Trans-Atlantic Passage - Day 9

John and crew are on land.  They've arrived at Marina Rubicon in Lanzarote, Canary Islands.  Guess what?  We even have a SPOT and I just discovered that you can click on Google Satellite and it will actually show you a satellite picture of the slip in the marina that Quetzal is in.  I think you have to subscribe to Google Earth to get a live image.  But anyway, try it out.   It's very cool!    28.8576, -13.8146  Technology is so amazing!

Trans-Atlantic Passage - Day 8

No...I haven't forgotten about the BLOG.   I've just been very busy with family and holiday stuff.  I have received SPots from John.  His latest was sent earlier today at 08:26 EST (I guess now that it's past midnight, it was actually yesterday...Saturday...that I received the SPOT).  Anyway, Quetzal's location was 30.299, -12.3746.  John and crew are due to arrive early Sunday (Spain time) in the Canary Islands.  They have decide to go to the island of Lanzarote instead of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.  They will be at Marina Rubicon located at 28˚ 51.5, 13˚ 49.0.  You can check out the marina at www.marinarubicon.com .  It seems like a nice place.  I love marinas, especially the part where you get to have a hot shower! (unless you're in Croatia).  

Well goodnight folks!  And as my son Nick likes to say..."Goodnight John Boy"

Trans-Atlantic Passage - Day 6

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.   Well, I received a SPOT and a phone call all in one day.  Quetzal and crew are sailing happily towards the Canary Islands.  They are still about 400 miles from there.  According to the SPOT, their exact location at 06:58 EST was 33.7586, -9.4105 .  According to John, they were celebrating Thanksgiving aboard Quetzal.  John was in the midst of preparing dinner when he took a break to call me.  However turkey was not on the menu, instead they would be feasting on a leg of jamon Serrano (Serrano ham).   Yummy!!!!  John always comes home to tell me how many compliments he received from his crew on his cooking and how much everyone loves his cooking.  I kinda grin and remind him that "they're in the middle of the ocean....everything always taste better at sea".  LOL    All kidding aside, John is a very good cook and does a lot of the cooking here at home as well.

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a very Happy Thanksgiving...regardless of what you're eating.

Trans-Atlantic Passage - Day 5

Unfortunately, I haven't received a SPOT for today.  I just thought I'd touch base and let you all know as much.  If I do happen to get a SPOT or a phone call, then I will post all relevant information.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow! 

Trans-Atlantic Passage - Day 4

Sorry I skipped out on Day 3.  Let's back track then a day.  John and crew had an unplanned stop in Gibraltar.  They came upon a gail with winds up to 49 mph going through the Straits of Gibraltar.  They stayed the night and headed out early in the (their) morning.  I did receive a SPOT this morning.  Their location as of 11:00 EST was 35.7896, -5.9483.  Looks like they they have come through the Straits and are headed to Tenerife, Canary Islands.  John will be very happy to be out of the Med.  Whoever heard of such a thing?  I'll take the Med any day...in a quaint little cafe sipping on a latte.  :-)  I can understand his frustration with the Med sailing...he's been beating against the wind since he left Grado, Italy.  Anyway, he'll soon be picking up the tradewinds.  

By the way, let's get one thing straight.  I'm not the sailor here so don't fault me if I don't get all the terminology correct.  However if I don get something wrong, let me know so I don't keep it up.  

Grazie...Gracias

Tadji

Trans-Atlantic Passage - Day 2

John and crew set sail on the Trans-Atlantic passage yesterday around 17:30 Spain time (11:30 EST).  I have received the first SPOT.  John's location as of  07:34 was 36.267, -4.2973.  If you are just joining this Blog, all you need to do is copy and paste the Lat/Long coordinates into Google Maps and it will show you his exact location on a map.  I will also update with any other information I get from John when I speak with him.  

Let's wish John and crew fair winds and a safe passage!

Tadji

Where have I been?

In my excitement of John reaching land, I completely forgot to update the Blog.  Well, he has finally arrived in Almerimar (near Almeria), Spain.  He arrived on Wednesday and is due to set sail again on Saturday.  John will be sailing from Almerimar, passing through the Straits of Gibraltar, and then he'll head to the Canary Islands for a brief stop.  After that, he will sail straight across the Atlantic to Antigua.  He is joined by Mark Scott, Harry & Velinda Gibbs, Todd Sumner, James Mills, & Alan Thilo.    

Tadji 

Latest update on John...

I spoke with John earlier this evening.  He is due to arrive in Almerimar, Spain on Wednesday 11/19 in the early afternoon...given that all goes well.  He and Rick Thompson dropped-off Dennis & Susan Carlyle in Sardinia a few days ago.  Luckily they've had better luck with the sailing...the winds behind them as opposed to beating against the winds which they've done most of this trip.  

John and Rick's location as of 20:00 EST was 37.23, 00.38

Finally...a new SPOT from John!

Just received this SPOT about 30 minutes ago...6:15 a.m. EST.  You can find John at 37.7928, 2.068.  He's due to arrive Almerimar on Wednesday morning.

Ciao

Tracking down John....continued

Heard from John yesterday.  He called from Palermo, Sicily....a place I would love to visit someday.  He said everyone sounds like Don Corleone...you know, from The Godfather.  Anyway, finally received another SPOT this morning.  His location as of 7:50 a.m. EST are 38.9235, 10.9012.  Remember, all you need to do is copy and paste his Lat/Long into Google Maps and it will show you exactly where he is.  

Stay tuned in...Tracking down John

Please stay tuned in for more updates on John's location.

I will continue to post John's locations each time he sends me a SPOT update, given that he remembers to do so

Tadji

Tracking down John

John is currently sailing to Gibraltar where he will begin his umpteenth Trans-Atlantic.  He is aboard his 47' cutter rig Quetzal.  John sends me his location using his SPOT Satellite Tracker.  

His last SPOT put him at 37.9044,15.8783 If you copy and paste this Lat/Long location into Google Maps, it will show you his location.