Tue, 29 Jun 2010, Strendur

Ecotroll decided to stay a little longer in Faeroe Islands. Despite the technical problem which is extending our journey in the archipelago, we are glad to meet more Faeroe's people, so welcoming and friendly. It is in Strendur that Ecotroll was taken out of the water this morning, to check port propeller. On the other side of the fjord, this afternoon, the Queen of Denmark had a great welcome. It was also the opportunity to greet her French husband, Henry, by a beautiful sunny day. And tonight, Elton John is attracting 6000 people in the stadium of the capital for a historical solo concert. We can hear his music more than 10 km away, in Strendur for instance.

Posted Jun 2010 29 at 22:33 [en - fr]

Fri, 25 Jun 2010, Eidi

Unexpected summer party in Torshavn! We thought we had drop anchor in a quiet little bay, in front of the capital... it didn't take us long to prepare the dinghy and go to the lively shore. Since this great bath in the crowd, Ecotroll reached Eidi harbour, last stop before Iceland. Guillaume and his video camera just embarked.

Posted Jun 2010 25 at 01:14 [en - fr]

Tue, 22 Jun 2010, Torshavn

Invited by a Greenlandic lady for the National Day, we went yesterday up to the Greenland House, straight after arriving in Torshavn, capital of Faroe Islands. About thirty Greenlandic are living in the archipelago, they like to meet sometimes at their large amazing wooden igloo which roof is covered with grass!

With the help of an unexpected expert met in Frodba, settings of the winch have been improved. Ecotroll was even more amazing for the inhabitants of Tvoroyri when sailing down their fjord at 5 knots, only using the 60m2 kite, with less than 20 knots of wind.

Posted Jun 2010 22 at 01:16 [en - fr]

Fri, 18 Jun 2010, Vaags

In Faeroe Islands, no big deal with football, teams are training daily rowing. The heavy traditional wooden boats are heroes of competitions organized, all summer long, at a difference place in the archipelago each week. In the fog last night, one of these small boats was passing and passing again near Ecotroll: we could hear the helmswoman screaming accross the fjord, while six strong rowers were trying to obey as hard as they could!

To reach Vaags, south of Faeroe Islands, Ecotroll was not pulled by the kite as much as we wanted. The swell probably made our efforts pointless, and the last recovery of the kite in the water was a bit tricky...In order to improve our technique, we need more trials, with calm sea!

Posted Jun 2010 18 at 08:50 [en - fr]

Sun, 13 Jun 2010, Stornoway

With our friends from Craignish, we reached the Isle of Seil, where the Hunter family was expecting us: five years ago, their son Henry, boat hitch-hiker, embarked on board Vagabond from Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, to Ittoqqortoormiit, in Greenland, where we are going again this summer! Before breeding sheeps, Hunters sailed a lot on board a Trismus, a yacht designed by Jean-Pierre Brouns, like Ecotroll. In a very nice place, at Hunter's farm, we met great people, during four days, and also kept on setting up and supplying our ship. This morning, sailing between Scottish islands, Ecotroll arrived at Stornoway, Outer Hebrides, from where we will be trying to start with a good wind for our kite!

Posted Jun 2010 13 at 09:39 [en - fr]

Sat, 12 Jun 2010, Jin et Frost

End of May, Jin and Frost have been killed. A sudden decision from the man who didn't have anymore timme to look after them, at Ny-Alesund international scientific station. Our faithful companions, best watchdogs of Vagabond, heroes of our five winters in Svalbard, are not anymore.

Posted Jun 2010 12 at 12:00 [en - fr]

Sun, 06 Jun 2010, Ardfern

Ardfern is welcoming us in a very nice Marina. It was five nice nights and days of sailing, enjoying a very fine weather. Dolphins, sun and moon shine, very little wind: we could only use the kite in the Irish Sea. But how fun! Most of the time, electric and diesel engines were running alternately. Here we are in Scotland, where we meet up with our friend Tristan and his family. A year ago, Le Manguier was stopping here as well, by the end of Loch Craignish. It is good to go to shore, first time since we left France. We are expecting a parcel with spare parts, that should allow us to understand the funny behaviour of an engine command...

Posted Jun 2010 06 at 12:55 [en - fr]

Tue, 01 Jun 2010, Salcombe

Since we left Le Havre, Ecotroll's deck has been already well flushed with salty water. At anchor for the night, on the other side of the English Channel. Smell of freshly baked bread, sunset, gently rolling...

Posted Jun 2010 01 at 23:27 [en - fr]

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