INNcredible Sea Lodge

INNcredible Sea Lodge Update 11/11/2012

Published on November 12, 2012 by old site in Inncredible Journey ~ Crossing the Atlantic

At Sunset Sunday we decided to drop the sails and head DDW and ride the 5 meter swells at our back (a much more civilized way) so we could have a less eventful night and each crew getting some real sleep albeit only 3-4 hours. Motoring with the two 54 HP diesels at the most efficient 1600 RPMs gets us going about 6 knots; but with the 25-35 knot winds and 5eter swells at our back our speed over ground averages 7.5 knots and sometimes surfs at 12. The new comfort level not only allows sleep but food prep. I made an onion soups for the boys who are still talking about the Colcannon I made a couple days ago. Today I will venture farther into a fish soup starting with whole fish boiled down into a stock. Bread is holding out and showing its age but thats perfect for dunking into hot soup.

Our current position: 33 35.089N 011 51.888W with an ETA Las Palmas early on the 15th.
It’s all good just rough,

Brian

INNcredible Sea Lodge

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Blue Water Update 11/10/2012

Published on November 11, 2012 by old site in Inncredible Journey ~ Crossing the Atlantic

We set sail late afternoon Saturday and pounded through some initial confused seas, leaving quickly to run with the front of a storm moving in. The winds started at 15-18 knots but quickly made it into the 20s. We reefed the first reef. Winds accelerated into the 30s gusting to 45. We were moving 8-12 knots all night long riding building seas which we couldn’t see to determine the actual size until daylight. Rising 5 meters with breaking wind waves these swells were coming mostly from behind but slightly to our side and we scurried through trough and peak looking out for the breaking tops. Here it is 24 hours later and we traveled an amazing 200+ nautical mies under one raging squall after another. Not the most pleasant ride but we’re on our way to the Gran Canaries. Everyone is alive, tired and rotating watches at the helm. ETA Las Palmas too hard to call – I’ll update tomorrow.

Brian

The Captain of the INNcredible Sea Lodge

Tags: Inncredible Journey ~ Crossing the Atlantic

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Let the Journey Begin

Published on November 6, 2012 by old site in Inncredible Journey ~ Crossing the Atlantic

Leaving SFO tomorrow morning, election day, flying back to Lisbon, Portugal. The INNcredible Sea Lodge awaits El Capitan and its new crew members to join First Mate Andrew whose been waiting patiently on board. After stashing away all the gear, provisioning with a month’s worth of food and cases of Portuguese wine, the sails will be hoisted and the INNcredible Sea Lodge makes way down the Atlantic coast to the Canary Islands.

A near 700 mile trip, weather permitting, should take us 6 days sailing round the clock. If all goes well we treat ourselves to a stopover in Morocco. The allure of that African culture is strong so we hope the weather gods are with us.

Tags: Canaries, Inncredible Journey, INNcredible Sea Lodge, Morocco, Portugal, sailing

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Stress levels find relief in season’s first rain

Published on October 22, 2012 by old site in Inncredible Sea Lodge ~ The boat

Captain Brian Fitzpatrick

What’s wine, rain, sailing and grapes have in common? Everything when you are the winemaker/grapegrower and captain readying for the longest ocean crossing of your life.

There is such a thing as good stress which energizes and drives you to accomplish so much more if you just ride then wave that it creates. After a long fantastic harvest which started August 20th, yesterday October 21st was our final day of harvesting all our 15 varieties of grapes. And today its raining, raining hard and for the next three days. Perfect timing as the ground soaks up that much awaited water, the vines hydrate in luxury for the first time since last spring and when then rains stops the tractors start discing and tilling to prepare the soil for planting our winter annual cover crops in every other row in our vineyards.

Every fermenter in the winery is bubbling away happily making new wines. One more bottling to do this week (2009 Zinfandel), a dozen press loads to empty the fermenters when ready, barrels to be filled …

And putting on my Captain’s hat, the final push to collect all the non-food provisions needed for a hundred whatifs aboard the INNcredible Sea Lodge as November 6th quickly approaches and its time to fly back to Lisbon to restart the Maiden Voyage.

All good

Brian

The Captain of the INNcredible Sea Lodge

Tags: farming, grapes, harvest, rain, sailing, stress, wine

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