The Saltim-Blog
 
July the 20th, 2012

Full Circle

Early afternoon under the sun, Saltimbanque sails the last 10 miles from the Glenan islands to Concarneau harbor. On the jetty there stands a painted welcome-back sign, a fog horn is blown: our families and some friends are here to see us back!! A few minutes later the boat is quickly moored to the visitors pontoon to receive the first drops of champagne: more than 13000 miles in 14 months, thank you Saltimbanque you’re the best of boats!

Back !!


Fan club
In the whirlpool of the first days we’re enjoying the comfort and security of the shore, spending some quality time with our families… and we’re working on the last articles – don’t worry :o)
 
 
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jolly.roger - 03/08/2012 15:24:59
1000 bravos, mais ensuite ?
où comptez-vous aller et quand ?

Sylvia - 24/07/2012 15:09:12
Welcome back girls!!!

achiletjoce - 23/07/2012 22:25:24
Encore une merveilleuse escale !
Merci pour votre " time share "
et à un de ces jours, la brise nous portera bientôt vers ces terres de marins

Brigitte et Dominique - 22/07/2012 15:16:34
Chapeau les filles! A bientot.....

TAOZ, Matthieu - 22/07/2012 13:05:31
Hello, félicitations pour ce beau voyage et bon courage pour la suite. Je vous ai envoyé un email à votre adresse.
Bises,
Matthieu

Nadia - 22/07/2012 11:40:23
Bienvenue à terre ! et félicitations pour cette belle aventure !

bisous à la Mamou ;-)))

 
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03rd July 2012

Back home !

It has been a difficult journey: not straight, not dry, not quiet, not always funny, but on this Monday July 2nd in the morning, after a dreadful night under the rain and again 30 knots wind, we can see the land ! Well, not for long as it disappears right away behing the misty rain...
Since a few days already we could see the signs: we receive French radios, the water is green, there are fishing boats, yellow-head gannets, cargo ships everywhere, no doubt we are back home !

Finally we land in Penzance at the very end of England, deep in this Cornwall that we like so much, in the Channel, our beloved sailing garden. Even though we could not reach Ireland directly because of the bad weather, our disapointment disappears quickly when we moor Saltimbanque in the dock of this typical little harbour.

We have come back, we did it, we sailed around the Atlantic ocean !!!!

Waiting for the tide on a buoy in Penzance, and yes, we are super happy to be here !!!!
 
 
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Nadia - 11/07/2012 19:23:39
bravo pour ce merveilleux voyage , bravo pour tous ces beaux articles ces magnifiques photos et vos non moins magnifiques videos qui nous ont fait rêver ! vous avez partagé votre aventure avec nous et ça vaut son pesant d'or !

Bon retour au bercail !

Tom W (Makatea) - 11/07/2012 09:55:07
WELL DONE YOU TWO!! Great that you made it back safely and that all's well. xx

Cyrille - 10/07/2012 21:49:41
Bravo à vous deux! J'ai vu vos photos et lu vos articles plus ou moins régulièrement, j'ai eu vraiment l'impression que vous vous êtes fait très plaisir, c'est génial!
A bientôt, j'espère, peut-être à Munich, si vous voulez y passer!
Cyrille

Sylvia - 07/07/2012 13:59:40
Van harte gefeliciteerd!!! Jullie kunnen er trots op zijn en al jullie belevenissen zullen het hele leven bij jullie blijven.

ptithom3 - 07/07/2012 11:42:30
Bravo, bon retour (mais dans quel direction se fait le véritable retour???).

Nous vous aurons suivi avec toujours beaucoup de plaisir mêlée d'admiration tout en voyant bien qu'une boucle Atlantique est loin d'être de tout repos. Notre option Méditerranéenne avec de jeunes enfants nous a tout a fait convenue avec juste un regret pour la température de l'eau! Pour nous, 22 d° c'était chaud!!!
En espérant qu'on se croise à nouveau un jour,
amitiés
Philippe, Tina, Nicolas et Timéo

Hans en Remco - 07/07/2012 11:35:42
Gefeliciteerd dames, mooie prestatie

Florian - 06/07/2012 17:23:35
Félicitations!!! Mais vous auriez pu nous ramener le soleil!!! Bon retour et 'atterrissage'! Faites signe quand vous êtes au pays! A bientôt.

Dick - 06/07/2012 08:27:30
Hiiiihaaaaaa! Super! Welcome home, (allmost)…

Kariine - 05/07/2012 23:47:11
Voici une belle boucle quasi bouclée, là !
Une belle année à me faire rêver d'ailleurs, mmm !!


Marilou - 04/07/2012 11:06:04
BRAVO les filles... c'est un rayon de soleil chaque jour.. A quand un livre ?

Lebrat h et jp - 04/07/2012 10:31:06
C'est du bon et du beau travail!
On vous souhaite encore de nombreuses belles journées avant le retour en Bretagne.... trés pluvieuse ces jours ci...

Brigitte - 04/07/2012 09:52:31
et vous attend aussi un verre du côté des pins lors d'un passage à Gradignan... a bientôt et bravo à vous deux.

Georges - 03/07/2012 22:39:13
Félicitations et bravo pour votre courage. Heureux de vous savoir à bon port.

Achiletjoce - 03/07/2012 21:07:02
Bravo !
Bel entrainement...
Félicitez Bob, Nestor et Shadock

la mamou - 03/07/2012 17:07:32
comme cela passe vite , un an ...de cornouaille en cornouaille via le sénégal et la guyane...
vivement le prochain départ !!
mais avant : les douceurs bretonnes vous attendent , leurs crèpes , galettes ...et crachins ici aussi très présents cette année ....auriez-vous pensé à nous rapporter un beau soleil de là bas ??? oui , surement , ne serait-ce que celui de votre sourire et nous l'attendons tous impatiemment


 
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29th May 2012

Saltimbanque is in Florès !

Monday May 28th, 5pm, the side of a montain suddenly limits our infinite blue horizon... Florès island raises up in front of us, just a dust of earth in the middle of the endless ocean, but with a wave breaker - and so the nice promise of shelter !
A few hours later, under the moon light and pushed by a fair wind, we enter in the small harbour of Flores. So happy to see that the marina is indeed there, with a free berth for us and other sailors who come and help. May 29th, 00h UTC, Saltimbanque is safe inside, sheltered from the sea and the wind that will blow at gale force in a few hours. The crew can relax and falls asleep within minutes !

It took us 19 days and 10 hours to cross the ocean, from Saint-Martin to Florès, a very satisfactory time for an 8m boat ! We have had very good weather conditions in general, and were able to follow almost a direct route: 2250M sailed for 2000M in straight line, i.e. an average speed of 4,85 knots.

The boat is in perfect shape, our only technical problem being the outboard engine, which died the last day in Saint-Martin! The crew is a bit more tired, but how nice it is to duck under the blankets after a 12h night when outside it rains in 45 kts wind gusts!!

See you soon for a detailed article on our trip !

Landing in the Azores deserves a proper celebration : champagne !
 
 
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25th May 2012

The last run

25th May at 1500 UTC, 37°07N 39°05W, 5.7kt heading WNW

It's now more than 16 days that we've set sails, the longest time at sea so far! (The crossing to the Antilles took 16 days exactly). The finish line 400 miles ahead is coming closer more and more rapidly as the wind is increasing - yet never fast enough for us!
During the last days we have been reminded of the variety of the weather in European latitudes, quite forgotten after our long tropical summer in universal tshirt and shorts and sunscreen. There's been grey skies, bright sunshine, drizzle, cold wind, warm(ish) afternoons... the colours of the sunsets have changed, less violent, more diffuse. No day has been similar to the one before: sailing closehold to the winf, then quarter back, then closehold again but on the other tack, then to the beam, slowly dying. During a long day of calm Nestor has behaved perfectly, valiantly keeping us going to a reasonable 4kts around the clock.
Now the wind is back to the stern, freshening a little even. No time to rest during the next couple of days, as a steady to increasing wind is expected to thurst Saltimbanque on the last run to the Azores!
 
 
20th May 2012

Gone with the (trade) winds

20th May 1500UTC, 34°27N 49°16W, 6knots, course 70°

10 and a half days later, we finally reached the middle of the journey: 1100 miles sailed, and again some 1000 miles to reach Flores, an ocean is actually a wide wide pond!

This half-way check point corresponds also to a change in the weather system: we are now out of the trade winds in which we have sailed since last October and are going back in the lows and highs kingdom, the same system as in Europe. Now we have to keep a close eye on the weather evolution (what d?you mean, the wind can also blow from the west ???), our new best friends are the satellite phone and the barometer to guide us between the lows. The game has started already: we are currently sneaking just south of a first strong front.

Luckily we?re reasonably rested, as the last days were quite relaxing despite the permanent heeling of the boat: stable conditions with a bright sun, and even fresh meat: a nice yellow tail tuna already made us 4 good meals ? and there is more left !
 
 
15th May 2012

Out of the Tropics!

14th May at 1600UTC, 26°05N 57°17W, 4.5kts course 45, through annoying sargasso banks

5 days at sea, 5 days closehold to the wind - and so many more to come! With the boat continuously eeling we feel one of our leg becoming shorter than the other... After a few wet and exhausting days (a very variable wind left us little time to rest), the last 24 hours have been a welcome change of ideal weather, the sky lit with sun or stars, 3bft wind and a moderate swell - heaven in high seas :o)
For the first time in 7 months we are out of the tropics - and we can feel it! Every day the water gets colder, the breeze cooler, we now have to wear long sleeves AND a light rainjacket at night - can you imagine! The sky is different, the clouds higher and lighter, the sea always as beautiful. We see quite a few cargo ships, a couple of yachts, some birds even... and still no mahi-mahi on our fishing line :o(
We'll be sailing on close to the wind, northeast by north, for another couple of days, searching for the westerly winds that will push us to our destination...
 
 
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saltimbanque par iridium - 29/05/2012 03:04:57
2905 00UTC POSITION:FLORES,VITESSE 0,CAP:LE LIT!ARRIVÉES EN 19J10H.MERCI DE TS VOS MESSAGES.


la mamou - 29/05/2012 02:43:01
bravo les filles !!!
génial !!
pil trois semaines !!
génial , génial génial !!!

Nadia - 27/05/2012 16:26:00
Bon voyage de retour , que les vents soient avec vous ... je connais une maman qui est sur les charbons ardents ;-)))




remco en hans - 27/05/2012 10:27:38
GIsteren hebben we Sylvia's vrijgezellenfeest gehad, varen door de grachten van Leiden met 29 graden, een beetje tropen in Nederland.
Het was erg gezellig

des nouvelles de saltimbanque - 25/05/2012 20:03:51
saltimbanque se trouve par 37°08N et 39°00W le 25 mai à 16hTU
vent portant
reste 395M avant les açores

saltimbanque par iridium - 22/05/2012 18:03:07
22/05 35N04 44W36. TVB! HIER PORTANT 20NDS MS LA CA MOLLIT BCP.CAP 70 A 3NDS.MER 21DEG + CHAUDE KE L'AIR BRR SORTONS BONNET!A+!


Maarten Home of Jazz - 19/05/2012 23:55:15
Ahoi Ladies, Really great to read your stories and to see the very good pictures. dover is a long way back. have a safe trip to bermuda. Cheers, maarten

saltimbanque par iridium - 19/05/2012 21:54:52
COUCOU! 33N55 51W22 AU TRAVERS LOFE DS 4B. HIER MTO DISAIT 20NDS LUNDI ON SURVEILLE ALORS MERCI! POUTOUX CAMILLE

Eric et Sandrine - 18/05/2012 01:55:33
Message à la Mamou:
Pourrais-tu nous envoyer le N° Iridium des filles par mail. Je pourrais ainsi leur envoyer la météo marine.

Merci d'avance ;)
Eric et Sandrine

saltimbanque par iridium - 17/05/2012 22:48:34
17/05 20HUTC 31N18 54W40,5ND AU 25.BEAU TPS,MER AGITÉE,PARFOI SPORTIF,SOUVEN SUPERBE.VU 2 CACHALO ET PLEIN D PHYSALIE!BISOUPENCHÉS


Sylvia - 15/05/2012 22:24:37
Wij zijn ook "out of the tropics" bij 11 graden overdag... Ik hoop dat alles goed verloopt en de wind jullie helpt. Veilige reis verder!

la mamou - 15/05/2012 09:02:07
aujourd'hui 15 mai : un an tout pil que vous êtes parties !!
bon anniversaire !!
:-))

 
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21st April 2012

Saltimbanque, blog of the month in « Voiles et Voiliers »

One morning, we receive an odd text message saying that our website le-voyage-de-saltimbanque would be elected as « blog of the month » by the famous French magazine Voiles et Voiliers. Errr, is it a joke ? Where is the camera ? Well, actually we checked and it is unbelievably true !!!

So we would like to thank our parents of course, our producer, and the whole team who has done such a great job… sob… sorry too muche motion…

This web site let us keep a track of our adventure and share it. So welcome onboard !

 
 
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Sylvain - 22/04/2012 06:00:46
Alors ça fait quoi d'être célèbres ? :)

 
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8th April 2012

Happy Birthday Captain!!


Today Saltimbanque and the crew are proud to celebrate their Captain's birthday! She's 30, and crossed one ocean already :o)
From the cockpit in the tropics she's sending you a bright sunny smile. Please join the crew to make this day an unforgettable birthday!
 
 
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Camille - 11/04/2012 01:33:29
Merci à tous pour vos messages d'anniversaire, et à Laure pour la petite surprise qu'elle m'a faite sur le blog ;o)

Thanks to all for your nice messages, and to Laure for her nice surprise on the blog ;o)

SuDad - 09/04/2012 20:03:44
En dehors de la révélation de l'âge de la capitaine, il n'aura échappé à personne, même à l'observateur le plus distrait, qu'elle possède l'un des sourires les plus ravageurs de la marine à voile, qui est la plus sympathique.
Plein d'alizés pour votre futur, capitaine !!!

Hans en Remco - 09/04/2012 15:33:44
Gefeliciteerd vanuit een koud en regenachtig Nederland

AUMADATROI - 09/04/2012 00:30:37
Un grand beau somptueux splendide merveilleux anniversaire au Cap'tain !!!!

Lisenn et Julien sur Ster Vraz - 08/04/2012 18:19:45
Happy Birthday Captain Saltimbanque!
Bisessssss!

la mamou - 08/04/2012 14:14:58
et ne ratez pas le dernier article sur le saltimbook !!! avec plein de jolies photos turquoises et roses !!

PtitHom3 - 08/04/2012 09:58:49
Heureux anniversaire Camille,

30 ans quel bel âge!!!
Profitez bien encore de votre voyage que nous continuons à suivre.
L'équipage de PtitHom3

la mamou - 08/04/2012 08:13:42
il est 8h10 ici ... dans 20 min tu aura 30 ans !!!!
gros gros bisou
pour cela la pluie annoncée s'est changé en grand ciel bleu !!

 
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Febuary 19th, 2012

Where is Saltimbanque?

In Union...



In Mayreau...



In the Tobago Cays...



...and now at Le Marin, Martinique !

From one turquoise island to another, the article will still need a few days to arrive. But we are already making the most of the sweet "Mawtinik" !
 
 
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Dick - 04/03/2012 12:43:11
Hi there! All is well with you! Here spring is approaching, got the annual antifouling done, still some minor work to be done and the J will be back in the water… not near as clear and blue als your surroundings however!

Nadia - 26/02/2012 13:28:07
je vens de rgarder les videos , sont drolement rigolos ces ptits poissons ,y en on dirait qu'ils se sont déguisés en drapeau américain ;-)))) la torue , la raie à pois , quell beauté , quelle évasion .....

Nadia - 23/02/2012 11:09:52
C'est beaauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!

Eric et Sandrine - 22/02/2012 14:49:57
Salut les filles, nous redescendons bientôt sur les Anses d'Arlet, si vous voyez le bateau : toc toc ! ;)

Julien et Gwendo - 22/02/2012 04:17:17
salut on est au mouillage à sainte anne juste devant le ponton, face à paille coco. On part d'ici jeudi pour les anses d'arlet. Si vous passez par là on sera contents de vous revoir

Charlene - 22/02/2012 03:58:11
J'ai un bon ami la-bas donc si vous en avez besoin dites-moi! Buvez bien un 'tit punch pour moi ;)

Kariine - 21/02/2012 17:34:48
Ahhh, tout ce bleu... Encore heureux qu'on a la même chose en Bretagne, sinon, on en serait presque jaloux ;o)

Jean-Nicolas Cloué - 21/02/2012 13:41:32
Superbe périple. N'oubliez pas de faire une cure d'ananas de Martinique. Ce sont les meilleurs.

la mamou - 20/02/2012 12:08:13
oouuaaiiiip !!
on arrive ,on arrive !! ;-)))

 
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January 10th, 2012

Happy New Year!!

Funny, we have still been being in the summer, though we changed year... but indeed the GPS reads January 2012 under our position !

Saltimbanque and we wish you much happiness for this new year, may the adversity spare you and let you free to achieve whatever is important for you.

In particular, better to hurry realizing your dreams. You never know, if the Mayas were right time is running out ;o)

 
 
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Dick - 15/01/2012 10:02:40
Happy new year to you, I hope you like Paramaribo, (I did!). And off course lots of happy sailing! Bravo to you and brave little Saltimbanque (still miss her at the pontoon…) Dick J92

 
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26th December

Hohoho Merry Christmas!!

This year for Christmas we wanted South America !
24th December 2011, after 16 days and 2 hours at sea, 1905 milles further: Land ahoy! We are in French Guyana! We did it, we crossed the Atlantic!!

Saltimbanque is moored at the pontoon in Degrad des Cannes, a few km off Cayenne. The sails are down, everything is silent inside, the noises have stopped, which had accompanied us day and night since the other side: the water relentlessly beating on the hull, the mast tensed and creaking, the helm and wind pilot struggling in the waves…
Rest!

We celebrate the crossing as well as Christmas, under the kind supervision of Santa Shadok. Foie gras, woodpigeon confit – chestnuts – onions chutney – apple mash, and a chocolate / raspberry cake. No so bad… entirely out of cans! With that, we drink Porto wine and a 2005 Cahors :-)
As for the music, we abide by the tradition of Christmas carols (a very special adaptation of the famous French song “Petit Papa Noël”):

« Petit Shadok Noël, quand tu descendras du ciel,
Chargé de nuages par milliers. Ta GV, va vite l’affaler.
Mais avant de réduire, il faudra bien te couvrir
Dehors il va bientôt pleuvoir… Bienvenue dans le Pot-au-noir !

Il me tarde tant que le jour se lève, pour voir s’ils vont nous arroser
Tous ces cumulus qui galopent sans trêve, et qui me tiennent éveillée !

Petit Papa Shadok, quand tu affaleras le foc
Rincé par les rafales salées, n’oublie pas ton petit ciré ! »

Way before midnight we can’t wait to open our presents: a still boat where you can stand and leave stuff on the table for Laure, and a loooong full night of more than 12 hours for Camille!

Merry Christmas!!
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Bernadette et Marie-Josée - 30/12/2011 22:44:56
Toujours bluffées par tout ce que vous faites. Bravo pour cette traversée si rapide.Tous nos meilleurs voeux pour 2012!Nous attendons avec impatience,la suite de vos aventures avec photos à l'appui bien sûr.

la mamou - 29/12/2011 20:53:27
juste un petit mot à la place de Muriel (d'épone) qui voudrait vous dire qu'elle pense bien à vous , lit tous les articles (que je lui envoie sur papier ) , mais qui malheureusement ne sait pas y répondre ...

SuDad - 29/12/2011 19:39:26
Deux anges de Noël... Reusement, on voit bien que le marin shadok, même déguisé, n'est pas dupe. Lui qui les accompagne depuis le départ sait à quoi s'en tenir. Ce sont là, en fait, deux redoutables coureuses des mers. Qui ont éclaté les prévisions. A peine plus de deux semaines au lieu de trois pour traverser. Jacques Vabre et les rhumiers peuvent en prendre de la graine. Et maintenant la douce vie de bagnardes pour récupérer, dans la touffeur de la forêt tropicale. 31°C aujourd'hui. Bonne visite de Kourou, et toutes ces sortes de choses-là. Merci de nous ensoleiller. Pas besoin de feu, cet hiver: on se réchauffe à votre livre de bord. Bravo. Grosses bises métropolitaines.

Annelise - 29/12/2011 11:06:12
Vous savez que vous êtes devenues des héroïnes aussi pour des gens qui ne vous connaissent pas ? En tous cas félicitations et merci de nous faire partager votre voyage. Biz

Gaelle & Lucas - 29/12/2011 09:59:35
salut les filles, félicitations pour votre traversée.
Profitez en un max.
Bonnes fêtes de fin d'année

Lily - 27/12/2011 11:34:45
Contente de savoir que vous etes bien arrivees. Felicitations, on est super fiers de vous les filles ! En tout cas vous avez l'air en pleine forme, et je vois que vous aviez quand meme bien prevu de quoi vous faire un super repas de Reveillon. J'ai hate de voir les photos de l'autre cote de l'Atlantique !
Grosses bises, et encore Joyeux Noel !

Nadia - 27/12/2011 09:58:30
c'est la chanson de Noël des marins ? lol... très chouette ainsi que les kdos de Noël ...

Vous avez une mine splendide en tout cas !

Bonne continuation , plein de bisous !

jacqueline (tasépia AUF) - 27/12/2011 09:24:26
ha...ha... très drôles ces paroles !!! Bonne journée et "bon vet". A bientôt pour lire vos prochaines péripéties...

AUMADATROI - 26/12/2011 22:38:02
Hé hé les Saltimbanques !
"YOU DID IT"
BRAVO !!!!
A bientôt j'espère de se retrouver autour d'un verre . . .
Encore bravo !
Bonnes fêtes de fin d'année sur notre nouveau continent !
Des Bises,
Philippe

la mamou - 26/12/2011 20:32:47
ouaf ;-)))ouaf;-))) ouaf ;-)))

 
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December the 19th at 1500 UTC

A few days later, the ocean is still deep blue

On December the 19th at 1500 UTC, Saltimbanque is sailing at 8°39N, 44°03W, heading to the 235° at 5 knots. More than 1300 milles since the Cape Verdes, in 11 days. 600 more to go - we're getting there! (now, we have to take the days one by one and not think too eagerly about arriving...)
Our favorite crew wish to send their greetings as well: Bob the reliable windpilot is steering days and nights, never tired. Max the autopilot helps every now and then, only for the manoeuvres. Nestor the engine is enjoying a long rest. As for the sails, the genua only is working, relentlessly pushing us through the waves, a bit furled at times of gusts (who says Trade Winds are constant and stable?). The main sail got out of its weeklong sleep yesterday as we were stuck in a calm - getting closer to the doldrums...
Yesterday was a rainy Sunday, it rained continuously, out of solidarity with the European winter perhaps. Then a heavy tropical shower soaked us through. But don't worry, water is still at 28° and the sun is back today, back to the wonderful world of the Trade Winds :-)
Anyways the bananas are gone, there are only 2 oranges left in the fruit net. Luckily we won't run out of fish: the mahi-mahi community being so kind with us as to send a member to our board regularly (last in date was 69cm long).
So, you see, we're doing great here, and thinking a lot about you guys as Christmas is coming!
 
 
Dec the 14th at 12 UTC

Cheer up, only 1140 milles to go! (13°03N 35°25W)

On Dec the 14th at 12 UTC we have sailed 703 milles, that's about a third of the full distance, in 6 days. The main sail is down already long, we haven't touched the helm in 3 days (thank you Bob!), Saltimbanque is gliding happily with the genua only and the wind quarter back. The swell is high and sometimes rough, the sky partially cloudy, it's not so hot (we have to wear long sleeves at nights!).
Everything alright onboard, we go on our watch rounds routines without being too tired. We read, play, cook: our specialties are mahi-mahi (we caught a giant of 87cm and more than 5kgs the other day!) and bananas (the bunch we bought green before leaving is quickly turning from yellow to black now...). Not a single boat in sight for more than 3 days now. Only flying fishes, and small birds trying to catch them.
Kindest greetings from the Trade Winds!
 
 
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Dick - 26/12/2011 18:47:13
Joyeux Noël! Gaaf dat jullie de oversteek hebben gemaakt! Lieve groet, Dick

AUMADATROI - 25/12/2011 00:04:08
Un joyeux Noel à vous trois !
Bon atterrissage en Guyane . . .
AUMADATROI

le clan mollimard - 24/12/2011 21:51:27
est-ce que le père noël a troqué ses rennes contre des dauphins ou bien l'avez-vous vu en pédalo ? ici pour les mollimard , il est passé avec sa hotte pleine de cadeaux comme chez le pépère et la mémère !! joyeux noêl à toutes les deux ! bises de tous .

Kariine - 24/12/2011 20:19:09
Ho ho ho, c'est un sublime programme de dormir 12 heures. Pourrait pas passer aussi par ici le Père Noël? Ca serait pas de refus !!
Bises et bonne dégustation histoire d'être "pleinement" en France. Joyeux Noël !!!

h & T - 24/12/2011 19:47:22
Très bon Noël à vous deux et on pense à vous
Hélène et Thierry

la mamou - 24/12/2011 18:59:17
youpi youpi bravo bravo
en gros , ben ......c'est Noël , quoi !!

saltimbanque par iridium - 24/12/2011 18:53:27
DEGRAD DES CANNES,GUYANE...FRANCE! ARRIVEES A 14H,16J DE MER PR 1900M. JYX NOEL A TS,ICI COM KDO BATO PLAT ET NUIT 12H!BISOUS


Pet\'chi - 24/12/2011 14:24:40
Salut mes soeurettes !!!
Un gros bizoux avant que vous n'arriviez pour vous souhaiter bon courage dans la dernière ligne droite avant la terre, et un très joyeux Noël sous le Soleil des tropiques !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
J'ai hâte de venir vous voir.
Amusez- vous bien d'ici là.
Et merci pour les cartes des animaux du monde eeeeeeeentier ;)

Hervé - 24/12/2011 12:43:37
Arriver en Guyanne pour Noël c'est pas mal comme cadeau. Joyeux Noël à toutes les deux.

la mamou - 24/12/2011 10:53:40
le vent a du faiblir un peu par chez vous .... l'arrivée se fera attendre d'autant ...
ici : grand soleil , mais bbrrrrrr que ça caille !! vivement des photos ensoleillées !! joyeux Noël à vous deux qui nous remplissez de bonheur !! ;-)))

Bernadette et Marie-Josée - 23/12/2011 21:29:48
Marie-Josée vous remercie toutes les deux pour les cartes reçues de Dakar et du Cap Vert. Nous vous souhaitons un joyeux Noël, du courage pour la fin de la traversée et bon séjour en Guyane.Bisous

saltimbanque par iridium - 23/12/2011 18:18:30
5N03 50W36 TVB A - 100M TERRE!MER FORTE VENT FORT COURANT FORT CAFE FORT! AUJ GD SOLEIL ALIZE.FOIE GRAS AU FRAIS ,O) BISOUS


famille lebrat - 23/12/2011 14:11:52
Bravo les filles cette 1ère partie a été magnifique et nous a enchantés . Nous vous souhaitons un joyeux noël , une super année nouvelle et surtout plein de bon vent ! Milles bisous , la famille Lebrat .

Eury - 23/12/2011 11:38:50
Joyeux Noël les filles ... l'eau a 28 me fait bien rêver !

Bisous à vous !

Bernadette et Marie-Josée - 21/12/2011 22:30:24
Bravo les filles!Vous êtes formidables!Nous vous souhaitons un heureux Noël en mer!Bonne pêche et bon réveillon!
Bisous

AUMADATROI - 21/12/2011 15:34:27
Super vous tenez le bon bout !!!!
AUMADATROI est resté 345 miles et 3 jours dan ce fameux Pot!
Je vous souhaite une belle arrivée le matin pour voir toutes les couleurs de la cote, c'est magique !!!
Des Bises les filles !!!

Nadia - 21/12/2011 11:06:16
Je vous souhaite un joyeux Noël les filles ! on pensera bien à vous !

Bises et encore bonnes fêtes !

saltimbanque par iridium - 20/12/2011 16:40:08
7N28 45W28,CAP 230 >6ND,VIV L COURAN.MAI 2 DERN JR LEN BOR POTAUNOIR.TVB FAI 1400M REST <500.MERCI PR L MESSAG,BISOUS ENSOLEILLES


la mamou - 19/12/2011 15:11:02
ici : pluie , froid , verglas .... heureusement que le blog est là pour nous réchauffer le coeur et nous faire réver d'un traineau du père Noël tiré par les poissons volants ... ;-)))


 
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15th November 2011

After 6 months on the seas, reaching the Cape Verdes !

3 days and 10 hours. 376 miles.
This is a moment we had dreamt of so often: here is Saltimbanque, lying at the anchor in the harbor of Palmeira, island of Sal – Cape Verdes! The timing could not have been better: precisely 6 months ago we gave back the keys of our apartment in Rotterdam to live onboard. It’s been 6 months at seas already, and more than 4500 miles further we celebrate this anniversary by landing on the Cape Verdes!
The trip from Dakar went smoothly without a major event, mainly against an increasing wind and growing swell. More details later don't worry you won't be spared anything… as for now the program is: sleep, showers and stamps on our passports… Cape Verdes, here we are!!

First moments on shore
 
 
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Djeni - 16/11/2011 09:38:20
Bem vindo em Cabo Verde!

eury - 15/11/2011 21:42:46
Ayant découvert le saltimblog par la môman de Camille .... je dois dire que ces aventures me donnent bien evie ( mais chui bien trop péteuse lol)

Bonne route les filles !!!
des Bisous !!!

mum - 15/11/2011 17:50:35
je suis la première à vous dire bravo pour ces 6 mois et bonne découverte du Cap vert! bisous

 
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29th October 2011

Back from the islands

Saturday 29th October GMT, Saltimbanque drops the anchor on the African ground, after 858 miles sailed in 7 days and 22 hours - from which the last night was as always very tiring.

Here we are, in Dakar, at the anchorage of the CVD (Cercle de Voile de Dakar). Some pirogues slalom between the yachts, sheep and dogs are being washed on the beach... You have to start every conversation by a long string of "how are you? alright, alright, and you? alright, and the family?".. no doubt: we are in Africa! The anchorage is calm, we enjoy standing without having to clutch to anything, or setting things on the table without having them fly around. A shower first thing in the morning was sheer happiness, and we are already looking forward to sleeping more than 3 hours in a row the next night :o)




The beach where Saltimbanque is anchored: yet a whole new world !
 
 
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Dany - 07/11/2011 17:01:01
Bravo les filles!!
Suis une "baroudeuse" de terre avec votre tante Michèle au Tibet.
Courage!!!

Traou Mad - 01/11/2011 16:47:22
Bien joué les filles !
Nous sommes contents de vous savoir bien arrivées...
A bientôt
Eric & Sandrine

Hans en Remco - 01/11/2011 15:30:12
Wow goed hoor, Laure zie je de grote oversteek straks zitten???
Nog bedankt trouwens voor jullie lieve kaartje en de 'bloemen'. Misschien moeten wij camille de bloemen ook op die manier geven de volgende keer, beter voor je allergie.
Na jullie enthousiaste verhalen over Gran Canaria hebben we maar weer twee weken geboekt eind November, als Sylvia en Rianne op Tenerife zitten.....

SuDad - 01/11/2011 13:04:08
Qui pouvait douter que vous parcouriez ces 858 miles avec le sourire, fraîches comme... comme d'habitude ! Vous êtes taillées pour la grande course. Telles les Florence Arthaud, Isabelle Autissier, Helen Mac Arthur. Pas moins. Dusse votre modestie (de mise, sur l'eau) en souffrir. Vous avez simplement franchi les étapes préliminaires. Maintenant, un peu de repos style estival, pour prendre votre élan de Noël, et nous survoler ce grand espace jusqu'aux Caraïbes. Vous nous en balancez bien, des gerbes de couleurs, et si bien décrites. Merci une nouvelle fois et de grosses bises pour ça.

mum - 01/11/2011 12:41:30
ce matin des centaines de grues en migration au dessus du jardin .Peut-ètre vont-elles au Sénégal vous dire bonjour de notre part ?

Nadia - 31/10/2011 20:38:00
paysage qui change... ça me fait penser au bord du Nil dans le Delta egyptien avec les bateau de pêche très colorés ...

Bonne continuation !

Kariine - 31/10/2011 18:29:46
Rassurée de vous savoir arrivées à bon port !
On quitte notre plage battue de vagues ce soir -plage délestée de quelques douzaines d'huitres au passage- pour un retour à la (grannnnnde) ville !

mum - 31/10/2011 17:42:41
nouveau continent nouvelles aventures!!!!! on les attend avec impatience!

Jan-Peter - 30/10/2011 18:50:03
Goed gedaan dames!

Dick J92 - 30/10/2011 11:03:00
Ik blijf trots op mijn buurvrouwen!!! Super!! Enjoy!

Sylvia - 30/10/2011 10:41:40
Goed gedaan! Veel plezier.

ptithom3 - 30/10/2011 02:45:23
Ah oui, bravo. On avait voulu vous envoyer un petit message sur votre iridium mais on ne trouvait plus le lien. Vous faîtes vraiment un voyage sans faute et on vous souhaite que çà continue.Super et profitez bien. De notre côté, nous serons bientôt en Tunisie pour deux ou trois mois.
A plus,
Philippe, Tina, Nicolas et Timéo

la mamou - 29/10/2011 21:44:20
bravo les filles !!!!!!
à bientôt des photos de poissons volants ????


 
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24th October at 12 UTC

Tropical sun!

Hello Earth! Today we play our card "Call to a friend" to give you some news live from the high seas. We are writing those words at 22°47N , 17°43W (that's South from the tropic of Cancer and 200 km offshore from the Western Sahara). Transformed into waves they will bounce back on a satellite, on a mailbox in Berlin and on a server in Quebec before becoming words again on your screen.
Everything goes well on-board, after 3 days (and 330 miles). We've had light winds from the back since the start. Our course is set full South, the sky is bluer and bluer, the sun hotter and hotter, and we hope for more good winds to push us along the 500 miles left until Dakar!

Comments are not possible on this post, you can send us a message on Iridium!
 
 

12th October

Murphy’s law

Tenerife, technical stop. We had planned to: set up the new gas-cooker, draw a sketch for a cover for the tender, replace a loose ring on the helm, clean the electrical connections and fix the battery-charging issue on the engine (actually fix the engine itself which would not start any more), make a list of the food stocks and replenish what’s needed before crossing, check the joint of the propeller shaft, clean the boat, do a laundry, climb up the mast and grease everything up there, fix a hole in a backpack…


It was about time!
8 days later: we are almost there, but our new helm ring is not helping. First it would not come in its place, now doesn’t want to get out… so here we are, cruising the Santa Cruz shipyards looking for the appropriate tool to extract it, maybe along with some qualified help… on a bank holiday of course*!

PS : it’s a beautiful sunny day, we drive around the island in the day and enjoy the company of our neighbours at night (called Ster-Vraz… what a coincidence ;-) ). So, would not complain too much still!

* the 12th October is the Spanish national holiday, el « dia de la hispanidad », remembering the day when Colombus first landed in the Bahamas.
 
 
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AUMADATROI - 27/10/2011 13:16:32
Salut !
Je vaous ai laissé un msg vocal sur votre irridium !
Bonne nav !!!!
A se voir à Dakar, j'y serai vers le 4 ou 5 octobre.

AUMADATROI - 15/10/2011 00:36:52
Salut les Saltimbanques !!!!
Pas de soucis, on a tous nos PB !
J'ai mis le bateau à sec car DuponD m'a fait une entrée d'eau sur le Sdrive. J'ai vidangé, changé les joints spi, et les joints toriques, et tout remarche bien.
"Tout peut aussi bien ce passer" !!!!
A bientôt de se re-croiser au Cap Vert !!!!
Bises,
Philippe



Nadia - 13/10/2011 11:24:21
heum .. heum ...

"bonne continuation " :-)))))))))))))))))))

Nadia - 13/10/2011 11:23:26
on se demandait ou était passée la fée du logis ! on l'a retrouvée ;-))) !!!

Sinon, le dessin en dessous est chouette ! c'est sympa de laisser une trace de son passage, belle idée !

Bonne continuataion !

la mamou - 13/10/2011 08:46:27
voilà une cuisine qui donne envie de préparer de bons petits plats !!!
gros bisous à vous deux

 
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16th September 2011

Still in Madeira

We are still in Madeira, more precicely in its capital Funchal !

The island is superb, green and very hilly, so different from Porto Santo just near by. We spend energy hiking from flowers to submits, before getting our calories back thanks to local mangos, bananas and punch, and of course Madeira wine ! Saltimbanque would like also to see more, it's been already a week that it's moored in here, but we are deperately waiting for our new gaz cooker, ordered in Lisboa on August 23rd...

So we do not get discouraged and enjoy the local tradition, which tells that visiting boats should draw a picture on the quay of Funchal! Ours is just at the entrance near the welcome pontoon, you can't miss it :o)

Tadaaaaaa !
 
 
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Céline, la fille de la voisine de ta maman - 18/09/2011 14:23:18
Bonjour Laure et Camille (que j'ai pu aperçevoir qques fois à Gradignan)
Un petit message, les filles pour vous dire que ce site est fantastique. En bref, super bien fait. Le récit de vos aventures nous emnène avec vous dans votre périple.
Je vais continuer à naviguer à travers votre site et à rêver de navigation...

SuDad - 17/09/2011 23:47:50
C'est la gloire, quoi = L'équivalent du walk of fame - à Hollywood je crois- sur lequel les artistes américains rêvent tous de laisser leur empreinte, pour l'éternité.Il ne nous reste plus qu'à nous rendre à Funchal, pour profiter, en différé, de cette mémorable signature. Pourquoi ne pas laisser ainsi votre griffe à chaque escale ? Le tour de main viendra vite (surtout pour les mains, hein, Laure...). Mes compliments d'aficionado.

Spirit of Traou Mad - 17/09/2011 23:21:56
Joli dessin les filles !
Pas de chance pour la gazinière, on n'imagine pas a quel point le matériel joue un rôle sur la route du voyage. Nous avons reçu nos pompes, elles sont montées, notre guindeau tombé en panne au mouillage près de Quinta est réparé, nous filons vers Agadir dès demain.
A bientôt sur l'eau
Eric et Sandrine

AUMADATROI - 16/09/2011 22:00:58
Hé bé vous en prenez une bonne tranche des "archipelagos da Madeira" !!!!
Et la cuisine, OK ????
A bientôt,
Philippe

la mamou - 16/09/2011 21:33:08
bravo les artistes !!!


 
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30th August 2011

Land ahoy !!

4 days and 19 hours. 506 miles.
6 ships seen 5 sunsets and sunrises, a little bit over 4 knots in average speed, 3 days in a good wind, 2 (long) nights without – and 1 tuna fish!
Here we are in Porto Santo, the island in the North of the Madeira archipelago. We are getting used to the sun (we’re as south as Morocco now!). We are getting used to the big dry rocky summits overlooking the harbour, after a few days of infinite blue horizon. Not yet completely landed. Still almost surprised to have found this piece of land, this tiny piece of land in the middle of the ocean.

Found internet too. And a shower. (In that order – you know our sense of priorities…). Next objective: the beach :o)

Arriving to Porto Santo as the sun rises
 
 
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Kariine - 03/09/2011 10:11:07
Bon, je n'ai pas tout à fait le même paysage de ma fenêtre !!

Dick J92 - 01/09/2011 20:38:30
Go Saltimbanque go!!! Had my anniversary today and will go sailing for three days tomorrow. Not on the atlantic however…

Shadok II - 01/09/2011 09:29:53
Bon timing, les sirènes !
Alors c'est grand le Portugal !
Les kms de plage, c'est maintenant,
la grande ile à 30 milles au S-O, c'est que du caillou, mais tellement joli, enjoy it

PtitHom3 - 31/08/2011 17:42:25
Bravo,
nous sommes super contents que vous soyez arrivées à Porto Santo. Ces derniers jours, la météo n'est pas géniale mais vous êtes parties au bon moment.
Nous n'aurons pas eu beaucoup de temps pour mieux vous connaître mais nous continuerons à vous suivre avec beaucoup de plaisir.
L'équipage de PtitHom 3 en baie de Cadix

 
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20th August 2011

But...where is Saltimbanque?

Indeed, he’s gone a long way already our little floating home grey and blue. He’s seen five countries, dozens of ports, rivers, beaches, cliffs, anchorages... Today we have a special game to entertain our faithful audience: can you find out where Saltimbanque is hiding in every picture?

In the crowded City...

... and in quiet Galician islands

 
 
When he’s the Big Boy on the Glenan islands...

... and when he’s the little one in the posh marina of Vigo

 
 
Hiding up a river in Brittany, until the winds calm down...



 
 
... to sail away to the bluer skies of Spain...



 
 
... (well, skies in Spain are not always blue!)


 
You’re still there? Well done! Time for the very last question: where is Saltimbanque right now?
38°42,13 N 9°10,03 W

Good luck in finding us out :o) – in the meanwhile, we have a city to visit and a boat to prepare before our next crossing!
 
 
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SuDad - 23/08/2011 23:48:23
Génial, votre jeu. Belle démonstration de créativité. Qui installe bien aussi le portrait de votre irremplaçable partenaire. Mais quel est son meilleur profil ? Pour tout artiste, il est important de le définir...

la mamou - 20/08/2011 13:20:11
peuh ! trop fastoche !

 
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3rd August 2011

Kind regards from Galicia

It's been 10 days already that we are in Spain. We adapted quickly to the "holiday mood" again. Same as in South Brittany, but with siesta time. Our days are well-spent between day-sailing along the coast, mooring at the end of hidden rias, walking under the sun and ... trying local specialties...
Here you can see... our diner! Those of you who have been working in seismic will briefly shiver ("and rightly so", Camille insists) upon recognizing some nice juicy barnacles. The others will just pull a disgusted face, "yerk"! You're wrong, the meat of the peduncle of these nice little things is delicious. Once pressed between the thumb and the forefinger that is. A technical move that can be swiftly executed after years of practice, as can be concluded from the smooth demonstration of the waiter.

The lighthouse on Cabo Vilano, glowing on the "Coast of Death" - nice welcoming place...
To digest this all, we walk along the shore, and until the Cape Finisterre. After La Corunna, we stop for a few days in the little city of Camariñas, moor in the rias of Muros and Arosa, and here we are, in Vilagarcia de Arousa. From there we cheat a little bit and take a train for the last kilometers to Santiago de Compostela :o)
Coming up on the agenda: laundry (!!) then sailing further to the South. Probably with the engine as the wind seems to be on holidays too...
The full article about Spain is under construction, patience! In the meanwhile you are invited to enjoy a couple of new short movies by Saltimbanque-production on our page film.
 
 
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Schmok Bar Team - 09/08/2011 08:50:08
Coucou les diguettes !
Ça ne m'étonne pas de vous, tiens, ce pèlerinage à Saint-Jacques !...
Attention tout de même de ne pas vous éclater la panse de pouces-pieds : espèce protégée (qui ne se pêche, normalement, que de novembre à mars, en Espagne) et dont les specimens que vous avez mangé ont dû être importés...
C'était la minute spéciale dédicace législative à Camille ;-) !
Si en plus de ça, vous naviguez au moteur !...
Bécots parigots !
L'équipe du Schmok Bar (qui n'a toujours pas de déménagement en vue...), fidèle supportrice !

Kariine - 07/08/2011 14:22:15
Je prendrais bien deux trois serveurs agiles sachant nager à 5 noeuds !!

Louchats - 03/08/2011 19:46:00
superbe les films.Merci!

Nadia - 03/08/2011 13:45:19
les dauphins ... merveilleux ! quelle jolie compagnie :-))))

la mamou - 03/08/2011 11:35:37
magique les dauphins , toujours !!

 
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24th July 2011

¡Estamos en España!

Here we go, this time we are really on to the Great Adventure! 3 days and 3 nights at sea, far from shore, further than the continental shelf, on waters deeper than 4000m: we gained the label "Bay of Biscay", making high-seas-sailors of us :o)
2 days, 23 hours and 50 minutes for 351 milles, Saltimbanque has gone pretty well. He must have felt the attraction to the South as well... as for us, we hear definitely the tapas calling!

Palm trees and deep blue sky, we landed on another planet!
 
 
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Vini - 27/07/2011 23:00:16
Salut les filles,

Yesssss génial que vous ayez déjà passé le plus dur... Quoique, tapas et cerveza du matin (14h) au soir (4h du matin)..... dur dur aussi ;)

Amusez vous bien.

bises

Vini

nadia - 27/07/2011 10:06:10
belle photo ! ce ciel bleu nous laisse rêveurs ici .... bon voyage !

Dick - 26/07/2011 22:52:13
Well done!!! Take a cerveza and put it on my account!

Schmok Bar Team - 26/07/2011 11:09:16
¡Hola guapas!
¿Cómo estás en España?
¡Disfrutar del buen tiempo: no todo el mundo tiene la oportunidad de tener un verdadero verano!
¡Mucha diversión!
¡Y besos a Saltinou!

Thierry PHILIPPE - 26/07/2011 10:50:47
Cela fait plaisir d'avoir de si bonnes nouvelles de vous. Vous avez fait le plus dur, avec la traversée du golf de Gascogne. Maintenant c'est les Alizés Portugais puis tropicaux...
Profitez en bien

Bises


Lily - 24/07/2011 21:00:11
Contente que vous ayiez enfin pu prendre le large. Ca a l'air beau le coin ou vous etes, envoyez nous un peu de Soleil !
Bises

AUMADATROI - 24/07/2011 16:55:11
Bravo à toutes les deux et à Saltimbanque !
Pour AUMADATROI, le compte à rebours a commencé.
Les équipiers arrivent le dimanche 1er aout, et AUMADATROI tire sur ses amarres . .

Bernadette - 24/07/2011 15:43:13
Marie-Josée et moi seront ravies de vous suivre durant ce fabuleux voyage.
A bientôt

camille - 24/07/2011 12:54:17
Tatatata!! Super Mamou répond plus vite que son ombre!!!

la mamou - 24/07/2011 12:50:44
ici , grachin breton : brrrrrrrrrr
votre ciel bleu est magnifique !!! il doit mettre en valeur les couleurs de Saltimbanque !!

 
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13th July 2011

Stocking up water, tin cans and bright smiles – good to go!

We’ve spent last week frantically running around the harbour in Concarneau, to clear the last items of our to-do list. One of our favorite activities has been to fill up four shopping carts with tin cans and rice packs – and then fit that all onboard. Nestor was not left aside: with a new joint and a thoroughly checked axis, he just signed for a few more years on duty!
Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please: for your amusement and entertainment the Great Magician Camille will make a mountain of cans disappear into the hull!

Ready for the Ocean !
Then at the end of the week we had the visit of our families and friends. Some of them discovering Brittany for the first time, others already well acquainted with this end of the world – all of them enjoying the region a lot. We had a tour of the boat, nice meals in the garden, and even a swim for the bravest. That was the greatest departure weekend, full of friendship and smiles to take away with us.

Tonight we are back on the boat, waiting for a good moment to sail away. We need three to four days to cross the Bay of Biscay and they show some strong winds at the end of the week, so it won’t be before Sunday...
 
 
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Tagada!!! - 14/07/2011 21:56:29
Hey, evitez de reproduire le scenario du film!!!bon vent mes matelotes preferees, des bizettes

 
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June 28th 2011

Belle-Ile

(and indeed this is a beautiful island!)
Saltimbanque is in holiday mood, strolling amongst the nice little islands of South Brittany, under the sun. We even dug out our shorts, burried under two layers of fleece, and had a swim in the blue waters of the Glénan lagoon!
Yet don't be mistaken, even from an island one can keep aware of what's happening in the world...
... the European unity, soon gone with the wind...
But as for now, our legs are starting to itch...Dutch habits are strong, and bikes seem the perfect way to see more of the island!
 
 

June 15th 2011

One month

It's been already one month since we set sails and left our "thuishaven" Stad aan't Haringvliet. One month that we are living on the boat, sailing around the inland waters, the Thames, the North Sea and the Channel, slowly making our way West, towards the Big Ocean.
It feels somehow longer. Camille doesn't speak the word "Triton" more than once or twice a day already and Laure is showing some good progress recovering from her Blackberry-addiction. Strolling around this well-known playfield of North Brittany (today we are sending you our best from l'Aber Ildut), enjoying old memories and dark wheat crepes, it feels almost like a very long summer holidays. A transition period. Putting our previous life behind us, walking towards the Big Adventure - when we go South!
 
 
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Kariine - 17/06/2011 23:00:36
Ah, qu'elle est belle cette page !
Bretaaaaagne viiiiiiite !!!!

Jeff - 15/06/2011 23:47:34
les crepes elle sont meilleures dans le sud ouesT !!!!!
bise
jeff

Yannick - 15/06/2011 20:25:22
Suis pas sur que mon message est bien parti... je vous attends de pied ferme en bretagne sud
Bise

SuDad - 15/06/2011 12:32:35
Ils ont des chapeaux carrés, vive les alsaciens...! Faut réagir. La Bretagne, la Bretagne, c'est joli. Mais chez nous aussi, c'est joli. On n'a pas de blé noir, mais on a du Meerrettich. Et même si Saltimbanque ne sera jamais intéressé par notre pays...

 
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June 11th 2011

Back home, introductions and a few updates

Haaaaa, Brittany, pink granite rocks, gannets, dark wheat crepes...

Since a few days we are strolling around, pushed by the tidal streams, enjoying the beautiful coastline paved with rocks and slowly making our way from Paimpol towards the West... more in the next article of course, don’t be so impatient! Ok, if you insist, here are a couple of pictures in the meanwhile; it’s so beautiful.

Sunset on a mooring in Tregastel

Into the Trieux river
So for this weekend they say strong winds (again). If we have to stay stuck, then at least let’s stay stuck in an agreeable place. Like Trebeurden, for example. This charming little town was the first home harbour of Saltimbanque while we were living in Paris, we have nice memories here...
Enjoying the free wifi in the harbour as well: we finally managed to compress and put online some videos. Discover them on the page "Pictures".

Last but not least, it is time for you to meet another crew member. He doesn’t say much but has a well-formed opinion, always present above our heads in the cabin. This is Captain Shadok! (Those of you not familiar with those weird birds – click here for some enlightening info on the Shadoks). From his upper position, he outs every now and then some piece of high wisdom – in the purest tradition of the Shadokian philosophy (“I pump, therefore I am” and its equivalent onboard “I take a reef, therefore I am”). This is the story of his first weeks sailing.



As for now, it’s time to go pick up some winkles… have a nice weekend!
 
 
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la mamou - 12/06/2011 19:45:08
on est bien d'accord
"la Bretagne est le plus beau pays du monde "
;-))

 
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June 1st 2011

Pitstop in Brighton

Monday, 7 in the morning, the wind decreased finally (still from the same direction though: west west west). Full of enthusiasm and happy to strecht our keel a bit, we take off the now very well known Dover harbour. Direction full West, the Isle of Wight.
We tack, we tack, we tack again, the wind changes constantly, it rains, waves from the front break our speed. It is not a relaxing trip. Tuesday night at last, shore ahoy! The sun is setting down as we get to the entrance of the Solent. The tide is changing... We call on Nestor to get us through the last 20 miles... key on - beeeeeeeeep! A continuous sounding alarm without an obvious reason: we have to count on the sails only. The current is now strong against us blowing us away from the bay. Reluctantly we give up Portsmouth and bear away to the next shelter on the leaside: Brighton.
One more night on sea, we moor Saltimbanque at the visitors' quay in Brighton as the sun goes up. In a few hours the motorists workshops will open, but right now time to sleep!

(PS: After a thorough check by a specialist, the engine is declared apt to run. A few things need to be done during a longer stay in Brittany, but we can rely on faithful Nestor to get us there if need be) .

One of the few good moments of this trip - fresh fish for lunch!
 
 
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la mamou - 01/06/2011 19:11:35
c'est votre troisième orphie ?
un petit avant goût d'espadon?

 
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May 26th 2011

What's that??

Going up the Thames was long and difficult (see the article "London City"), going down went pretty swiftly. Wind and current got together to expel us from the river, in less than 5 hours...
In the estuary we bumped into those weird things... alien spiders petrified by rust while attempting to invade the Thames? Shephards-robots looking after the windmills flock nearby?
We have been obsessed with this question ever since... a call to the big brains of this world, please help us shed some light on the mystery!

PS: this is posted from the harbour office of Dover, where we are sheltered from... guess what ... yes! Yet another storm... force 9 today, they're saying... :-(
 
 
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Maarten Russchen - 29/05/2011 22:36:56
Hi Laure and Camille,
It was very nice meeting you in Dover. What a fantastic voyage you have ahead of you. Good winds and good luck. I will follow you. www.homeoffjazzracing.nl

Dick - 29/05/2011 13:38:29
Bad weather not only strikes you, I was to sail my first doublehanded race yesterday, the 40 mls of Bru, but 6 bft with the occasional gust of 7 bft kept me in…

Didier - 27/05/2011 09:00:22
Il n'y a qu'à demander:
Ce sont les forts Maunsell
Les Forts Maunsell étaient des petites tours fortifiées marines construites au niveau de l’estuaire de la Tamise et du Mersey durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale pour protéger le Royaume-Uni de toute invasion allemande. Ils tirent leur nom de leur concepteur Guy Maunsell. L’armée les a abandonnés à la fin des années 1950 et ils furent parfois utilisés pour d’autres activités. C’est ainsi que l’un d’eux est devenu un État indépendant, sous le nom de principauté de Sealand.

AUMADATROI - 26/05/2011 22:21:53
J'ai effectivement un problème pour envoyer mon message l'autre jour !
Je redis donc BRAVO Saltimbanque, un beau début un partage des moments vraiment sympa sur le site !
J'espère qu'on croisera nos sillages . . .
Bon vent pour la descente en Bretagne !

la mamou - 26/05/2011 16:26:23
alors moi je dirais : des cabanes de pêche ?

ok pour les envois de messages ! pas besoin de cliquer trois fois , alors :-)))
contente d'avoir des nouvelles :-)))
les textos passent pas ???

Camille & Laure - 26/05/2011 16:18:10
Il semble qu'il y ait un bug avec les commentaires... on y travaille. Sinon si vous avez un message d'erreur ne vous inquietez pas le message passe quand meme en fait.

 
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May 17th 2011

Live from Flushing

Two days later... we are still in the Netherlands. Strong southwesterly winds transformed our plans of great crossing to prudent first steps in the inland waterways... Yesterday at the entrance of the Roompot, tonight in Flushing, we gain ground, slowly but surely, towards the South West. We are also well positionned to take advantage of the first opportunity... tomorrow maybe?
(In the meanwhile we enjoy some wifi in the harbour and would like to invite you to read about our last days onshore - to be found in the Saltimbook)
 
 
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BA - 23/05/2011 11:58:00
Des nouvelles!!!!! On de languit.....rien depuis le 17 et nous sommes le 23.......

Dick - 22/05/2011 20:18:52
I mean racing sails…

Dick - 22/05/2011 20:17:41
Have you left Vlissingen? Think so, friday and were fine, today (sunday) was terrible sailing with squals allday ranging from 24-34kts… yesterday i put on THE fading sails for the first time, 3DL by North, fantastic! but no reef… ciaociao

Lily - 20/05/2011 19:22:01
Coucou les filles !!
Alors a quand le passage par la Bretagne ?
En attendant bon vent comme on dit !
Gros bisous

la mamou - 19/05/2011 19:30:46
il y avait un bon vent , en effet , et le gwenn-ha-du avait fière allure , bien entouré qu'il était !!
en bretagne : grand soleil , force 4/5 de suroit

louchats - 19/05/2011 17:41:59
ici la terre...
Bon vent,bonne route!
j'envie votre page blanche...
a +

 
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May 14th 2011

Let the adventure begin!

Here we go, all our belongings have been dropped for storage at our parents' places, the keys to our flats handed back, our cars parked - we are free! Saltimbanque is waiting.
We went shopping for some fresh fruit and vegetables. Friends are driving us to the boat tomorrow. After bringing some order onboard, we will perhaps set sails in the afternoon, to get closer to the seaside lock.
Weather forecasts are rather dull for the days to come: as expected the wind veered south-west two days before our departure - that is to say: blowing exactly to our face, after a month and a half of constant north-east... We were so much convinced that that would happen that it doesn't bother us that much! By the way if you want to have a look at weather charts for the North Sea, click HERE.

After the two last weeks of carefully planned moves and fully optimized days, our agenda for the next year looks suddenly empty! Our planning ahead feels as blurred and moving as the immense territory we will explore.
Talk to you soon, next time we happen to find some internet connection on our route...
 
 
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Dick Heijdra (J92) - 16/05/2011 21:38:17
I allready miss my neighbours... It will stay windy for à couple of days. You will probably at sea on thursday. Enjoy! Dick

Didier - 16/05/2011 12:28:55
Bonne route!

Carole - 15/05/2011 21:37:36
On a pris connaissance un peu tard de cette aventure. Super!!! On va suivre tout ça. Mais pas facile de s'entraîner au bad sur un bateau, non ;) bisous et bon vent.

AUMADATROI - 15/05/2011 19:04:56
Bravo Saltimbanque !
A se croiser en mer d'Iroise pour un appéro bien breton !!!!!
Philippe
à bord d'AUMADATROI

 
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May 4th 2011

Moving out, episode 2

After a few hours of sleep, it's time for action ! We spare you all the arrangement issues and other metaphysical questions, here is the summary of the day based on a few pictures!

Yeepee everything fits in the car ! But surprisingly it does not make us more confident so far...

Let's start with food!
 

The most important items are safe onboard !

Food for thought ... as well as information to enter the harbours !
 

Lunch break, watching the nice little ducklings on the Haringvliet...
 

Everything nicely gets together in, medicines in their bag naturally fit at the top of the "bathroom"

But we still have much available space, even with the guitar !!
 

But really, this boat is actually huge ! All our clothes just nicely fit in :oD

It went so well actually that we still have time to tighten up the propeller joint... but... Laure !!!! give me this camera back NOW !!!!!!!
 
 
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Didier - 10/05/2011 13:21:27
Il y avait même encore de la place pour y mettre la voiture :-)

la mamou - 05/05/2011 09:01:30
voilà un bateau qui commence à ressembler à quelque chose de sympathique ;-)))

 
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May 3rd 2011

Moving out, episode 1

First step when you move out, you need to pack stuff! But when moving in something smaller, you need to make choices...

Our objective, have all our clothes for a year and a half fit in one backpack per person maximum, including the shoes! Not advised to shopping addicts...

Success, but fortunately we are heading to warm countries...
 

Eventually we have sort of a big pile to fit first in the Clio car and then in the boat: clothes, dishes, food, medicines and even a guitar! How will we manage to get everything in Saltimbanque? Answer in our next post !
 
 
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1st May 2011

Questioning...

After the final sprint of the last days, the last handshakes, the last goodbyes, flowers (or beers), here we are - officially FREE!
Free, no laptop, no blackberry... but what are our concerns now?
My uncle asks (on a text message - he's adept of modern technologies):

"First questions of the exclusive interview for international magazine "World Wide Woman":
- How do you experience the sudden shift from the hectic life of an executive woman to the life of a sea-adventuress?
- Do you feel guilty leaving your job?
- Which memories of your professionnal life do you bring with you on the boat?
- Has the exhiliration of the high seas already filled your nights?
- How much of your conversations with your companion do the preparations take?
- What would you like to share right now with your fans?

Mmmmm...
This questioning echoes the questions filling our days:
- Where did you put the ducktape?
- The old cupboard, we throw it away right?
- What do you think, should we do some more washing as the sun is shining?
- What about a picnic by the lake?

To those questions and all the others, we will answer in our next edition...
That being said, it's cocktail hour :-)
 
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9th April 2011

A new article in the Saltim-Book!

You have already been introduced to the Saltim-Blog (that's where you are) . We post there short and (hopefully) regular news: for instance "the site is online", "we made it safe to the next harbour", "crayfish was excellent tonight"... etc. It's time for you to meet the Saltim-Book.

The SaltimBook intends to be a sort of e-book of our adventure, that we'll be able to read as a true book afterwards. We intend to give more details, less frequently: for example explain our preparation, the diary of a cross-sailing, secrets of a small island or any other experience worth telling - with of course many pictures!

SaltimBlog and SaltimBook are both to be found inder the page Log Book (just give it a try, the button is on your left, a bit above, here you go!)

But as we are extra nice, so we prepared a shortcut for you: on the home page clicking on the icon Log Book will bring you directly to the last article posted, whatever it is in the Saltim-Blog or in the Saltim-Book!

Are you still with us? So normally you should find by yourself our new article called "Winter Preparation" which opens the Saltim-Book! A small hint, just click here if you are lost ;o)
 
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April 8th 2011

Happy birthday Camille!

Yeap, that's her big day today!
(and also I must admit the first time I am trying to code anything alone on this website..)
So, I'm sorry there's no space here to leave her a comment as usual but...if you think about her strong enough I'm sure she will hear it!
Camille... GEFELICITEERD!!


1st April 2011

Back to the water !

After long months of hibernation, hull and keel outside, Saltimbanque finally got back to his natural environment after an eventful day...
It all started serenely: less than two hours before the official back-to-water time, we still have a gaping hole (missing a valve) and our propeller is fixed to ...nothing... The harbourmaster ensures nonetheless that everything will be fine. Indeed, with one little hour of delay, Saltimbanque is flying away on the travlift and elegantly landing in the water.

First checks: no water coming in, the boat is still as waterproof as the tin can it imitates :-D Even more reassuring, the engine starts off very quickly! Try forwards, try backwards, and here we go, freed from the straps and sailing to our place.

The moment of Truth...
Putputputputputput (that’s the engine)

Putput...put...putput...puuut...put...........put....................no more put….

Starting off again ?

No put....

No put at all...

Kaput the engine...

Well, plan B : we take the oars out. In that case, the steering oar is very well ( !!) secured at the front of the boat. We sort of tie the oar to the boat with a piece of string (the real hook is lost in the chaos inside)... despite Camille’s dexterity, the good southern wind is inexorably blowing us out of the harbour...

Damned! A plan C anyone? (the sails are neatly folded away for the winter at the bottom of the bunk, they won’t help out this time...)

The harbour’s men, having laughed enough about us already, finally got their little dinghy out and towed us to our place.

The rest of the weekend we spent refitting the boat: changing the oil, cleaning the deck, folding and setting the sails, checking the mast...

Conclusion : do not ever trust a joker of an engine – especially if you need it on a 1st of April!

The steering oar : « Well, I’m very glad I took part ... I’ll try and do better next time ! »
 
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Thierry - 09/04/2011 08:53:23
Et oui les moteurs, c'est farceur et pour les punir: une bonne purge.

Sympa ce blog
Bravo les filles

Camille - 03/04/2011 22:23:35
Et bien je pense vraiment que c'est un petit coquin de farceur, car après juste une petite purge du circuit de diesel, il fonctionne parfaitement et a tourné plus d'une heure ce week-end à notre place de port. Il avait besoin de reprendre ses marques après 6 mois au sec j'imagine...

la mamou - 03/04/2011 10:18:15
Il est trop beau , votre bateau !!!!:-)))
Mais Hannibal (?) quand même , est-ce bien de son age de faire la blague du "a plus pout " un 1 Avril ???
en tout cas , vous lire est un vrai bonheur !!
merci les filles !!

 
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March 25th 2011

The site is now online!

That’s it! The website we have been working for months is finally online. The structure is done and dusted - the content will come as we’re living our dream…
In the meantime there are already some general articles online for you to discover.
Please do report any issue you can spot on the website!
 
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Marlene dit Tagada - 02/04/2011 01:16:18
Il est top votre site!! j'adore la rubrique equipage!!! C'est top le "vu par"!!vivement les photos et vos récits!

 
 
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