Arrived in Ibiza!
20th May, 2012
We left Mar Menor to pass through the bridge at 8am – only to find that the bridge didn’t open until 10! Oh, well. We just dropped anchor there and waited for a while. As it happened it worked out for the best probably anyway. As soon as we were out of the harbour, we (more...)Cartagena
18th May, 2012
It has now been 6 weeks since we left Kelowna. Time has gone pretty fast, yet feels like a long time since I’ve seen my loved ones. Besides our trip to Portugal, we have spent most time here in Cartagena, where we left the Boat for the winter. After many trips up the mast, Noel (more...)Installing the New Rigging – the Final (?) Chapter
15th May, 2012
This story, you will remember, started in Gibraltar in October, when we first installed the new upper diamonds. But we didn’t receive the other pieces as John from Colligo Marine didn’t have them in stock. So he sent them to us in Canada instead, and we brought them with us. Only to find that two (more...)Finally On Our Way – Leaving Cartagena
14th May, 2012
Yep! The new rigging is finally up and seems to be working. It was a BIG job, so I am glad I don´t have to do that for another decade. But it needed doing and the new synthetic ropes are very nice and a lot lighter than the old stainless steel. My parents came our (more...)STILL Stuck in Cartagena
2nd May, 2012
The rigging was supposed to arrive last Friday, but it is still sitting in customs. SO frustrating. But at least as places to sit and wait Cartagena is not too bad. While we were waiting last week we hired a car and drove across to Portugal for a week. Then last week we took a day trip to Mar Menor which is a large lagoon just around the corner. Lots of windsurfing and kite surfing but the towns were pretty unimpressive. Anyway, hopefuly soon we will be able to get on our way. By the way, in case you haven’t noticed, we have now added a photo gallery to the blog, plus also a google map showing all the places we have visited. Hope you like them!Famous Painter Releases New Masterpiece
26th Apr, 2012
After almost 10 years of hiding, Noel Swanson has once again emerged into the forefront of the artistic world with the release of his latest oil on canvas entitled “Ceu and Raphael in Piódão” based on a recent visit to a very traditional village in central PortugalBack on Life Part 2 and a Visit to Portugal
25th Apr, 2012
We had a wonderful winter in Canada full of fun with the family, Xmas festivities and great skiing! We left Cartagena in November. Spent one week in England with Noel’s family where we celebrated Elmer’s 80th Birthday, his sister’s Birthday and also mine. It was a wonderful busy week. Elmer's 80th Birthday! We the flew (more...)Back On Board and Raring to Go!
13th Apr, 2012
After a 5 month break, visiting Panama, Canada, and the UK, we are now back on board Life Part 2 in Cartagena, Spain. Everyone told us that is was the warmest sunniest winter for years but, of course, as soon as we get here it starts to rain. No matter, we still had a bunch (more...)This Is Why You Replace Your Rigging Every 8 – 10 years.
17th Nov, 2011
Stainless steel rigging is subject to crevice corrosion. The problem with that is that you cannot see it until it actually breaks. Then it is often too late. For that reason it is recommended that the rigging be routinely replaced every 8 – 10 years. Ours is at that 10 year mark, so we are (more...)Impressions of La Linea and Gibraltar and Onward to Almerimar
15th Nov, 2011
After crossing the Gibraltar strait, it was very impressive arriving in the large Algeciras Bay at dusk. I was surpised by how many huge tankers there were sitting at anchor in the bay. They were all lit up like Christmas trees, making it very pretty. Apparently the bay is officially international waters, so they can (more...)New Shrouds Up and On Our Way!
5th Nov, 2011
We finally got our new Dynex Dux shrouds and put them up (with a little bit of hassle because of the length, but more on that in another post). Good thing too – when I got the old shroud down I could see that it had already pulled out about a 3 millimeters. Imagine (more...)Sailing The Gibraltar Strait from West To East
28th Oct, 2011
We had it all figured out. A neighbor in the marina lent us Colin Thomas’s guide to sailing the straits (yes, the same Colin from Summer Breeze that we sailed with two years ago), so we had all the gen on the tides, which are very complicated. This book is the definitive work, and is (more...)Guadalquivir River to Bonanza
25th Oct, 2011
We just left Sevilla 2 days ago. We had a great trip back down the River again. First day made it to about half way, and the next morning we weighed anchor and set off at flood time. It was a lot more traffic around this time, ships, motor boats, maybe because it was weekend?? (more...)Impressions of Seville
22nd Oct, 2011
In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. In 2011 we sailed the ocean blue. When we set off we had 3 GPS’s, detailed charts, daily weather forecasts, plus historical data on the best times of year to travel, and the best routes to take. And then we had radios, liferafts, EPIRB, and watermaker as backups. (more...)Sailing up Guadalquivir to Seville
19th Oct, 2011
Well..Sailing through the river was different from being at sea. The scenery through the 40 miles of the river was very different. We started off through some very flat territory that looked almost like Holland. Gradually it became a bit more treed and then we started to see some hills inland. We began at 2pm, (more...)Well That Sucked
16th Oct, 2011
After being up half the night with me being sick with stomach cramps, we then arose with the dawn and set off from our anchorage outside the Guardiana river. The wind was a gentle 10 kts from the north, so we hoisted sails and glided straight towards a spectacular red sunrise. The forecast, and (more...)Culatra continued…..
14th Oct, 2011
Did you enjoy the beautiful picture of our boat at the beach? Yes that was on Noel’s last blog. The truth is: I was sitting in front looking for shallows and Noel told me it was very deep there, over 5m he said. So I came and sit at the helm with him and within (more...)Will the Mast Fall Down?
17th Sep, 2011
Yes, I finally got around to going up the mast to measure the standing rigging. The rigging is now over 10 years old, so due for replacement. The problem with stainless steel rigging is that you get crevice corrosion, which means that the steels gets eaten away in the areas where you can’t see it (more...)Sitting on the Sea at the Sunny Algarve
23rd Aug, 2011
After visiting with Ceu’s family in Casegas for another month after our visit to England, we are now by ourselves on Life Part 2 down in Portimao, Algarve. The sun is shining, the sea is (reasonably) warm, the winds variable (we often get a fresh sea breeze in the afternoon) and life is good. We are just getting our traveler car fixed, which might take about a week to order in a new one, and then we will probably take off for theFaro area. In the meantime I am catching up with some online stuff, and looking for a windsurfer that I can buy. Not a lot else to report at the moment, really 🙂Noel and Ceu Embark on New Careers
13th Aug, 2011
Having tired of being first a doctor and then an internet entrepreneur, Dr. Noel Swanson figured he needed a new career. After briefly thinking about putting his vast experience of wind generators to good use for the benefit of the nation, he then decided that perhaps a career in landscaping was what he really wanted to do. And on his first day at work he successfully moved a pile of dirt from point A to point B – and then smoothed it all down nicely! Meanwhile, Ceu decided that potato farming was more up her street. However, it all seemed like a lot of hard work, so in the end they figured a nice swim was in order… Thanks Carlos and Elisa for the farming and landscaping experiences! 🙂Portugal, England, and Ben’s Graduation
25th Jul, 2011
It has been a hectic month – so apologies for lack of updates! In fact, internet access has been even harder than it normally is on the boat! Anyway, we had a great two weeks with Ceu’s mother in the small village of Casegas. Her mom had just had leg surgery for a broken leg, (more...)We Made It!
21st Jun, 2011
At 3:40pm today, Tuesday, we arrived at Port Sines on the west coast of Portugal! 770 miles, for most of which, it seems, we had to motor. But, as foreacast we finished with a blast! On the final 130 miles we had 20 kts of wind on the beam giving us speeds of 8 and (more...)One More Day to Go (maybe)!
20th Jun, 2011
Sunday 20 June 2011, 12:30 GMT We are still slogging away. Everything is going well, except slower than expected. All the books talk about a quick and easy passage from the Azores to Portugal. But they said that about the trip to Bermuda too, so I guess the wind doesn’t read the same books as (more...)Finally Some Wind!
17th Jun, 2011
Friday, 17 June, 2011. 13:10 GMT. 38 05 N 18 57 W After motoring for 200 miles due east in glassy seas, and having visions of taking two weeks to actually get to Portugal, the wind finally filled in a bit yesterday evening. At supper time we put up the spinnaker with the main (more...)Leaving Azores Bound for Portugal
14th Jun, 2011
It’s been a great stay in the Azores, although the weather has been rather wet and grey, but now it is time to leave. We depart today for Sines, on the west coast of Portugal, about 50 miles south of Lisbon where there is a nice marina. The trip should take us about 5 days though, again, it looks like the winds will be light. Offri is still with us, so we will have three people taking watches. We will try to keep you updated, and will post more details and pictures of the Azores when we get there. After our arrival we will visit with Ceu’s mom for a few days, as she is having surgery on her broken leg, and then we will fly to England for a couple of weeks for Ben’s graduation. Until then… Au revoir!Still in Lajes, Flores
6th Jun, 2011
So due to the winds here we still are in Flores. Planing to leave on Tuesday am. Good winds and on a beam reach, should be fast to the Island of Terceira. To everyone who keeps asking how was it 16 days without seeing land? And how did you keep busy??? how did you feel (more...)Arrived in Lajes, Flores, Azores 7am
31st May, 2011
Once again the wind disappeared, so for the last 24 hours we motored the rest of the way, very slowly, so as to arrive with the dawn. Flores has imposing cliffs and lots of vegetation, so we could see it from 40 miles away – but it still took us all night to actually get (more...)Slow Progress
27th May, 2011
The wind has now turned against us again. Variable from 8 to 18 kts but always right on the nose. Making very slow progress- did under 60 miles in the last 24 hours as we don’t do well sailing upwind. Calms forecast for the next couple of days, which means we can motor straight there and do a bit better speed. Maybe miles in a day. Then the wind should turn with us, but stay light. ETA in Flores is now Tuesday or Wednesday I think. Saw some dolphins again today. Still not caught a fish though! Getting in lots of chess, cards and movies. Weather is mostly sunny.Still progressing…
26th May, 2011
We have had a couple of days of high speed close reaching, breaking our previous record by making 185 miles in 24 hours. Then we had 5 hours of total calm and drizzle. Then the wind filled in again from the south and today the sun came out again. Now we are doing a steady 5 knots. Meanwhile we broke and repaired our mainsheet traveler block. Less than 400 miles to go now. Sun is out, sea is fairly calm, all is well. Except the wind is forecast to drop to zero again in a couple of days. So who knows when we will get there. Thursday, May 26, 2011, 04:00 GMT – 39 deg 10 min N, 040 deg 11 min WPerfect Sailing
22nd May, 2011
On Wednesday night we were cruising along at a gentle three knots. The sea was calm and it was lovely sailing. But it wasn’t to last. First the wind died. The sea was glassy smooth, the sun bright and strong. It was perfect weather for sunbathing. Unfortunately it meant we weren’t getting anywhere. With no (more...)Hello from the middle of the Atlantic!
18th May, 2011
Here we are in our 3rd day of our crossing. So far we have done over 300 nautical miles. Latitude: 35 deg and 03 minutes N. Longitude: 59 deg and 34 minutes W. The weather has been great, the sun has been shinning and the full moon has brightened each and every night. Offri and (more...)The One-Hour Passage
15th May, 2011
We filled up with water, checked out of customs, hoisted sail and off we went. Once we got out of the harbour and settled down to a nice sail on a broad reach, I said, “What is that squeaking noise?” Well, it turns out that the squeaking noise was the top of the davit post (more...)Updates by Email
14th May, 2011
I have just set up our blog so that I can post updates by email. I will try to do so every now and again while we are on the crossing!Departing for Azores Today
14th May, 2011
Well, we finally got the trampolines made, and various other bits of repairs done, and we are set to leave today. The weather is not great: the first few days are with us (downwind), but very calm, then it turns against us, but still calm, so I don’t expect to have a very quick trip. So, next stop the Azores…Just Arrived in Bermuda!
5th May, 2011
Wow, we made it! After picking up Doug and Cheri in Nassau last Wednesday we had a look at the weather forcast and realized that if we didn’t leave the next morning, we would probably be stuck in Nassau for at least 10 days. So, off we went. We had a very pleasant sail out (more...)No Internet for 4 days – aargh!
26th Apr, 2011
Well, we arrived in Rum Cay, only to find there was nowhere for us to clear immigration, nor to get online. In fact, the entire population of the island is just 50 people. And now it was Easter weekend, so all the immigration etc would be closed. We decided that we would amble our way (more...)180 Miles in under 24 Hours – Provo to Rum Cay
22nd Apr, 2011
On Provo we rented a car and toured the island a bit. Actually there is not a great deal there to see. The island itself is very flat and dry. No lush tropical vegetation like you would see in the windward islands. However, the water around it is a spectacular blue. What is there, however, (more...)Day 4 of our 4 Day Passage
16th Apr, 2011
Another beautiful day! The sun is shining, the wind is light, and we are ambling along at about 5.5 kts average. Overnight we had a good breeze which then dropped in the early hours of the morning. At 10am we switched the main and jib for the spinnaker again, as the wind had gone aft. (more...)Day 3 of our 4 Day Passage
15th Apr, 2011
Well, I must say it’s been going pretty well. Since our longest passage we had done so far was only 24 hours, we had no idea how it was going to be. We wanted to do a long passage on our own before we set off to do the Atlantic, so we planned to do (more...)Day 2 of our 4 Day Crossing
14th Apr, 2011
So, here we are, 50 miles from the nearest land, and I just saw a whale! Cool. Though unfortunately it didn’t make a reappearance, so Ceu missed it. I hope there will be others! Yesterday at 7am we departed St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands some 470 (more...)Day 1 of our 4 Day Passage
13th Apr, 2011
At 7 am we set off from Charlotte Amelie for a 470 nautical mile sail to the Turks and Caicos Islands. We figure it should take us about four days, but who knows? We got a bit of shopping done in St. Thomas; most notably some quilts and pillows for our guest cabins so that (more...)Home Improvements Made to Life Part 2
10th Apr, 2011
Life Part 2 was bought out of a charter fleet. That means it was pretty basic in its equipment – but its price reflected that. Now, chartering for a week or two is one thing, but living on a boat is very different. It is, after all, HOME! So like any self respecting home owner, (more...)Our New Radar
9th Apr, 2011
How many times Noel had to go up the mast to complete installation of the radar??? The same amount of times I had to winch him up there….too many times! It took many tries, but it was always amusing! That's me up the mast! We started off with one trip up to see how far (more...)Simpson’s Bay Lagoon in St Martin
20th Mar, 2011
We are now back home on Life Part2 in St Martin. We sure had a very busy month in Kelowna, visiting family and friends. I got to spend lots of time with my daughters and grandson Tiago who is so much fun! I miss him a lot, thanks to Skype for allowing me to talk (more...)Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
11th Feb, 2011
Yep, we are back in the land of snow. In fact, we arrived in Kelowna on Friday, and had an awesome powder day on Monday.And, of course, Ceu got to spend heaps of time with Tiago. Ceu and Tiago enjoying some snow Unfortunately I had to catch up on some business stuff, so couldn’t hit (more...)Ben on Life Part 2
31st Jan, 2011
He finally made it. We picked him up from SXM airport at 9pm, put him in our dinghy, and drove him across the bay to Life Part 2. Ben and Noel and Pinas Coladas Unfortunately, Simpson Bay is quite exposed and seems to often be quite rolly – certainly more bumpy than other bays in (more...)In Sint Maarten – no wifi :-(
18th Jan, 2011
On Friday evening we finally got our prop shaft seal fixed, and so we sailed overnight to St. Maarten as we have a bunch of stuff to orgainize before we fly to Canada. And also Ben is arriving here on Saturday. St. Maarten is hugely different from the other islands. For one thing, it is (more...)Antigua – Home of the Super Yachts
14th Jan, 2011
Well, we have been sitting in Antigua waiting for our spare part to arrive. Three days just waiting for some French guy in St. Martin to get his act together to get the part to us. Now, finally, I went to the airport to pick it up. So, hopefully we will get it all put (more...)