Morocco

Salam alikom!

The visit to Morocco has really been a special experience and I both love the country as I find some things a bit strange. We have been to Mohammedia, Casablanca, Marakesh, Safi and currently we are in Agadir. Yesterday a local fisher man in the harbor gave us an octopus that was totally alive, it even tried to flee over board with its strong tentacles. Luckily he had killed the nerve system in the head and he died quite quick. I boiled the slimy animal for a couple of hours, then fried it together with onion, parsley and cos cos. Very tasty I have to tell you.

Now we are about the head for Lanzarote, see you in Spain.

Me gazing at the horizon

Some more pictures

In Almeria 

I have to thank everyone who follow the trip and for all nice comments on the facebook page. We are in Almeria now, me and Martin Lydebrant. Tomorrow we are going to keep on sailing towards Morocco, there we are going to meet up with a friend of Martin and also my little brother Martin Wicksell who are going to stay on the boat for a couple of days. I am looking forward to that a lot. The weather is still very warm but it has starting to bit more windy and the sailing has become a bit tougher.

Me catching a fish a long the east coast of Spain

Amazing sunset

I think the picture speak for itself

A large ship in marina of Alicante 

Another nice sunset, have seen few during these months

Pontus Jansson is chilling on the boat

Simon Larsson is also enjoying the stay on Yoldia

And the Spanish sun

Longboard trip in Alicante, I think I am going to invest in one of those, a bit smaller than a Bike

Simon Larsson again

Beautiful

The boys are chilling, me Simon Larsson and Martin Lydebrant

Long time no seen

Hello!

It has been too long since I wrote here in the blog and that is for sure i shame. If you want to now what has been going on during this time, simply visit the facebook page: Awaiting Forecast/I Väntan På Vinden

To sum this past month I can just say it has been wonderful and I have just been chilling in the Mediterranean. At the moment I am in Alicante and the crew members are Pontus Jansson, Martin Lydebrant och Simon Larsson.

On the video you can see me and Jonas on our way to Ibiza!

Here is a picture of Yoldia anchored in a little bay near La Herradura

Spain Again

Party in Cadiz

 We arrived in Cadiz, Spain late thursday night. For the first time since a came to Spain and Portugal Yoldia had some waves rinsed the deck. My new crew looked a bit pale but the journey over all went well. Unfortunetly I forgot to fill up with gas again so we had an little adventure before I had the engine to work and we could enter the marina. 

Cadiz is a beautiful city and apperantly the oldest in Europe. It has been a hectic weekend with a lot of parties. I really enjoy the company of the new guys and it is an exquisite feeling when we introduce the crew in bars since we come from four different nations, Belgium, France, Australia and Sweden.

Tomorrow we are heading for Gibraltar and in to the mediterranean. 

The crew in a bar somewhere in Cadiz

Belgium Jans feet on the way to Cadiz. He told me it was bit struggle taking the picture due to the rockyness of the ocean.

Some Pictures

Some Pictures

The journey continues in a very slow but steady pace. We are in Olhao near Faro at the moment and today we are going to visit an island near by. Unfortunately new crew member Gyðja Trondardottir has to go home to study but two other guys that I met in Lisbon are coming to join. Yesterday we also met two dudes that are about to sail in the same direction as me the following days. They had similar boat as mine and seemed really down to Earth. We decided to create the slowest sailing boat race in the world. 

Here is a picture of Jonathan and me. He is still a member of the crew and a really good bloke!

The crew are having the best day ever on a hidden beach outside of Lagos!

Rear of Yoldia with the cliffs outside Lagos as Background

Yoldia is enjoying the portugal sun

 Picture of our little passenger!

The wonderful crew are chilling out!

Chilling out in Portugal

Beautiful sailing!

I have now reached Lagos in southern Portugal and while sailing passed the crux of the coast I realized I had been sailing most of the west coast of Europe, which was an amazing realization and very fulfilling feeling. Of the coutries I've been visiting so far I reckon Portugal is the best. The people are awesome and I had some crazy nights in Lisbon. 

Sadly Malcolm had to go home but once again australian Neil were a crew member down to Lagos. Also I had company of nice guy called Jonathan. It istrange because while travelling you meet so many new people that you just leave and then probably never will meet again. I have made so many friends I wish I could take them all on the boat!

The winds have been close to non existant but still, the travelling has been great. I am not sure but it is most likely we saw a shark the other day! The boat had a small winged companion during the day. A sparrow found itself a long way from home so enjoyed a long rest sitting patiently on the starboard railing as we sailed through the atlantic. It was a beautiful thing to behold. 

Now the legs of sailing will get shorter and some swimming and exploring of caves are to come! Bring on beautiful Lagos. We came at a perfect time, the city is celebrating the end of the summer so it will be one big party during the coming days.

Also remember to check the facebook page out:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Awaiting-ForecastI-V%C3%A4ntan-P%C3%A5-Vinden/546135068741528?fref=ts

Bay Of Biscay

Whales and Dolphins

Me and new crew member Malcolm Skalin sailed out of Holland on the 1st of August and headed for Dover in England. Before we left I had to take bath and remove rests of the rope that had stuck into the propeller during the stormy night, when that was all done we left the port. We had a quite calm passage through the English Channel, but the traffic was crazy and for Malcolm sailing for the first time in his life by night it was a real challange. Though we had to watch out for the large ships we had a good trip to Dover except that we entered the wrong hole into the harbour and had to be guided to not crash into the ferries. It had been an advantage to have the VHF-channel to the port but unfortunately had not. We arrived in the pitch black night and couldn't see too much as we came closer to the harbour entrance we were met by a huge ferry. They shone on us with the searchlights and we backed off. Then three more ferries came in and out but after a while a boat came out to us and guided us in to the marina. 

After a couple of days in Dover we left, heading for Plymoth. Though when we had sailed for a while we decided that we didn't need to go that far westward before going south to Spain so we stayed a night in Portsmouth. Next day we sailed out and headed for Coruna, but when we had been sailing for about a day we found out that the propane for the stove had ran out so we went in to Dartmouth. Though when we reached the port we discoverd that it was still gas left in the tube (the pipe must have been clamed or something). The stop was not in vain though since Dartmouth was a really picturesque little town. Anyway now it was finally time for the fearful Bay of Biscay. 

When you have crossed the bay of Biscay you are well worthy a glass of Champange! We have now reached Coruna in nothern Spain and the trip went really well. For more than a day we had company of dolphins, who checked the boat out. One day we were sitting inside watching a movie (we hadn't seen a ship for 24 hours and the wind vane rudder did an excellent job) when Malcolm went out to take a leak. Suddenly he cried out "It's a whale". I was rushing out and thought to myself, did I really fall to that lousy trick. But never the less there was the massive animal not far from our boat. Crazy feeling I have to tell you. 

Tomorrow we will continue the journey down along the Spanish and Portugal coast.

So if you are looking for an adventure you know who to call!