Logs

Sequel - Day 5 - Sequel

We’re having a “sporty” sail over the last 24 hrs. And expecting same to Bermuda. My Apple Watch told me I’ve complete my 10000 steps! We’re all safe. Getting reasonable rest off watch on the low side bunks.Lots of prepared one pot stews, fruit, peanut butter, water and snacks help.Water maker is fabulous and the new sails are performing excellently. And the new autopilot - fantastic!!Other than the washing machine wave action it’s been a really great experience. We have 200 miles to go in the same conditions until Bermuda.🌊. read more...

Sequel - Day 4 Sequel

We’re making our way from Ft. Lauderdale to Bermuda, 365 miles to go.Currently 7.3kn in the proper direction. The wind is finally favorable. The new sails are performing beautifully. Crew is happy with the meals and the Starlink makes all the difference on the happy scale. We’re happy to be out of the Miami heat and into dry, cool weather on the Atlantic. image0. read more...

Epiphany - Day 3

Yesterday evening we finally got across the area of no wind and picked up a NNE wind from a small high pressure to our NW.  Since then we have been on full sails fully sheeted in trying to beat upwind until the wind veers to the E and eventually SE. Epiphany is a lovely boat but she is not so great heading into wind. She has no battens in her main so it has a big leech cut away which reduces her power quite a lot. On the plus side it means she reefs easily into the mast and if we get his by a squall she can normally manage without a reef. Anyway it means our progress was a little slow overnight and this morning. Topaz Rival (photo) came by us at sunrise managing 0.5-1knots more speed even though they are smaller than us. It may also be our weight. We are full of water and. read more...

Hear's2Us - Little River to Bermuda day 4

Yesterday was another eventful day in the life of S/V Hear's 2 Us!. Our traveler car failed on Day 2 so we Jerry rigged a tack point for the main sheet with lines which worked beautifully for 2 days then last night as we sat down for dinner, the line chaffed through and we again had all hands on deck to secure the swinging boom. Mission accomplished with no injuries other than pride. Since the wind was 9 knots and it was calming even further, we left it 'til morning and motor sailed with the jib until around 0100 Tue am then motored for the rest of the night. This am, crewman Bill Wheary and I made chafe guards from fire hose (graciously supplied by our son Erik Osman and Horry County Fire Rescue and re-rigged our new tack point. We are back in business (if we could only find some wind).. read more...

Epiphany - Day 2

Most of the last 24 hours has been motoring. It was expected and to be honest we sailed more that though we could so far. It was frankly a very dull night and morning. No boats in sight, calm seas, no wind and no fish. Just hot and sweaty. Main excitement was fitting another gas solenoid. I think that’s 5 so far this trip!This afternoon has been better. The wind picked up from the west and now sailing steadily. It’s due to shift NE soon and then remain stable for a few days.Crew are fully into watches now and we started our evening meals together. Yesterday I made paella and today dad has made a sweet potato and bean curry. Otherwise all good. Battery is full charged. We have full water still and way too much food so will not need much more in Bermuda. Without kids there is a lot more. read more...

Epiphany - Day 1

We have been able to sail a bit more than I expected. Last night we have a good steady broad reach of 10-15knots and then first thing this morning we got the parasail out again. Unfortunately the wind has now dropped again so back to motoring. We are at the back of the fleet but I think most people motored past us last night rather than sail slowly. There is a fairly hefty penalty for motoring so our final position is likely to be a bit better than last Otherwise all well on the boat and everyone is settling in to the routine. Fishing gear is out but no luck so far. We had one bite but the line brokeDinner will be paella tonight and hopefully the wind will pickup again but more likely is we motor now till Tuesday morning when a cold front passes over us and the NE trades will. read more...

Hear's2Us - Day 2 Littler River to Bermuda

The 11th started off strong with good winds from the north and nice progress until shortly after noon when the winds petered it. Ended up motor sailing (a lot more motoring than sailing. In the middle of the night e managed to break our traveler car (Lewmar) when a rogue wave unloaded and loaded it. I secured it at 2245 and Jerry rigged a solution at 0630 on the 12th. Late in the am, the winds built to 22-25 from the west and we flew our spinnaker for the first time this season. We saw up to 15 with a small squall with gusts to 29. Chafed through our tack and secured her for the day. Hopefully no more excitement. Have been tagging along w Queso Grande II which has been nice. Tried out our SSB and tracking w Iridiun  at Ocens.com. Starlink is working well and Chris Parker has been very. read more...

Sequel - Day Two_Sequel

We departed Ft. Lauderdale on Friday with the Blue Angles overhead. Our practice runs prior to leaving were very helpful to learn to work as a team.  The weather predictions have been a bit off and we found ourselves motor sailing on day two and maintaining our course now with a favorable VMG.  Looking forward to meeting the WCC Arc Europe 2024 group. Stephen and Barbara Lees. read more...

Epiphany - Day -1. On the eve

On the eve of a passageSkippers calmly preparingSun gradually settingTemperature slowly fallingWind gently rippling through the flagsA sense of anticipation in the airTomorrow a new adventure beginsWe head to the peace of offshoreAt the mercy of natureOnly our skills and training to get us throughAnd yet we still goInto the unknownBecause that is livingMattSV Epiphany HR43-55. read more...

Epiphany - Day -1. We are ready

Crew is here, all boat jobs down, food purchased. We are ready to go tomorrow morning. It’s about a 900 mile passage from Sint Maarten to Bermuda. Normally 6-7 days but we have light winds forecast. 5-10 knots for the first 3-4 days. Hopefully the Parasailor will get us moving if not we will motor sail a little bit. I got an extra 160l of diesel in Jerry cans here in Sint Maarten so I’m today we have 555l. If we go conservatively and motor at 5.5-6knots then we only use 3l an hour and hence have over 7 days of fuel. Enough to get to Bermuda from the start.Towards the end of a passage a low pressure is forecast to come over Bermuda. It should ease but of course we will keep an eye on it.Our plan for watches is a 3 hour rotating schedule. First afternoon we will have no watches but then. read more...

Queso Grande II - T -1

Queso Grande II and crew are ready to go! Final provisioning is today. We plan to depart tomorrow afternoon from Little River SC en route to Bermuda.. read more...

Gian - Day -2: Farewell Party Day

Provisioning is done - everything is stored. Today the life raft presentation will take place in the pool of Simpson Bay Marina. The tracker of the fleet is already online. Next time do yachts will be so close together will be at the Bermudas.Petra & Wolfgangimage0. read more...

Hear's2Us - Departure update

We are still hoping for departure on Sat am, 11 May from Little River, SC. Will keep our eyes out for Carpe Diem out of Charleston. See you all in Bermuda!. read more...

Gian - Day -4: Provisioning day

Today was our 'provision day'. We have already bought many things for the trip to Portugal, as supplies here in Sint Maarten are pretty good. So we only have to buy a few fresh groceries in Bermuda and the Azores.Petra & Wolfgangimage1. read more...

Gian - Day -5: Welcome Party ARC Europe 2024

We had a great opening of the ARC Europe in Sint Maarten Yacht Club. The famous location direct at the bay bridge was an excellent location to meet the crews. The ‚Yellow Shirts‘ have been white today, but everybody knows these helping hands by face !Petra & Wolfgangimage0. read more...

Attitude - Getting ready… at st Marteen

SY attitude at Simpson Bay ready to get in the IGY Marina image0. read more...

Hear's2Us - Blog

Hear's 2 Us is in the final stages of prep for the USA to Bermuda leg to join the ARC Europe 2024.Planned departure date is 11 May 24.Will update with any changes.Good luck to the other participants.Rich. read more...

Gian - day -11: Preparations for the ARC Europe are underway….

With just 11 days until the start in Sint Maarten, aboard the yacht Gian still In St. Barthelemy, we're gearing up amidst windy, rainy weather. Hoping for better conditions at the start, we've met some participants and look forward to meeting more. Provisions are partly done, and we're excited to reunite with the 'Yellow Shirts.' Stay tuned for more updates !. read more...