Reina - Log 15 FISH, FISH, FISH!

“Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiish!!!!” Captain Jarrod Cripps shout out loud. The whole Reina-crew is just starting to have breakfast together in the cockpit. Bread, bacon and scrambled eggs. We are chatting about the 80 miles we still have to go to St. Lucia and making plans for later the day where we will have dinner and which bar we are going to visit.Harry is the first at the rod. He brings up a small tuna. We decide to give it back to the sea. Only a quarter of an hour it is BINGO again. “Fish!” three men shout like in a chorus. This time we tackle up a Mahi-Mahi. What a luck on this last day to the finish… And it is not yet over. A third time the reel is rattling. “Fish!” again. Now Arie is the lucky one to get our catch in. When the gold and green is coming up the surface of the water we. read more...

Reina - Log 12 SINTER CHRISTMAS

On board Reina they invented a new kind of holiday. I call it Sinter Christmas because it is a mix of the Dutch Sinterklaas and the worldwide known Christmas. Of course everybody knows of Father Christmas, Christmas Eve, presents and the candles in the tree. Just a few weeks earlier in Holland arrives Sinterklaas (Saint Nicolas). He comes from Spain with his help Zwarte Piet (Black Pete). The good Saint always brings a lot of presents for the children in Holland. Zwarte Piet delivers the gifts trough the chimney on the eve of 5 December. A day before the birthday of the good holy man. The next day Sinterklaas and his servant go back to Spain by boat.Well, to have another reason for a party on the ocean and to pleasure the two Dutchmen aboard Reina the chef invented  Sinter. read more...

Reina - Log 14 REINA, THE BEST RESTAURANT ON THE ATLANTIC

Already in earlier logs I gave a big compliment for the kitchen on Reina, where Chef Floss is ruling. Today there was another big surprise for lunch; PAELLA. Tasteful as in the best Spanish restaurant we have been before the ARC starts in Las Palmas.Arie Blokland. read more...

Reina - Log 13 SINTERKLAAS AVOND (EVE OF SINTERKLAAS)

During the daily gathering at 18.00 hours aboard Reina there was a big surprise. For the two Dutchmen aboard because far away from home they were going to celebrate Sinterklaas Avond, The Eve on which Saint Nicolas surprises them every year on December 5 with gifts. It was also a big surprise for the English members of the crew who would celebrate this specially Dutch Holiday for the first time in their lives.Next to the cupboard with glasses (representing a burning fireplace) we found a bunch of nicely wrapped parcels. Brought by Zwarte Piet (Black Pete). All with a name on it and on top a rhyme. All typical Dutch. One after another we had to recite our poem. Then unwrap your present. Exactly like at home. Only on the ocean the temperature at that time was about 22 degrees and at home. read more...

Reina - Log 11 WHAT DO WE HAVE FOR DINNER TODAY?

Tonight we have Sunday roast with vegetables, stuffed potatoes and creamy leek. For desert brownie with fudge and ice cream.” That’s what Chef Floss Cripps told us last Sunday. Yesterday we had pork stew with quinoa. The day before chicken curry with rice.Every day starts with a nice cup of tea with honey and yoghurt with muesli and fruit. For lunch sandwiches, ham + cheese toasted in the pan or pasta. Today we celebrated the fact that we passed the border of 1.000 miles with a delicious hamburger for lunch.Unfortunately we did not yet have sushi made from fresh tuna. Just because we cannot catch any fish. Reina is always going faster than 10 knots. We try to launch a lure and see it fly over the water. That’s not the way to catch a fish. So we are very lucky to have Floss aboard. Oh. read more...