Hello Caribbean

Crossing the Atlantic was an incredible challenge, full of tense moments, storms and trials. The worst moments at sea were interspersed with moments of indescribable beauty when we finally arrived in the Caribbean. The wind kept testing us. Sometimes it was so strong that the autopilot could barely keep up. The waves were high, and the sailboat was rocking like a match on the water. Every strong gust woke us up. The worst day in the Atlantic. The wind was forecast to gust up to 32 knots, but as always, the reality was even worse. We sailed with only the mainsail and two shortsails. I felt sick all day; I threw up twice. Drama has the opposite effect on me, so I gave up. Once we even had to put the mainsail away during a storm – those moments were stressful. The most frightening were the sudden black clouds. Far away on the horizon you notice a dark mass, but within a few minutes it is right next to you.

The storms brought heavy rain and gusts of wind that lasted about 15 minutes, but seemed like an eternity. During such moments, I stared at the clouds to distract myself – I saw crocodiles, various geometric shapes in the sky. At this point in the journey, you really only want one thing: to reach your destination safely. The nausea was the worst for me. At first, I thought the seasickness would only last a few days, but it tormented me for a long time. Sometimes I was so exhausted that I couldn’t eat, let alone participate in the work on the sailboat. Peter made me rehydration drinks and provided simple meals, but often I couldn’t eat anything. Since the beginning of the journey, we have never been bored, although the days at sea seem to pass very slowly. We didn’t catch any fish, although we occasionally thought that something had bitten the bait. But instead of fish, we mostly pulled out sea grass (Sagrado weed) – a very interesting shrub that just floats on the water. The sea looks like a green-brown meadow. The reason is probably the temperature. The water did not drop below 29 °C, and the maximum was 31 °C. I never thought the Atlantic Ocean could be so warm!

The weather has become increasingly unpredictable in recent years, which is no surprise when you consider how we treat the environment. That's why I like sailing - using natural resources like wind is kinder to nature. And we have no shortage of wind. The nights are tense, with strong gusts of up to 28 knots, and sleep is scarce. A strong gust wakes me up, and then I can't go back to sleep. Of course, I go to the toilet outside, fastened with a seat belt. Peter goes with me to check if everything is okay and keeps an eye on me - caution comes first.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: From the worst days to a Caribbean paradise

When we finally approached our destination, I felt a great sense of relief. After a long journey, we arrived in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, in Young Island Bay, just at dawn. The time difference with Slovenia was 5 hours, so we told our family that we were alive and at our destination.

We finally head to land to take care of the official formalities and settle all our obligations. They didn't even ask us about Covid-19. The feeling of solid ground under our feet was incredible.

In the afternoon we arrived in Lower Bay, where we met Ivjana and her family. Together we headed to Jack's beach bar and joined a group of Slovenians who are currently in the Caribbean. It was unforgettable - white sand, turquoise blue sea and pleasant company. Although we are exhausted after a long journey, this environment restores our energy. Life on these islands is relaxed and colorful. If I had to describe it in one word, I would say very different from what we know.