Well over 1,000 nautical miles of open ocean lie ahead of us as we sail from La Rochelle across the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic Ocean to the Azores. Several days are planned for this route as a weather buffer and to allow time to explore the Azores. We will wait for a suitable moment before embarking on the multi-day, non-stop leg.

Sailing on the Bay of Biscay offers the possibility of an optional stopover in Coruña, shortening the route somewhat and allowing us to experience another country. We expect to be at sea non-stop for approximately 7 days for the long leg. The number of days at sea will depend significantly on the weather. We will make strategic decisions together regarding the route and weather navigation to cover many nautical miles at high speed under the gennaker. Depending on the wind direction, the Bay of Biscay could present another sailing challenge, but it can also be quite peaceful at this time of year. This section of the route will be particularly dependent on the weather.

On multi-day ocean passages, we sail continuously on a watch system in which each crew member participates equally according to their different skills. This watch system allows us to fairly manage our sleep and distribute responsibilities for cooking and deck work. Several watch leaders are assigned to distribute responsibilities among the watches. This quickly establishes a comfortable routine of watches, navigation, and life on board.

Our destination port is Ponta Delgada on São Miguel, one of the Azores islands. Here, in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean, we can expect not only breathtaking volcanic landscapes and lush nature, but also the opportunity to observe whales and dolphins in their natural habitat at the beginning of whale season. Temperatures in the Azores will rise steadily at this time of year, welcoming us with pleasant spring-like weather.