CAPI TACO'S FIELDNOTES: Atlantic Crossing

Embrace the discomfort of growth

Tomas Salem — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 03:08:39 GMT

Day 55: Speightstown, Barbados. Yesterday morning, while the crew where resting below deck, the almost indiscernible gray line of land became visible on the horizon, according to the GPS, some 30 nautical miles off the coast of Barbados. We have finally made it across the Atlantic Ocean—by sail and on our own: crazy idea accomplished. I’ve had high expe…

Know that there will be challenges

Tomas Salem — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 03:03:23 GMT

Stormy seas as we pass the midway point

Day 49: 658 nautical miles to Barbados. The last couple of days have presented challenges and opportunities for growth. The wind has picked up, abruptly ending the regimen of daily routines that I had established. Yesterday was dramatic. Strong, stable winds gave way to gusts of gale and storm clouds catching up wi…

Expect magic to unfold

Tomas Salem — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 02:57:55 GMT

Setting sail out of Mindelo, Cape Verde. Only 2000 nautical miles to go to Barbados!

Day 43: Atlantic Ocean. Last night, around 2 a.m., we reached the midway point between Mindelo and Barbados. 1017 nautical miles travelled and 1017 nautical miles left. Even if it has never been an option to turn and go back (it would probably be faster and more comforta…

Set intentions

Tomas Salem — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 02:50:54 GMT

Dream team hiking the volcanoes of Cape Verde

Day 37: Mindelo, Cabo Verde. We have completed the first long leg of the Atlantic (six days of sailing from Gran Canaria), and are docked in port in Mindelo, which is a staple stopover for sailboats between Europe and the Caribbean. We have spent several days on land resting after the rough but beautiful stre…

Hone the rituals

Tomas Salem — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 02:42:40 GMT

Salt flats in Lanzarote

Day 22: We’re spending Christmas Eve in the port of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, after two days of sailing from Lanzarote, which, with its black volcanic landscapes and low, white villages, is probably one of the most aesthetically pleasing islands in the world. We made a short overnight stop on the south of Fuerteventura due to (wha…

Respect local customs

Tomas Salem — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 23:45:55 GMT

Should I stay or should I go? We decided to risk it, and maybe it was worth it but maybe there are better ways of making a statement.

Day 14: Tanger, Morocco. Lucho and I are sailing down the coast of Morocco. Lucho is from Uruguay and joined us in Gibraltar a few days ago. Toño and Joaco are back in Barcelona. Toño left the ship in Motril, Joaco in Tang…

Treat Nature with reverence

Tomas Salem — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 23:34:52 GMT

Sailing west into the sunset and towards the Atlantic Ocean, south of Spain.

Day 7: Motril, south of Spain. The journey out of the Mediterranean has transported me 3 years back in time to when I journeyed in. We’ve made roughly the same stops as we did when I sailed Falkor from Oslo to Barcelona in 2021, but in reverse: Ibiza, Cartagena, Cabo de Gata, an…

Leave before you’re ready!

Tomas Salem — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 23:25:02 GMT

Getting Falkor ready for an Atlantic crossing proved to be a titanic feat, but she’s ALMOST there and that will have to do for now.

Day -1: We are allegedly sailing from Barcelona tomorrow. I have been running like a madman for the last two weeks, getting the boat ready, and the to-do list has shortened. This is what is still left:

List of preparations:

Ge…

What I've learned from the Atlantic ocean

Tomas Salem — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 23:12:59 GMT

Last sunrise of 2024, with my teacher, the Atlantic Ocean, somewhere between Gran Canaria and Cape Verde.

We (that is, Falkor and I, plus our changing crew members) have been sailing for two months now. More than 4000 nautical miles from Barcelona to Martinique (I have failed to count the exact number). Big waves, big places, big smiles, but also the gna…