Yacht Cleone ARC
2024 SITREP 1
We may not have
been quite ready, but nevertheless we left Las Palmas for St Lucia yesterday at
Noon, and crossed the ARC 2024 start line shortly after 1300
hours.
On Saturday
evening we attended the last Sundowners and ate a meal on board before
going to bed early. We were all up betimes, because inevitably there
were one or two last minute jobs to do, such as topping up with fresh water,
servicing the Heads pump and stowing loose items above and below decks. However,
we still found time to phone loved ones and to bid adieu to new friends and
neighbours, hoping that all of them will still be in Rodney Bay when we arrive.
The racing yachts and big catamarans mostly left the marina first, and
we slipped our lines promptly at twelve oclock noon (1200ZULU for our
military readers) and joined the lengthy queue of yachts sedately leaving
the marina. A cheering crowd stood on both breakwaters by the entrance, perhaps
looking forward to a bit of peace and quiet now the ARC family had left, whilst
the ARC Yellow shirts were there to record and photograph our departure and to
check that we were all wearing our life-jackets correctly.
Luckily there
was wind enough to enable us to sail over the start-line, but not enough to
cause any difficulties. The organisation was immaculate. Las Palmas Port was
closed to all except the ARC Fleet, and a Spanish Naval vessel was positioned on
the double start-line to act as Committee vessel and, more important, to deter
anyone from being over the line before the starting signal. A race officer from
the Royal Yacht Squadron was officiating, and so the starting sequencies for all
classes ran perfectly to time and no penalties were
incurred.
By nightfall, as
predicted, the winds had become fitful and, apart from the Racing Fleet, soon
most, if not all, yachts were making the best of what little wind there was and
using their engines in between. By daybreak, again as predicted, even these
fitful breezes had all but disappeared and since then we have been steadily
motoring southwest towards the Cape Verde Islands. The only excitements have
been: a wonderfully moon-and-star-lit night with the sea around us dotted with
red, green and white navigation lights; at sunset, watching a long line of
yachts sailing serenely along to the west of us silhouetted by clouds yellowed
and then reddened by the setting sun; and finally one of our bulging nets in the
cabin giving up and depositing large quantities of onions, potatoes and salad
bits all over the main saloon.
Despite these
excitements and the engine noise, we have all slept well in the calm seas
and enjoyed our walm, balmy watch-time on deck.
All aboard are
well, and we send love and best wishes to all of you.
James,
Francesca, Louisa and Kaya
Yacht
Cleone
At
Sea
Position at
1200UTC: N26deg 28min:W016deg
02min