Adventure TEAM

On Board. How It Is Here. We keep sailing and sailing. It’s been days now since we left the marina in Gibraltar. Around us, just water. Occasionally, a ship passes by — big, small, sometimes huge. Each one headed to various destinations across the world. Thanks to the AIS device, we can see their position, length, course, and speed. But still, each one seems like a ghost ship, with a crew that lives and works on board. And speaking of life on the water — here’s a bit about ours. The Nord Star boat is 12 meters long and 4 meters wide. It has two bathrooms, though we’ve designated one as storage for trash, extra fuel, and fenders. So, we have just one left. With a shower that we can’t use due to water conservation. Luckily, we have baby wipes, which are very helpful for daily hygiene. There’s also a kitchen, where Jacek and Robert take turns as chefs. Every day, they prepare meals, and each day brings something new and inventive — we have to ration our food, too. Yesterday, for instance,...

Atlantic. The Ocean. After a few days’ break, waiting for favorable weather, we left Gibraltar and set our course for the Canary Islands. We set sail on 5 Nov 2024, at 8:00 AM. Final formalities at the marina, where we spent the last two days, refueling the boat at the fuel station in Gibraltar — and off we go! Ahead of us lie hundreds of nautical miles and several days of sailing. Over the weekend, waiting for a weather window, we relaxed and explored the area around Alcaidesa Marina and Gibraltar. The marina is large, well-organized, and equipped with all the amenities sailors need. There are many different boats around — local ones, those that have just arrived from the Atlantic, and those like ours, preparing to cross it. Final preparations and planning were intense and required good coordination. We had to stock up on food and water, check the engine, and review the navigation and electrical systems. We also reminded ourselves of the rules and routines on board, which we need to s...

On the road. It's 2 Nov 2024, 4:00 AM. We’re about 100 nautical miles away from our next stop, Gibraltar. I’m not giving an estimated time of arrival because here on the Alboran Sea, as on any other body of water, time and plans are dictated by the weather. Our boat, S/Y NordStar, is sailing steadily from Torrevieja, and so far, everything’s going smoothly. At the moment of writing, we’ve already covered 310 NM and have been sailing for around 60 hours, mostly under sail. For over 95% of the time, our new “crew member” – the Autopilot – has kept us on course. The weather has been kind, with moderate winds occasionally reaching 20 knots, making the journey truly enjoyable. Nighttime temperatures are around 12–14°C, and during the day, we’re blessed with a pleasant 20°C+. The crew, despite our different personalities, is gelling perfectly – we’ve already formed a strong team. Adventure Team. We arrived in Torrevieja around 7:00 AM on 31 Oct 2024. The Torrevieja Marina is a large, cle...

Take the road. We arrived in Ibiza, which welcomed us with rain. Was the island crying tears of joy because we’re here, or was it sad that we’ll be leaving soon? That was yet to be revealed... In the marina, our boat was waiting for us, picked up and preliminarily prepared for departure. Jacek handled everything excellently. Unfortunately, he couldn't organize a weather forecast, which predicted strong gusts and continuous rain. The decision was made: we would wait it out. As always: safety first. Additionally, another boat traveling the same route had a engine failure, requiring inspection and repairs. We helped S/Y LARA dock in the port next to us, which gave us two days for sightseeing. And so it was. Finally, I got some sleep! On 30 Oct 2024, at 8:00 AM, we set sail from Marina Ibiza towards Torrevieja. We planned a short stop here to replenish supplies, get some kisses from my family, and then head towards Gibraltar. The day and the sail—I'm writing this at 5:30 AM on 31 O...

The Crew and Preparation. Today, it's all about planning. The final moments of preparation: gathering equipment and dealing with last-minute issues. I know this was supposed to be a continuation of the previous entry about the boat's gear - and it will be. In a few days, from the boat, with photos and videos. This cruise, more than any other, has taken an enormous amount of time and energy to plan. As I’ve mentioned before, it's my first such expedition, and I have no prior experience. I had to learn from somewhere: friends, books, articles, and the Internet - in that order. Now it’s time to express my gratitude: to Andy L., Viki, and P. Pingo. These three gentlemen played a huge role in my journey, providing me with invaluable knowledge, even when they didn’t realize they were teaching me. Each of them has vast experience, and I owe them a great deal of respect. This year has been particularly special for me. January already brought huge changes, and I believe that’s when ...

Thank You to Our Sponsors and Loved Ones. Today, I would like to share some interesting facts about our sponsors, friends, and the people who contributed to making this adventure possible. Certainly, these include the families and loved ones of our crew. Just like for us, this is a unique challenge for them as well. Without their support and approval, we could only dream. Karol once sent me a great picture, which I’m sharing below. :) * " When is the sailing trip and for how many days?" In addition to our families, we can’t forget about work, colleagues, and friends. We dedicate 8 hours a day to our responsibilities. Someone has to cover for us and carry out our tasks. You might think: "vacation." That’s true, but doesn’t a part of our mind always stay at work? After all, someone said that work is our second home, and I fully agree. Friends, neighbors, buddies, acquaintances, and strangers... It’s great to know we have support. That people wish us well and good weat...

Internet - with or without it? A few days ago I had an interesting conversation with friends about the planning and preparation for this cruise. Most of the people I talk to are curious and ask about the details, the route plan, and the expected weather. But some want to suggest, give good advice, and help at least with one word. I always very willingly thank you for every advice. But as it usually happens in life: as many people as many opinions. And some of this advice is... not very useful, or not useful at all. Unfortunately, they only increase tension, stress, and fears but also encourage me, in a way that is no longer necessary, to check again and make sure that we have everything checked and prepared. What could be agreed upon a week before the cruise, we have already agreed. What we could have discussed, we have discussed. Now it remains to wait, and we can slowly start to look at the forecasts, sea conditions, etc. And today a little bit about how: For navigation, we will use ...