...Yahoo!! 

And then moments of flat glass calm in an endless perfect ocean. 

When we finally made landfall in Spain at the  Cies Islands on the northwest coast it was three months to the day from leaving Panama. 

Ironically this landfall is within 88 km of Santiago de Compostela and the end of the ancient pilgrim’s journey Camino de Santiago.  This sailing journey of over 5500nm from the Panama Canal to Spain was our portion of the “Camino de Santiago” trail.

Across the Caribbean Sea through the Yucatan Channel to Florida and then embarking east across the Atlantic via the Bahamas, Bermuda the Azores to the north coast of Spain it was truly a spiritual journey of self discovery and connection. 

 
Now after putting the “Ar Seiz Avel” safely on land for the winter and spending a delightful and very busy summer in Holland we are back in Canada to be with family and friends and to prepare for the next leg of our cruising adventures aboard the
“Ar Seiz Avel”.

We thank you for your support this past year and wish you Season’s Greetings and all the best for the coming New Year!!!

With kindest regards,

Paul and Barbara Ann

Links on this page:

Beaufort

Cies Islands

Santiago de Compostela

Camino de Santiago

Skippers Log

SKIPPERS LOG  2013 Panama to Spain Voyage Distance At Sea Motor Hours Panama to Key West March 18 -April 02 1428 miles 90m day’s 16 days 13 hr Key West to Bermuda March 13 - April 27 1135 miles 80m day’s 14 days 23 hr Bermuda to Azores May 11- June 02 1951 miles 85m day’s 23 days 37 hr Azores to Spain June 09 – June 18 1061 miles 115m day’s 9 days 3 hr Totals 5.575 miles 82m day’s 68 days 76hr Fuel used 114 liters Slowest day: 22miles………Biggest day: 157miles Close Hauled: Sailed into the wind 34 days. [ 50% of the time ] We encountered 4 gales.  [ 30 plus knot winds ] Becalmed 7 days: [ 0 to 3 knots ] CARBON FOOTPRINT Power generating: 100w tow generator and 100w in solar panels  *We only used half a tank of diesel -114 liter - covering well over 5.000miles in a 3 month period. *After each leg we arrived at our destination with batteries fully charged, fridge and electronics running. FISHING: 1 fish only in 5500+ miles  [ where have all the fish gone ] WEATHER and the ENVIRONMENT The changing global climate……. was very noticeable on these voyages. Weather compared to other voyages I had made earlier [4x] showed significant changes. We encountered many unusual wind directions, in particular in the N Atlantic, Easterly winds instead of winds blowing from the West. * Panama’s rainy season was extreme ,lasted much longer than usual. * Oily rain in the remote San Blas Islands. [rain with oil content]  * Plastic debris in all oceans and beaches.Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean . IMAGINE All the Garbage PLASTIC’S ….that are in ….THE WORLD Collected by all of us……Because? We get paid lb/$$$$ at the RECYCLEPLANT THEN WE MANUFACTURE Cloth’s, Building materials etc to create economy / employment / cleaner environment AROUND THE WORLD.