BattPack - Final BattPack Log - Days 19 & 20

ARC team - please note that we sent you our Log for days 17&18 on the 12th December but it hasn't been uploaded onto the log page. We then had trouble with our keyboard, thus the delay in sending this final log. Please could you ensure that days 17&18 are posted and also post the following, thank you so much: BattPack Log Day 19 - Dec 13th – We launch into action – today is the day, we will have landed before the day is out! Much cleaning and boat prep to do, sorting washing (loads!) ready for the laundrette, tidying away the things that we needed for the crossing and getting out the things that we need for cruising eg: paddleboard! There is much excitement on the boat. We all work hard and treat ourselves to the first fresh water shower – a warm one too – divine!! We are a. read more...

BattPack - BattPack Log Days 17&18

BattPack Log Day 17 - 11th December - 191 miles sailedin the last 24 hours - wow, a record day & just what we need at this point!2 more days to go! 48 hours is still the longest passage prior to the Atlanticthat I have ever done, but it seems small fry now and is all that lies betweenus and land!Jago and Liberty were keen to do the sunrise shift thismorning, so Jay woke them at 6am and they enjoyed the sunrise with him -snuggled up with hot chocolates! We had a peaceful day with great wind and weare galloping along still. We all have various aches and pains because ourbodies need to move more than they have been able to! I have my trainers with meand am dreaming of arriving in St Lucia and running to launch my body intoaction again!There is a huge and increasing amount of. read more...

BattPack - Log Day 16- oops day 16 entry missed yesterday!

BattPack Log- Day 16 - 10th December - We are gallopingalong! Great job because we absolutely need this pace to get to St Lucia in timefor Rex's 14th birthday on the 14th December.  The dear boy has been atotal star onboard, but another day at sea for his celebrations simply isn't topof his agenda and I am wholeheartedly with him!! He will make the best ofwhatever situation we are presented with, but certainly getting to St Lucia,eating pizza, swimming and enjoying a change of scenery will be just what thedoctor ordered!!   184 miles in the last 24 hours- 535 left to go! We areon a direct course of 280 to St Lucia. The wind is high 25-30kts and theforecast remains as such for the next couple of days. The seas are huge againand after a couple of calm days, everyone is feeling. read more...

BattPack - BattPack Log Days 15 & 16

BattPack Log Day 15 - Dec 9th - I did the sunrise shiftwhich passed smoothly until 05.50 when what looked like a brightgreen light shot across the sky from behind the headsail and then peteredout. All I could think was that it was a flare. I leapt out of my seat, tooknote of our position, could see nothing more on the horizon, and switched on theVHF to channel 16 to listen out for an emergency call. I woke up Jay to see whatelse we could do. We shone a bright torch in the direction of the light butcould see nothing else. We sat and pondered what on earth it could be-apparently not a flare, they don't come in green and they would travel with thewind whereas the arc of the light was across the wind. We wonder if any otherArc boats saw it? We will investigate more in St Lucia!  . read more...

BattPack - BattPack Log Days 13 & 14

BattPack Log Day 13 - Dec 7th -Rex and I did the10:00-1:00 shift and it was lovely to share the shift with him. We talked aboutanything and everything under the starlit sky. We saw an incredible shootingstar which shot right across the sky. The glorious peace is one of the mostmagical things about night shifts. That, the twinkling array of stars and thephosphoresence which sparkles in the wake alongside out boat. It feels likethere is magic all around.   We awoke to the glimmer of a rainbow to the starboardside of our boat. She came in the wake of a couple of squalls, which hit thelater night shifts. Today we are in between squalls and calm. In a moment ofcalm, Rex proposed that this was the most settled weather we would get and itwas time to fly his drone and take some aerial. read more...