Thursday, October 6, 2021

Valencia Mar, 7.30 am. The clock is ringing, it’s time for running. Fabienne is already waiting for me in the living room, which is at the same time the cockpit, the kitchen and the dining room. It’s incredible the way we arrange ourself on limited space. Everyone has to be tidy, everything has its place and you know what? It works perfectly fine. Respect, communication and team work are key.

We start with a gentle warm-up, embracing the sun which just rises behind us and slowly start running along the peer. Beside the constant noise of the machines of the harbor, it’s calm. There is only one man measuring the quality of water.

Back on the boat, breakfast is already prepared by Vincent and Olivier, Pascal has finished his yoga exercises – a sweet start into the day.

9.45 am: We are leaving the harbor of Valencia. After 3 days onshore, everyone is excited to be back on the sea. We carefully prepared the route to Cartagena the night before, choosing the somewhat longer but windier route. So, there we are, a tiny spot between the big cargo ships, which wait for their signal to enter the harbor. We are taking off into the blue. No, not really, our route is a precise calculation of multiple applications, weather predictions, millions of data and finally our own interpretation. Thank you, Vincent, for teaching us how to use the tools of navigation.

Patience is another excellent skill you will learn when you sail, because even though you have a lot of data and predictions, the weather, especially in the Mediterranean can change unexpectedly. The wind is not as strong as expected at the beginning. But patience pays off. After three hours, we have incredible conditions and we are at a constant speed between 8 and 10 knots.

While I’m navigating the boat, I listen to a conversation between Olivier and Pascal, who exchange their views of different patterns of life and choices they made. The wind is increasing and Fabienne and Vincent had to reduce the surface of the big sail. Looking at the sea can be addicting. You start to relax your thoughts and live the moment, you’re free, ready for inspiration and intuition, less rational.

After a while, Pascal is taking over the navigation, we are close to our first big waypoint, the Cap Nao. It’s time for a tea, biscuits and chocolate. The wind is decreasing and we elevate the big sail, however, it gets stuck. With joint forces, Vincent and Pascal can finally release it, Fabienne and Olivier are navigating and we are back at full speed. A bit later, Fabienne and I go through the list of nutrition for the crossover of the Atlantic. According to our experience of the past one and a half week, we recalculate what’s needed. Later we enjoy a dinner à l’italienne: parmigiana di melanzane et filets de veau à la moutarde.

The sky turns purple. Pascal and I are getting excited when we pass Calpe, a Spanish city marked by a big stone at its beach, which we have climbed together 13 years ago. It’s the place where we spent our first holidays. I was almost 18, Pascal 17 years young. We take a picture and remember the past, reflect where we are in our life today - on a joint path, which we have started a while ago – we both agree that it is wonderful.

We are getting the instructions for the nightshifts from Vincent, taking turns, always two at the same time. Olivier and Pascal are resting, Vincent is navigating and Fabienne is reading next to me, while I go through the memories of the day. Happiness.

Blanche, membre du premier équipage.