16.08.2015: Bay of Biscay

Falmouth

In the Bay of Biscay, the Atlantic allows the "Dagmar Aaen" to roll and pound in the rhythm of the waves. The crew has become accustomed to the swell. We have been sailing on a south-south-westerly course heading for the north-west corner of Spain for the past days now. We were spared the forecasted high winds from the south. The thermometer has climbed from 16 to 18 °C.

Life on board is determined by the constant recurring change of being on watch or sleeping. The dolphins which often play around the ship provide a change. Culinary highlight: the birthday cake for boatswain Fabian (photo). The young Swiss was met with a song when he started his watch. In the afternoon Volker conjured up a delicious pear-chocolate cake.

Super Yacht "Mariette"

During our stopover in Falmouth we experienced some real English hospitality. It was Falmouth-Week in the small coastal town and there was a one-week regatta spectacle taking place. Of course the harbor was full. Despite this we were given a perfect berth at the floating dock of the Pendennis Marina.

The official regatta starting ship, the "Spirit of Falmouth" gave us her spot at the jetty and moored up alongside our ship in the evening. Really a very nice gesture. Our neighbors in the marina could not have been more exclusive - large ships side by side. We were most impressed by the "Mariette" - a super yacht over 100 years old that had had a complete refit and towered above all the others with a mast of over 40 meters in height.

It was Konrad, the dark brown elegant boatswain who was the first to visit us. He wanted to see the "Dagmaer Aaen" he had heard about up close. During our obligatory return visit, we were totally amazed. A bathtub enclosed in mahogany in the master suite, a fireplace in the lounge and the blocks on deck covered in leather. Even a hundred years ago, owners obviously knew about how luxury at sea could be.

The "Mariette" had just completed a trans-Atlantic regatta for historical yachts coming in third place and was now on its way to Menorca in the Mediterranean. Our next stop is Vigo on the northwst coast of Spain.

Matthias Steiner