Magic - May Dog Blog - The Last Day

Magic May Blog The final Day115 miles, 18 hours to go Sometimes the time seems to have gone on and one and on – minutes seem like years.  Then time goes faster – like when I am busy looking after the feeders or playing catch with cheese in the galley.   This mornings issues are a frayed main halyard – this could pop at any moment and the main will come down – they don’t seem too worried as they are prepared for it – they have been watching the blue string thingy at the top of the mast for a few days – they can see it as they are using special come to me glasses.   Another Block has exploded – the one that was being used on the Genoa.  They just took it off and put ‘new block’ in their note book.There is a relaxed feeling this morning – it is the last. read more...

Magic - Magic May Dog Blog 8th December

Wednesday 9th December 00:3914.65.07N   57.55.85WThe feeders have loved the sailing today – the wind has been perfect for them and Mark was manually steering for the sheer joy of it – sometimes we were doing 12-13 knots which is more like the speeds Magic should do in these conditions – apparently.  There has been much conversation about boat speed and performance – is there weed on the hull?  Has the Genoa’s sail angle affected us  etc etc    but still, Tina doesn’t mind what position in the fleet we arrive she is just proud of our achievement as a team and happy that no one was injured.  It has been an incredible journey for my feeders.It has been sad for John that he has been unwell since the start – but as he says – he is now thin and tan!. read more...

Magic - Magic May Dog Bog Monday 7th December

Magic May Dog Bog  Monday 7th December Weird Adress 15.19.08N   55.58.20 Now it is 9am and this morning’s issues are1.     The Lewmar hatch in Tina and Marks Cabin has been pulled off by the sheets and gone over board2.     The auto pilot has decided to keep cutting out so we can’t rely on it Tina and Mark are now just resigned to the issues and just add things to the now very long list they are keeping.Good thing we have only 273 miles to go they are saying. Today was a good day for the feeders, they had great fun playing with ideas to make the water maker work and it did work.  They had all manner of tubes and pumps and buckets and tubs on deck.   It looked really funny but the result. read more...

Magic - MAGIC blog from TINA and MARK - May is sleeping

Sunday 6th December15.23.4 N   53.51.7W  Dear Suppliers to S/Y Magic As we sail the last few hundred miles en route to Saint Lucia we are taking the time reflect on and write a letter to the suppliers who have worked on Magic over the past year in preparation for our Atlantic Crossing. For the purposes of this letter, some of the names may have been changed… but you know who you are! It is staggering how bad the sailing industry is supported. There are so many suppliers who think they can get away with shoddy work – because we are passing through.  We have been amazed at the world-class lack of professionalism; skill and integrity you have shown us during our progress from Portsmouth to Portugal, Spain and through to Las Palmas and on  to the Caribbean.. read more...

Magic - Magic May Dog Blog Sunday 6th December

Hello from the Atlantic Ocean 421 nm to Saint Lucia:   Another day of sun and rolling begins!  It is 10am and we are doing 7 knots (but I can’t see any knots – weird people!) Last night the feeders had a delicious meal of sausages with fried potatoes followed by a homemade apple cake.  That made them all very happy.   I had to work hard last night as I had cuddle Tina, she went to bed early and she couldn’t eat supper as she was feeling very low.  That was the first time in 2 weeks.  In my blog it is difficult to write about the emotions on board but they are as complex as the boats systems.  Tina said I shouldn’t write about all of the emotions as they are private but she said I could write about hers. Tina said all the things that have. read more...