Hello - Young(ish) couple sailing from the UK to the Med

[SV Kittiwake]

Hi all!

Posted a couple of times, but thought I'd do a proper intro.

We're a pair of 30 year olds. We've got a Heavenly Twins 26, called Kittiwake, and are planning on sailing it from Falmouth down to the Med this summer.

We're taking the coastal (rather than Canal) route, and hope to get all the way to Malta. Although if we're not making enough progress, we might overwinter in the Algarve somewhere.

Cheapo budget cruisers, we've got a small budget, but got a few freelancing jobs lined up to keep the kitty in the black.

We've got a blog: A sailing blog - Sailing Kittiwake

And a facebook: facebook.com/sailingkittiwake

Hoping to do some spearfishing and rock climbing along the way.

If we're passing by, give us a shout - would love to meet up with other cruisers as we go.

We're also planning on making some videos as we go so people can keep up to date.

Cheers

Ryan and Elena

[redhead]

Welcome Ryan and Elena - lots of good info here. A good friend of ours on the East Coast of US has a Heavenly Twins and absolutely loves that boat.

Good luck and have fun!

[Linwood4]

Hello and welcome... Nice website We are doing the same on the other side of the Atlantic. Just getting going after a two year refit. Hope we cross paths
Cheers

[boatman61]

Hi Guys.. Welcome to CF..
Are you coast hopping along the edge of the Biscay or taking a straight shot from Falmouth to N Spain.?

[SV Kittiwake]

Hi Redhead,

Thanks very much! Yeah, they're great little boats. Not super speedy but amazingly spacious for the size, and really easy to sail.

That's not the HT Terrapin by any chance is it? I know there's a few that have been across the Atlantic and back, maybe ours will one day!

[SV Kittiwake]

Thanks Boatman!

Yep, planning on hopping along Biscay, and exploring some of the French islands in there, some of them look stunning, like the Iles de Glenan. Then we'll cut off the bottom corner, probably from Royan across to the N Spain coast.

Are there any stop offs in there you'd recommend in particular? Or any tips for tackling that bit of coast?

[boatman61]

Not really.. I tend to make long jumps.. the longer the better..

[Steadman Uhlich]

Howdy Ryan and Elena.

Sounds like you have a great adventure ahead!

Keep us informed of your progress or post videos in this thread to let us know how it is going.

Bon Voyage!

[redhead]

Originally Posted by SV Kittiwake

Hi Redhead,

Thanks very much! Yeah, they're great little boats. Not super speedy but amazingly spacious for the size, and really easy to sail.

That's not the HT Terrapin by any chance is it? I know there's a few that have been across the Atlantic and back, maybe ours will one day!

Our friend's last name is Pigeon, hence - "Pigeon Coop". The longest journey for him was Newport, Rhode Island to Puerto Rico as far as I know.

[barnakiel]

Just avoid climbing the rocks at Finisterre. Otherwise your plan is about GREAT!

Have fun living the dream!

And young at 30? Why not - young is who feels young, at any age! (Me - forever ;-)

Cheers,
b.

[SV Kittiwake]

Thanks Barnkeil!

Yep, should be a great adventure, we just don't know how far we get. I think it's something we'll figure out as we go along, and find our rhythm, whether we prefer going for long passages out at sea, or whether we'd rather stick our noses into every nook and cranny along the coast. If the latter, then we might end up changing wintering plans, but either way, it's bound to be more fun that being at work!

[SV Kittiwake]

Ah I see. The reason I asked about Terrapin is that the guy who took it across to the US wrote a book about it, so I wondered if it was the same boat.

Rhode Island to Puerto Rico is quite an adventure. These little boats really seem to travel a lot of miles.

[SV Kittiwake]

Thanks Steady! Yep, we'll keep you guys updated as best we can. Starting to get a bit itchy to get out there, but there are pre-start projects to be done, and good weather to wait for!