Finally ready to go

Now look how beautiful she is. Finally ready to hit the sea again after almost a week on dry. Washed and polished in every corner and with her bottom freshly painted. We are running behind schedule so we'll talk to you again soon when we're out on the sea. Just some few more things to organize and refit and then: The 30 hour passage to Ibiza!

We'll bring our video camera with us so we might give you some real life action from our part of the world, later on. Be safe until then. A&T

More coming

The debate goes on with a very interesting discussion... here. Click yourself through all 11 pages if you like.

And here on Sailing Anarchy ... You'll find it on page 2, after the chat about the religious guys..

Don't we just love the Internet.

/T

The world tour boat

Our beautiful arch in stainless steel is finally with us and perfectly installed. This addition gives the boat a whole new world tour look, we can't wait to get the solar panels and the wind generator in place on it. Alex draw the design himself on this arch and it's perfectly custom made for our needs. And so very beautiful where it stands. /T

The conservative world of cruising?

A very lively debate has erupted after we published a link to our website on a few of the big sailing forums out there. One in particular created such an intense discussion that more that 40 people engaged into contemplating on if our blog was good enough as a cruising blog or not. Most of the members writing on that thread was of course positive, glad to see something new and inspiring but there were some among them who called our blog "too slick, fake and self-centered", also "too sexy". Some accused us for being too commercial and even too professional to suit in the "natural" world of cruising. Ha! Some of the members even accused us for charging money through paypal on our site, where they got that idea from is still a mystery. Have you guys ever sen a Pay Pal sign here on this blog? That specific thread on CF has now been removed from the forum and we're waiting for an explanation from it's administrators of why and for what reason it's deleted as we are sure of that we haven't violated on any of their rules.

In the meanwhile, here's a picture for you all out there: Is this also maybe too sexy and fake to suit in the fine world of cruising? (Our apologize for showing the boat in that terrible condition though. This is taken just in between the sanding of the primer and applying of some more..)

It is just fantastic what emails we've received in the last 24 hours. People from every part of the world have contacted us to tell us how much they love what we do and how we do it, and also some few emails were sent by conservative members of those forums urged us to stop writing in forums such as CF as we are "destroying" the "natural" world of cruising. Very amusing indeed.

To all of you other, positive, open minded people who're reading this blog, thanks for reading, we are delighted by the fact that we might inspire some of you out there to follow your dreams. And a very warm welcome to all of our new readers! /A&T

In this small space

This is what I was talking about. As you clearly can see, we use the galley for two very different type of purposes. But it just has to be like that I guess? Living on 20 square meter (215Sq Ft) doesn't give too much of space to play around with. How do you other people do who's living aboard? I have understood that it is impossible to mix fillers and other powdery substances outdoors while it's windy, but I would like to keep this precious area of the boat safe from those toxic things as well. Any type of advice is welcome. /Taru

More things up

It did start to rain.. but then it stopped. Phew, at last we could start to mount the arch. Hopefully getting up the solar panels and wind generator tomorrow.

Work under progress..

My hard working man has been up at 7am every morning and worked hard on the boat for minimum fourteen hours per day these last seven days. Soon it will all be done, but I'm afraid that I just heard thunder from a distance, please tell me there will be no rain tonight! /T

Checklist this week

I guess we're soon ready to set our sails towards that circumnavigation we've been talking about! Oh gosh what an expensive preparation this is, but on the other hand: How many times in your life are you planning to go around the world? This is such a lifetime adventure and incredible challenge that we do not care if we have to spend our last pennies in order to make this happen. There's anyway always more money to make out there if needed, aren't there.

So we're almost done with our tasks:

• Apply epoxy and primer on the hull
• Two layers of antifouling, one done
• Arch in stainless steel installed on the aft deck
• Solar panels and wind generator up
• Replace the standing rigging
• Install new life lines
• Install the new GPS, VHF and AIS
• Installment of the radar
• Installment of the sonar system
• Cushions must arrive
• Our new SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger must get installed so you guys can see exactly where in the world we are located.

We are tremendously grateful for the discounts and assistance we've received from our partners. Paolo at our local Accastillage Diffusion have kindly provided us with well needed discount on the electronics, life-raft and solar panels while Hallberg-Rassy have been very helpful in guiding for some of the original parts in order for us to make our old lady (almost) look like new again.

There's just a few other things that still needs to be replaced or get installed. As time flies and we need to head out on the sea in just a few days, we'll manage these last things once we're back here for our last weeks in Barcelona in Sept/Oct:

• New sails needed. Elvström or North Sails? Still comparing.
• Self steering, prefarably Hydrovane - or anyone having a better suggestion for self steering? we haven't studied this too much yet.

Let's now cross our fingers and hope that our arch gets perfectly installed tonight and tomorrow, that - along with the solar panels and wind generator are something we simply can't live without one more day as we do not want to waste a fortune on diesel this summer.

Dangerous cooking

While Alex is downstairs covering our hull with epoxy, I'm sitting inside trying to work a bit. That's pretty much how our days looks like right now until we're ready to set off. He's in charge of the heavy, physical work and maintenance on the boat, while I'm keeping up this blog, dealing with partners, working on some other online projects and cooking for my man. We have found our perfect rhythm with this division and the must do's of the days goes by pretty easy with no hassle. Besides of when Alex gets into the galley (kitchen), blends the dangerous epoxy and watertite mixes by the zinc and want to mix it all in the same bowls that I use for the cooking! As we both are very temperamental and passionate people, we scream at each other for one and a half minute like we're ready to kill. But then it's all over. Fast and easy. I go back to my computer or cooking or whatever it might be and Alex gets out to finish his work. That's more or less the only type of drama we have in our lives at the moment. Don't you think we need to get out of here soon? To be too long time on land is no good for us! We're in need of other types of action!

That was not what I wanted to talk about though, but I wanted to share with you the ultimate BBQ marinade which will make you want to light your grill every single night. Simple and easy:

Taru's BBQ Marinade for wonderful steaks

Take a small bowl (make sure there's no epoxy residues!), mix all of these things together:

3 tablespoons of olive oil

2 tablespoons of chinese soya

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

2 freshly pressed garlic cloves

1 tablespoon herbs of choice

1 teaspoon red-hot cayenne pepper or chili powder

salt, pepper.

Whisk it all together, pour it into a plastic bag. Trow in the meat, make sure the marinade gets all over the steaks. Tight the bag and leave it there for 1-4 hours -depending on how long time you got and then grill your steaks to perfection. Voila! You now got the best tasting steaks in town!

On the picture: Argentinean beef served with potato gratin and an apple, rucola and blue cheese salad.

Let's do this

Here's our beauty on dry after been washed. The old antifouling will now be taken off and time for a new coating and epoxy tomorrow. We both love working under deadline pressure and even though we sometimes might be in the last minute with things, we somehow always make it on time *touching wood*. This is the plan:

We must get back in the water and be on our way to Ibiza, no later than Saturday night this week. Before that we'll need to finish the applying of epoxy and the antifouling paint. The new arch must get installed with the solar panels and wind generator perfectly in place. All new electronics and the sonar must get installed. The same with the radar. New life lines shall be refitted and lastly the cockpit cushions must arrive. I guess we trust ourselves and each other on this but the truth is that as long as we're still in Spain and have to depend on Spanish companies, we can never be too sure on getting things done on time. The mañana mentality is not just a saying, let's just put it that way. /Taru

Tonight's read

Alex came home with this interesting book earlier and while he's connecting our new GPS, Vhf and AIS systems, I'm sitting here in our newly refitted cushions/couch drinking some very, very well balanced Pinot Noir and dreaming my night away with the inviting stories and colorful pictures of this book.

The Pacific passage is undoubtably the part of our journey which we look forward to most of them all. And getting to hear other peoples excitement and joy over their first cruise in this marvelous area makes us long for it even more. After only been reading in the book for one hour, I can already highly recommend it to anyone who's planning a Pacific route, as the book covers everything worthwhile. From the weather, winds and currents to port information, what in the nature of the beautiful islands are good to eat, which animals to watch out for, which routes are suggested and what to do if you encounter with the dangerous sea snake whilst snorkeling and much more. A very well structured hand book for the ones getting ready to cruise in the big ocean which covers almost half the earth's surface. The ocean where we'll spend the first part sailing with only water around us and with no sight of land for nearly a month. How thrilling isn't simply that thought alone?!

I really should go to sleep now as the clock shows 1:40 am and we're going to haul out the boat early tomorrow morning to paint the antifouling, but I can't let go of this book. It makes me feel like we're on our way already.

Now only 96 days left until departure.

Book: The Pacific Crossing Guide, Second edition by Ros Hogbin and The RCC Pilotage Foundation.

Cakes and secrets

(Yes! One of my secret fantasies is to one day host my own cooking TV show, but don't tell anyone!)

Anyway, this cake is so tremendously juicy and wonderful that I wanted to share the recipe with you guys. First time I made it was while we were sailing along the coast and I had forgot to release our gimbaled oven to a fully flexible position. You can only imagine how the cake (and the oven) looked after the boat been heeling on one side only.. Until next time I had learnt my lesson. Maybe it would work in the Remoska as well? Will try to find out soon.

Taru's Fudgy Banana Brownie

2 large eggs
1,3 dl white sugar (1 cup)

1,3 dl brown sugar (1 cup)

1 teaspoon vanillin sugar

1,5 dl flour (1 cup)

4 tablespoons unsweetened cacao
150 g melted butter (5,3 ounce)
2 ripe bananas, mashed.

Preheat the oven to 175°c (347°f). Mix sugar and eggs until fluffy. Add remaining ingredients and mix it all together to a nice and smooth batter. Pour the batter over on a buttered, square pan. Bake for 30 minutes. It is supposed to be soft and fudgy inside and crispy on the outside. Serve with whipped cream and fresh fruits. Garnish it all with some brown sugar on top. Mmmmm.... it tastes like heaven!

If you don't fancy bananas, try mixing with other ingredients like peanut butter, almonds, walnuts or why not marshmallow's.

Bon Appétit! /T

Big fishing

This is a part of the big tuna we cought on our last passage between Mallorca and Barcelona. Weight around 12 kilos (26 pounds). The Shimano Tiagra 50W LRSA 2-Speed Reel works perfectly with fish in this size and bigger and it's a real pleasure to work with./A

More from Formentor

So where was I? Ok, this is the early morning in the bay of Formentor. Beautiful and serene. No one was awake at this time besides me and some fishes under me in the sea grass that I accidentally had to witness very closely.

I woke Alex up and we swam to land for breakfast by the Barcelo Hotel. After eating we got our fins on and snorkeled for around 90 minutes from one side of the bay to the other. A perfect start on a lovely, sunny day. I just recently got familiar with this other world, below the surface, and it's a shame I never got introduced to it earlier. Feels like there's so much I have missed out on! The life underneath our own is absolutely marvelous. So quiet and in total peace within itself. Can't wait to get somewhere even more beautiful where we can explore other oceans and their creatures. (Sorry not much pictures from below down as the underwater camera we got sucks. Will get a new one asap)

We left our bay around lunch time and headed for another creek.

Feels like he wants to get out surfing. It's a shame that the waters and the choppy waves doesn't allow it around here in the Mediterranean. Can you feel our frustrating need to get to the pacific?! Diving in colorful waters! Surfing! Exploring new worlds!

Analyzing which new GPS to purchase. (Decided to go for the Garmin GPSmap 720s Chartplotter/Sounder.)

Later on that day we realized we had to stop somewhere to repair the halyard winch before sailing back home.

Were supposed to leave that night for our passage back home but the small town, Colonia st Pere, turned so incredible beautiful by sunset that we just couldn't leave before getting to indulge in the peaceful atmosphere, at least for one, single night.

Got my heels on,

and we went for dinner in one of the small restaurants by the beach.

Had a wonderful magret de canard in sweet pear sauce and a juicy piece of butter cooked salmon while dreaming and talking about our future adventures, and the meaning of the ones that had passed.

As none of us are particularly interested in football, we were in our own little world while everyone were inside watching Spain beating Holland. But we surely got notice of it when all of a sudden people came out from everywhere screaming and singing and lighting fireworks on the streets. Perfect entertainment just in time for our dessert.

Stayed in the marina until the next day and then back home the night after.

A very harmonic and relaxing weekend. Like most of the times when it's only the two of us. Us two with our Caos and the nature. Somehow it feels like that constellation has became our small family in a weird, wonderful, new way and like we said millions of times before, we can't wait to get the hell out of here (Europe) and take it all to the next level. /T

In this very moment..

Setting up new rigging..

Formentor two weeks ago

Wish we had more time to spend on the blog. Will get better though as soon as we leave Barcelona next weekend as every refitting on the boat should be finished by then. Cross your fingers. Today we're busy replacing the standing rigging and installing new equipment.

Some pics from when we were in Formentor and Alcudia last week.

We left our Marina very late in the night that Thursday. We were off around 2.30 am and started our watches straight away. Alex slept the first part as he already had been working for 16 hours that day. When it was my time to finally crash (around 5.30am) I fell asleep next to Alex in the cockpit, but not for long before he woke me up again. Was dizzy as it felt like I just had closed my eyes, but Alex wanted me up for some reason. A good reason! Around twenty dolphins were jumping around our boat, making clicking noise and wanted to play in the early shades of the bright sun that was just about to rise. It was magical. I felt like I was somewhere between dream and reality. I was actually dreaming about dolphins just when Alex woke me up so for some seconds I really couldn't make sense of where I was. It was just too beautiful. I wish I had the power to run up for the camera straight away to snap some pics of the playful animals jumping in the yellow streams of the early morning sunrise, but this is the best I got.

The passage lasted for almost 20 hours and we arrived in Formentor around 10 pm the next evening.

Were exhausted by then, but happy to finally reach land.

Early morning in Marina de Bonaire.

Breakfast..

We met a guy with a beautiful big brother to our Caos. A Hallberg Rassy 53.

Time to leave for next destination.

Alex was thrilled for the perfect sailing weather. Calm sea and wind up to 18 knots in ultimate direction. We sailed straight onto the mooring.

Baked some bacon/rucola empanadas before heading underwater.

We have given up our regular dinghy for a while as it is too much of drama every time we use it. Instead we're using this very convenient, plastic boat which is perfect to transport the diving gear with to shore.

Still searching for the best underwater camera. Might have to go for the big underwater house to our Canon Eos 450D in order to get perfect shots but it's so bulky and heavy to swim around with (also very expensive and haven't still elected that it's worth the hassle.). Other suggestions, anyone?

Our genoa halyard was stuck into one clevis pin so Alex had to get up on the mast to release it. This is how Formentor look like from the mast.

Fixing with the Genoa.

Later that night we had a chance to try out our new grill. Served a tasty entrecote with my home made marinade accompanied with a creamy potato gratin and grilled vegetables. After dinner we went up to the bow to admire the stars and we both fell asleep on deck.

This is the first sight I got when I woke up again around 6.30. 20% of my body was rolled over outside of the toerail and I was facing down into the water. I must say I was feeling a bit confused when the first thing I encounter when I opened up my eyes was sea weed? Interesting.

More pics and stories soon, need to get out and help the guys with the rigging wires. /T