Marseille/Montpellier to Gibraltar
Ahoy!
My name is Sondre, and I'm a 32 year old Norwegian living aboard my 22 fot maxi 68, which I bought in the early pandemic for 500€.
I've since spent 4 years upgrading her; replacing all the electronics, rigging, gotten a modern autopilot and chartplotter etc.
Last year I finally left Norway, with the Caribbean as my intended destination. But having a small boat with an outboard motor left me somewhat vulnerable to the weather, and I didnt get a window to cross the north sea until july 13th.
From there, I sailed with a childhood friend and my brother to Thyborøn (DK), and then solo through Limfjorden, and down the eastern coast of Denmark, to Kiel, Germany.
After going through the Kiel canal back to the North Sea, I was joined by a Danish sailor, and together we sailed more or less non-stop to Belgium.
But I'd been delayed by weather and enjoyable places alike, and being september already, the autumn storms had arrived in the bay of Biscay. And with a boat that requires 5 days for that passage with fair winds, I had to think outside the box.
And thus began my journey through the european waterways, from zeebrugge in Belgium, and through the French canals until I hit the river Sâone.
But instead of storms, I now had river weeds, closed locks and low water to contend with.
And in hindsight I am very happy I did, because the French countryside was an unexpected adventure which I shall never forget!
In the end, I decided to leave my boat in France for the winter, and go back to Norway to fill my coffers.
Long story perhaps, but that brings us to the present:
I'm returning to France in mid-june, and will be going down the river Rhône to Marseille/Montpellier, or whichever place has the cheapest boatyard. After I've gotten my mast back up, and sorted everything out, I'll depart for Gibraltar
The route is not set in stone, but I do want to cross over to the Balearics. So It's either coastal hopping to Barcelona, and crossing to Mallorca, or perhaps heading straight for Menorca, and then west.
Either way; from there It'll be Ibiza-Alicante, and then along the coast to Gibraltar.
So thats the backstory and itinerary, time for the practical stuff:
*All expenses relating to the journey are to be shared equally, eg. fuel, marinas etc. I cover all maintenance costs, but you will be expected to help out to the best of your abilities (repairs etc).
*I prefer people with at least one overnight passage under their belt, but anything goes if we're just doing coastal hops starting off. I do not run free weekend sailing courses, however.
*I dont smoke or drink, but dont mind if you do, as long as smoking is done outside, and you don't drink at sea.
No drugs are to be brought aboard, as laws are still fairly draconian in that regard.
*Any basic allergies and/or diets are fine by me, as long as you don't mind me eating whatever. I've got enough pots and pans for separate meals, and have had no issues hosting vegans etc. If you're prone to anaphylaxis (peanut allergy etc), then we'll have to discuss it first.
*If you have any health conditions that might affect you physically, then be upfront about it. Lots of things can be worked around.
*You need a valid passport, VISA(s) if required, any vaccines mandated by the port of call, and enough money to get back home after all other expenses. Health insurance is your own responsibility, the same goes for travel insurance. My 3rd party boat liability insurance will cover you, however.
*I cant stand misogyny or homophobia, but apart from that, I don't mind whatever opinions you hold, as long as you're able to co-exist with people you disagree with.
*The boat is 22ft long, and I therefore wont be accepting couples, or groups that know each other from before. The main reason being space, the other being the social dynamics. We've been four aboard, but everyone knew each other well then.
*I am an introvert, and have some social anxiety, so I will need time alone from time to time. You don't have to be a recluse yourself, just be comfortable exploring a city on your own etc.
*Before setting out to sea, you will give my contact information to your next of kin/a trusted friend etc, and let them know roughly where we are going. I also prefer to coastal hop for a day or two, before heading out to sea. Should you feel uncomfortable/want to leave, then whatever the reason, I will bring you to the nearest port, to the best of my abilities.
So that's the gist of it!
Do keep in mind that my boat isnt your run of the mill Bavaria with every comfort available to mankind. It may be the most spacious 22-footer on the high seas, but its still pretty spartan. The risk is also higher in some ways than a bigger boat. But thats why I like her!
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