We spend the remainder of the summer sailing to anchorages along the Côte d'Azur. Poquerolles was wonderful and had a nice protected anchorage with easy access to the town via a dinghy beach. There is a nice vineyard there to tour and a small chandlery. The best swimming beach was at plage de l'Estagnol. It was crowed but fun. Restaurant was "mid" as my kids would say! The other "secret anchorage" behind a cape provides minimal protection but had the clearest water we've seen. We then headed back to Cogolin and performed the 2024 winterization.

We leave Rad d'agay in southern France and spend a few days in Villafrance Sur mer. We then shoestring along the coast of France stopping in Theoule Sur mer, Saint Raphaël, Pampellonne Beach and St Tropez. During this time we watched the weather carefully to avoid the Mistral winds. We enjoyed light wind sailing in Breezy along the coast of France as Nicole acclimated to Sea life. Thank you for using this Sunchill affiliate code! https://sunchill.com/sailinghaldis

In this episode, we leave Andratx, Spain and sail along the northern coast of Mallorca and across the Mediterranean to the mainland of Europe. Our destination: Nice France. Nicole had a rough time in the beginning of our trip trying to work on the open sea, but eventually she adjusted to the solitude and the motion. After two nights of sailing, we arrived in southern France. The heat was especially intense, and by some crazy stroke of luck the generator failed, leaving us with no air conditioning. After some thoughtful troubleshooting, the generator function was restored.

The kids arrived in Palma de Mallorca, and after just one night in the heat, all of us—myself included—were itching to get out on the water. I was excited to show them the new boat and give them a taste of the peaceful, beautiful life aboard a sailboat. Our first sail was to Santa Ponça, where we wisely had an Airbnb booked—seven people packed onto a boat in that kind of heat wasn’t ideal. In fact, we had either a hotel or Airbnb lined up at every anchorage to avoid overcrowding. Santa Ponça was fantastic: warm water, sandy beaches, and a lively college-aged vibe that everyone enjoyed. We spent most of our days lounging on the Sunchill. Next, we sailed over to Andratx and got ready for an overnight crossing to Ibiza. I wanted to avoid spending an entire day at sea, so we opted for a night sail. Luckily, the weather was perfect. We were able to sail most of the way and cruised into the small anchorage at Portinatx just as the sun came up. While I worked on the boat, the kids headed out to a concert on the southern end of the island. They stayed the night there and met back up with us the next day, when we spent time swimming and wandering around town. That’s also when we discovered that Portinatx is very much clothing-optional—definitely a surprise. Earlier in the trip, Jack had mentioned some pain near the base of his spine, and it turned out to be a pilonidal cyst. I told him to let me know if it got worse—and as we were leaving Ibiza, he said the pain had become unbearable. Thankfully, I had a decent surgical kit on board and was able to drain the abscess and remove the hair. We had sterile gauze and saline to pack the wound for the rest of the trip. When he got back to the U.S., the surgeon said it had healed perfectly and didn’t need any further treatment. The cruise back to Mallorca from Ibiza was a little rough for the kids and there was some seasickness. We returned to Andratx for two more nights where we had a great time—dinners out, games, drinks, and even lit up a few cigars to wrap it all up. If interested in learning more about the Sunchill, please click our affiliate link here: https://sunchill.com/sailinghaldis

This is a somewhat atypical "Price of Sailing" video. Instead of broad estimates, I'm pulling out the invoice and breaking down the boat's cost line by line. Even though I personally selected the options on the invoice, some of the final numbers even caught me by surprise! The Hallberg Rassy 44 is a beautifully crafted, well built yacht, thoughtfully equipped with premium fittings and accessories. It is an investment in quality. When I placed my order in February 2022, I recall being unfamiliar with many of the options I was choosing. My hope is that this video will help future buyers navigate the unknown terrain of a brand new boat purchase, offering insights and advice along the way. Author notes : I’m 54 years old, and I frequently see people having heart attacks younger than me. The question often comes up in my mind: What am I saving this money for? A few years ago, I made the decision to jump in, throw down a big deposit and see what happens. Buying a used boat on the Chesapeake wouldn’t have had the same effect as purchasing a brand-new boat from Sweden—one that somehow had to eventually make its way to the USA. This was a forced adventure on my part and Tom from a few years ago is still influencing me today. That decision has revealed parts of the world I never would have dreamed of seeing. The million dollars is gone, but I consider it fully reimbursed in joy and adventure.

Palma, Mallorca was an ideal staging spot to resupply and address warranty issues. This is the second stop where I was warmly greeted by Hallberg Rassy representives. Unfortunately, I was surprised by an overflowing holding tank, but the services available on the island really came though and a pump out was the cure. The large Tohatsu 9.9 was really too big for my RIB so I sold it and purchased a Honda 6. Much better fit on the stern and easier to handle without a crane. I'm a minimalist when it comes to adding poles and large cages on the stern and love the clean lines of the 44 as she was intended. A suction cup jig on the stern port for the starlink was perfect. Nicole arrives July 4th and after a couple days in Palma we embark for the first time on our own to Santa Ponça, Cala Blanca, St Elm and Andratx. Anchoring in a crowd has always been a bit of a phobia of mine, especially in a brand new Hallberg Rassy. It actually wasn't that bad and I found sailors at the anchorages to be helpful, welcoming and cautious. Powerboaters, not so much. I found that the number of boats in a confined space demands a much shorter scope 3:1 vs the typical 5:1 which is fine with light winds as the boat usually hovers above the chain. However, a firm reverse is essential as some of the sandy patches can be a thin, light dusting over a rock bottom. Inspection of the anchor with snorkel gear is helpful to ensure your anchor is dug in and to avoid hooking the Posedonia, a protected Mediterranean Sea plant. This practice also helps build confidence and knowledge when anchoring. Santa Ponça was a pleasant town with all amenities. The crowd was young and vibrant. The food was mostly "meh" but we found excellent Chinese food at "Good Taste." There is also a place that all refer to as the "Chinese store" which has everything. Not an exaggeration. At our very first anchorage, we also learned the importance of locking your dinghy as ours was gone when we returned to the dock. A few minutes of panic later we found it a few hundred yards away on a small beach being tended to a gentleman who swam out and retrieved it. I could not thank this man enough. He would not take cash reward but if he is reading this, thank you again. Nicole and I then headed to Cala Blanca for a night where we had a beachfront gourmet meal at Maria 5. We then headed to Andratx but there were no moorings so we sailed to Sant Elm, a pleasant town with a lovely hillside street lined with shops and cafés with a lovely view of the anchorage. Andratx, is the most lively town we visited. You need to reserve a mooring there which is done online. Although the swimming is not as inviting, the town is bustling and there always seemed to be late night festivities and bar activity. After a few days in Andratx we returned to Santa Ponça until returning to Palma to meet the kiddos who were all flying in for a visit.

The tranquil sail with the majestic rock Gibraltar in the background on a warm day in late June was magical. I demonstrate the main and Genoa furling mechanisms and deploy full sail. Moods were high among all the crew and the winds calming so we deployed the Bluewater runner. Although the sail performed well, we made a decision that, at the time seemed reasonable but turned out to be a pivotal learning moment. The shackle at the tip of the bowsprit is nearly impossible for me to reach secure the tack and furling mechanism of the bluewater runner. So we ran a dyneema line from the furling drum through the tack to a forward cleat. This proved to be a dangerous mistake as it first affected the unfurling mechanism leading to a tangled furling line and later the dyneema snapped sending the furling drum flying! All was recovered and the Bluewater runner was sent away for the rest of the summer. We motored, motor sailed and sailed along the mountainous southern Spanish coast and made our final turn toward the Ballearic islands. We encountered some intense Mediterranean thunderstorms, but had an othewise uneventful passage. Mark and Harold were great crew mates. Anchoring off the beach Portantix, Ibiza among the sailboats, swimmers and paddleboarders was surreal after a month of sea travel. We took it all in and broke out the dinghy for the first time, rowing to shore for a couple cold beers, calamari and delicious fries. The following day we made a quick overnight passage to Palma, Mallorca where I had a berth reserved in the Real Nautico Marina. My first med-moor was uneventful as it was calm and there was no neighbor to port. The 2600 NM passage from Sweden was complete and a new adventure with Nicole and eventually the kids begins. In Mast furling instructions: There is a latency system built into the Selden furling mast. If you were to just push the main out button, it would potentially over roll itself and jam. The Seldon system prevents that from happening, so it always expects some tension after it does its first little jog inside the mast(that short back-and-forth cycle that takes two or three seconds). Here’s what I do: 1) I press (and hold) the main out button. 2) I wait for the little “jog” and then give it some gentle tension with the outhaul on the secondary winch to get it started. During this process, the outhaul winch button is the button that you are toggling on and off as needed to take up the belly of the main as it start spinning out and getting caught by the wind. 3) I do not release the “main out” button until I have unfurled the desired amount of sail. In other words do not toggle on and off the main out button. If you do, then go to step one. Note: If you give it too much tension with the outhaul before the in mast furling motor does it’s little jog back-and-forth inside the mast it won’t unfurl. You’ll have to release the outhaul tension and start over

We sail to Porto to fuel up prior to a planned sail through Orca territory. The reports of sightings and actual attacks on sailboats is more frequent than I initially thought and Orcas.pt website and the Telegram chat group proved invaluable as we transited down the coast of Portugal. Based on most recent attacks inshore, we decided on an offshore route adjacent to the shipping lanes. This was also my preference as the tuna netting can be as dangerous as the Orca in disabling a sailboat. The weather was fair but sea state was rough and it was fairly uncomfortable on board due to the excessive rolling. Fog and mist led to zero visibility at night and the radar was an essential supplement to the AIS as the shipping navigation lights could not be seen. Once around Cape St Vincent, my excitement heightened as we approached the Strait of Gibraltar. Although predictwind forecasted fair winds through the strait, the winds were head on and increasing. As a result, the undulating swell led to increased slamming and Mark suggesting we do an about-face and head for Cadiz. It was the best decision ever. We found shelter, beer and rest, while another boat we were communicating with continued slamming into the Strait for an entire sleepless night. They were forced to seek shelter the next morning in Gibraltar as all crew were frustrated and exhausted. Our transit through the Strait was breathtaking as we hugged the southern coast of Spain with fair winds and a following sea. We sailed past Cape of Trafalgar and Tarifa and reflected on the history of the area as we floated above countless wrecks; a graveyard to ship and sailor. The Rock came into into view over lunch and we cooked up store bought frozen pizzas from Sweden. Not bad, but nothing tastes bad after 20+ days at sea. The transition from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean was noticeable with a gentle following current and a sense of accomplishment and relief. We made it. Dates of passage: June 22-26, 2024

Tim and I depart Hamble toward Brest for a crew change. After 3 days of foul weather creating gale force headwind in the channel, a rest stop was wise. We motored most of the way through the Solent as the tide schedule would not allow for any playtime. As a Patrick O'Brien fan, seeing the Needles in person was a dream come true. I imagined Jack Aubrey, sailing HMS Surprise along the same route in search of the French navy. My second crossing of the English Channel was more routine but with better wind and much more traffic. Once past the shipping lanes we sailed the inshore route and encountered rain and mild winds and made a foolhardy decision to try out the Bluewater runner for the very first time. It only lasted about 30 minutes before we realized it was too much sail and then struggled to furl in the Blue monster. The Furling point is far up on the bowsprit and difficult to reach. We thought maybe a soft shackle with a line might be an easier way to secure the tack of this sail in the future. Later attempts in the Mediterranean will prove this to be a mistake. We rode the current through the Chenal du Four, the navigational channel located off the western coast of France near Brittney. It is a key maritime passage that lies between the île d'Ouessant and the mainland. It's known for its strong tidal currents and potential for rough seas. During the Napoleonic wars, British and French ships operated in the area and the channel was a key focus of the British blockade of the French in Brest. Sailing through the Chenal du four was nothing short of exhilarating. The winds were a beam and we were able to push Breezy with full sail. As we enter the estuary outside of Brest we finally encountered the French who, seeing our American flag gave chase. The Brittany sailors are among the best in the world and it took every bit of sailcloth to stay ahead of them. My stop in Brest was brief and I to said goodbye to Tim and and checked into customs. The new crew: Mark, Harold and I restocked our supplies and quickly left to catch the tide through the Rez De Sein into the Bay of Biscay. Although the wind and conditions were perfect, the Southwesterly wind did not allow us enough westing and we had to pound into the wind and sea from A Coruña to Cape Finisterre. We then found ourselves looking for diesel on the Portuguese coast. Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal was listed as having fuel but we could not find a fuel dock and quickly exited the shallow and rocky harbor. Dates of passage June 19-22

After three days of contrary winds, we finally have a fair weather window into Brest France. Tim and I again cross the English Channel and enter the Chenal du Four with the tide. I experience one of the most exhilarating sails of my life as we race Frenchman along the gorgeous Brittany coast. Dates of passage June 17-18, 2024

We have a brief window of calm weather and slip our way along the Northern European coast, dodging ships, avoiding oil platforms and windmill farms until we reach Cap Gris-Nez (Cape Grey Nose) to make our crossing of the English Channel. Once across, we are awestruck at the chalky coastline at Dover and Beachy head as we sail along Englands souhter coast. We sail into the Solent to seek shelter before weather turns ugly for 3 days. Our port of call is in Hamble UK at Port Hamble Marina. Date of passage June 11-13

Again we are frustrated by headwinds no matter which way we turn as we sail from the western Baltic and enter the Kiel Canal. After a brief stay in Cuxhaven to shelter from the headwinds, we enter the North Sea. The North Sea quickly becomes my least favorite place to sail as the wind over shallow waters churn up some nasty seas. Date of passage June 7- 11

We finish the prep work on our new Hallberg Rassy 44 just in time to catch the horrible weather all the way down to the Baltic. The new boat nearly winds up on the rocks as we leave Ellös. The Sail south toward the Kiel Canal is upwind into confused and crowded seas and we learn about some issues with the new hull shape. Date of passage: June 5-7, 2024

We sail Breezy 60 miles form Ellös Sweden to Skjærhalden Norway to complete the exportation process from the European Union. and find some time to test the Code Zero. This video has been reloaded in 4K Date of passage: June 1-2, 2024

Enjoy the video as we continue our handover of the Hallberg Rassy 44 on deck and complete our first sail in the fjord outside of Ellös Sweden. This video includes time with Martin, the master rigger at Hallberg Rassy. We become familiar with the in mast furling and electric furling headsail as well as all the lines. We discuss back up systems if these electrical systems fail. Our sail through the fjords is glorious and leads me to sail to Norway over the weekend(next video) while Nicole prepares meals for our upcoming 2600 NM sail to Mallorca. Date of deck tour and first sail: May 31, 2024

This is not your typical boat tour. This was our detailed handoff when we first boarded our new Hallberg Rassy 44. Our friend and sales team member, Ludvig, introduces us to all the inner working or our new home the water. Date of handover: May 30, 2024

This is an extensive tour of the Hallberg Rassy factory in Ellös Sweden. We see everything from the raw wood and newly formed hulls to the finished product. We learn the secrets to Hallberg Rassy success: Skilled artisans, a seemless manufacturing system and impeccable leadership. We also had the opportunity to see Sailing Vessel "Breezy" which is nearing completion. Exciting times!!! Special thanks to Ludvig for a phenomenal tour. Date of Factory tour: February 26, 2024

This is a brief look inside the Annapolis Sailboat show along with more extended tours of the Jeanneau 55 and Lagoon 55. Neither is our choice as we have a Hallberg Rassy 44 on order. I truly enjoy the open ocean and wanted a proven ocean passage-maker stout enough to handle the unexpected. There will be more on this later as we tour the factory in Ellös in February. The show really firmed our decision as we were able to get up close and personal with many different builds. While the show was excellent in content, it proved too busy for Nicole and I on the Pre-show day and Friday. We found the best time to avoid the crowds is first thing in the morning, an hour or so prior to close or in the pouring rain.

Nicole gets more acclimated to the boating life on our 1975 Islander 36, Misty on Lake Superior. Misty gets new cushions, new running ringing and a new transmission seal while I learn from my mistakes.

Maryland School Of Sailing & Seamanship ASA 108 training course takes a turn for the worse in the gulf stream. We were fortunate to be aboard a sturdy and stout island packet, cruising yacht with a crack crew, and experienced captain and mate.