at the next cape. I don't need the engine. I can easily leave under canvas with this wind. Just at the right moment, I can turn the boat face towards the sea… "Flopp" - canvas meets butterfly... sometimes you are really too fast, boy! Oops… now my boat is nearly running away. In the last minute I can get the stern, jumping up like a drunken cowboy. Course: cliff! It just takes seconds to get the oar into water and so I can prevent the accident from happening. The wind gets stronger with every mile, and so do the waves. I talk to the water, like I'm doing it very often those days. Referring to Masure e Motos research results, I'm sailing on the biggest information storage that our planet has at its disposal. I'm convinced it can hear me. "What's going on this morning? Had a bad night? Shall we go to the cape together? Come on, it only works with you!" I try to be always good with this power under my boat and me - and sometimes I grin about the situation to pee into it after a nice little talk ;-)

This morning's "ride" is becoming a harder loading test with every new mile. Thank God I put a backstay to the front mast, otherwise it would have been ruined by now. I'm all alone out there and the dominant color is grey. It seems threatening and I know I shouldn't be there in this moment. Concerning my clothes, I'm prepared very bad. During the first few minutes I get wet all over. Like a calm American Indian guy I think about what I'm doing here, while my boat is splashing over the waves like a furious horse. "You want to surround Spain, Andreas? You want to make it through Biscaya, Andreas? So you have to do this today and stay calm. We have to manage this!" I guess the wind is at 9 Beaufort - directly in front of my ass. There's probably a lot of power in the blast and my front mast jibes in its own way, as I constantly have to get the bow away from the waves. The tree hooks vertical in the backstay, nevertheless my ride is not slower than 8 knots. My heart is not beating too fast and I'm not afraid. I have respect - yes, but I'm not afraid. I know that fear can cause mistakes with unknown consequences… while sailing by I see a flip - or something that looks alike. It is beating the water - as if it was waving. I can't recognize what this exactly is - I'm waving back. 12 miles later… Plopp! Within 15 minutes - 3, 2, 1 wind is gone!

Puuhhh... I'm putting my hand into the water and take a moment of silence thank for this.


Harmonizing with Domenico

"Domenico - judgement"

Sunday, 10th of June 2012, San Remo
I'm busy working on the solar technology on board. Still, I can't miss this guy in the harbor, wearing a backpack. I'm looking at him for a while - you can't have more muscles, I think. He appears to be some kind of dangerous, and it seems as if he has seen me too. Nevertheless, he continues his way. "He might be a vagabond" I think and concentrate on my work. Just a few minutes later... "Hey!" I get a fright - It's the guy! He is standing beside me at the edge and looks down to me. He asks what I'm doing. I don't tell him much - he leaves. I'm more vigilant now, as his looks were very close. He saw my tent, my equipment, everything! Who is this guy? His muscles and the look on his face are dangerous and it's difficult to classify him.
All of a sudden, we get into a little talk after a while and he asks, if I would need anything. Sun lotion is the one thing that comes to my mind in this moment, though it's mainly everything I would need ;-)

"OK" he says and wants to return the next morning to bring me some. The appearance of the guy and our talk still frightens me a bit. This night, I sleep with the knife in the tent.

11th of June 2012, in the morning
The night was peaceful... I woke up like I usually do. Simon, the Danish guy, poured me some coffee. The morning starts like always. I have to fix the solar problem today. Salty water has made its way in there again. "Good morning" a voice with a French accent shouts in my back. They guy I met yesterday! It's Domenico, a guy who is also traveling. "It's my vacation" he says. Obviously, he feels uncomfortable to talk about his way of traveling while everyone listens. His equipment is very limited. He has a backpack with a sleeping bag, a knife, washing things and some food. Apparently, a second bag is hidden somewhere, as he doesn't want to carry it around all the time. He really brought me sun lotion and some food. I really enjoy this meal, though I'm still skeptical about this person. Domenico talks about himself; the problem with his feet, his house close to Bordeaux, and the trouble with his wife… he can speak 5 languages fluently and surprises me with profound philosophy. We find some common things during our talk and agree on the important things in life, while the food he brought is really delicious. "I got some money from my mother, so we can afford this", he says. "I have to take the train back home tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, to make some money with the grape harvest. Let's have barbecue tonight!" "MEAT?" it comes to my mind. "Yes - let's do this ;-) I have a fire lighter and a grill!"

He disappears little later just to return in the evening, bringing finest food - like an angel. The sun already sinks, when the first piece of meat finds its way into the stomach and we start to enjoy. I've never been this full during the whole trip before!

Our talks are interesting and he doesn't lose any of his mystic. On the one hand he's very open, but on the other hand he constantly closes - as if to say "You can get to know me until this point - but not any closer!" When I first met him, I judged the guy. I misjudged. It was a mistake - but I still can't find a better judge for him. I'm still uncertain and sometimes I even doubt his existence!

It's Wednesday, 4th of July 2012 at Perello, Spain

My dad is close by and I will see him today… I can't help but cry. I'm so looking forward to him.

Andreas Gabriel is in front of the Atlantic. Is he afraid? No! One knows what the other one can do and we will manage this together. Every sea has its moment - I will see it.

See you...