The solo challenge begins: Baddeck to Nuuk

Three days ago I returned to Nova Scotia from Switzerland. In a rush I visited Darrin and family, drove back to Baddeck, provisioned for a 2-week solo sail to Greenland, non-perishables until Alaska and reactivated the boat. Today on Sunday I have taken the first mini leg north: 21 miles from Baddeck to Kelly’s Cove, where I anchor for the night, still sheltered but ready to jump off into the big blue. Exciting!

By coincidence, Karin and Seth of Toroa from the Netherlands, whom we met about a month prior in North Sydney, anchor in Kelly’s Cove on their way into the lake. I join them for the evening on their boat together with Astrid and Arnaud from Whalie Bird, Belgium and we are having a good time.

Going solo adds a new dimension to everything - and I am curious to figure out how I can do it without sacrificing neither health nor safety - where health largely equates to sleep. It forces me to do more planning and better preparation. I increase the margin in everything. This exercise gets me out of my comfort zone and I expect it will permit me to progress as a sailor.

As for safety, I wear the personal flotation device (PFD) most of the time. Water is about 12°C here. Should I go overboard I won’t be able to swim for long. In the PFD, I have a man-overboard beacon (MOB) that automatically broadcasts an emergency on VHF alerting ships around me. Additionally, I have a small satellite-based personal rescue beacon (PLB) in the pocket of my pants. This one I can activate manually and alert the coast guard - world-wide. Of course, number one rule remains: don’t fall overboard! Don’t do anything stupid.

Before I go to bed, I get the ship in shape for open water. I am on the 46th parallel, Nuuk is on the 64th… Exciting, indeed!Read more