Hamble – La Rochelle
27/08/2024 – 31/08/2024 – 496 nautical miles
Back on the sea for a new adventure. Different boat, different crew, different skippers. One adventure to prepare me for the challenge of the ARC in November. Gaining experience sailing on Escapado, the yacht that will carry myself and 9 others across the Atlantic to St Lucia. My journey from Hamble in the UK to St Tropez, southern France should take about 4 weeks, and along the way, we will make stops in La Rochelle, A Coruña and Gibraltar before reaching the famous St Tropez. There, I will leave the boat and re-join in Las Palmas, where preparation for the ARC begins.

Oh yes, I left Questina earlier than expected. In Las Palmas coincidentally. I felt that I had tested my limits and reached them. I just didn’t really see the point of staying there when I could easily search for another boat. I don’t regret starting off with Questina. I learnt a lot. About sailing and about myself, I will use the skills I attained to make the future a success.

We set off from Hamble later than expected due to an elongated time spent preparing the boat for passage. Escapado, a Beneteau First 40.7, completes 2 transatlantic crossings, competes in various regattas including the Rolex Middle Sea Race and undergoes several mile builders to get to where she needs to be in a single year. So you can understand that she gets a little battered and often needs some fixing up.

The first leg of the trip has been great so far. Sharing stories and getting to know a new set of strangers is part of life on a boat. We have people of all ages and backgrounds. The oldest, a couple in their sixties, and the youngest, the skipper and I at 22. Crossing the English Channel was a great experience. We had several visits from dolphins and had a more attentive watch for the heavy traffic. From a sailing point of view, the winds could have been much better. We’ve motored a lot against the wind, and the constant noise from the engine becomes quite tiresome. Especially when you are sleeping in one of the aft cabins situated on either side of the engine bay.

After arriving in La Rochelle 496 nautical miles later, most of the crew said their goodbyes after a well earned French dinner, and the 3 of us left carried on with repairs whilst awaiting the next group. Having never been to France, I of course did some exploring within La Rochelle. It is a vibrant coastal city with an old fort guarding the entryway. Resting for 3 nights was needed, and I look forward to the next challenge; sailing through the Bay of Biscay and reaching A Coruña!
