Full Circle

After 12 years in the Caribbean and USA it was time to go home. We love the warmth and clear blue seas but we also love the granite coast of Brittany, the tides and the boulangeries, the Moule, the wine and even the snug nights in late Autumn . We did briefly think of selling Seminole Wind in America and buying a boat in UK but only because of the prospect of 20% EU tax but thanks to our friend Alex Grabau we found a loophole. Brexit means we can apply for an 18 month temporary import and every time we leave the EU it resets. However having spent almost 7 months on board this season and with a home to look after and family to catch up with we decided to send Seminole Wind on a cruise.

We have done our share of passages and the east bound trip home has its challenges. The weather is far less predictable and we know people who have been stuck in the Azores for a month waiting for a weather window. Flat calms and storms are more frequent these days and any way we wanted to go back to Northern Europe first not straight to the Med. The final factor was the cost of selling SW in America - brokerage fees are eye watering and you are paying for an expensive marina slip all the time it’s in brokerage. With the US economy in turmoil shipping with a specialist yacht transport operator seemed a far better option and at half the price of selling a bargain.

And so Seminole Wind went on a cruise. The way the specialist ships work is they call in at various ports and load/offload boats as they go. So we loaded in Palm Beach Florida, she then went back up to Baltimore, down the the ABC Islands and a final call in Antigua before heading across to Imuiden in Holland. I make that about 4500 miles with no wear and tear on the boat. Meanwhile we flew home via NYC and stepped back on board 4 weeks later.

The process was pretty seamless once we got a loading date. Communication prior to the final week or so was pretty sketchy but once the ship was on its way you felt secure in the hands of professionals. We took off the canvas and then came alongside, released the backstays and that was it, they placed slings under her hull, made sure they wouldn’t slip and hoisted her up onto the deck using their onboard cranes.

While we locked the boat up and replaced the backstays they fitted a special cradle and welded it to the deck then tie downs, all done with care and professionalism. In the event they didn’t encounter any bad weather but better to plan for the worst and hope for the best..

A huge benefit is the lack of wear and tear, an east bound Atlantic has the potential to break lots of things and we had zero engine or generator hours, no water maker running, batteries cycling or sails wearing. We simply switched off, locked up and left but you can’t help worrying. Thankfully we could track the marine traffic app and check on the weather along the course.

It was still with some trepidation that we arrived in Imuiden and watched the ship dock. we were the first up the gangway and climbed on board to find….. everything exactly as we’d left it. Before we knew it the slings were on and she lifted clear. we were in the cockpit as she swung 15m over the water and was lowered gently back into her natural element. You could almost feel her shiver as the cold North Sea water rose up her keel and she settled serenely afloat. A quick check that everything was watertight, turn on the seacocks, burp the stern gland and fire up the engine.

Less than an hour after the ship docked we were under way on our first voyage this side of the Atlantic since 2013, albeit only half a mile to the huge modern marina by the port. A couple of days to re-rig the sails, check all the systems, refit the winged and canvas and we were ready to leave.

So on balance I would have loved to cruise the Azores for a while looking at the weather we would have been in light winds for most of the trip and probably still on our way so very happy with our choice and with The Sevenstar Yacht Transport guys who made it so easy.