Sailing Fabule
When approaching Madeira, we could mainly see clouds clinging to the volcanic mountain peaks. We were curious to discover this island known for its fantastic landscapes, tasty wine and mild climate. Little did we know that we would end up staying for the winter. Go where the wind will take you The wind was blowing […]
The Azores are the hiker’s paradise. From the easy stroll along the coast to the steep climb of Pico, there is something for every taste. We enjoyed discovering the beautiful landscapes along the way. Lava arches Just a few steps away from the village of Velas are impressive lava formations. The anchorage is located next […]
Like many other sailboats, we wanted to explore a group of 5 islands not far from each other, creating an ideal area for island hopping. The challenge was to find secure places allowing us to stay long enough to visit and work. Leaving homebase Terceira As described in our previous post, we loved our stay […]
Meaning “third” in Portuguese, Tercera was the third island to be discovered by the Infante D. Henrique. In addtion, it is the third island in order of size. Our local guide, Philippe, likes to add that it also has to do with the holy trinity. And indeed, the bishopric of the Azores was created in […]
After fantasizing about the Azores during the passage, the approach to the port of Ponta Delgada offered a puzzling view: urban city line with an ungracious high-rise building, military vessels, shipping boats and a cruise ship busy in the harbor while airplanes were taking off or arriving to the nearby airport. Fortunately, we stayed long […]
Here we go! The elements are finally gathered for us to embark on the crossing to the Azores: (1) Fabule is ready. (2) The captain and crew are motivated and healthy. Our daughter Romaine joins us for this passage, which will greatly help us for the watches and contribute to the joyful atmosphere. (3) The […]
This journey took us from one beautiful city, A Coruna, to another, Porto. We rounded the westernmost point of the Spanish mainland, Finisterre, and walked on its dramatic cliffs. Charming A Coruña We loved to be back in A Coruña and to go out for tapas or for a walk. The lighthouse Hercules is a […]
For our third crossing of the Bay of Biscaye, we enjoyed the sunshine and sailed downwind. It took us 3 days (67h for 370 nautical miles) from l’Aber Wrac’h (N-W tip of France) to A Coruña (N-W tip of Spain). Can we leave now? A few things kept us in the lovely medieval town of […]
We are back on Fabule and getting ready for our next adventure! (Never ending) boat projects After spending the winter on the hard in Tréguier (Brittany, France), Fabule is back on the water with a fresh coat of anti-fouling. But before we can leave, we still have a few boat projects (maintenance and enhancements) to […]
The forecast finally predicted a slight lull in this succession of gales. It was just long enough for our travel from Lorient to Roscoff. This was our last chance to reach Tréguier in time to haul out Fabule for the winter. Tides and currents For the passage from Lorient to Rosccoff around the Finistère (140nm […]