Disembarking Wind Surf, Arriving in Cadiz Spain

 "Today we chase not land, but clarity."

Disembarking Wind Surf, Arriving in Cadiz Spain


After two weeks at sea on board Wind Surf, we have reached the long-awaited moment when land is within sight. As the coastline of Spain rises on the horizon, the promise of Europe pulls us forward. Today would be a day of mixed feelings, ranging from excitement to reluctance to depart this magnificent sailing ship and her amazing crew.


Early Morning on Wind Surf


Despite several late nights and many early mornings, Sean was on deck at 4 AM, and I joined him around 5:00 AM to witness our arrival into Cadiz, Spain. At these hours on deck, it was still completely dark outside, and the wind was very strong. 


A large flock of gulls was still escorting the ship through the choppy seas, curiously all staying on the windy side of the vessel. Both the birds and their shadows were lit up by the lights along the side of the ship. As we made our way toward the bow, we passed the group of Rock Doves still huddled miserably on the lifeboats.

 

We could see the lights of Spain's south coast shining in the darkness ahead of us. After more than two weeks at sea, Cadiz finally emerged on the horizon. The lights of the coastal city sparkled on the horizon in the twilight of the early hours.


At the same time, off to the starboard side, a lighthouse was flashing its warning, and a very bright green light was giving direction to the many cargo ships, fishing vessels, and ferries that now surrounded us. Some of the vessels were large and fully lit up with bright lights, while others appeared only as outlines or the faintest of single lights.


Not wanting to leave the deck, we had a quick breakfast of coffee and a chocolate croissant as the night sky lit up and our last morning on board Wind Surf began.

Docking in Cadiz


As we drew nearer to the port, we could begin to make out individual buildings and shapes. One of the first to emerge was the tall towers of the Puente de la Constitución de 1812, which were covered in red lights. The white lights of the bridge made a graceful arc across the harbour mouth, water below.


 Next, we began to pick up the shapes of cranes and ships parked in the working part of the harbour. As we got even closer, we could see the lights of the city itself, overseen by the golden dome of the Cathedral of Cadiz. In the foreground were also several magnificent-looking Spanish municipal buildings and a shoreline outlined by a long line of palm trees.


Just outside the port, the Wind Surf was met and soon after boarded by the harbour pilot, without seeming to slow down or alter course in the slightest. At the mouth of the harbour, two tug boats were waiting, seemingly welcoming us to Spain. One of them zipped around to the back, while the other came right up under the bow of the ship and then began reversing as the crew threw down the lines so we could be towed.


The first officer navigated the ship into the long, narrow harbour and then, rather quickly it seemed, the tug boats turned us so that the Wind Surf docked parallel to the shore.

Just like that, our transatlantic crossing had come to a successful end, and we had reached Europe!


As our mooring lines were tossed to dock workers in Cadiz, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the experience as well as a sense of melancholy for soon having to step off and leave the ocean behind. The journey had been so much more than simply arriving - it had been a living experience, full of every nuance and sensation along the way.

Morning Preparations 


Though docked, our time on Wind Surf was not yet at its end.  We could not check into our hotel in Cadiz until 2 PM, and so sought to spend as much time on board as we could.  

We returned downstairs to change and have a quick shower to warm up after standing in the cold morning wind, and then headed up to Veranda for some breakfast. We had our usual muesli with fresh fruit, a fruit smoothie, and coffee, feeling very sad that this would be our last meal aboard the ship. We were surrounded by many familiar faces, all of whom looked like they were sad to have this amazing journey come to a conclusion. It was a strange feeling to sit stationary in port, with no wind and no waves as dawn finally broke.


 After breakfast, we went downstairs and finished the last of our packing. From this point on, our casual and formal clothes were replaced with our faded and sun-stained hiking gear.


With one last fond farewell to Winston, the stuffed bear whose cabin we had shared for two weeks, we also left a note of thanks to our amazing room attendant Ni Luh and headed upstairs.

Goodbye to Wind Surf


Because our ship was supposed to have landed in Lisbon, Portugal, today, many people were being transported by bus to Lisbon. The cruise line was very kindly also taking people to Porto, Faro, Seville, and Malaga as well. We sat outside the Yacht Club watching as six busloads of people were assembled in the lounge and then lined up to disembark. It gave us a chance to say goodbye to many of the folks we've come to know over the past few days, and even to talk with a few we hadn't yet met. Felt almost like the Camino, as people we have come to chat with and know simply walked away and got on buses.


Around us, the crew was rushing to clean and prepare everything as the ship would take on 300 people tonight at 7 PM, and the next sailing would begin. Their tireless professionalism is amazing.

We stayed aboard until nearly 10:30 AM, chatting to the crew and other passengers before it was finally time for us, and any other 'independent' travellers, to disembark.

 

With tears in our eyes, we made our way down the gangplank. On land once again, both the Captain and Matt O said their goodbyes, after which we crossed the parking lot and walked into Cadiz.  


Just like that, our glorious two-week transatlantic sailing from the Caribbean to Europe had come to an end.  

Trading Sea Legs for Trail Shoes

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end"
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

And yet, stepping off the ship was not the end - it was only the beginning. As we walked through the historic streets of Cadiz and the Wind Surf faded from view, we traded sea legs for trail shoes, exchanging the rhythms of ocean swells for the cadence of footfall on ancient stone.


Ahead of us stretched the Via Augusta, winding north through Andalucía toward Seville, where we would join the Via de la Plata, and eventually, the Camino Sanabrés -  a route that would lead us, over many weeks and countless quiet moments, to Santiago de Compostela. 


After two weeks of chasing the horizon, we now turned inland, chasing something more elusive: clarity, stillness, and the simple grace of walking forward.

See you on the Way!
Location: Cádiz, Spain

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