Five years around the Atlantic on a sailing catamaran

Five years around the Atlantic on a sailing catamaran

A very good rash choice

Jersey and Marzena spent some time thinking before embarking on their adventure. Are they ready to spend a long time on board the yacht? There were doubts, but their passion for the sea and diving was so overwhelming that it was still real.

Gradually all doubts dissipated by themselves, but the question remained, what yacht to choose for such an adventure? How can you avoid a lot of mistakes?

“We have made the decision to go on a yacht charter every year wherever possible. We were looking for a yacht on which we would like to live and go on this kind of journey, and, finally, from another charter we returned with our own yacht. For seven years we have rented all kinds of yacht models for a month or one and a half each year. We lived only with our dream - to go around the world for the first time on our own yacht. Mediterranean, West Indies, Polynesia, Indian Ocean - we have been everywhere. And now I know exactly where I want to go on our catamaran: to the Pacific Ocean. "

After many cruises on different catamarans, Jersey one day in Turkey finally saw what they were looking for….

“This was the first catamaran charter. We have chosen Turkey as a sailing region and "Prout 38"like a yacht for our cruise. It was a real discovery for us!

Thanks to this charter experience, we already knew exactly the difference between catamarans and monohull yachts. The correctness of our method consisted in practical running-in of various catamarans, until we found the catamaran of our dreams, which was easy to operate, and if you consider that there were only two of us on board all the time, this instilled in us the confidence that even in bad weather we will able to sail this yacht and be in complete comfort.

After seven years of searching, researching and comparing yachts, we were convinced that the ideal boat for us is catamaran Privilege 435".

• 10 commandments for buying a catamaran

Catamaran equipment: real puzzles

Finally, the boat has been selected, now it is necessary to equip it so that it meets all the goals and satisfies its owners.

Jersey and Marzena opted for the three-cabin version - the master's version, because most of the time they planned to be alone, despite the desire and intention from time to time to invite friends or family aboard their yacht.

Jersey with Daniel Vovilleres, Paris shipyard agent Alliaurapondered the importance of equipment to enable them to fully enjoy their planned cruise. Finally, Privilege 435 was equipped with a generator, solar panels (750 W), electric winches and a watermaker, a boom mainsail - a system with which they felt at ease during the entire five-year journey. With this kind of equipment, any trip is just relaxation!

Five years around the Atlantic on a sailing catamaran

• Test drive of the sailing cruise catamaran Saona 47 from Fountaine Pajot

Classic program…. More than 5 years!

“My program was very simple: Atlantic sailing with no time limit, and our decision was like this - two months on the boat, one month on a regular job in Poland in my office. So, we set off on July 31, 2003.

On the way to the Canary Islands we passed Les Sables d'Olonne, Portugal and Morocco. We planned to spend a month in the Canaries to get to know the islands better, but we liked the places where we moored so much, as well as the atmosphere, the people, that we stayed there for a whole year! I didn't want to plan anything: we did everything with pleasure and without reference to time. Simply fantastic!

• Yacht cruise in the Canary Islands

Next year we headed for "Western India"after a one day stop on the island Cape Verde... We very much regretted not staying longer on the islands Cesaria Evora's, but we had to hurry, because the wind season had begun, and we wanted to take advantage of this so that we could cross the Atlantic in time.

However, our journey has now turned out to be a little monotonous with very light winds. At nightfall, the yacht continued on its way with the lighting installed. In the morning we caught a flying fish that literally jumped onto our deck, then a golden fish, and this was what I love: when you cross the Atlantic, you decide everything on your own, you have time for everything. All this is never there, on the shore! We reset our clocks every three days. So, our departure took place on the 5th of February. We reached the coast of Martinique in early March - that is, we realized a 28-day sailing on board our catamaran. Hooray! Our dream has come true!

After a hard crossing through the well-known Boca del dragon, among the derrick cranes, we found ourselves in a "dirty" country, with its, unfortunately, unfriendly inhabitants, and all this time a feeling of insecurity never left us. For example: when you go to a restaurant there, it is better to ask the taxi driver to wait for you all the time while you are in the restaurant, because It is very dangerous to stay there one evening on the street!

The worst part was when I wanted to stop along the way and do the engine and boat service, which I later greatly regretted. I very quickly realized that it would be better if I did not change the oil in the generator. Instead of one liter of oil, the "mechanic" poured in five liters of a viscous substance that was difficult to identify. As soon as the generator started working, the so-called oil began to run from everywhere. I had to quickly go back to Martinique to change the oil in all engines, and again back to what I should have started in Trinidad ... My "savings" came out twice as expensive to me.

Five years around the Atlantic on a sailing catamaran - Trinidad

We decided to spend the next years in "Western India", between Grenada and the Virgin Islands. The rich, unspoiled nature, unforgettable landscapes, a very special atmosphere contributed to our desire to leave Britain and arrive in a tropical country - for me, then Grenada Is one of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean.

Numerous meetings, friendly relations were struck up with us during all these years spent in wandering in excellent places, our dreams have come true. To return to Trinidad we chose the path through ABC Islands (Aruba - Bonaire - Curacao)... We chose this route in order to avoid the hurricane season, because the "ABC" islands are special places, and in particular Bonaire, which is remembered by the wonderful underwater world ...This is an island that remains in your heart forever. On Bonaire there are still vestiges of slavery. I remember the small huddled huts in the south of the island, at sea level, unprotected from the wind, and the salt marshes, which were teeming with heaps of bacteria, ranging from light green to deep purple by the end of the day.

Five years around the Atlantic on a sailing catamaran - Grenada

The only thing we regretted all these years in Western India, this is what we could not visit San blas islands, small white sandy islands in the middle of the northern coast Panama... Time just stopped there. Although we visited Kunasbut that's another story ...

That which cannot be forgotten ...

After a five-year journey around the Atlantic, there are moments that are simply impossible to forget. Among them we especially remember O. Jersey  and reefs Tobago: then there were no more than four or five boats with us ... Awesome experience, just Paradise! Of course, such a place attracts people with its beauty. Now there are already many boats on the reefs, and you have to pay to enter, like in an amusement park, but believe me, it's worth it.

What else did we like and remember? Los roques, in the north of the Venezuelan coast, with an area of 400 sq. kilometers. The shimmering sea, where you can see all shades of blue and green colors, incredible transparency ... I discovered more and more new mysteries of nature, I especially liked Carenero... A delightful climate, it is never hot there, and the water is always warm and comfortable both at depth and on the surface. The fish is almost tame, since it is not "hunted". It floats freely around your breathing tube. Colorful parrot fish, as well as many other fish - bright yellow, orange, lilac. This is the place where you feel like Robinson Crusoe... You can stay here for 2 months (as long as you have enough fresh water), and even then you ask yourself, why do you need to leave?

But the strongest impression we got from Los Aves de Sotavento, between Los Roques and Bonaire... These are places with a unique charm. It seems that just now you dreamed of sailing, as you are already at sea, and there is no one around, absolutely no one, except for the rare fishermen. And you are already exchanging a block of cigarettes for two crayfish, plus two beers in addition to a mutual "agreement" that makes everyone happy - both us and the fishermen. Apparently it was an exchange with the boat boys in Grenadines, who sold us fish for 70$ ... It should be said that in Aves, you will definitely pay attention to birds - I've never seen so many birds!

Five years around the Atlantic on a sailing catamaran - Antigua

And I can definitely say that this is the place that will remain forever in your memory, this is "HQ2", a piano bar and a restaurant with jazz music, the English harbor on Antigua... You will definitely make friends, and you will return there with great pleasure!

Five years sailing around the Atlantic implies not only rest, but also the presence of "living" difficulties, when there is a storm and bad weather conditions (you will not switch the TV channel), not only the integrity of the boat depends on your decision, but also life ...

At least twice we got into bad weather. More than 50 knots from Sao Vicente, in Cape Verde and a wind force of 9 during the transition from Boehner in San Martin. Also, for some reason, instead of San Martin we ended up on Virgin Islands, much further north. Despite this oversight, the boat behaved well; walked steadily along the waves, and at the technical level everything was in order. We walked 7 knots downwind ... It was a real pleasure. After this experience, I now know that my next yacht will only be a double hull.

• 5 most beautiful yacht cruise destinations in the Caribbean

Five years around the Atlantic on a sailing catamaran - Aruba

Five years around the Atlantic on a sailing catamaran - Aruba

Captain's bride

Jersey is an incredibly lucky man: his wife enjoys sailing as much as he does. Marcena became a full-fledged assistant to him on the catamaran.

“She really surprised me once. I left for my work in Poland, and she stayed to wait for me in Cartagena, in Spain. And when I came back, instead of calling a taxi to the airport, she decided to walk along the river and meet me on the catamaran. Of course, I was pleasantly surprised by this, and her confident and qualified landing, folding the sails made an impression not only on me, but also on all the skippers who were there. Then they asked me where I was hiding such a professional skipper! Still, there is still a lot of chauvinism in the sea! "

• Catamaran steering technique: maneuvering in the marina

Five years around the Atlantic on a sailing catamaran

Next journey

After returning from sailing around the Atlantic to Spain, via the Azores, on the 28th day in the summer of 2008, they were already thinking about the next trip. Jersey and his wife were already mentally sailing into  round the world trip by catamaran.

Their plan of action was as follows: visit first Cannes Boat Show 2009, watch the presentation of the new catamaran Privilege and stay in Mediterranean for two or three years. Then cross the Atlantic, be sure to go to "West India" and visit all your friends. Of course, go to the A-B-C islands, San Blas and Honduras, before going through the Panama Canal, heading towards their dream - to Polynesia, where they have long wanted to go ...

But why were they so eager to visit the Cannes Boat Show and think about a new boat? Because Jersey's first catamaran was  Privilege 435, which completely suited him. He showed himself excellently during the voyage and overcame all the most difficult trials. Now Jersey wanted a bigger boat, for example, Privilege 515, which would have been more comfortable and, by all means, would have liked his wife!

• 6 options for preparing for a circumnavigation

Five years around the Atlantic on the Privilege sailing catamaran

Privilege 435/515 - What is the difference between these catamarans?

Jersey lived on a 43ft catamaran for five years. For his new catamaran, he will take the same configuration as on the 43-foot, since it fully justified itself in the transition. A generator, a seawater distiller, solar panels and electric winches made the boat as autonomous as possible for long crossings and sea cruises. However, on top of everything else, Jersey decided to equip his new catamaran Privilege 515 air conditioning and electric powered boat winches. This will help make it easier for Jersey's wife to lift the boat if he is busy. For comfort on board, the yachtsman also decided to install all the "classic" equipment necessary for a large sailing yacht. What can I say, additional equipment always makes life much easier ...

• Sailing catamarans - Interparus Yachting

14.11.2017