Two weeks ago, we noted in Cruising Compass’ Just Cruising column that the crew of La Vagabonde, the YouTube stars, Riley, Elayna and little Lenny, were making a transatlantic passage from Hampton Virginia to Lisbon, Portugal aboard their ultra-modern and light weight Outremer catamaran in the last two weeks of November. The reason for this late season passage was to ferry climate activist Greta Thunberg to the Iberian Peninsula so she could speak at the UN Climate conference in Madrid in early December. Prudently, they invited professional offshore skipper Nikki Henderson to join them for the passage so they could rely on her vast experience sailing in the world’s most challenging conditions.
We have been following La Vagabonde’s progress and we’re happy to report that they sailed up the Tagus River to Lisbon on Tuesday and judging from Nikki’s Facebook postings, they had a long, bouncy but successful Transatlantic passage.
Our question two weeks ago was what did you think of this late season transatlantic passage in a light-weight catamaran? Here are a few of the emails in response.
George,
I hope all is well. While I’m not quite as seasoned as you are, I too was taken aback when I read of their decision to take Greta east this time of year. I had been following La Vagabonde, off and on, for about 6 months, and although a relatively young couple, they seemed fairly capable of island hopping. As you point out, this (route and timing) may have been a poor choice. Putting aside the political debate, this appears to be a very rough sail on the Outremer. I don’t know them or their passengers, but it strikes me as a PR move, and a dangerous one. Overlaying their position this morning on MarineTraffic wind barbs, it looks like they are in 35 knots. I know I would not have done it.
Best, Jack
Hi George:
The weather patterns this year (and for a while) in November are becoming very active and difficult. As you know I have helped the Salty Dawg Rally and a lot of cruising boats in the Atlantic/Caribbean over the years. Watching this year’s SD rally, and listening to Chris Parker’s MWCX broadcasts, both AM and PM since Oct 2019 this year, it’s clear the North Atlantic is becoming more dangerous for passages after the weather shifts start between summer and fall. I think passages to Europe in May and early summer, before the hurricanes start circling the Atlantic, may become the new normal. The Azores high is a major player in any North Atlantic passage, and
it’s just not reliably there for the fall passages anymore; it has been pushed out by strong weather systems that track from the topics and Caribbean to the west Atlantic and then transit the N. Altantic in the mid-latitudes. Those storms and fronts have so much more
power and reach farther into the tropics than we are used to. The weather models can’t keep up! Even weather forecasters can’t keep up.
Joan
s/v Growltiger
SSCA Commodore
I am alarmed by the latest news about Greta T crossing with LV. First of all, these two are barely competent sailors. Thankfully Nikki H is on board. But it’s still a publicity stunt. What are Greta’s parents thinking.
Claudia Dengler
612-247-5696 Tracker & communication while at sea
https://share.garmin.com/ClaudiaDengler
Editor’s Note: Greta’s father made the passage aboard La Vagabonde, too.
