TAHIRA ARC BLOG D-Day 15 [04-Dec-23]

TAHIRA ARC BLOG
D-Day 15 [04-Dec-23]
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Lat 13.48N: Long: 45.17W

Meet the crew: Chris 'Stotty' Stott - our Skipper

How would you describe yourself in one sentence?
- Chris is a fair, principled and self-confident person.

What is your first favourite piece of music and why?
- 'Comfortably Numb' by Pink Floyd; a heady mixture of mixture, harmonies and the best guitar solo to finish off. It takes him back to his school days which were a lot of fun, friends and challenges.

What is your greatest achievement in live to-date?
- For Chris, being part of a happy family and successful family. But he has also enjoyed everything he has attempted in his varied life - from School at Pangbourne to serving with the Army and a portfolio career in business. He has never been bored.

What sailing experience have you had?
- Chris is the skipper of Tahira. He has sailed since he was a boy and always something he has come back to, including sailing at Southampton University with John. He owned a boat for 5 years which proved both a brilliant learning experience (gaining RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification) but also a lot of fun - taking many family holidays in interesting places off the coast of the UK. Chris has also supported his oldest son as junior competitive sailor. He sees the Atlantic as the pinnacle for sailors to test themselves.

What is your second favourite piece of music and why?
- 'Hotel California' by the Eagles. Definitely a schoolboy memory - music was great in those days!

What motivated you do this trip?
- Chris has always been motivated by challenges from the activities he enjoys. Sailing across the Atlantic has involved a lot of planning and effort simply to get an old seaworthy boat to the start line and reaching St Lucia will be a proud moment. There is also the more practical motivation that the boat is needed in January to cruise the Grenadines with Liz, Terry and Karen.

What major concerns do you have?
- As skipper, Chris is ultimately responsible for the safety and welfare of the crew. Boat issues, weather, food, team dynamics and morale are all on his list, not too mention passports and immigration into St Lucia.

What is your third favourite piece of music and why?
- Kyrie Alyssum, from the Armed Man by Karl Jenkins. Chris was a parent who sung this as part of a choir at the Cheadle Hulme School - his son's school. It is an incredibly moving piece of music.

What have you learned since starting this adventure?
- That the Atlantic is not as windy as he thought - he is thinking of asking for his money back :. But also how pleasant it is to get up for a 3am watch in this temperature without needing to struggle with jumpers or shirts.
- How different people can come together at a point in time and work effectively together. Different types and personalities and making it work.

What does success look like for you?
- Arriving at St Lucia with all the crew still happy!

What are you running away from?
- Nothing! Chris likes to look forward rather than back. This is just another chapter in the life of Chris Stott.

What will you do next?
- Chris is looking forward to a holiday with the whole family in St Lucia, a quiet Christmas at home, before sailing in the Grenadines, and the BVI's. There is also the new challenge of sailing the boat back to the UK via Bermuda and the Azores.
- This trip has provided an opportunity to reflect back on what is important in life. Liz has let him do this trip and he is keen to readdress the balance going forward.

Blog author: Andy Bruce