NoStress - Log Day 27 - Saint Lucia

How do I start?  Anyone watching the Facebook page will have noticed that we saw land at a little after midday UK time today.  The gamutof emotions that unfolded afterwards was something that we all “expected” - but it’s one of those truisms:  you don’t understand it until you’ve done it.  We crossed the finish line with a siren from the comittee boat and the crew hugged one another.  Elationwas the emotion most felt - it overcame and surprised us, we actually did it!  Fittingly, the weather delivered a squall for the exact time we crossed the line where the photographer had us framed - fresh, smart crew t-shirts for the photo show us all lookinglike we’ve been dragged out of the water.  The Atlantic was definitely. read more...

NoStress - Log Day 26 - A Visitor

“Careful what you wish for” is the oft-heard phrase.We’ve been waiting for the wind for days and finally, last night, it arrived. The breeze filled in after dinner (which was the previously maligned but much enjoyed risotto - thanks Fi for the magic recipe) building from 12 to 20 knots through the night.At about 4am local time it hit 25~30 knots - wish granted.“That’s enough wind now thanks” we said, and put a reef in the mainsail which we kept in until the airs softened a little this afternoon.We made 132 miles in the 24 hours until midday today with 160 miles now left to go. So, if all proceeds as planned we should be in Saint Lucia tomorrow!In the title of the log entry I mentioned a visitor.We had a small bird, some sort of sparrow or martin, join us for the night at sunset.Although. read more...

NoStress - Log Day 25 - Eat, Sleep, Wait for Wind, Repeat.

I have to start today’s entry with an apology I’m afraid.We have nothing new to report.The wind that was promised in the forecasts predictably failed to appear (the irony of this observation tessellates all too well with the other parts of our story).The sun remains hot, making sleeping below uncomfortable.Likewise the view is unchanged (apart from the odd flurry of flying fish).The crew are in good spirits - if this remains true after tonight’s dinner of rice and peas is yet to be seen though.Latest calculations indicate we should arrive in Saint Lucia on Friday or Saturday, but the lack of consistent or reliable wind is painful and we’re clawing at every mile with hope, but not much certainty, that we’ll make it to land within the next 3 days.With less than 300 miles to go, that should. read more...

NoStress - Log Day 24 - The Tortoise and the Hare

Or should I say the tortoise, and only the tortoise.A slow tortoise at that, one that has one of those GPS boxes in its car to get discount off its insurance premium because it’s such a safe driver.The sort of chelonian that thinks snails are dragsters and for whom watching paint dry is an action movie.Yes, it’s been a slow day waiting for the promised wind to fill in.Once again it teases us, lots of shifts in angle and strength have us fiddling with the rig in the hot sun just to hover around the 5 knot mark.So we continue to wait patiently for the wind to help us on our way - such is a sailor’s lot.23 days into 21 days of provisions and the daily bill of fayre is beginning to get “interesting”.Lunch was sausages & pasta with a cup-a-soup sauce.Those that know the caterers at my. read more...

NoStress - Log Day 23 - Jacques Cousteau

Wind, what wind?We spent last night, and today drifting at 2-3 knots with a flukey breeze of 4-5 swinging between our stern and our beam.After some maintenance and cleaning (including flushing the holding tanks and the bilges) we looked at the drive selection unit again and a very worrisome vibration started.This was not good news.Cue the camera team from the Blue Planet!With help from the Blue Peter production department (zip strips, boat hook and sticky-back plastic) we had an underwater GoPro gimbal.A couple of shots over the side and our fears were confirmed.Somewhere along the way we’ve picked up an unhealthy amount of line around the prop, and even the rope cutter on the shaft hadn’t dealt with it.Solution: Jake and I went for a dip with our knives and got to work under the boat.. read more...