If all goes well with the travels described on the previous two pages (Plans 1 - Soon and Plans 2 - Next) we hope that we shall have only just started on our long-distance plans. We will be back in the UK and able to replenish our cruising funds and start making plans for the next campaign. It is far too early to tell what that next trip will be. All I can do here is list some of the options.
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The real way to circuit the Atlantic is to leave here and head south as far as West Africa. Countries like Senegal and Gambia are full of music and a culture quite different from our own. From here, after looking at the off-lying islands you cross the Atlantic to Brazil. Then you work your way up the North coast of South America through countries like Surinam, Guyana and Venezuela before going into the Caribbean. The big decision then is whether to carry on up the East Coast of the USA as far as places like Martha's Vineyard then come back home or to go through the Panama Canal and continue around the world...
If we don't have time for the full Monty described above, we can simplify the plan by working our way down to Senegal, Gambia and the Cape Verde Islands off West Africa, then sail back home after a year. The north-east trade winds take over almost as soon as you leave Portugal and they do not let up all year. Making a homeward excursion as far as the Azores makes the necessary tacking seem more purposeful, and we get to visit these islands again as well.
It is cold up there - Scotland and places like that I mean - but I'm told it's very beautiful sailing. There is a growing movement these days of long-distance sailors fed up with the sticky, hot, crowded routes looking for cold waters to cruise. If we're talking about Scotland, why not Norway, Iceland, Greenland even...
I don't think we're old enough for the Med. yet.
But we will be... One day.
