Caribbean Windward Islands

After crossing the Atlantic Ocean I have spent a month in the Caribbean Windward Islands. For first 2 weeks, it was only 2 of us trying to combine nice vacation time with boat maintenance. We have focused on the Martinique and outstanding Dominica. During those 2 weeks we managed to totally clean PILIGRIM, repair Genoa sail, anchor relay, pimp the stairs, do 12 washing machines, squeeze shrouds, change oil, clean filters etc. Hard work, but also amazing time: full of complicated technical lessons mixed with unforgettable preparation of Pierogi (Polish Dumplings) for the Christmas Eve.

We met few interesting people and lived nice, simple life. Justyna, Tomek, Albert, Marika, Klaudia, Ela are part of this time. After the Christmas we have started the commercial route to the Windward Island. Whole route took us 11 days and was very well prepared. To save some money and time, Jasiek had a great idea to make a night passage from Martinique straight to Bequia in St. Vincent and Grenadines. Besides lovely Bequia, we have visited as well Union and Palm Island, Mayreau with Saltwistle Bay, where we spend our New Year`s Eve Party, Tobago Cays for after party chill and on the way back: Mustique and St. Vincent with its Wallilabou and Cumberland Bays and finally St. Lucia with outstanding Pitons. Of course I have climbed one :)

Whole route is fully recommended as besides lovely views, there is very nice interior. Unfortunately there are no cheap fruits or vegetables. In general food in Caribbean is surprisingly bad and expensive. We had some lovely chilling moments, snorkeling, visiting “Antek”, who is a fan of Poland J Dying after an “easy trekking” to Petit Piton. Hahaha that was good, I guess I could not find easier way for the first warm up walk after such a long time on the boat… This easy trek was a pretty technical challenge, where half of the way is with the ropes and some of vertical climbs. Easy one…

Unfortunately every good thing must reach their end. This time as well… So sadly I had to say goodbye to Jasiek and Windward Islands.

Now it is time to visit Monika in Dominican Republic. I have already visited Monika in Spain, China, Chile and Bulgaria, so I can be prepared for a lot of fun :)

Pierogi for the Christmas Eve

Preparing over 100 Pierogi`s in 20 seconds :)
Only with Ela and Jasiek!!

Atlantic Ocean Crossing 2016 movie :)

I have promised to prepare the movie from the Atlantic Passage. It took me a while and was a bit of challenge to do 4 minutes movie from 4 weeks of trip, but I hope that you will feel at least a part of the excitement we had during this outstanding cruise.

Amazing people, great atmosphere, safety and very professional preparation. Simple life, highlighting beauty of no civilization.

Please share your opinion with me and of course the movie if you like it

Many great thanks to Captain Jasiek, OrtemSails and rest of the crew for this unforgettable cross.

Commonwealth of Dominica

Decision taken: we go north to visit Dominica (do not mix it with Dominican Republic).

Seems to be an outstanding island, not too typical for Caribbean region. For us it is even more excitement, as we are planning to finally spend some more time on the ground ;p walking might be challenging and funny.

Custom was easy, you just need to knock the custom door and you get the stamp J we met Albert -  local guide and with his advice we have reanchored in safer area. Next day was sacrificed for some technical work on the Piligrim (our boat) but as well for a nice break to visit the Indian River. Pretty outstanding rainforest views and interesting stories about Dominica. On Monday we decided to rent a car to make a whole island tour. WOW. This island is surely worth to visit. Lovely views, finally some tasty food in Caribe and smiling people. Niceeeee. We split to save some time and I ended up alone in rental company. I got a lovely automatic left hand car (same as in Europe) but it is required to drive on the left side of the road. Seriously. I am gonna kill myself or somebody else. So driving to Jasiek I was simply funny. I was only repeating to myself: no gears and I drive on left side :) We had a great time while visiting Dominica, boosting Roussau, calm seasides, beautiful views from the hills and plenty of unbelievable colorful plants. There are 365 rivers in Dominica so the nature is really outstanding. Fully recommended :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year my Friends

This year for the second time in my life I spend Christmas far away from home. 

You are all in my heart and distance is only state of mind. 

I wish you all the best. Hope this Christmas will be magical for You in the same as for me and your secret dreams will come true.

My dreams are just about that :):):)

I will celebrate Christmas Eve with few polish Friends on Martinique and New Years Eve somewhere under the palm tree :)

Hohoho Rasta Christmas :):):)

it was enough to zoom out :p

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?hl=pl&authuser=0&mid=1ZOYhQPdnD1aDlayKYzglpUeg7fs&ll=20.89519388582641%2C-37.360212768554675&z=4


this was our way through Atlantic Ocean :)

Crossing the Atlantic sum up

Simply amazing experience. A very good lesson about yourself, life and nature. Finally time to slow down and enjoy simple things. Last 4 weeks gave me more, than i would even expect. Gave me an opportunity to learn patience, respect for the Ocean and listen to amazing stories of others with no distraction. Meet people with same dreams and ideas for life. On one hand totally different, but in those small details exactly the same. Adjust myself to sailing rhythmus driven by the navigation and cooking shifts. Being dependent on the wind and weather and play with it, not against. Having long nostalgic moments and crazy funny laughs. Being in total darkness steering to nowhere and next night seeing sky full of stars. I cannot even figure out how many wishes I have said J at least half of them were for good wind and fresh fish :)

On Friday 11.11.2016 rest of the crew: Jowita with Marek, Andrzej, Bartek, Adam and Piotr joined us on the boat and we spent a very nice integration evening together with the second polish crew: Pawel and his crazy Gorlice Team :)

Saturday was a „technical day“, so still some last pimp my rides and buying a food. It is kind of challenge to estimate amount of food for 8 people needed during 3 weeks passage on the Atlantic Ocean. Imagine: absolutely no possibility to buy anything on the way… If you we are lucky, we will catch nice tuna or barracuda, but it is better to have it as a nice surprise, than a backup plan for food. We made a loooong list of potential lunches/dinners and went to Dino. It took us 4 hours and 8 full trolleys. 20kg potatoes, 6 kg rice, 10kg noodles, 10kg tomatoes, 300 liters of water although we have 1000l in the tank and very fast water maker. Another couple of hours were needed to store it on the boat. Even the smallest free space was used to pack something.

At the evening I met my friends: Justyna and captain Tomek and still enjoyed last moments of civilization.

Ready steady gooooo: on Sunday we did only last, small preparations, ate big breakfast on the shore and hoped for no sea sickness. So far I was always pretty good, but hello: here we do not stop for 3 weeks… At 1.30 PM we started with our 1st nM. Only 2700 left… sounds like a challenge J

Unbelievable how good i could adjust to such a small space with 7 random people. There were no arguments, no bad moments, everybody was smiling and enjoying this journey on their own way. We could integrate and also easily switch off and enjoy lonely moments. Absolute WOW.

We have shared the most important value: time, which was very well invested. For most people 4 weeks sound like everlasting and believe me, I do not even know when it passed.

We were estimating around 18 days (+/- 2 days) for those 2700 nM counting on north/east passats. Surprisingly there was no such wind till the very last days. Imagine total still in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Instead of being mad as this meant delays we simply enjoyed calm, unwind dinner with candles J Well, at the end I am not in the hurry.

Sometimes I even had a feeling that my days are too short. Enjoying every meal  was simply outstanding, having an easy going midday nap, reading nice books, watching movies, learning new sailing skills from our smart skipper Jasiek. When we had harder times, always nice surprise showed up: catching delicious Calmars, after rain sun was shining and after still wind was blowing. Exactly like in our life, after hard days, good ones are about to come.

It all only increased my appetite for more. Now it is time to start part 2: sailing in Caribbean, hmmm it is hard to live simple :p