Webster - ARC EUROPE - A TALE OF (MIS) ADVENTURE MAY/JUNE 2014

We came to Tortola in the BVIThe ARC Europe looming tallTo Nanney Cay to prepare WebsterFor Bermuda first port of call.The crew comprised Charlie as Skip,Treacle miners Dave and Neal,Igor from Slovenia was last to finalise the deal.Fun and mischief on the cardsSkinny dipping with 'Neet from ArcariasYoung Johnny took some photographsof someone's hairy arse.To save said photos from the websome money did discourseElse wives at home may take a dim viewand ban us from future tours.ARC flags they were a target fairfor when we'd drunk much beerTreacle miners werein full crydid make them disappear.So from the start we led the packuntil faster boats found their gearBut only after Jos Van Dykedid they leave us in their rear.En route Igor went to top of mastto rescue chute there stuckand Charlie. read more...

Webster - Final night at sea

Thursday 12th June 2014 Noon position 37 43'N 12 49'W DTD 201nmWelcome to the last blog written at night on this North Atlantic circuit as we shall hopefully be in Lagos tomorrow afternoon sometime. I have fairly mixed emotions about it but that may be because I made Thai chicken curry this evening for dinner and ate quite a lot of it only then to try to get some sleep in the forepeak, more akin to a tumble drier than a bunk! The forecast wind did come in and we have been sailing direct to destination in N/NE winds of up to 25 knots, gusting more and seas that built to around 4 metres or so, a bit rough and beam on. I came on deck this morning at 0600, not because it was the start of my watch with Igor but because I looked at my watch and thought it 0700.......oh dear. The sun soon came. read more...

Webster - Resurrections!

Wednesday 11 June 2014 Position 37 51'N 16 17'W DTD 366It was predicted to be light winds last night and we were not disappointed, well actually we were disappointed as our speed reduced significantly, but it was as expected maybe. The upside was that with our resurrected spinnaker pole with metal bits filed flat by our on board filing clerk Igor, we could pole out the jib again and get some decent speed relative to the wind. Neal was not for the spinnaker stating that the pole may not take it but I am sure this is more to do with his phobia about the kite than anything else besides, he has packed it so nicely it would be a shame to spoil it. Still, its more comfortable with jib boomed out this way I agree.The early evening saw fog patches and a ship blasting her fog horn knowing there. read more...

Webster - Worse things happen at sea

Tuesday 10th June 2014 Position 37 48'N 19 17'W 507 DTDLast night we settled in for a hopefully comfortable ride with the spinnaker up to make up the average speed necessary to get to Lagos in good time for Igor to make his flight home on Sunday. The wind started to build but we decided to stick with it hitting 10 knots at times and never really dropping below 8 knots, we were really eating up the miles and putting some in the bank ahead of the forthcoming light patch due Wednesday. We were probably too reliant on the auto pilot however and around 0500 in the pre dawn light we broached heavily in a gust. I was in the forepeak cabin as Neal came in to say we needed to get the spinnaker down, rather stating the obvious. I struggled to get into my track suit bottoms managing to do a. read more...

Webster - Captain gets a kiss?

Monday 9th June 2014. Position noon 37 17'N 22 45'W Well I was right, and as forecast the wind stayed light most of the night and we flew the spinnaker early on but as it became too light the engine had to go on reluctantly for a few hours, just to keep an average speed up. We were managing to hold the course we want to of 085 degrees and doing 4.5-5 knots. During the morning the wind started to build from behind and we put the spinnaker back up. There was another boat in close proximity but not sure if she was one of ours, but we left her for dead anyway in 12 knots of wind! Igor came on watch just as we had filled the spinnaker and demanded custody of the sheet to play the kite - Dave had been looking forward to it but had to concede as he was off watch and looked crest fallen. Good to. read more...