“Voyage from Vigo to Lanzarote, or that we thought.

“Voyage from Vigo to Lanzarote: A Thrilling Tale of Dolphins, Whales, and a Daring Diversion to Cascais”

As the sun set on our final day in Vigo, the anticipation for our journey to the Canaries heightened. The day was a whirlwind of food shopping, pre-cooking, and preparing our boat for the 7 day adventure that lay ahead.

On departure day, the excitement was palpable at 6:30 am as we fuelled up and set our course for the Canaries. Just 40 minutes into our journey, a pod of dolphins graced us with their presence, setting the stage for the unexpected twists that awaited us.

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Amidst the routine of watch rotations and warm sandwiches, the ocean unveiled its mysteries. A large fin emerged, triggering an adrenaline rush as we braced for a possible encounter with a killer whale. The crew sprang into action, armed with sand, fog horns, angle grinders, and boat hooks, ready to face the ocean’s enigmatic giants.

The tension eased when it revealed itself to be a whale—a magnificent sight, yet a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the open sea. Our first encounter with a whale became a moment frozen in time, accompanied by the backdrop of six dolphin sightings, each group leaving its unique imprint on our seafaring memories.

As the day unfolded, our culinary preparations proved vital. A carefully planned menu and Ian’s culinary prowess provided hearty meals for the crew, ensuring sustenance during the unpredictable weather. The first night shift commenced, with the stars overhead and the vast ocean stretching endlessly.

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Day two brought unexpected challenges—a sudden change in weather patterns prompted a daring decision to divert to Cascais, Portugal. Battling winds and waves, we navigated to safety, anchoring in Cascais as the weather took a turbulent turn.

Our unplanned pitstop in Cascais, while initially disappointing, proved to be a stroke of luck. The decision to wait out the storm was validated as reports of chaos and powerful winds across the Mediterranean surfaced. Our vessel, now securely docked, experienced gusts of 36-40 knots, reaffirming the wisdom of our impromptu detour.

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As we reflected on our journey, the Spector of killer whales lingered in our minds as were more then ever close to “hot zone”. Recent reports of these intelligent creatures attacking boats in various regions added an extra layer of caution to our maritime adventure. Monitoring websites, chats, and Facebook groups had become a routine as we armed ourselves with sand, fog horns, angle grinders, and boat hooks, ready to confront the potential dangers that lurked beneath the waves.

What began as a straightforward journey unfolded into a gripping maritime adventure, complete with dolphins, the spector of killer whales, and a strategic diversion. Our quest to reach the Canaries became a testament to the unpredictable nature of the open sea and the resilience of those who sail it’s waters.

Until Next time, Fair winds and fallowing seas.