Defyr - Barn doors version 2

Wasn't this rally all about collecting miles? Well, that is what we have done. Thorougly. Our tactician is really in love with north and so we sailed there. Day after day it was to northeast! Well finally we realised that if we do not change the course, we will miss the Azores. That was after someone from home sent us a fleettracker picture with a message saying: "Are you sure you are not lost from the others?" So we decided to take of our superwarm clothes and set course to southeast. DOWNWIND SAILSLast time I wrote I told that our asymmetric spinnaker blew up in two. That was the first day of the rally. The next day it was all about taping. And sewing and taping again! We had to spare some spinnakertape, because our spinnaker is really really old and we were waiting for some taping to. read more...

Defyr - Now we have two gennakers

What a beutiful weather we had for the ARC Europe! We had decided to fuel Defyr before the start. So we agreed that I would go to customs to clear out (boats joining the rally in Bermuda had to do the clearance in customs building) and the others would move the boat to Rubis. So there I was, after customs, internet and buying last minute stuff from the market. But Defyr wasn't there at the gas station. I sat there for a while and tried to call everyone. Finally I did reach Jaakko. Our anchor was tangled with some kind of rope, which in turn was tangled with a carwreck! The diver had just arrived and soon they would be ready to go. Finally we had fuelled and on our way to the start area, fifteen minutes before the start. It wasn't supposed to be this tight of a schedule! We quickly threw. read more...

Defyr - Nightwatch

Greetings from a nightwatch everyone! We have had a really pleasant and easy sailing from Bahamas to Bermuda. Headwind for 4 days, but also sunshine and perfect, moderate winds. So we have only had one person at a time on a watch. And even though we have had more than enough free time between watches, I have sometimes found it hard to stay awake at night. Maybe it's because nothing happens and you know, it's night! Those of you, who sail, already now very well what it's like at the nightwatch, but maybe someone who doesn't, will find this nightwatch-simulation useful.1. Go to sleep 7 pm even though you are not at all tired. Make sure that family and friends of yours are having a good time in the room beside you. Don't close the door, because you would soon run out of oxygen and be. read more...

Defyr - Whose on board?

Hii-o-hoi!! We left Nassau around sevenish (pm) on friday. First it was motoring, but the next morning it started to blow. We have had an awesome weather ever since. Sunshine and good winds! It seems it's going to be like this for two more days.On board we have Ville, Nina and Ossi besides me and Jaakko. Ville is the boatboy numero uno in Defyr. He has sailed with us from Portugal to Las Palmas, crossed the Atlantic in ARC and he's going to sail all the way to France with Defyr. Ville knows how to helm the boat, but is also always ready for example tobe thoisted on the mast to fix something or do the manouvers in the bow.Nina has been sailing with Defyr many times in Finland. Last july we moved Defyr from Lagos to Madeira and Las Palmas with her on board. We had a pretty rough weather in. read more...

Defyr - Getting ready to sail home

Here we are in Nassau waiting for our  crew to join us. Ossi and Ville have already arrived and Nina will be with on thursday. After we have the whole gang on board we will set our sails to Bermuda, where we will meet the ARC Europe fleet. We have followed ARC Europe’s facebook pages and seen the sunny pictures from Nanny Cay, where the fleet is getting ready. Welcoming parties, rhum tastings, safety checks. In a meanwhile here in Nassau, it’s been raining cats and dogs for three days in row. And the rainy days seem to continue. Well at least we will be read for the wet conditions at sea… so beware! 😊Our plan is to leave Bermuda on friday or saturday and at the moment the weather looks like that could happen. We have had two Norwegian boats beside us on the dock, who aim to cross. read more...