Watching the tell tales

This week has been full of learning, hands-on, how to move away from a flotilla sailor to a more serious explorer. From trimming the sails to really understanding how Novera responds when the wind fills her sails, it’s all starting to click.

We’ve spent hours tacking up and down the bay, winching in, watching those telltales stream out horizontally (such a satisfying sight), and feeling Novera settle into a gentle, confident heel. There’s a rhythm to it—one we’re slowly finding.

The weather, not to be left out, has kept things interesting. We’ve had lightning, hail, and some impressively heavy downpours. But thankfully all from the safety of the marina! Not easy for sailing, but perfect conditions for staying put on those days, sorting through lockers, cataloguing what we actually have onboard (and what cupboard or under-seat storage it’s in…), and sealing up a few small leaks. (Apparently all sailing boats are sinking some just faster than others 🤣 and ours is definitely a little slower now 🤣)

Our hire car goes back on Friday—three weeks into this adventure already. I genuinely don’t know where that time has gone. With our mooring booked until the end of March and a promising weather window in early April, that next big step is starting to feel very real. The one where we leave what’s become familiar—and, if we’re honest, comfortably safe—and head out properly.

The next is a big sail for us: around seven hours. So it’s time to stock up, plan carefully, and prepare to cast off into the unknown.

But I am happy to say we feel ready. Or at least, as ready as we can be.

All those hours with Luc have made a huge difference. Having guidance from someone who’s crossed oceans many times over has given us confidence we simply wouldn’t have had otherwise. We’re not just guessing anymore—we’ve been learning, adjusting, and beginning to trust both ourselves and Novera.

So, with sails trimmed, lockers (mostly) organised, and a growing sense of “we can do this”…

We’re shipshape—and nearly ready to go