{"id":7478,"date":"2023-10-10T09:15:23","date_gmt":"2023-10-10T07:15:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/neu.sailing-classics.com\/guestbook\/"},"modified":"2025-08-12T17:17:34","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T15:17:34","slug":"guestbook","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sailing-classics.com\/en\/guestbook\/","title":{"rendered":"Guestbook"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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What our guests say about us<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Guestbook entries<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Travelogue by Heinz-Dieter Heibach<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Transit Cruise on the KAIR\u00d3S: Portim\u00e3o, Portugal \u2013 Valencia, Spain<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Who would have thought it!!! When I saw my wife Barbara poring over a Sailing-Classics brochure with sparkling eyes in October 2025, I had no idea that we\u2019d be booking a delivery cruise on the KAIR\u00d3S just a short time later. But let\u2019s take it one step at a time. For the two of us, as recreational sailors with our little ETAP 23iL, it was actually unimaginable that we\u2019d ever get to sail on a large two-masted yacht and even lend a hand ourselves. After a last-minute informational meeting with Ms. Sturm at the Stuttgart sales office, we were certain: We were going to take on this voyage, and so we eagerly awaited the start of the trip in June 2026. For us, the focus was on sailing the KAIR\u00d3S rather than just hopping from bay to bay. There were just ten days between the end of my own trip and our flight to Portugal. On that trip, I\u2019d previously sailed solo from South Holland across the English Channel to southern Brittany, and then continued on with Barbara for a few more weeks in the Bay of Biscay. Days before her arrival, we were already tracking the KAIR\u00d3S via Vesselfinder on her journey from the Azores to Portim\u00e3o. The joyful anticipation grew. \"\"<\/p>\n

When we finally saw the KAIR\u00d3S in person for the first time, we were really looking forward to checking in the next day.<\/p>\n

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Captain and Sailing-Classics CEO Seren Elg\u00fcn warmly welcomed us\u2014ten passengers\u2014aboard along with his seven-member crew. The very next morning, after a brief stop for a swim near Portim\u00e3o, we set off for what would be our last anchorage for the time being, near Faro. This gave the guests plenty of time to settle in on board and get familiar with the KAIR\u00d3S. After all, the upcoming nonstop voyage to Valencia would be quite demanding during our first two days at sea. <\/p>\n

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Off the Strait of Gibraltar, winds of up to 47 kt from the east were forecast. Later, while tacking toward Tarifa, the anemometer even registered 50 kt. The boat, the crew, and, of course, the guests were put to the test. However, I thoroughly enjoyed steering the 153-metric-ton KAIROS close-hauled through waves up to 4 meters high. On our little ETAP, I had last sailed in the English Channel with a broad reach and winds of up to 32 kt. On that boat, you\u2019re much closer to the elements. It was nothing like the majestic experience on the KAIROS. Together with Seren, I sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar on the third night. There was relatively little ship traffic, and Tangier at night, along with the Rock of Gibraltar, glowed almost mystically against the dark backdrop of the mountains behind them. After the hardships of the Atlantic, the conditions in the Mediterranean Sea the following day felt like sailing on a duck pond. We watched dolphins, as well as tuna and barracudas hunting; two sunfish (Mola mola) were drifting on the surface; and later, my personal highlight: a pod of six pilot whales, which I first noticed because of their loud songs. These extraordinary creatures accompanied us at a leisurely pace for about half an hour. Pure joy! <\/p>\n

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And then there were those sunsets at sea, time and time again. I love them!!! The crew took excellent care of us, even in the toughest conditions. The ship\u2019s engineer found a quick solution to even the smallest problem, and the ship\u2019s command\u2014including the captain, first mate, and deckhand\u2014always made everyone on board feel safe, not just the sailing novices among the guests! Over the remaining days, we cruised\u2014with several stops for swimming in the middle of the open sea\u2014all the way to Valencia, where, after 711 NM, we performed an anchoring maneuver under sail. Hats off! After one final night at anchor, there was a touch of melancholy in the air that last morning. At breakfast, everyone spoke in hushed tones. The crew prepared everything for our departure. Over the past seven days, we\u2014crew and guests alike\u2014had become a temporary unit! I\u2019m very satisfied and happy that I was able to actively support the regular crew with ship handling and maneuvers. In particular, the watches with Captain Seren Elg\u00fcn helped me improve my seamanship quite a bit, especially when it comes to handling a tall ship. <\/p>\n

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After tears had been shed\u2014not just by the crew\u2014as we said our goodbyes, we checked out and drove to the harbor with the second group. There, from the shore, Barbara and I gazed thoughtfully at \u201cour\u201d KAIR\u00d3S for what would be our last time\u2014for now. <\/p>\n

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