Setantii - Day 6 Finish - Bermuda, 6 days & 4 hours

Hi all,Bermuda was sited at 14:30 UT/GMT, and Setantii completed her passage from Tortola in 6 days & 4 hours, averaging a speed of 6 knots. The skipper cooked up omelettes for lunch washed down with a cup of tea and Tom shared out his Gulliyan Chocolates (provided as a surprise from Lucy!) Setantii and her crew are now safely moored in Saint Georges Harbour, Bermuda. We were met at the harbour (Saint Georges Sports and Dinghy Club) by the Arc Europe crew Nick and Lyall who were quick to hand over a can of rum and ginger bear to the crew and wish their congratulations! Happy hour began just as we docked so we thought it would be rude not to take part and socialise with other crews! The whether in Bermuda is warm and sunny, but with a cold breeze when offshore (John commented it was. read more...

Setantii - Day 4 Chasing Zephyrs

HiThe wind speed never reached 4 knots during the day and was from the NE. Quite different to the forecast of 0-10 knots ESE. For 12 hours we chased what wind there was making a little more than steerage way. We spotted a large vessel heading in a north easterly direction on Sunday lunchtime. With our new AIS system we identified the ship as a cargo vessel bound for Portsmouth due to arrive next Saturday. We were v happy to use the new system for the 1st time at sea and found the info it provided us v useful! The vessel (Timor Star (?)) crossed our path 8 Nm to the North and was soon over the horizon maintaining a speed of 20 knots. The Setantii book club got into full swing in the afternoon as did light airs sailing practise! In the evening the VHF crackled into life a call from. read more...

Setantii - Days in port at Bermuda

HiWe will be on our way again on Wednesday. Tom has left the boat, Geoff has joined and we hope that Keith will joinlater today, Eyjafjallajökull and Unison permitting. Its been a busy time in port, with repairs, heavy socialising and preparing for the next leg.We have fitted a new AIS system, replaced a worn deck organiser, replaced the fuel filters and cleaned the fuel lines (we discovered that we had contaminated fuel, the bug), replaced the Port Navigation light, refuelled, re-watered, re-provisioned. Our major problem is a broken stay (itermediated upper), we are trying to replace but the rigger is short of one part, which is being flown in from the USA, I hope it arrives in time for the start.Bermuda is a most beautiful island, some kind of paradise. Blue lagoons, white beaches and. read more...

Setantii - Day4 Leg2 - Whales, dolphins and headwinds

Its pretty unpleasant onboard Setantii this morning as we beat through a moderate sea in a ENE F6. Wet and bumpy.A large whale surfaced about 50 yards off the beam yesterday, followed by several visits from dolphins.The skippers back is much improved. We hope to be out of the heavy weather in a few days.Crew of Setantii. read more...

Setantii - Day 2, A close encounter

After the first night at sea we were all tired so lots of sleeping was the order of the day.During the day, through the night and into this Saturday morning the wind continues to be light F3 to 4 varying between E and ENE. Never the less we continue to make reasonable progress averaging about 7 knots. We are in visual range of Ashia and at least two others. Whilst yesterday was largely uneventful we had one 'hair-raising' situation.Eastern Sky a large yacht had been following us astern for 12 or more hours, as the wind dropped light late yesterday afternoon, she started her engines and motor sailed. As she approached it was clear that she would pass close, we watched and took photographs of what was a beautiful 50 foot plus US flagged yacht.. read more...