Hiva Oa, closing one chapter and opening another one.
September 20th, 2021 One full tour around the world. Hiva Oa is the point where the full tour closes. Here is where Cedric completed his first tour around the world sailing. Let me explain with a short sequence of events. Back in 2008 Cedric and Thira, a 36ft sloop left from Los Angeles, United States.Continue reading “Hiva Oa, closing one chapter and opening another one.”
Australia we are coming
August 20th, 2021 We left Happy Days safely in Hiva Oa, thinking we were not going to see it for a long time. We did so much work getting every thing clean and in place. I gave away all the food we had left to locals and other boats. We had to hibernate the waterContinue reading “Australia we are coming”
the end of this journey!
August 1st,2021 When we started this trip we had planned a year traveling from Barcelona, where we got Happy Days, to French Polynesia. In all the planning and scenarios we never consider a pandemic. And believe me as engineers, project manger we did consider a lot situations and risks. The whole world stopped and changedContinue reading “the end of this journey!”
The wonders of Fatu Hiva after a tough crossing
July 15th, 2021 When you think 22 days at sea is the biggest, toughest crossing you have made in your life, think twice because maybe there are rougher passages even if they are shorter. I learned this the hard way! We left Gambier on July 6 at 9:20 in the morning. Sailing by the westContinue reading “The wonders of Fatu Hiva after a tough crossing”
Gambier Islands
July 15, 2021 You probably have not hear about this place before. I think even French people doesn’t know about Mangareva, Rikitea, Gambier Islands so let me quickly explain. French Polynesia is an overseas French territory it is comprised of 4 groups of Islands, 5 if you count Gambier as an extra group. The fourContinue reading “Gambier Islands”
Trans-Pacific – 2900 nm
May 10, 2021 This crossing is dedicated to my dad who passed away a couple of days prior to our departure. He was always there, supportive force behind our accomplishments. Cedric Condé, April 2021 2900 nautical miles was our goal, the distance from Puerto Villamil to Rikitea in straight line. At the end we didContinue reading “Trans-Pacific – 2900 nm”
Next stop French Polynesia
Now we are fully concentrating on the departure. We got our approval to enter French Polynesia, Gambier, Rikitea. I will be 3000nm, yes you are reading correct 3000nm. If you want to see where we are click here We have been a full 4 weeks in Galapagos and the place is truly amazing, I willContinue reading “Next stop French Polynesia”
Diving Darwin and Wolf
April 10, 2021 It all started when we went to Leon Dormido, a very famous diving site in San Cristobal. Our first experience, diving with Hammerhead Sharks. Have a look at the video below… but be aware, for sharks!! We did another couple of dives in San Cristobal at “Roca Ballena” which means Rock Whale,Continue reading “Diving Darwin and Wolf”
First glimpse of Galapagos
March 25,2021 We have been here only a week and I have lots of things to tell you. So far we have visited San Cristobal Island. The flora and fauna are really stunning. Species that are only in this island. Let’s start with some of the highlights. Sea Lions Sea lion is one of the most emblematicContinue reading “First glimpse of Galapagos”
900 nautical miles
March 18, 2021 From Panama to Galapagos is 900nm approximately. Remember ? 1 nautical mile = 1.8km. Therefore, 1560km. It is quite a distance, equivalent of Paris – Gibraltar or Bogota – Dominican Republic… We had very light winds and also some days with no wind in the predictions. So we splitted the journey inContinue reading “900 nautical miles”
Between two Oceans
March 6, 2021 Many years ago sailors had to go all the way down to Argentina to cross from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. But nowadays there is the Panama Channel. The stories on the channel crossings are endless. Unfortunately, people tend to remember and share around all the bad stories. After listening toContinue reading “Between two Oceans”
Nice ride from Colombia to Panama
February 17, 2021 We left Cartagena just before sunset, passing by the statue of Our Lady of el Carmen By the time we passed Boca Chica it was already dark. Happy Captain sailing out of the bay once again with full sails up. Just on the way out we got a radio call from aContinue reading “Nice ride from Colombia to Panama”
Colombia, even with COVID what a great place!!
February 12,2021 Since March when COVID started and destroyed everyone’s plans, Colombia as destination was in our minds all the time. We patiently waited until it finally open its sea borders in December and all efforts were compensated by seeing our family. Strange enough that they opened when COVID was still rising and we endedContinue reading “Colombia, even with COVID what a great place!!”
Happy Days is getting a coat!
December 22, 2020 Well time has come for Happy Days to get a new coat of paint! Boats normally need to be taken out of the water and get painted with fresh antifouling once a year. The antifouling is the paint that helps to keep all the small marine life getting attached to the boat.Continue reading “Happy Days is getting a coat!”
A very special guest
December 19,2020 My dad has always been very supportive of my projects even if sometimes they could sound a bit crazy. He grew up in Bogota at an altitude of 2600 m and has lived there for all his life, 74 and counting!! He had no interest in sailing until 2008 when I decided toContinue reading “A very special guest”
Good Bye Bonaire. Where to next? Yes, Colombia!
December 6, 2020 On November 30th we were sailing with our friends from SV L’alchimiste when Francois told us about an announcement on facebook confirming that Colombian sea borders would open on 1st of December. With so many delays, I was very reluctant to believe it. It was just a post on the Cartagena ClubContinue reading “Good Bye Bonaire. Where to next? Yes, Colombia!”
Diver’s Paradise!!!
November 26, 2020 Bonaire is called the Divers paradise!!! Lots of divers from all over the globe come here. The island has all the facilities to receive divers by thousands. Most dive sites are clearly mark with a yellow buoy on the sea and if arriving from land, there is a yellow stone marking theContinue reading “Diver’s Paradise!!!”
Bonaire!!
November 6, 2020 With all the change of regulations and the opening and closure of different countries, it is now possible to visit Bonaire specially from Curacao. After almost a year with COVID around the world we have been very lucky not to catch it and never had the need to be tested. However, toContinue reading “Bonaire!!”
Dive, kite, hike, eat, sleep, repeat!
November 1st, 2020 We are still waiting for Colombia to open its borders. The airport is open, the country is re-opening business and a lot of activities after a long 6 month lockdown. However, the maritime border is still closed. Latest news was they would open first of November but did not happened. So thatContinue reading “Dive, kite, hike, eat, sleep, repeat!”
Time flies when you are having fun!
October 15,2020 It’s been already a month since we landed in Curacao. We have been busy between celebrating my birthday, repairing the things that broke during the Martinique-Curacao crossing, sharing time with some other sailors in the anchorage, little bit of kitesurf and the main activity of all diving, diving an more diving. Making repairsContinue reading “Time flies when you are having fun!”
One more loop around the sun
September 14, 2020 At some point I thought my birthday was going to be in quarantine somewhere isolated. This 2020 with its coronavirus has turn everyone’s plans upside down. But, instead we managed to clear in, anchored in a nice safe place in Spanish Waters in Curacao. So the Capitan was confident on leaving HappyContinue reading “One more loop around the sun”
Finally we are in Curaçao!
We spend a couple of days in Klein Curaçao in a Chillaxing mode as my nephew would say, which means chilling out and relaxing!! Klein Curacao is a small island, 12 nautical miles from the Main island. It is almost inhabited with a couple of houses only for the locals to host one restaurant forContinue reading “Finally we are in Curaçao!”
Sailing from Martinique to Curacao
It is always good to have a plan but one must be “agile”, ready to make changes. And even more so in this pandemic times. Our next destination was going to be Aruba. We have planned this at the end of May when we left Dominica. We even paid a deposit to go into theContinue reading “Sailing from Martinique to Curacao”
Is there anything else left to do in Martinique?
Well, after Killian left, the plan was to go straight to Aruba. Martinique is south but still not south enough to be safe from the hurricanes. But Aruba was not very clear in their entrance procedures. They are officially open and they are receiving flights and the rules for people arriving by plane seem toContinue reading “Is there anything else left to do in Martinique?”
Land, sea, wind, food and more in Martinique
July 31, 2020 Almost impossible to share all the things we did in the past two weeks when we had our nephew Killian visiting. But here are some of the highlights Landing in Martinique coming from France is a really easy trip that lots of people does normally in summer. It is not even considerContinue reading “Land, sea, wind, food and more in Martinique”
Bienvenue a la Martinique!
July 20, 2020 The sail went very well from Antigua to Martinique. We arrived on July 14 at 12:50pm to Anse Mitan. As it was Bastille Day the place was greatly alive. We had not seen something like this in the entire trip. Not even before COVID back the on the first week of MarchContinue reading “Bienvenue a la Martinique!”
Decision time where to go next
July 12, 2020 I know it is still July and we have been saying that by now we should definitely be more south. But guess what, we are still here. In fact, the official hurricane season starts in June 1st, most insurance will no cover anything on your boat if you are north of 10Continue reading “Decision time where to go next”
2020-06-30 Antigua charming and empty beaches
We are free to sail to different bays and islands which has been excellent. We have basically done the full tour of of the main island a couple of times by boat and land. We added some small islands and some underwater sightings. We are visiting a different version of Antigua. Normally at this timeContinue reading “2020-06-30 Antigua charming and empty beaches”
2020-06-24 The quiet Barbuda…
Antigua & Barbuda, but most people never make it to Barbuda. Ferry for a couple of hours with only a very sleepy town to visit, small flights which probably take 30mn or so, or a nice 6 to 8h sail north are your options to get there. Except for a couple of fantastic hotels, BarbudaContinue reading “2020-06-24 The quiet Barbuda…”
Antigua opening slowly to travellers
Junio 21, 2020 After being 3 months in Dominica, it is a great feeling to be able to travel and change scenery and have a bit more freedom. There is still a curfew here from 11pm to 5am everyday. Antigua claim to have a beach for everyday of the year. We don’t intend to stayContinue reading “Antigua opening slowly to travellers”
2020-06-09 Arrive in Antigua
Almost a 24hr sail. It was nice with light winds and full sails and couple of hours engine. Very comfortable, Happy Days is great. We had full moon and only saw two boats close by during the night. Normally, in this area at this time of the year there would have been a lot more.Continue reading “2020-06-09 Arrive in Antigua”
2020-06-08 Good Bye Dominica. Thank you!
Three full months… that’s the time we have been here. And fortunately, our balance of this three months with all that is happening in the world is very positive. We arrived in Roseau to an anchorage not that pretty and a city that didn’t look very welcoming. On the first night, after we did theContinue reading “2020-06-08 Good Bye Dominica. Thank you!”
2020-05-01 Exploring Dominica, less restrictions
May 1,2020 It seems that we have been here forever…. our plan was to stay here only 10 days and we have been here 10 weeks. But we can’t complain, Dominica managed really well the spread of Covid-19. Restrictions keep changing and getting more relaxed so we can move a little bit more and visitContinue reading “2020-05-01 Exploring Dominica, less restrictions”
2020-05-04 May the 4 be with you
Today is the Capitan’s Bday, the original plan was to be in Colombia, just arriving a day or two before to be able to have the whole colombian family in Cartagena celebrating not only our arrival to Colombia but also one more year of the captain!! And of course, another couple of thousands miles sailed!!Continue reading “2020-05-04 May the 4 be with you”
2020-01-04 April one more month in Dominica!
We are still in Dominica, same anchorage at Portsmouth. Who would have ever thought the world would have to stop. Almost every country on the planet is in quarantine!! The COVID-19 still spreading and each country has set in place more and more restrictions. Here in Dominica on April 6th the announcement was to extendContinue reading “2020-01-04 April one more month in Dominica!”
2020-03-17 Dominica – two more weeks!
News about COVID-19 are everywhere. Here in Dominica no cases have been detected, but things are changing rapidly. Some measures have been put in place.We heard all Cruise ships have been stoped. Normally, they have Cruise ships arriving in Roseau almost everyday this time of the year; we saw two different ones the two daysContinue reading “2020-03-17 Dominica – two more weeks!”
Dominica first week
March 12,2020 Landing in Dominica is quite impressive, we had an excellent weather from Martinique all the way, we left early morning and arrived in the afternoon. We first arrived in Roseau, which is the Capital. Things were pretty relaxed for the sailing, nice blue sky, great wind as we arrived some local came inContinue reading “Dominica first week”
St Vincents and the Grenadines…
February 24,2020 Starting the holiday part of the trip…. While for every blue water sailor, crossing the Atlantic or any ocean for that matter, is a treat, a pleasure rarely achieve, an achievement you will keep and cherish for long, we are now entering the holiday mode. The Grenadines is a destination for thousands andContinue reading “St Vincents and the Grenadines…”
2020-02-21 Barbados – St Vicente y las granadinas(24hrs crossing)
February 21, 2020 Salimos de Barbados en a las 3PM y llegamos a Canouan a las 2PM del día siguiente. Mi primera travesía en Happy Days. Adaptarse a la vida en el mar toma su tiempo y aunque ya lo he hecho antes, después de viajar 42 horas en avión, pasar una noche a bordoContinue reading “2020-02-21 Barbados – St Vicente y las granadinas(24hrs crossing)”
Sydney -Barbados.
February 17, 2020 Bueno y finalmente uno de los días más esperados por fin llego. El 17 de febrero viajé de Sydney a Barbados para comenzar mi año sabático. Happy Days ya llegó a Barbados el 16 de Febrero, pero como era Domingo no les permitieron ir a tierra porque todas las oficinas de inmigraciónContinue reading “Sydney -Barbados.”
2020-01-25 Crossing the Atlantic-for the THIRD time
What to write about the Atlantic? 1st let me tell you that we made it. I am writing these lines as we are reaching the grenadines from Barbados. No suspense here. Now each crossing brings its surprises, good times, technical glitch, human scrambles and for sure weather patterns to discuss. Every sailor should be ableContinue reading “2020-01-25 Crossing the Atlantic-for the THIRD time”
2020-01-20 Leaving Cadiz to Canary Islands
As planned it is the hardest weather window to find. As I arrived there was a nice 5 days northerly we could not use as we were not ready. No crew, boat not reviewed, no beer enjoyed in our favorite waterhole in Cadiz. So we then go stuck through southerly for a bit more thanContinue reading “2020-01-20 Leaving Cadiz to Canary Islands”
2020-01-24–Las Palmas -Last check before crossing
Last check or last repairs as the toilets are out of commission in the front and the leak is still an unsolved mystery and we do not have a salt water pump for the kitchen. First things first, let’s give Happy Days a thorough clean. Just 5 days has made it look as filthy asContinue reading “2020-01-24–Las Palmas -Last check before crossing”
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Happy Days 
Hola, esperando anciosamente el siguiente episodio, Fotos, Momentos. Pendiente del siguiente puerto.
Abrazos.
P.s. yo quiero café
😉🤗😊
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