A Year at Sea

Africa and The Strait of Gibraltar

This little blurb written en route to Gibraltar:
It’s 9:15 on Wednesday, August 7. We are in transit from Barbate Spain to Gibraltar and I just spotted Africa. This is SO surreal! We are on our boat, our little boat that has traveled thousands and thousands of miles, and now this…the continent of Africa lays before us! I can’t wipe this huge smile off my face.

The trip to Gibraltar was terribly exciting. At any given time there were 80+ commercial ships within 30 miles of us. We know this b/c we have something called AIS onboard which allows us to pick up vital data that all commercial vessels are required to transmit. We could see so many cargo/tanker vessels, heading to various ports in the US, who were certain to arrive in a fraction of the time that it took us to travel the opposite direction. However, because you have to time your approach through the Strait of Gibraltar in accordance with the tides as there are tidal currents running from several directions, our trip was SO fast. We were speeding along and the entire time we averaged above 9.5 knots! Just as a reference our average speed is usually somewhere around 6 knots (just below my average running speed!). The whole trip was quite a powerful experience – seeing Africa, the towering vision of “The Rock”, and having made it to the Mediterranean. Now, from here on out our adventures will be in the Med which is yet another milestone that feels so very amazing to have reached.

     

By

Tni Newhoff

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  1. divamarcy Avatar
    divamarcy

    Hi,
    Good to hear from you. I’m so excited for you and glad to know you have something to guide you out of the way of the shipping lanes!!! Hope the seas have been alot calmer after the great crossing.
    Back here at the opera we’re getting ready for Opening Night on Fri. 9/7 with Samson and Delilah. Lots of changes and lots of new people.
    As for me I now have a new title of (Medallion Society Conciege Manager). The old gal doesn’t have to jump up for the window any longer. I sit in my corner and just handle the Artist,Management, and the Medallion Society members with their ticket requests and reservations for dinner or Med-So lounge during intermissions. If I’ve told you this before please excuse me. I would rather be with you sailing any day. Take care of yourselves and keep in touch.
    Much love,
    Marcy B.

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