April 19th
36° 27.9’N, 56° 30.3’W – 6.5 knots
Marcus Aurelius, the emperor and philosopher, cautioned us against fighting against those things in our life that we cannot control. For the crew of Hummingbird over much of the past 24 hours, the wind has been the essential element that has been beyond our ability to control. Despite the best efforts of both those who know what they are doing and those of us who do not, by dint of sail and course changes, we failed in search of the elusive natural power essential to reaching our goal, Horta in the Azores, some 1800 miles distant. Having left Bermuda last Tuesday in steady Force 4-5 breezes, morale amongst the crew was high despite some heavy rain squalls, and my public castigation for suggesting that diced bell peppers were an appropriate accompaniment to a mushroom risotto. The important thing was that we were sailing, and generally in the right direction, following the great circle route to intercept the Azores by a week on Friday.
Then it happened, the log – a document treated with reverence and updated with almost religious faithfulness each hour of the journey records that at 1100 on Thursday morning we were MOTORING! This isn’t what I paid for some of us bemoaned. Members of the crew had come together for various reasons to undertake this expedition, but were united in one aim; to sail across an ocean. Unfortunately, for that to be a realistic possibility, we needed wind, and there wasn’t any, anywhere close, no matter what we did. So against the incongruous audio backdrop to Cyndi Lauper extolling that ‘Girls just want to have fun’, the engine was switched on and we lumbered forward in an entirely predictable, entirely controllable direction – not satisfactory at all.
Life on board took on a much more predictable and comfortable aspect, sleeping became easier, not being rolled by the heel of the boat or clinging on for dear life if on the other tack. Manoeuvring around below decks was far less arduous and hazardous, cooking became less of a physical trial and juggling act, but paradoxically, a gloom palpably fell upon the crew. Chatter was subdued, and laughter subsided. Even the visit of dolphins on three occasions during the day failed to raise the spirits beyond a ‘that lovely’, or ‘I wonder how deep they go’, or generating philosophical questions such as: ‘who would win in a fight, a Dolphin or a Shark ?’. Our watch that night from 0300- 0600 felt like being aboard a conveyor belt, chugging inexorably through Dylan Thomas’s Jet Black night. Not even the moon or stars made an appearance to light our mundane progress.
However, as I was woken by the dappled sunlight pushing into he small porthole of my forepeak, I realised that it was not just the arrival of the dawn that had woken me, but also the sounds of shouts and banging as the sails were raised once again. The engine was quietened, and Humingbird surged forwards in a strong Force 4 breeze.
Once I had eventually pulled myself from my bunk and began to bounce against bulkheads on my journey to the galley where with Ian and Swiss Eric we prepared a meal whilst wedged against the table and braced against the galley top, irritating, uncomfortable and often painful, but it was because were were sailing and Hummingbird was heeled over as she resumed her dash across the ocean.
I am sure that it was not just the sunshine, the irredecent water and the fluffy cumulus clouds that caused the surge in morale amongst the crew, we were doing what we came for – sailing across an ocean, and no matter how uncomfortable and sometimes painful that might be we were all doing what we came for, sailing again. Our smiles were not erased by the news delivered by Alex that due to high pressure on the great circle route to the Azores, that we were routing higher north to maintain favorable winds, adding 200 miles to the route – no problem – we will be sailing the whole way and taking the advice of Marcus Aurelius to attend diligently to those things that are within our control, in this case, keeping to a course of 055 and as close as possible to a beam reach. That’s what we signed up for.
18 April 2025
Hummingbird unterwegs: Drei Tage auf See von Bermuda Richtung Azoren
34° 45.7249N, 058° 27.797W / Kurs: Richtung Azoren
Wir sind nun seit drei Tagen unterwegs, von den Bermudas in Richtung Azoren. Der Rhythmus an Bord hat sich eingespielt, und alle haben sich gut an das Wachsystem gewöhnt.
Zu den Mahlzeiten, die jeweils von der zuständigen Schicht zubereitet werden, treffen wir uns gemeinsam im Salon. Zum Glück haben wir einige echte Kochtalente an Bord – das Essen war bisher immer ausgezeichnet und hebt die Stimmung spürbar.
Nach über zwölf Tagen an Bord der Hummingbird lernen wir das Schiff und seine Eigenheiten immer besser kennen – wie man ein Reff setzt oder die Segel wechselt, wann und wie koordiniert wird. Dank der klaren Anweisungen von Thorben und Alex klappt das bislang sehr gut. Jeder Tag bringt mehr Routine und Vertrauen.
Die Stimmung an Bord ist von Anfang an hervorragend. Jeder gibt sein Bestes, und das spürt man in allem, was wir tun. Ich freue mich auf die weiteren gemeinsamen Seemeilen mit diesem Team.
– Markus
Hummingbird Underway: Three Days at Sea from Bermuda to the Azores
34° 45.7249N, 058° 27.797W / Course: Heading for the Azores
We’ve now been at sea for three days, sailing eastward from Bermuda toward the Azores. The rhythm of life aboard is settling in, and everyone has adapted well to the watch system.
Each meal — prepared by the crew on duty — brings us together in the saloon. Fortunately, we have some real culinary talent on board, and the food has been consistently excellent, which lifts morale in noticeable ways.
After more than twelve days aboard Hummingbird, we’re getting to know the boat better — how to reef, when to shift sails, how to coordinate smoothly as a crew. With Thorben and Alex offering clear instructions, things have gone well so far. Each day builds more routine and confidence.
The atmosphere on board has been outstanding from the beginning. Everyone puts in their best effort, and that shows in every task we take on. I’m looking forward to the next sea miles with this team.
– Markus
Day 10 blog – April 17 2025.
034° 43.291N, 059° 42.694W / Course: 80° @ 6.8 knots – midway between Bermuda and the Azores (Crew Member)
“Woke this morning to the smell of bacon being prepared in the galley. Breakfast has been an on your own kind of thing, but frequently folks have taken the initiative to prepare more significant offerings for their crew mates. This morning it was bacon and eggs along with beans on toast. Who would have thought, beans on toast as a breakfast offering. One of the great things about this voyages is the opportunity to meet and bond with people from around the world. I have found that most of the people who are put in the galley are too modest when it comes to their ability throw together a meal in tight quarters, limited to the ingredients available. It could be that after a night of surfing down big rollers we are all too hungry to engage our taste buds, but prefer to think that when given the chance to do something for their crew mates that they go above and beyond in demonstrating their commitment to the morale of the others on board. The Captain and Mate are especially thoughtful in their care of the people on board. Last night, at four in the morning a hot dish of popcorn mysteriously appears in the cockpit while the crew on deck are busy surfing the waves.
Sailing today was exceptional. We’ve had some tremendous days so far, but today we had perfect ocean conditions. A following sea and Force 5/6 winds have made driving the boat feel more like riding a sixty foot surf board. We had the chance to see speeds approaching twelve knots under sunny skies with just a few cirrus clouds to aid in keeping us on our course.
I joined the crew as watch leader to check off one more item on the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean check list. I couldn’t have picked a better voyage and set of crew mates with which to make the trip. Getting the opportunity to actively participate in provisioning, menu planning, passage planning and continuous updates to the plan has made me much more comfortable voyages yet to come.
Day 7 April 13 2025 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗱𝗮!
After 7 days of open ocean sailing, Hummingbird has arrived in Bermuda – the first stop on her Atlantic crossing having set sail from Key West April 06. The crew was treated to steady winds, mesmerising nights under a canopy of stars, and many flying fish skimming across the waves. Spirits are high after an incredible passage.
We’re here for 24 hours to refuel, refresh, and take in a glimpse of island life before setting sail again – next stop: the Azores(maybe – weather check to come). The Atlantic adventure continues.
Day 6 April 12 2025 en route to Bermuda
031° 52.249N, 064° 43.609W / Course: 50° @ 5.4 knots
We continue to zigzag our way across the North Atlantic, although our helming has gotten better, and now a mere 200 nautical miles separate us from the upcoming moment of stepping on land — the home of the Bermuda Shorts.
Cruising along at a leisurely 8 knots on Reef 1, Staysail, and Yankee 3, the sun and the rain are jostling for prime position, both getting their turn. The routine of the watches ticks on, with slight adjustments as more gear is required according to the conditions of the moment, as we skid past the low front with the precision of a baseball player making it to second base.
Conversations — after this many rounds — have moved beyond the art of drying socks. More meaningful and thoughtful revelations are beginning to emerge as trust builds, and we continue to enjoy each other’s company.
Happy Sailing!
Day 5 Blog – off the Eastern Seaboard of the USA
030° 34.670N, 067° 35.785W / Course: 64° @ 7.0 knots
In the first screenshot, you can see Hummingbird’s progress north-eastward through the western Atlantic, en route to Bermuda. The second image highlights a well-defined south-westerly flow, resulting from a pressure gradient between a high-pressure system to the south and a developing low further north over the mid-Atlantic. This flow is channelled along the northern edge of the subtropical ridge.
Hummingbird is routing to take advantage of this favourable south-westerly wind corridor, indicated by the green area south of the blue band (approximately 15–20 knots). This avoids the stronger, more turbulent headwinds (shown in dark orange to red, 25-30 knots) to the north, which are associated with the tighter pressure gradients ahead of the frontal boundary. By staying south of this developing system, we’re maximising speed and comfort, while minimising exposure to adverse weather.
Day 2 Update from onboard written by Padraig
028° 49.321N, 073° 29.634W / Course: 79° @ 6.9 knots
The day started at 3am on a calm ocean as we made steady progress on our way to Bermuda. After receiving handover we took turns on the helm, keeping lookout and drinking hot chocolate under the light of the moon. As 6am neared the moonlight dissipated and we were left under a blanket of stars to guide the ship towards.
I was awoken from my post watch nap by the welcome sound of our skipper asking if anyone fancied a bacon butty. Bacon and eggs on a gently rolling ocean whilst keeping lookout for ships and wildlife is definitely to be recommended. No repeat of the pilot whales, dolphins or flying fish weve seen so far, but there’s still another couple of watches for that today.
With there being less need for adjustments so far today we’ve had time to practice knots and learn more about the situations we’d use them in.
It looks like we’re about half way to Bermuda and making good time, though the last couple of days have definitely been ones to enjoy being in the moment for.
