Preparing for the Atlantic crossing

[Jean-Michel Bader]

Hello to you all. Last weeks have been quite busy preparing Tigaki for the transat. She now has a brand new Pacific windpilot windvane, charger, 4 solar panels, a Honda 2kilowatt group, a fridge with a compressor, a Simrad autopilot, a Tracing GPS, new AIS, new VHf , new battery in the Navtex, And next week Will get a tracking device, a Spot 3 which allows you to send short messages, like the Iridium satellite telephone does. We shall start by trying the Scillys from Aber Wrach. Then we will go down to Glenan, Groix, Belle-Île, ending further down to Yeu. In mid august, we shall be back to Belle-île and will wait there for a good weather forecast to cross Bay of Biscay. I have one mate for that leg but am still looking for one more crew. If Any of you wants to try a Tiki 36 at sea, I shall be glad to welcome any able seaman or woman, And pay for his or her return flight to UK or France (sadly my budget does not allow for the expense of our fellow australian, new zealander or californien friends). If all goes well the plan is to go down to Lisbonne, Madeira, Canary archipelago, and Cabo Verde at the end of december. I am also looking for a crew to cross from there to Barbados, also willing to pay the return flight from the Carribean...I shall post short messages on the site hopefully photos and drawings to keep you posted. Bon vent à tous! Jean-Michel.
PS. For those of you who wonder about the name Tigaki, IT was the name given by Jane Norman to the first Wharram I bought from her in Plymouth, one of the Tiki 28, And when I sold her the new owner Michel Jestin (Hi Michel) renamed her Alphonse and very sadly lost her mast not very long after. So I felt entitled to take back that abandoned name.....

[alex]

Jean-Michel

I know a kid that wants to volunteer and have some sailing experience, he looks OK (but have no further references , other than being polite and good guy ) if interested i could put you in contact with him :)

[Jean-Michel Bader]

Very good tell him to call or email at [e-mail] Many tanks Jean-Michel

[Brad Ingram]

Is it too soon to sign up for the crossing to Barbados?! I am from the US, but would have no issues with covering my own expenses for flights. I have been really wanting to complete a crossing, and I will have plenty of time off around the new year. I don't have a lot of offshore experience, but I have skippered a 41' Cutter on a 4 day passage across the Gulf of Mexico with winds up to 30 knots.

-Brad

[Jean-Michel Bader]

Hi Brad. Tanks for your interesting proposal. I think I would require to sail together on the boat before deciding if we get along for the Atlantic crossing. Here is a tentative schedule for the trip. Mid august we shall cross the Bay of Biscay from Belle-Île (that is in southern brittany in France) to La Coruna in Spain. Then the long descent along the coast of Portugal to be in Lisbon the first half of September. October to mid november going down and spending Time in Madeira, Canary Archipelago. Somewhere in december the last leg of the trip to Cabo Verde islands. Then wait the end of december for the established trade winds and do the crossing probably first days of January. I shall keep you posted on the exact dates, but a good idea would be to join us in Canary islands, cross to Cabo Verde together and Then do the transat. Let me know your thoughts on that plan. I shall post pictures of Tigaki on the Warram builder site. Pela se shoot Any questions you might have. Jean-Michel

[Brad Ingram]

Jean-Michel

I totally understand about doing a trial run to Cabo Verde. I am fully free all of December through January, so I can be flexible on the dates (I know how sailing "schedules" can go!). I really appreciate the possible opportunity to cross on a Wharram, as it will make sailing my Tiki all the more enjoyable. My email is [e-mail] if that is easier to stay in touch for you. Keep me posted.

-Brad

[Brandon Gamble]

I've sailed with Brad. He's good sailor and a great person. Very easy going and fun to have on board. I'd cross an ocean with him. For what it's worth ;)

-Brandon-