I am going to introduce you to Juan González-Aller Lacalle, a sailor by profession and by heart.
Juan is 58 years old, married to Elena and father of four children. He has sailed the seas with the uniform of the Navy and also with the comfortable clothes of the skippers, aboard the ships he has owned “Cecilia”, “Atrevida II” and “Prince Azur” and has skippered in Mediterranean and Atlantic waters for a few years. And he is delighted with the sea. His sea.
In addition to these sailing boats, he has been on board for more than 20 years and commanded several units of the Navy. Of these, he has spent almost 5 years aboard the Training Ship “Juan Sebastian de Elcano”, first as a midshipman, then as Meteorological Officer and chief of maneuver, and finally as Second Commander (XO).
Unforgettable voyages sheltered by the ELCANO sails, and under the chords of the music band that every night gave a concert on the deck and played “In peace or in war, in calm or storm we must sail”. Yes, they also played habaneras.
Now, he also dedicates himself to writing and transmitting his experience at sea through his web page www.navegantesoceanicos.com. A very interesting website, I tell you.
Today it is his turn to be interviewed.
First of all, congratulations for your web site of bluewater sailors. I know you have very good friends. Would you recommend buying a boat to any of them?
Affirmative, to anyone who is passionate about sailing, and has the time, I would recommend buying a boat. Owning a boat implies an economic effort and a lot of dedication, but the satifactions and the “freedom” that the owner of a boat has, especially a sailboat, compensate for everything else.
On board your sailboat, how do you like to sail, with family or friends?
I really enjoy sailing both ways. For the family, our boat is a point of union, and every year as soon as we can we make our escapades. Our children, since they were little, have already sailed and lived on board.
On the other hand, the longer crossings or transfers of the boat, for example from the Canary Islands to the mainland, I usually do it with very good friends, we know each other and we have been sailing together for years, and I have to say that we do not have a bad time. I have also made my first steps with some short solo sailings, an aspect to improve.
Please tell us about some of the most pleasant moments you have experienced at sea, and also the most dramatic.
Pleasant moments at sea, and especially aboard a sailboat, there are many. I prefer something as simple as a good sunset, or a breakfast with fried eggs and bacon on deck.
The most dramatic moments at sea I have experienced in the Mediterranean, off Libya, in 2017, in rescue operations of migrants, who in overloaded dinghies were trying to reach Europe. Many lives were saved, but unfortunately many others were lost, mostly drowned at sea.
On the other hand, although I have had the opportunity to see some storms up close, one of the most harrowing moments I have experienced was a man overboard sailing in the South Atlantic in strong winds. He fell overboard in a tack and fortunately we managed to get him back on board, but it was a very tense time.
You have sailed as a skipper/commander and as an officer/crew member. Choose… Which position do you prefer?
I have enjoyed all the positions I have held on board all types of ships, large and small. The important thing is to be part of a good team, with a good atmosphere, where everyone has their responsibilities and is necessary for the ship to function. Companionship, commitment and loyalty are very important values on board, whether on a large or small ship.
If I have to choose one, I would choose the patrol boat “Anaga”, my first command in the Navy, based in Menorca; and the skipper of our first sailing boat “Cecilia”, an Etap-26 with which we sailed in Norwegian waters.
Are you more of a sextant or a GPS?
No doubt about GPS. It is an essential equipment on board, already integrated with the other systems, such as electronic chart, radio communications, AIS, radio beacon, etc. However, it can be compatible with stargazing on a night with good visibility.
With so much sailing behind you… Do you still have a voyage to undertake?
I am missing a voyage that is surely in the minds of many readers, and that is to sail around the world in a sailboat. For the moment, in the short term it is complicated, although I hope to be able to do it someday.
Please, since we have a few in our naval history, tell me a sailor to emulate, or that you especially admire.
Since we are commemorating the 500th anniversary of the first round-the-world voyage, I choose Juan Sebastián de Elcano, the great Basque sailor who completed the first circumnavigation, initiated with Ferdinand Magellan; possibly the greatest feat of oceanic navigation.
Finally, you who have a boat and know people in the nautical industry, what do you think could be done to improve the recreational marine?
I think it is very important to support the recreational boating sector, especially in this difficult time by the impact of COVID-19, facilitating and promoting boating activities, reducing taxes and giving aid to companies in the sector so they can recover, and to make boating a more affordable activity for everyone.
On the other hand, surely we have too much bureaucracy in recreational boating, which is why it is so often that owners are inclined to flag the boat in other countries (Belgian flag for example) to reduce costs and paperwork.
It would be very positive to promote sailing competitions, and the love of the sea. With the enviable coasts that we have, the nautical sector has one of the greatest growth potentials of our industry.
