Madeira

After completing her first leg of the Atlantic Crossing, QD settled into a quaint marina on the eastern corner of Madeira. Madeira, an autonomous region of Portugal, is an archipelago comprising 4 islands off the northwest coast of Africa. It is known for its namesake wine and warm, subtropical climate. The main island of Madeira is volcanic, green and rugged, with high cliffs, pebbly beaches and settlements on deltas of the Fajã River. Capital Funchal has botanic gardens and is known for its harbor and stunning hillside views.

The passage from La Rochelle, France to Madeira took 8 days to sail 1,189 nautical miles. She performed well on her maiden voyage through a few areas of challenging sea states and high winds. Her bows and crew have rested for 3 days and enjoyed the experience the incredible island has to offer. QD is re-provisioned with food, fuel, and emergency water. Now, the hardest leg of the journey begins; 4-5 weeks deeper south and westward across the Atlantic. The weather patterns show a large low-pressure area forming in the middle of the Atlantic. This will require QD to go even deeper south to pick up the trade winds to ride across. As she enters the tropical temperature zones, the crew can put away the cool weather clothing and soak up the warmer air. That warm air will fill her sails and drive her westward towards the Carribean and eventually up to Florida where her build will be completed. Rock and Roll …