My first Atlantic crossing. I am alone on the 12-metre REYKJA, a 35-year-old steel yacht. It's going from La Palma, Canary Islands, directly to Domenica, Caribbean. The distance is 2790 nautical miles, more than 5000 kilometres. It takes me 24 days.
I cross the Atlantic in February. Sailing in the trade winds is not terribly difficult, but it has its pitfalls. In February, the wind blows stronger than in the months before. When the waves go up, the ship starts to roll strongly. Even sleeping becomes an adventure: where do I cling to without being tossed around? If the genoa, the largest sail, breaks just before the destination, you are suddenly quite lonely as a solo sailor.
My conclusion from almost four weeks at sea? Strong stuff!
