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Sailing over the atlantic is still one of the big adventures of our time. And one I always read books about it, untill now. Now I did it. Together with 5 friends and a 47 foot sailboat.
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  • Mike Zurbrügg
    Day35

    Video-Log - watch the daily clips

     December 20, 2018 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    I made a vlog - a video log every day on my smartphone to document the trip. Watch it on vimeo (I speak in swissgerman):

    https://vimeo.com/307439331

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  • Mike Zurbrügg
    Day26

    Now we enjoy a few days on the island

     December 11, 2018 in Martinique ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Martinique is a beautiful carribean island with friendly people and a high standard. It's France in a palmtree island. Me and Rolf rent a tiny Airbnb apartment in a beautiful jungle garden and explore the island with a tiny rental car.

    Food is awesome. Beaches awesome.

    The only bad thing is that when I finally want to leave the Island on the airport at 22:00 at night they tell me my flight was cancelled and they offer me a flight a week later. With no support I have to figure out a way to get home in time. What a stress. Finally I book a flight myself quickly before the other 200 passengers try the same - and now I try to get my money back.

    Not a nice end to a very awesome adventure. One day later I reach home and embrace my missed family.    Read more

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  • Mike Zurbrügg
    Day25

    We did it -finally we reached Martinique

     December 10, 2018 in Martinique ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Last night we couldn't reach the harbor. But today we drive into Port de Plaisance be Le Marin. The night was totally windy and our anchor slipped several times but not too far, so we made it to the morning

    Wow, we did it. after 22 days we stand on solid ground - that shakes slightly. We're very happy and satisfied. Slowly we do our chores, enjoy a very very long real shower, get the sail into reapir and throw away all the trash.

    the next day an expert inspects the mast and rigging of our boat. His comment: 'You lucky men'. The rigging is in bad shape and he thinks we're very lucky that we got all the way across the atlantic without breaking the mast. We're even more thankful now!    Read more

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  • Mike Zurbrügg
    Day24

    Last day at sea

     December 9, 2018, Caribbean Sea ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    The wind picked up good speed during the day.

    Suddenly the dkipper shouts: Land, insee land. He spots a vaguely shade of the 1400 meter high volcano mountain of martinique. Still 35 miles to go.

    We hope we make it at daylight. The miles drag on and on.
    There are some rain clusters that pass us by just barely touching us.    Read more

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  • Mike Zurbrügg
    Day24

    22nd day - last day on sea

     December 9, 2018, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Tonight we're gonna reach Martinique. yeah. Awesome. How will it be to see land after 22 days.
    The night was quiet with not too much speed. But in the morning wind picks up to 7Bft. A rain cell misses us close shafe. 8 knots speed - not bad.

    Then we see an awesome rainbow.

    We have a time of worship with the tiny guitar and in the midst of the sining dolphins join us. Wow.

    Land!!!!!! Urs shouts and sees the tip of the volcano. Still 35 sm to go. the volcano is 1400 meters high mount pele. Now we can forget compass and gps. We just need to follow the land.

    The tension is rising as it gets darker and darker. Will we make it. We can round the corner of Martinique and toss the anker in a windy and not really suited bay for the night. Tomorrow....    Read more

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  • Mike Zurbrügg
    Day23

    21st day st sea.

     December 8, 2018, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Top speed today but the fishing is absolutely successless. We realize it's not for granted to catch any fish.

    Traffic is catchin up towards the Islands. We've seen 3 other boats in one day. Crazy this traffic

    We still it fresh food. Pumpkin! Tastes awesome. But thats the last fresh food we have. Cans here we come.

    Today is movie night with 'rien a declaré'. Fun movie that sets our mind to meet the crazy french on Martinique :-)    Read more

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  • Mike Zurbrügg
    Day22

    20th day dolphin party

     December 7, 2018, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    This evening we worship together. Being out here it is easy to see how great our God is. And these men got great voices.

    A happy dolphin party with some really large guys. Awesome.

    Hansjörg cooks a great potato salad with our last potatos. Jummy.

    We have light winds. Too light. But we can use the engine to add speed. 300 miles to go.    Read more

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  • Mike Zurbrügg
    Day21

    Day 19 - santa is here and 2 fish

     December 6, 2018, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    A shaky night and finally morning. Windspeed picks up to a 7 with tunderstorms. A steering mistake leads to more damage on the boat.

    Just in my surfshorts and lifevest i run on deck to help and within seconds i‘m completely soaked. These tradewindrains are wet!!!!!

    I catch my fish 6 and 7. my 10 second fishes. there are these green carpets on the water that get caught in my fishing line all the time. I take off the weight and use only thhe lure. I just let it slip back into the water and let the line go for about 10-15 meter when i see a fish biting. Yeah, dinner is saved. But with 40cm its a bit small for 5 men. Thekitchen wants to start to cook now. I let the fishingline out again and after 10 seconds no 2 bites. Dinner is safes and we don‘t need to eat canned meat. The crew is really really happy.    Read more

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  • Mike Zurbrügg
    Day20

    18th day - sail no 3 gone

     December 5, 2018, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    We see another sailboat on the horizon. Must be number 4. it is so lonely out here.

    The wind lets us down. So we decide we need a larger sail. So not to destroy the damaged mainsail more, we take it down and replace it with sail number 4. a really old but hopefully more robust sail. Should be easy peasy in the light 💡 winds. Just as we try to put the new sail up - which is quite a job with this rollreef constiction - a rainfront hits us out of nowhere and with some windgusts that make the sail shatter like a Harley without exaust. A simple job moves into a sweatdripping fight as the wind tries to steal away the sail. Me and Urs on the mast. I need to keep the sail in line. The rest on the winches trying tonwinch the sail up and also trying to hear our commands in the noise. Finally its up and running.

    Will it get us to martinique or wirhin the 400 mile range where we can use the engine.

    Usually we woud run the engine for an hour a day to cool the fridge and for extra elictricity. But we‘ve stopped doing that in case we lose our last sail too. The fridge is actually warmer than the outside.    Read more

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