We have for several years dreamt of sailing from Norway to the Caribbean. We are now on our way in our little ship "Bonanza", and we'll keep you updated on this page.

11.23.2005

The Atlantic ocean has been crossed!

We have finally crossed the Atlantic and are now in the midle of the Amazonas river, in Belem. 15 days at sea is behing us and both crew and boat survived the crossing. Some nerves were stepped on and the boat had some minor things that needs to be fixed, but nothing the crew of Bonanza can´t handle.

We had good winds most of time. No storms or strong gales and all we saw of the doldrums were two hours without wind. We had no problem catching fish on our way while we were fishing. Much thanks to a captain on a spanish fishingboat we met in Mindelo that gave us some good advice and some excellent hooks. Though we stopped fishing after we got poisoned by the tuna. Wich was a pitty because we could see a lot fishes all the time in the sea. Tunas jumping and flying fish flying in big groups in front of the boat. We even had visits from both wales and dolphins several days. A funny thing we realized after counting our total catch across the atlantic is that we caught more birds than fishes. (Not counting flying-fish) Even after we stopped fishing with a fishing line we continued to get birds. This time with the help of our "wind-mill" on the back of our boat.

The last two days here in Belem has been spent trying to check in to Brasil. (Let´s just say that Brasil would have perfect if beuracracy was your hobby...) Jon´s birthday was celebrated yesterday at several official offices around the city. In other words a day that will be remembered.

We are planning to make take a tourist-boat further in the river and spend some days at a hotel if we can arrange for the safety of our boat while we are away. According to a "local" american this might very well be possible.

A small note about messages to our sat-phone.
The three last letters in the norwegian alphabet are translated into several numbers when they arrive on our phone. Cutting down on the end of the messages sent. If you use ae, o, aa or similar it would be nice. (We even understand it if you use e, o, a)

Iridium messages Cape Verde - Brazil

(11.21.2005) Amazonas sailed last 18hrs.0 left. Belem is just an inflation of the dingy away.

(11.20.2005) 135nm last 24h, 4nm left to waypoint, 86nm to Belem. Sea is brown. Some of us can see land, it is only 15nm away.

(11.20.2005) Breaking news! Bonanza is now on the southern hemisphere. We have now crossed equator.

(11.19.2005) 125nm last 24h, 139nm to waypoint Amazonas. Probably crossing equator tomorrow. Very hot and humid, nice to have the sea nearby.

(11.18.2005) 112 NM LAST 24H. 264 TO GO. GOOD WIND, CURRENT NOW FROM THE SIDE. TO HEAVY RAIN&WINDSQUALLS TONIGHT.

(11.17.2005) 62NM last 24hr.376 left. New bottom low distance. Eating coconuts like mad. Jon lost his helmet.Less counter-currents last hrs.

(11.16.2005) ONLY 78 NM LAST 24 H, DUE TO LITTLE WIND AND STRONG COUNTER-CURRENT. 438 NM TO GO. NICE AND SUNNY, BUT HOT!

(11.15.2005) 104nm last 24h, 516nm left. Short distance because of calms, squalls and unstable wind. Freshwater shower and 20l drinking water collected!

(11.14.2005) 128 NM LAST 24 HOURS.RAINSHOWER FOLLOWED BY A STRONG BUT SHORTLIVED GUST OF WIND.

(11.13.2005) 147nm last 24h, 748nm left to coast of Brasil, from there 90nm up the Amazonas river to Belem. Wind 20kt, waves 2,5m.

(11.12.2005) 144 Last 24hr,895 left. All well after the bad tuna.Got 33 flyingfish on deck last night wich is a record.More wind today.All ok.

(11.11.2005) 147 last 24hr,1040 left. Yesterdays tuna gave us foodpoisoning,but we are ok now.Got 1dorado but noone felt like fish for dinner. All soon ok.

(11.10.2005) 132nm last 24h, 1186nm left. Seagulls still like our fishing line. Yesterdays tuna marinating for todays dinner. Small tuna today. Like blid!

(11.09.2005) 140nm last 24h, 1319nm left. Hansi caught a 10kg tuna and a seagull. Overcast but still hot. Fresh bread for lunsh. Wind only 10-12kt.

(11.08.2005) 128 NM LAST 24 H. 1459 TO GO. WAWES:1,5M WIND:10-20 KNOTS BOATSPEED:5-7 KNOTS.SAIL REPAIRED.TWO UGLY SNAKEFISH.

(11.07.2005) 130nm since yesterday, 1587nm to go. One dorado and one seagull on the hook. Genoa damaged, sewing now but will take time.Flatnose whales today.

(11.06.2005) WE ARE LEAVING IHLA BRAVA IN ONE HOUR, LEAVING "ANIMARA" BEHIND. 1717NM TO GO TO BELEM IN BRAZIL. ESTIMATED TIME 14 DAYS.

11.04.2005

Ihla Brava

After travelling quite far, we found an internet place. This will sure be the last real update before arriving Brazil. We plan to use about 15 days on the passage to Belem in the Amazonas delta.

Now we and the crew on "Animara" are in Vila de Nova Sintra, a village in the mountains of Ihla Brava. Very nice place and nice people. Probably the most excotic place we will visit on our journey.

"Bonanza" and "Animara" are both anchored in Baja de Faja, a nice bay surrounded by high mountains. The road from the bay to the village is spectacular, "Lysebotn" in Norway will not be the same after this. Though it is not raining much here, the hillsides are really green and exotic.

Yesterday one local fisherman came swimming to our boats and gave us a lobster he just had caught using nothing but his hands and snorkling equipment. One other local showed us how to prepare it and where to find the good meat.

We still have left to discover the natural bathing pools in the bay. Probably we will combine bathing in the pools with a norwegian barbeque tomorrow.

Special greeting from Hans Olav to Sandra and from Arild to Kari. You are always with us in our thoughts.

11.03.2005

Iridium messages Cape Verde

(11.03.2005) ARRIVED BRAVA. LOST THE RACE AGAINST THE BIGGER NOR BOAT.WE FOUND A REALLY NICE BAY HERE.

(11.02.2005) SAILED 28 NM, 96 TO GO TO IHLA BRAVA IN THE SOUTHERN KAP VERDES.RACING WITH OTHER NORWEGIAN BOAT.ALL OK

(11.01.2005) STILL IN MINDELO ON SAO VICENTE. DEPARTURE DELAYED TO TOMORROW BECAUSE OF HEAVY WIND. 25KT, GUSTING 40KT, BUT ANCHOR HOLD IS GOOD.