This season's voyage

From the Ijselmeer through the North Sea Channel, passing Amsterdam, exiting out into the North Sea. From there we hope for fair weather and good winds. Most likely we'll touch down at Oostende for some proper victualing (the more South you get, the better the food and drinks). Then off, through the English Channel to the tip of Bretagne. If we're in some luck, it'll just take a few baquettes and croisants for a good weather window to appear. Our plan is to cross the Bay of Biscay from Audierne to A Coruna in approximately 4 days. After passing Cape Finistere we'll take it a little easier to enjoy the West side of the Iberian Pensinsula all the way down to Cabo de Sao Vicente.
Excitement and care are amongt us, as neither of us have ever crossed the Bay of Biscay. We are prepared with an ocean worthy yacht, an ocean worthy crew, ample food, drinks, music, books, charts, cameras, a radar, electric plotter, life raft and an IPERB. In a few days we'll set sail for a journey we've been talking about for a year now. Stay tuned for photos and stories.

ps. Your story or tips, suggestions, comments on this passage are more than welcome.

Sailing to Travel

Some non-commercial sailors say they travel to sail, others rather sail to travel. They're both traveling, but for the former that's just the consequence of sailing. For the latter it's a way of traveling. I'm the kind of sailor that likes sailing, but you won't see me hoisting the sails before setting a destination. In other words, I sail to travel and my new sailing adventure will commence soon. I've pinned down Portugal as my destination, departing from The Netherlands. Via the North sea through the English Channel, cornering Bretagne, crossing the Bay of Biscay to A Coruña, proceeding down along the Portuguese coast all the way to Cape São Vicente, finally reaching the port of Lagos.

A crew of 3 or 4 on a 42 footer should do the trick. Setting sail on May 28th. Stay tuned for updates prior, during and after this wet adventure!