Setting sail in Gibraltar: D-7

Back in August, we decided that the first step towards our big sailing adventure would be a two weeks intensive sailing class in Gibraltar. The point? Learning how to sail, get some practical experience, experience life on a sailboat, and eventually decide if we really like this or not. We eventually chose Hercules Sailing School in Gibraltar, that delivers RYA certified courses, for the way Mandy and Chris welcomed our ambitions and tailored a two weeks program for our specific objectives. We're now 7 days away from departure and here is what we've been doing to really get prepared!  

• We moved in together

Ryan moved in with me beginning of November. We figured we'd try cohabitation in a regular central urban 2 rooms 50sqm before throwing our relationship on a 38 foot sailboat in the middle of the ocean. We started off by sharing the food expenses before splitting the maintenance costs, sharing the morning alarm clock before sharing the night shifts.... All good so far, and can't wait to share the berth! 

• We read, and read, and read....

Books keep us inspired and we give us tons of perspective on what to expect. While we've both read  "Sailing for dummies" and the "Voyager's handbook", (two must-haves for anyone considering a sailing adventures with 0 skills), it appeared that Ryan is more into technical reading and I'm more interested in how to make the sailing lifestyle work.  We also read tons of different sailing blogs and watch videos. Two of our favorite sailing couples are Matt and Jessica, who inspired Ryan in the first place back in June 2015, and Elayna and Riley from sailing La Vagabonde, who vlogg their sailing adventures. 

• We're learning and practicing

Part of why I believe that my wonderful boyfriend is the perfect teammate for this particular adventure lies in how his background as a pilot and a climber makes him knowledgeable in all kind of sailing-related matters.Although I'm the one with the most actual sailing experience, Ryan truly is the one teaching me the most stuff, things like... the basic concept of a sail (which technically is a vertical wing), how to coil a rope, tie knots.... We've spent a few nights on the sofa, reading books and practicing tying knots. Cause that's what you do, right? :)Ryan eventually got a little carried away with the whole tying knots thing and ended up weaving a rug out of the rope....(In the same run, Ryan also bought some wool and started crochet.... but that's another story.)  

• The ukulele has got competition (it ain't crochet....)

I surprisingly haven't heard much ukulele lately. Which is a little weird, considered we now live together. Maybe because of Ryan's new found hobby? Celestial navigation? Oh yes, dear readers, this is happening too.  

• We're gearing up

Ryan being a big time climber/mountain guy/gear freak, what kind of clothing he needed for the sailing trip was never a question for him: he's got it all. I, on my side, got stuck at "What kind of pants do you wear on a sailboat, in January, in Gibraltar?"While Ryan was picking his favorite gear from the GIGANTIC EQUIPMENT CLOSET he still has at his place (you seriously have to see it to believe it...), I invested in some quality outdoor clothing which I hope will make our adventure a little more comfortable when we're at it. (Read "bye bye money...") I got myself some lighter climbing pants from Houdini and another pair of water repellent hiking pants from Lundhags, a Swedish outdoor brand whose "pants guide" helped me solve my clothing dilemma.I also invested in a warmer vest with a hood from Columbia which I think will be more convenient than a full jacket for rope work.In case it gets really chilly (better safe than sorry), I invested in some (expensiiiiiiiiiive!!!) Smartwool baselayers.For the rest, I'll pack the clothes I work out with in the winter in Sweden, a few T-shirts and hoodies, warm socks, good gloves and hats, my sport sunglasses and one or two pair of sneakers. Our possibilities to do laundry will be limited, so we'll learn to hand-wash on board :)I'm not sure if I should invest in a pair of wellies already, as I don't think the weather will be so bad in Gibraltar. But I might as well do that since.... 

• We ain't got boat shoes (and it's bad)

On the kind of wet, slippery and moving surface a sailboat is, good boat shoes are a matter of safety. We're not big fans of the traditional boat shoes style, so Ryan did tons of research to find us perfection in terms of both function and looks, eventually ordering mine as a Christmas gift.All I know is that Ryan is really good at picking gear, and that my boat shoes will be pink cause at now seven days from departure, none of us got boat shoes.Mine were shipped from the States to Sweden and are apparently stuck in customs. Ryan eventually ordered these ones last week , realizing we were leaving 10 days later. Have they arrived? Well. No....Will we be sailing bare foot? Stay tune for our latest sailing fashion adventures... In the meanwhile, we're over excited! Happy New year!!!!