Our friend and 2016 racing crew Keith J. put together a short video of the 2016 #isbjornracing team from the RORC Caribbean 600. He wrote:
"I wanted to get you all fired up for this years race! Go Isbjorn!"
So take a few minutes and get fired up!
Looking back on 2016!
In the end of December, Andy and I celebrated 10 years from when we met in New Zealand. Over a beer (or two) we reminisced about the past year and started sharing our favorite stories. It truly has been a blast, with lots of sailing and traveling. We have visited some old favorite spots and discovered new 'need to visit again' places.
Happy 10 Years of Sailing!
Today is kind of a big day in my life as a ‘sailor’, although I am very far away from the sailing scene at the moment. Ten years ago, I spent some time in New Zealand with my best friend Johanna, driving our new to us backpacker car – a Nissan Bluebird – exploring the beauty of New Zealand, camping, hiking, meeting lots of fun people and truly having the time of our life.
50 Years of Nautor's Swan - VIDEO
Mia & I get a lot of cool stuff in our email as members of both the Classic Swan Owners Association (for S&S-designed Swans), and the general Swan Owner's Association for all. I got this neat video from the recent Palma Cup today. Very cool to be a part of such a historic brand! Some nice footage of some 48's in here too, like Isbjorn.
What a great trip south!
So, I have decided to start up my blog again.. this time it will be in English so I don't eliminate the 6+ bllion people who don't speak Swedish... And now when Andy and I have started our new chapter on our own, I feel I have the time (do I really think that will happen, more time... :) ) to focus on a few more things that is mine.
Landfall in Tortola: A Supermoon at Sea
Our final night at sea was, no-joke, a career night for me. I’m not sure if the crew realize just how spoiled they were that night. Isbjorn blasted along under her brand-new 140% genoa and full mainsail, close-reaching in calm seas at 7-8 knots in just 12 knots of breeze. There was nary a whitecap on the water, just a gentle swell from the east, and it was calm enough to have the hatches open down below.
For a selection of photos from the entire passage, check out our Facebook page by clicking here.
Changing Winds Aboard Isbjorn!
It's been a loud night onboard Isbjorn, literally! Yesterday afternoon the wind got lighter and lighter but enough wind to keep sailing. As it got even lighter the only course we could hold and also keep the sails full was around 220T - we tried for about an hour. Sailing in the wrong direction is at least better than motoring.
An emotional day offshore for Andy.
Our morning aboard Isbjorn began with this message from Rally Control.
It's very strange in our little isolated bubble on Isbjorn to be getting news in chunks from afar, and I'm sure the fleet feels the same. Interestingly, last year while the yachts were at sea, the Paris terrorist attacks happened. Makes you realize how connected you are ashore, and how nice - but weird - it is to be so disconnected.
"Hey! It's been super windy with big seas! The real deal!"
This blog has nothing to do with politics. We're just all curious on the big day today!
0545. I'm taking my first solo watch of the trip. Typically I don't stand watches - rather, our crew pair up, Mia takes a solo watch & I'm on-call, the crew doing three-on, six-off rotations. Tom, though, is majorly seasick and hasn't taken a watch since Day 1. For a while Ed & David and Mia & Bruce did 4-on, 4-off, but it's finally calmed down a bit so they're getting a needed break.
Caribbean 1500: Isbjorn to Sojourner
Back to Sea: Caribbean 1500 Passage South
The Maritime Bhangra Group...Just for Fun
Interviewing Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
Big news! Mia and I just got back from the Southampton Boat Show in the UK on Friday, and I've been DYING to tell everyone about it! The purpose of our trip was to get in some in-person interviews. It started by reaching out to Bob Shepton, 2013 Yachtsman of the Year and known to me from the Vertical Sailing Greenland video series. He immediately said yes! Then I asked photographer Rick Tomlinson, and finally Sir Robin Knox-Johnston himself! Sir Robin airs October 4. In the meantime, tech guru, anarchist & sailor Moxie Marlinspike airs tomorrow Sept. 26! Click here to subscribe in iTunes!
Iconic interviews & some cool new boats in Southampton.
Delaware Bay Bound
We've officially been headed enough now that the Chesapeake Bay is out of the question. In Lunenburg, we plotted two routes on the chart, for each scenario, and had always kept the Delaware option in our back pocket. I had a hunch that south was key in this leg, so we kept going that way and I'm glad we did.
The Magic of Light-Air Sailing
0900 Wednesday August 10. We're sailing again, close-reaching on the port tack now, careful to stay south of our rhumb line in anticipation of a SW'ly shift as we approach the Chesapeake. It's beautifully warm outside now. The sun is strong enough to require the bimini again, but it's not the humid, stifling heat of the Bay. Yet. We're far offshore, 155 miles SSE of Nantucket and 275 miles E of Cape May, 10,000 feet of ocean under our keel.
Into Deep Ocean
Hey all, friend of the crew Rory Finneren writing. I was pleasantly surprised when Andy contacted me yesterday via his YellowBrick from offshore. He asked if I could post blogs during this passage since Liz, who would normally do so, is currently onboard. Recently having returned home to Taiwan after my own 5500 nm offshore voyage from Tahiti to Alaska, I'm happy to help. Here is the latest from Andy & the crew of Isbjorn, homeward bound to Annapolis from the cool fog of Nova Scotia.
30-Hours Under Spinnaker
We last left off after a magical ‘recce’ past mythical Sable Island. While the scenery was dramatic and the mood aboard Isbjorn at perhaps an all-time high, the actual sailing left much to be desired. We’d been motoring for almost 24 hours through a very flat calm and very heavy fog. That all changed after our visit to Sable.
