Monday 23 Nov
Race Day 1
Carnage of sea, big boats and spray at the start of the race. Challenger 1 crossed the line astern and kept pace with us for a time however after we put in a stealthy gybe they haven’t been seen again. :D
The day went quickly with strong winds and a maximum of 40 knots through what is called the “acceleration zone” along the side of the Canary Island.
The night bought a full moon, shooting stars and massive swells, up to 1 m above the helmsman’s head. Felt like we were following Orion’s belt.
A few have suffered from sea sickness and are recovering well; whilst others discovered the joys of helming downwind in the dark. Only real down note was the big green wave pouring through a forgotten hatch onto Kirsty’s bed, while she was in it!
Cooks are producing cracking meals thanks to raw talent and an extremely well provisioned boat. What will we do with so many mangos is yet to be seen.
Sending lots of love to Isa, Toby and daddy. Hope you have found the hair brush - Begonia
They say a bad day at sea is way better than a good day at work. They just might be right -Mark
We slipped from our stern-to mooring early to avoid the crush of 205 ARC boats and numerous spectator boats and some kamikaze Sea Kayakers who were to join a shore line full of eager onlookers for the spectacle. After dropping the windward lazy line and counting to ten for it to sink away from the prop (been there done that and got the T-Shirt in Tenerife last year), we idled out in 20 knots of breeze and nice flat seas in the harbour. Then we looked seaward and notice the maelstrom of water unprotected by the breakwater. Best go and have a look at the wind and sea conditions…
2 hours to go. Bouncy water and lots of wind. Ribs struggling to lay the spectator boat exclusion zone (not sure why they bothered, no one else did) and the IDM and ODM for the split start line. The committee boat, a massive Spanish Offshore Patrol Boat remained snug in harbour for now.
1 hour to go. Enough bounce, the start line was short for 40 very large and fast racing boats especially given the sea state, best to get a good start. Let’s get back to the calmer water and get our Yankee 2 hanked on. The Yankee 1 will be too much in the wind and is too fragile – we will need it later. A spinnaker start is totally out of the question.
45 minutes to go. Time for a main hoist. Challenger have hoisted theirs already, with 1 Reef. Ok then put the pressure on, full main it is. The hoist starts and then stops as a baton luff box detaches from the main track. The crew springs into action as I try to keep the boat pointing to windward under engine while the starting fleet sails towards the start line. I glance behind, the large grey navy vessel is struggling to lay its anchor and our line is even shorter as he has swung on the wind.
30 minutes to go. Success! The main can go up at last. The crew hoists it all the way up, and I glance behind toward the starting frenzy and try and spot Challenger 1.
15 minutes to go and we power toward the starting area, dodging spectators and other ARC cruising boats. The jostling for position has begun even on such a marathon race where a good start is really not that important.
5 minutes to go, we swing to windward around Challenger 1 and tack again behind him. They continue away from the line. Are we too early or are they being too conservative? Time and the start gun will tell. Is that small spectator boat really going to cut in front of me? 40 tons of steel charging down under full mainsail persuades him otherwise and I charge for the line.
1 minute to go and we are committed now. Downwind with the Navy vessel looming large. Fast sleek very expensive looking race yachts broaching and pitching in the very rough seas. Smaller but still fast yachts ahead of us, and I am catching them, searching for a way through. Up with the Yankee and Staysail, go go go…
We crossed the line just after the gun and the line was “all clear”. Phew !
Now we are penned in with small but slower race boats broaching all around us. We power past and finally get into open water. Now the Multihulls from the earlier start are looming up ahead in the swell and squally rain. Challenger 1 is slightly behind and to windward. They are also powering forward and none of that advantage we have gained is going to mean much over the next 2700 miles.
The sea is rough and the wind tops 40 true, but we are happy, the race is underway and we are looking forward to the adventures ahead….
Ricky (Skipper)
Ricky Chalmers
Skipper
Challenger 3