All blogs in this category refer to the transatlantic voyage
It has been overwhelming to decide how to write this post. The Azores are an island archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean near Europe. I am on the largest island, Sao Miguel, in the capital city Ponta Delgada. The Azores are an autonomous region of Portugal. The streets are beautifully decorated with black basalt from …
Distant Horizon was sailing north-northeast. The weather service told me the winds would change once the storm had moved off. I did not wait for that change! I knew I was far enough south that I had to start moving north. Besides… Now the wind would be on the beam. That is, it would come …
It was the morning of April 18th. Distant Horizon made less than 100nm noon-to-noon the last two days. I was tired of the light winds and rolling seas. The winds were finally picking up again. I noticed the change during the night. The stars quickly disappeared. Then, without warning, there was a torrential downpour. It …
Around 1100, Distant Horizon and I were departing Bermuda. Sails were up, but with not enough wind, the engine was doing the bulk of the work. With the forecast, I was prepared to motor most of the day. Something I do not normally do. However, I was pleasantly surprised. At 1230, I was able to …
I had spent the winter in Bermuda. That was not part of the plan. It just happened, I first went to Bermuda for repairs and a little rest. At the end of December, I departed Bermuda. I was headed for the Caribbean. However, on my second day, I had traveled a little over 110 miles, …
I was sailing south on the Atlantic Ocean. Just three miles offshore from Virginia Beach. There was a nice breeze off my starboard quarter (right rear corner). The wind and current were both flowing south, making this a nice gentle sail. I knew this wasn’t going to last. The forecast said the winds would drop …
Final Preparations Distant Horizon and I have been in the southern Chesapeake Bay area for the last four years. During that time, I rehabilitated my shoulder, injured during my previous attempt to cross the ocean. For the subsequent two and a half years, I have been preparing Distant Horizon for our final attempt to sail …
It has been two years since I last sailed on the ocean. Major work was done on the boat; both structural and rigging. Although out of my way, sailing to Bermuda seems to make a lot of sense. It is roughly a five-day trip. This would give me time to get my sea legs back. It would also serve as a good test for all the work I’ve done to the boat.
Over the past several years, I have made three attempts at fulfilling a lifelong dream. My dream is to sail across the Atlantic Ocean and return to Scotland. This voyage is to honor my uncle Edward who taught me about boats and sailing and to complete a journey he had planned for the two of us, albeit in reverse. Uncle Edward passed away over 20 years ago, but I have kept the dream alive. I am doing this in memory of him.
This question is asked more than any other. So, I thought it was a worthy topic to start this blog. After all, this tells the beginning of my story and why I am sailing to Scotland. First Visit My maternal grandmother was Scottish. When my grandfather died, she wanted to return home to see her …
