Hecuba - Days 16 & 17 - Tradewinds, Dolphins & Autopilot issues

We finally found the tradewinds and have been enjoying consistent winds from the East, so our speed and trejectory has improved remarkably. That being said, the seas are bigger than expected making for uncomfortable conditions aboard. On day 17 we were also welcomed at lunchtime by a huge pod of dolphins - they proceeded to swim with us for a couple of hours, jumping out of the water and swimming at incredible speeds alongside. Not the first time we've seen dolphins on the trip, but probably the most impressive showing. In other more depressing news, our autopilot has officially given up the ghost (despite lots of attempts to resolve by Larry & Steve) with a possible hydraulic/power issue, so we're forced to hand steer for the last 650 miles. That means we're probably in for some. read more...

Hecuba - Satellite phone fixed - we're back online!

After a pretty fierce storm about 6 days ago, our sat phone looked dead after suffering water damage. However, once the weather improved we set about attempting to fix the fried cables. Thanks to some expert soldering by Steve (and a hefty chunk of luck), we managed to get it up and running again - quite unbelievable. Over the past week we've been stuck in some low winds making slow progress and well behind schedule, but we're well past the half way mark at least. More updates to follow over next couple of days. Team Hecubahttp://www.teamhecuba.com . read more...

Hecuba - Days 3 & 4 - Rough with the smooth

It's been a mixed bag the past few days - the wind has been up and down and shifting direction regularly with the odd squall thrown in for good measure, but sounds like we've been luckier than most by actually seeing some good wind after taking the Westerly route. We've also had mixed conditions, with a couple of miserable stormy/rainy nights in full wet weather gear and beautiful sunny days in shorts & t-shirts. Looking forward to eventually hitting the trade winds so we have a bit more predictability.Team Hecubahttp://www.teamhecuba.comIMG_4174. read more...

Hecuba - Days 1 & 2 - Atlantic Crossing

Exciting start to the ARC as we crossed the line 2 minutes after the gun, close to the shore. Weather had been good all morning, but we soon got hit by the predicted showers and variable wind. First few nights have been a tough induction into Atlantic sailing - with limited sleep and wind keeping up. We've covered over 300 miles so far, and tracking well on our heading towards Cape Verde. You can follow our progress on the World Cruising website: http://www.worldcruising.com and look for the yellowbrick fleet viewer.Cheers,Team Hecubahttp://www.teamhecuba.comIMG_4080. read more...

Hecuba - Hecuba

Hecuba now in Quinta do Lorde Marina in Madeira after a pleasant stay in Porto Santo following a fast passage from LagosAfter exploring here next stop Canaries - probably Lanzarote - en route to Las Palmas.Lawrence Hoskins. read more...