Donnerstag, 12 . Dezember . 2019
11.12.2019
In 1 hour Statengracht with G XL on board will arrive here in St. Thomas, almost 1 month late. The shipping company has told us we will have to wait another 1.5 days before she will be unloaded because there are so many boats to unload. It is terrible!
27.11.2019
Having been able to follow the progress of G XL and the freighter Statengracht on our YB tracker accross the Atlantic you can now again find them on Marine traffic as they have passed Newfoundland and are approaching Novia Scotia. The freighter seems to have slowwed down to avoid some strong winds the next 24 hours. We still hope the revised schedule will hold. Keep your fingers crossed.
21.11.2019
Finally G XL is under way. The freighter left the UK for Baltimore this morning. Unfortunately they are so unprofessionally slow that the newest ETA in St. Thomas is the 15.12.2019, so almost 1 month late. A disaster. All friends have had to cancel their sailing with us before X-mas and we probably only will make Shelter Bay and will have to go through the Panama Kanal at the end of January.
15.11.2019
An indifferent , overcast and cold morning saw us slowly motoring over to the Statengracht. Jannik from Yachtinggate helped us with the loading. With a delay of about 3 hours we finally got on board. The diver from Seven Starhad trouble getting the forward sling over the keel. Well onboard GUNVOR was tied down with 14 straps and held upright by 8 arms on the cradle. Finally the cradle was welded to the deck.
14.11.2019
Finally we had a firm date for the shipping from Eemshaven. A professional skipper brought the boat from Delfzijl to Eemshaven. Sheila and Karsten then joined Jakob and his crew for dinner before spending the night on a cold boat. It took a while for her to warm up.
1.11.2019
On a grey day and uninspiring day we moved G XL from Emden to Delfzijl in preparation to being loaded from nearby Eemshaven. Unfortunately ths shiping company is delaying the departure by almost 3 weeks throwing total chaos in our sailing plans in the Carribbean. 2 set of friends have had to cancel their sailing with us and we will most likely only be able to go through the Panama Kanal after New Year.
But we had a smooth trip with Sheila, Ian and friend Thomas on board. In Delfzijl we encountered SY Cuillan. We last helped them in an emergency 100 nm before Barbados in 1987. They had run out of tonic for their gin! Bartering tonic for Guinness we had a succesful mid ocean transfer.
30.9.2019
A new story about our trip to Emden and pictures from getting ready this summer have been added.
26.9.2019
Had a great delivery trip to Emden. We managed to get out of the Elbe on one tide averaging 10 knots under motor. Turning the corner as it got dark we could eat our lasagne in the cockpit and then set sails romping through the night on a beam reach. Repeatedly we had to reef in order to slow us down. Just as the tide turned a 4 am we entered the Ems river and got carried down to Emden on the flood. Luckily the lock opened out of turn to let a customs boat and us into the main harbour. The local boat yard had a spot for us, as the main marina is out of bounds due to repair work of a bridge blocking the access until the spring. Ready to be loaded for the Carribbean.
24.9.2019
Tomorrow the big adventure starts again. We are sailing to Emden in preparation to be sailed to St. Thomas and then onto Colombia/Costa Rica/ Vancouver and Alaska!
10.9.2019
The excitment is mounting. Andreas x 2 are nearing the end of all their work preparing the boat. The new electronic gadgets have been installed, a second autopilot is working, the canvas maker is surprisingly also coming through plus lots of spares, medicine etc is being stowed away. On Sunday we are going to Glückstadt to haul out and have the bottom cleaned after 4 month of basically not moving. On the 26th of this month we are then going to Holland to be ready to be shipped to St. Thomas. Our „sister“ boat Mamelie who will do the next 12 month together with us in the Caribbean and Canada has already left with a: „Bye, we are now on our way to Alaska!“
2.6.2019
An uneventful trip back to Wedel. Thanks to our friendly neighbour Carsten we even made a good docking maneuver.
1.6.2019
Together with Ann and Klaus we sailed from Wedel to Baumwall. Joining Mamelie for dinner and drinks we enjoyed the activity in the harbour and takled to many of the Rotarians that have come to Hamburg for our AGM. 25.400 of them.
May 2019
In two days, unfortunately with a lot of motoring we made it from Haderslev to Hamburg. There the 2 Andreases met up with us and we went through all the improvemnents, repairs and spare parts we will need. Already Andreas Tempel has made great inroads into the to do list. There are no major things, G XL is in great shape but a lot of little items need some TLC.
8.5.2019
The season is about to start. On friday we pick up GUNVØR and hope to bring her all the way to Hamburg. The plan is to get her ready during the summer and then she is off to St.Thomas by freighter in the fall.
10.10.2018
Under Miscellaneous/ Crew-Info you can find the latest plan for our South Seas trip. Password the usual.
26.8.2018
What an amazing South Sea kick-off (&birthday) party, see pictures. The sign up rate by the 160 guests for the cruise 2019 – 2022 was amazing. Might have to extend the trip by a couple of years. Thank you all for coming.
22.8.2018
Believe it or not, but skipper has managed to make it to 60. Hurray. On Saturday we will have the big „Back to the South Sea Cruise“ party. Captains dinner with dinner jacket, long dresses and lots of good food and drink. South Pacific here we come.