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Atlantic Circuit of discovery

Our next big aim was to cross Biscay and we left Southampton on Septem-
ber 29th 2018. Knowing the Channel well we knew we had options to
abort the trip at any stage if we felt we couldn’t cope with the late in the
season conditions. We had strong winds and uncomfortable seas at the
western end of the Channel and again off Cape Finisterre. For some of the
trip we had no wind and calm seas. It was wonderful to feel the warmth
increase as we headed
south. Our successful Bis-
cay crossing to Cascais in
Portugal was cause for
much celebration as we
had tested ourselves and
Kered during a multi day
passage.

We coastal hopped from
Lanzarote Cacais to Portimao where we had to make the decision
whether to stay on the Algarve, go in to the Mediterrane-
an or head offshore to Madeira and the Canaries. Heading to the Algarve
for the winter had been our original ambition but with the weather closing
in it was tempting to head further south so our second multi day passage
on to Madeira was accomplished, followed shortly by another to Lanza-
rote.

On our approach to Lanzarote we had the good fortune to be encouraged
to stop at the Marina Rubicon by Paul and Sheryl Shard on our sister ship,
Distant Shores III. It was late October and oth-
er marinas in the area were fully booked by
prospective trans Atlantic sailors so we were
extremely grateful for their advice to head to
Marina Rubicon where there was space. By
this time we were getting more confident with
sailing Kered and talk of a more ambitious
trans Atlantic passage started to settle in our Sheryl, Rob, Sue and Paul
minds.

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