11/07/2026
I have not posted a ‘Post’ since the New Year, so here is a brief recap..
1. The Winter is spent in Tangier
2. A visit to Casablanca is made
3. The return flight to Fedora is flown
4. A problem is discovered… and resolved
5. The long-awaited Hydrovane is installed
6. A coolant system overhaul is performed..
7. Fedora is made proud
8. Varnishing and painting is done
9. A traveller system upgrade is added..
10. A new tach is installed..
11. A stern seal is replaced in St. Peter Port
12. Ouessant is passed and Brest is unlocked
13. Douarnenez is reached
14. Roger Barnes is found and befriended
15. The Hydrovane amazes
16. A ligament or a tendon is torn or a bone broken (or D… )
17. A unknownst-to-me beautiful island welcomes me back
18. A book is bought… for the pictures..
19. A hike is taken
20. Awe is experienced
My goal was to arrive in my home port of Boston for the Sail Boston event and ‘bring up the rear’ of the parade standing triumphantly on Fedora’s bow, but the event is ongoing and I am in France.. stranded on a beautiful island… Belle Île in fact. An understated name if ever there was one..
My Plan A changed to Plan B about a month ago and I attempted a crossing of The Bay of Biscay in hopes of reaching (and leaving) Spain before the tuna led the Orca pod north.. But the passage was cursed and Poseidon pushed me back to France.. Fortunately because the pod has already arrived in Spain and is even now terrorizing The Bay of Biscay.
So now, idle on this beautiful island, I have decided to go back to Plan A - at least part of it - and sail back up the coast of France, enjoying Vannes and the Maritime Festival in Douarnenez along the way, to set sail for Cork via The Isles of Scilly. From Cork I intend to sail not to The Azores but to Madeira.. because by the time I would reach The Azores, I would be setting sail for Newfoundland during hurricane season.. So, with more favorable winds south to Madeira, I can circumvent the Orca danger zone and then set sail for Cape Verde from Madeira and ultimately Brazil if possible…
But who knows… the wind has taken me in strange directions over the last two plus years, and I have learned to let go.. partially..
