Tilda - End of an incredible journey 2/2

Second part of our impressions and feelings.Matteo, our jolly in every role of the boat, the perfect generous mate for a journey like the ARC: “Some 25 years apart, it comes this second crossing, very different. Back then, there was a boy, his dreams and the adventure. Today I found new friends for daylight shifts and night shifts full of thoughts, reflections about life, my loved ones, what I could have done better and what I hope to improve.It has been a beautiful journey on the sea and an unexpected opportunity for self critics about my “ego”.Alessandra surprised everyone with her positive energy. “Since years I was dreaming the crossing of the Atlantic. Finally I made it. The project, the challenge, they became reality together with a “strange group of strangers”. Being so many days. read more...

Tilda - End of an incredible journey 1/2

Believe it or not, we’re approaching the finish line in Saint Lucia. Nearly 20 days after our departure from Las Palmas and thousands miles with 50 shades of blue around.I am pretty slow in evaluating people and circumstances, nevertheless I proposed to collect our personal impressions of the big adventure that we shared.Let’s start with Captain FABRI:“To me it is not finished until it’s finished, I would wait for the landfall before I take any conclusive impression about this Atlantic crossing. I like to listen to my emotions in the very moment I step down of my boat after a long passage. Yet I reckon something has changed last night as we passed the 2500nm, I feel kind of relieved of tensions acquired during sleepless nights, rough trades, routine and maintenance. Emotions flowed. read more...

Tilda - Take it easy, bro!

Ooooh yesss, today it has been a really relaxing day. Good wind and calm swell, we had time to recover the last two nights passed in the “washing machine” of squalls.Used to have busy shifts and little rest, los Tildamigos spent the day dedicated on new activities. First of all came personal care: men shaved one each other in the aft corner and women…. it’s a secret (and we’re always perfect in every situation).Then came the time for washing and drying clothes. Then for preparing several tapas served during the whole day. Reading. Cross words. Fishing. Jokes. And the barbecue is already set up for another excellent dinner on this bluewater sailing restaurant.Los relaxados Tildamigos. read more...

Tilda - A night of meteorites and a night of squalls

The last 2 nights had been characterized by very adrenalinic watches. Yesterday the first ones to be shocked were Iva and Teo, when staring at the sky full of stars they saw a big flash followed by a fireball that soon divided in 3 smaller parts that slowly collapsed. Iva called Yacht Blumoona, not far from us, to check if they saw something and the guy added that they also heard a bang. Wow! The shift after, in the cockpit there were Ale, Rui and Francy. The white flash they saw was very similar to a flare, that possibly could have been sent by a boat following our Tilda, visible on the AIS (but no named). Francy called the vessel in that position but no answer. Before getting anxious, again the Blumoona guy replied saying that that was not a flare, not a firework, but “a comet”.. read more...

Tilda - Crazy crossings

04.12.21Today has started with a night shift that had something magical. Stars in the sky, no moon, auto-pilot, a glass of rum and nice conversation with my crew mate. Two yachts behind us, one upwind 2 nm away, the other 4.5 nm downwind. Everything perfect till a voice in the night breaks idillium: “Mary Doll- Mary Doll calling the vessel in position xyz”. Ouch, it’s us. Mary Doll is calling ‘cause they are approaching us and there’s less than 1nm between them and Tilda. I reply via VHF and he explains me that they see our navigation lights but cannot see us on the AIS, so they’d like to know our exact position, speed and course. Then propose us to go more downwind to leave their route, but with the yankee this is the maximum we can do. Second and third call, so we decide to let them. read more...