El Mundo - 23/11 - Postponement, a strange feeling

After a very windy night, involving a few sleep interruptions to check everything was OK on deck, it wasn’t a huge surprise that a postponement to the start was announced. The forecast reduction in winds turned out to be an increase, with gusts in the marina exceeding 40 knots.The reaction of the El Mundo crew was very different. It was the first time Amanda had smiled all morning, so no doubt about her agreement with the decision. Lincy retired to bow of the boat and had a few minutes contemplation on the bow seat, enjoying a brief sunny spell. Bob seemed to take it all in his stride but was visibly more relaxed. Me…well I just feel strange…wandering around the boat doing a few not so essential jobs, dodging the nasty rain showers.We joined the Juno for a ‘crew morale boostiing’ lunch. read more...

Casamara - Casamara - Catching up with the blog!

June 8th - Casamara arrives Bayona 22.30, being met by Helen, Abi, Jane and Captain Darling.It was an uneventful crossing, mostly under engine.....but that was the important thing...UNDER ENGINE....Hoooraaahh....as several days had been spent in Salcombe trying to get the engine to work! New injectors had been flown in from Belgium. Thanks must also go to HM Border Agency who provided engineers and a tow to even get into Salcombe. All that tax.....finally got something back!!June 9th - Crew changeover day. Goodbye and thank you to Cindy and Paul Ross....Hello and welcome to Helen, Abi, Jane, Amanda and Mervyn.June 10th - We enjoyed an extremely scenic walk through historic mills in the peaceful hills above Bayona, followed by a delicious and capacious Galician lunch, so many courses, we. read more...

Casamara - 7/12/2011

Hi Everyone   Very nearly there and what a great trip.  Shame that we have had to motor the last three hundred miles but it has allowed us to clean and tidy Casamara.  A few minor repair jobs scheduled for ST L.  Thanks to everyone on board and bigger thanks to my wife and family who have indulged me in this adventure.  Love to you all.  Simon P  Over to Charles for the history lesson and Julian for gastro news.   Battle for St Lucia - the feather in my cap   Charlie's second contribution and one that he's keen to write as he has a story to tell;  its one that isn't however related to life on Casamara over the last 24 hours but is pertinent to our imminent arrival to St Lucia.  In 1778, the British Army was sent to St Lucia to make. read more...

Casamara - Day 16 - crew overboard!

Hello everyone   Our penultimate day at sea!  There was a hole in the wind predicted a week or so ago where there was little or no wind just off St Lucia. We had hoped by the time we reached the area affected, it would have moved on but no such luck! We managed to keep going under sail slightly longer than other yachts due to our northerly approach, but when the wind moved onto our nose and had dropped anyway to below 5 knots, we too had to concede that the engine would be required to get us in, unless that is, we wanted to spend another week 350 miles away from all the celebrations!    One rather unexpected benefit though of this lull, was the chance to go for an Atlantic swim! Skipper Simon had always said that if the opportunity arose he would. read more...

Casamara - Day 15

Civilization as we know it and the skipper is chilled;  so this blog, my first,  is from Charlie - the new boy on the block.  Until I arrived in Las Palmas I had not met any of the crew - it was a leap of faith and one that I have no regrets. Day 15, week 2 and my god what an experience it has all been.  We have just eaten  the most fabulous Sunday Lunch thanks to skipper Simon, with more than a little help from our talented Julian.  Roast lamb (laced with knobs of garlic), roast potatoes, cauliflower, leeks in a white sauce and gravy;  and this was all consumed with hardly a movement from Casamara.  She was bowling along at 7.5 knots on the most delicious broad reach, stable, powerful and purposeful.  For we are up against it. . read more...