Axia
Atlantic Ocean crossing
After a few days preparing the ship for the feat, "Safety first!", said the experienced captain. We carried out a sea trial and with a favourable result, we went to sea.
Relief 1st Mate
Delivery of the super-yacht Axia from Palma de Mallorca, Spain to Newport, USA.
Nine professional crew members make up the crew for the next 21 days of sailing.
LOA
37 meter
Designer
Sparkman and stephen
Construction location
Palmer & Johnson, USA
Date
Summer 2019
After crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, the white beaches of El Rompido, who as a child saw me play, are also left behind. A tear drops when you see the homeland falling behind.
Rising to the west over a majestic sunset, Azores a few days away; the waves begin to rock us.
After a few days on the high seas, the Portuguese archipelago becomes visible. The port of Horta, brimming with charm and picturesque paintings depicted in the surroundings of the port by the sailors who stop there, a sign of being a place of historic landfall.
This time the stop is extended by inclement weather.
That allowed us to enjoy much-appreciated leisure time and sightseeing.
Years ago, this same situation was repeated to me, crossing in the opposite direction.
Already en route, the spacious and highly visual control bridge provides us with warm and safe watchkeeping, which allows us to monitor more closely both on-board systems and the horizon.
During the days, maintenance persists to keep the yacht to the highest standard at all times.
Up winds and tacks were the constants of the trip. Except for beautiful stormy nights when we flew at high speed through high wave ridges.
A day before arriving in Newport, a closed fog hangs over us. Being aware of the error signs that both the radar systems and one of the GPS presented due to an electrical storm that struck us in the western part of the Atlantic. We decided to reduce the machine speed and double the vigilance on the bridge.
If the picture was no longer idyllic, dozens of whale sharks and tigers fluttered close enough to amaze me.
Thematic days:
Greek ritual for "ocean-crossing virgins", "Pirates Day Mid-crossing party" or family movie nights added energy to the growing fatigue of day and night watches and the few hours of sleep that are accumulating.
Going into the dark Narragansett Bay at dawn, we do the old-fashioned coastal sailing. Paper charts, pencil, compass, binoculars and to listen the emblematic sound of the maritime signs of the Atlantic coast of the USA.
We could not risk having a GPS positioning error in such a compromising situation. Thanks to the old school triangulation techniques, we anchor under the most absolute blindness caused by the fog, in front of the New York Yacht Club.
Waking up in a different continent than the one our eyes last saw on a warm, clear morning under the American sky.
