Logs

White Satin - Reflections on an Atlantic crossing

Rodney Bay 0 miles to go!!As some of you know I did my first Atlantic crossing on a yacht called Northern Child, I was one of 10 paying crew and I was pretty new to sailing.It was a fantastic adventure and, to be honest, a one off as far as I was concerned. I remember returning home to find that Caroline, one of my colleagues at Dega my old company, had plastered our work kitchen walls with all the daily blogs. I was really touched and came away with a tear in my eye.I never dreamt that, 10 years on, I would be doing this voyage in our own boat, it is a very different experience but one we will all savour for a long time. Although as Vicki said I did promise to bring her back here, so maybe the plan was actually hatched then.It all worked because every one of the crew worked so hard to. read more...

Starblazer - ABS at Rodney Bay

Hope that you all understand ABS.We are on our second 24hour stint on the ARC 2016 Finish Line.The line officially closed at 12am local time today but is staying manned until tomorrow morning.Three boats due to arrive at approximately 2300, 0400 and 0800, then we get into the marina.Tomorrow evening is the big end of rally party that we also get to attend as Finish Line instead of having to cross the Atlantic!It's been a wonderfully quiet day so far with no arrivals.It will be interesting to see which WCC blog this gets posted to.Sarah (WCC) it's probably up to you. [Editor's Note: You're ARC 2016 for this week ;) Thanks for your hard work]This morning the bow thruster switch to push to starboard stuck on, so that gave me a job to do. Yesterday it was fix the broadcast radio (pulled fuse. read more...

Tulla Mhor - Recovering

Have been here for 5 days now and beginning to feel normal. Our boat has been beautifully cleaned by a team from Vision yacht service and is very shiny. Inside cleaning is a little slower but I am getting there and Tulla is starting to look more like her old self. Andrew has flown back home and Hugo is returning next week for his family Christmas. Kate and Colin travelled home yesterday.It was lovely to see them and really appreciated the welcome. We have been meeting up with friends from the Canaries and had more parties and drinks. All together a great experience and achievement for everyone.All that is left is the Tulla prize giving:Bake OffBread:HugoCakes: ValPudding:DugaldSweepstake for arrival time: Andrew5 Crowns card game champion: HugoMost likely to say 'let's put a reef in'. read more...

Gwendoline - 26th day at sea

S/Y Gwendoline M - Atlanterhavskryds16. December. 08.00 UTC.On bord Lene, Bente, Annette, Maiken, Oliver, Orla og KimPosition: 14.14.4421N 58.29.621WThe moment we can say that we've conquered the Atlantic ocean is closing in fast. Well - maybe not conquered - because you never conquer the Atlantic Ocean, but then at least having crossed it - which by it self is a personal victory for everybody on board S/Y Gwendoline M.The past 24 hours, the weather has been changing a lot. From the steady 20-25 knots of wind, we suddenly lost it all, as the wind was reduced to merely 10-12 knots over a period of 10-14 hours, which resulted in a dramatic speed reduction from 7 knots to 4 knots. Late in the evening, the wind finally picked up again to 20 knots. We do hope that this wind speed will keep up. read more...

Hot Stuff - YB Connect Message from Girls For Sail

Day 22Having battled offthe squalls for 16 hours, we enjoyed a calmer day of sailing. Hot Stuff surfed the waves through 25 knots of wind and the sun was out. We were all happy to have survived the relentless squalls of the day before and enjoyed a merry day on deck.Not long after nightfall, scirocco encountered the first squall of the night, as they circled all around us again. We took the mainsail down and rode out the weather with the jib alone. Skipper Sophie spent another night sleeping on the sail in the galley, ready to jump up to help as the squalls hit. Unfortunately Sophie took a few hits of her own as the crew stepped on her occasionally, sorry skipper!During the night we had to furl away the jib completely and in one of these episodes Paula took a bump to the ribs, she's been. read more...

Gwendoline - 25th day at sea

S/Y Gwendoline M - Atlanterhavskryds15. December. 10.10 UTC.Ombord Lene, Bente, Annette, Maiken, Oliver, Orla og KimPosition: 14.20.7585N 56.20.444WWe are fast approaching our final destination Rodney Bay - St. Lucia. We have merely 267 nautical miles before we make landfall. We are sailing quite fast, and on a direct course towards St. Lucia. It has turned out that our "butterfly" rig is extremely effective in down wind sailing.During the night shift, we overtook Mangon - a multi hull which was 210 nautical miles in front of us dec. 12th at 12 o'clock. Orla and I had a blast watching him on the chart plotter as we in the wee hours of the night came in front of him. We are no more the runt of the litter, as we are in front of:232,Katika,225,Mangon,41,Miss Phoceanie,219,Mr. read more...

Gwendoline - 24th day at sea

S/Y Gwendoline M - Atlanterhavskryds14. December. 07.30 UTC.On bord Lene, Bente, Annette, Maiken, Oliver, Orla og KimPosition: 14.20.241N 53.24.644WThe time is now 07.30 UTC - 04.30 Gwendoline local time and 08.30 Danish time - on this glorious Wednesday Dec. 14th - and we have 440 nautical miles left to go.The wind has, to our great satisfaction, become more manageable - as we now have a steady wind of 20-24 knots. This has also resulted in a much more calm sea - which again improves our sleeping conditions immensely.The night watch has also been much easier, as Orla and I only had to make changes to the sail configuration a couple of times on the watch. At 04.00 Gwendoline local time, Maiken and Bente took over, and I expect that they will have a uneventful watch.It is obvious that we. read more...

Gwendoline - 21st, 22nd and 23rd day at sea

S/Y Gwendoline M - Atlanterhavskryds13. December. 18.00 UTC.On bord Lene, Bente, Annette, Maiken, Oliver, Orla og KimPosition: 14.14.585N 51.48.144WWe are now so far west, that we have changed the local time on S/Y Gwendoline M. in order to align the sun position with the local time. The local S/Y Gwendoline M time is right now 16.00, UTC is 18.00 and the time in Denmark is 19.00The latest 3 days have been fast - sailing vice. This also means higher waves, more rolling and pitching and therefore also not so ideal sleeping conditions.We are all marked by the constant tumbling and turning of the boat in the ruthless Atlantic swell, which makes it impossible to rest and relax, as you always have to tense your muscles to counteract the ships movements. This takes its toll on the body, and we. read more...

Gwendoline - 19th and 20th day at sea

S/Y Gwendoline M - Atlanterhavskryds10. December. 09.45 UTC.Ombord Lene, Bente, Annette, Maiken, Oliver, Orla og KimPosition: 13.33.900N 42.53.500WTime is ticking away - hour after hour at its own pace - and so does life here on board S/Y Gwendoline M.Nothing much is happening - here on the vast Atlantic ocean. We are quite alone - as we have not seen any ships for several days.One important thing did happen tough - which proved beyond any reasonable doubt - how important the very high level of security we hold on board is. Thursday afternoon Bente had decided to sit on the very wide fore deck and read her book. She had done it many times before, and she thought nothing of it. As she is sitting there - all concentrated on the action in her book, with her security line safely clicked on,. read more...

La Contenta - Day 23: On the happy boat La Contenta

Day 23: On the happy boat La Contenta   We crossed the finish line at 21.00 hours 24 minutes and 29 seconds lastnight.   We had been escorted on our last 40 miles by a fleet of squalls, severalrainbows and a full moon.   As we entered the marina the other boats horns started to sound and we knewwe had (finally) made it.  We were greeted by our friends on Nisidi, OceanBlue and Flabrach who joined us on the boat for an impromptu party.  Calplayed the guitar and we proudly sang our boat song.  We sat up until thewee hours drinking the rum we had been given and reliving some of the memoriesof our days at sea.  I would like to thank LC for looking after us, Davefor his skippering, Cal for his music and Ewen for his humour and cooking. MCfor her never. read more...

Dolphin Star - ANOTHER DAMAGED BOOM (02.12.2016)

The wind suddenly changes of direction and the main boom is immediately under pressure through the preventer (a forehead rope securing in place the main boom). It happenedmany times during the crossing but this time the boom end cannot held the force and a key aluminium part splits off. The crew promptly reacts but the damage is done to adjust correctly the main sail.   Dolphin Star 007 006 011 009. read more...

Dolphin Star - REST DAY (01.12.2016)

Dolphin Star offers many alternatives to have a nap or get sun tanned. Here are the favourite places for each crew member. Our captain Kari always reads first before fallingasleep.   Dolphin Star 002 005 003 004. read more...

Dolphin Star - GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER (30.11.2016)

At the beginning of the crossing, Dolphin Star was supposed to reach Rodney Bay (Santa Lucia marina) by the 1st of December. This date will not be met as thereis still 400 NM to get there. Hopefully the earliest return flight ticket is scheduled on the 5th of December for Jukka.   Dolphin Star 048 049. read more...

Dolphin Star - CROSSING DEBRIEFING (29.11.2016)

Dolphin Star’s iron sail being used quite regularly, our dedicated mechanic Antti checks out the fuel level directly from the tank, due to unreliable reading from the gauge.During the beer break at one o’clock, the crew discuss and assess the probability of running out of fuel in case the journey lasts longer.   Dolphin Star 040 043. read more...

Dolphin Star - SAILING COURSE (28.11.2016)

Our rookie Jukka gets some sailing course from our captain Kari. He takes it very seriously by reading carefully his book every day and then practicing at the helm wheneverhe can.   Dolphin Star 028 037. read more...

Dolphin Star - SLOW MOTION (27.11.2016)

Dolphin Star keeps on sailing in very low winds (around 5 knots South East). Everybody is really bored of this ongoing situation but not our fisherman Kari. After fightingtwo and half hours with a big sea bream, the monster rests in his hands as a well-deserved reward.  Dolphin Star 036 035 034. read more...

Hot Stuff - Day 21 - The super moon was out in force

Day 21 - The super moon was out in force & Hot Stuff was bathed in silvery moonlight as we ran before the wind. The change of watch at 3.00 am heralded a change in the weather with the wind freshening so that helming became hard work. A call to the Skipper & the full force of the squall hit hard- Elizabeth & Thalita took turns helming as the wind reached gale force while Oline and Sophie reduced sail. The rain lashed down making it hard to see & Elizabeth began to call out the waves as they towered behind us in the darkness. As dawn broke the Southerly Busters watch came on. Almost instantly another squall hit with others surrounding the boat. They tacked to avoid a w evil looking black squall but others were waiting &they ran the gauntlet until the BIG one arrived.. read more...

Dolphin Star - FINAL DESTINATION SAINT LUCIA (03.12.2016)

Dolphin Star crosses the finishing line (indicated by the committee boat) at 8:29 local time, which makes little less than 17 days to complete the crossing. Everybody isvery happy of this achievement and and eager to retrieve a more comfortable way of life.   Dolphin Star 015 033 020 035. read more...