We were docked in Valencia across from the fancy America’s Cup building. Port program here took us to the science centre and aquarium. I was still feeling horrible from the cold so I sniffled my way through the exhibits. The aquarium was neat on one hand, seeing the colourful tropical fish but also sad seeing…

Yes. Thousands of maggots in our garbage cans on the ship and they got all over the deck. Those little things are quick, I’d be herding them into a pile to throw overboard and they’d be galloping away as fast as they could wiggle. Thanks to everyone’s efforts we scrubbed and sprayed and picked them…

Just a short sail from Mallorca, we arrived in Barcelona on October 5th. I was in the midst of one of the dreadful colds that have been sweeping the ship so I laid low for most of the port. I was also doing inventory of the first aid equipment which takes longer than you want…

We ended up going to Palma de Mallorca instead of Bonifacio, Corsica because of a huge storm (a “medicane”) in the eastern Mediterranean. Mallorca was great because a few of took a train across the island and went for a hike on the Camino de Mallorca. Walking through the hills and olive groves with views…

It was a calm day on the Mediterranean off the coast of Spain and Captain Robert decided that it was a good time to launch the inflatable rescue boat and take pictures of the Gulden Leeuw. Here are a few behind the scenes shots.

Saving the fresh water for drinking with bucket showers

Just made a quick stop here for fuel before entering the Mediterranean We had some great wind on the way Reefing the mizzen. Gaia out on the boom lashing the new clew Sunrise in the Strait of Gibraltar. Morocco on the starboard bow and Europe on the port bow.

We docked on the Douro River in between Porto and Gaia.

The first few days of the passage we motored into headwinds and everyone worked on getting their sea legs, that is to say, seasickness reigned. Then we got a fair wind and set sail. As we passed the Cliffs of Dover one of the students reminded me that we were sailing through where D-Day had…

This is the ship I’m living on until January my cabinit’s stuffed with first aid supplies and meds The breezeway is where the seasick folks hang out ⬇️the foredeck the aft salonthe ensign the crew