This morning we
heard the tragic news that a man has been lost overboard from Ocean
Breeze, one of the leading yachts in the Racing Division. Aboard Cleone, seven
hundred miles or so behind Ocean Breeze, all is well and we continue to make
good, if not always comfortable, progress.
A
crewman aboard Ocean Breeze went overboard at 0227 hours yesterday. Although
wearing a lifejacket fitted with an AIS Beacon, contact with him was lost and
the search, involving two other ARC Yachts and two more in the vicinity, was
abandoned at 2045 hours that evening. Our thoughts are with Dag's family and
friends and also with the rest of the crew of Ocean Breeze. Like ourselves, the
great majority of the ARC Fleet were in no position to be of any immediate help. Like
ourselves, all of us will be reflecting the risks that we take not just when
ocean sailing but also during our everyday lives. We will all take extra care to
look after each other and ensure that we arrive safely in St
Lucia.
Cleone has
continued to sail due west in Trade Wind conditions. The sun has shone and the
wind has blown more or less from north-northeast, almost directly astern of us.
In these conditions, it would be difficult not to make good progress in the
right direction. However, the forecast suggested less breeze and much lower
squall strengths than we have experienced. For much of yesterday afternoon we
ran downwind goose-winged, making great progress with a triple reefed mainsail
out to port and to starboard a poled-out genoa, also triple reefed. During
supper as usual we discussed our tactics and sail plan for the night.
Francesca-the-mates advice was clear; we needed to take down the mainsail and
continue to run down the Rhumb Line under the small genoa only. Luckily the
Skipper immediately saw the wisdom of this advice, and in the last of the
daylight Kaya and he wrestled with the sail itself whilst in the cockpit Louisa
and Francesca kept Cleone pointing in the right direction and heaved and hauled
on sheets, preventers, furling lines and downhauls. The decision was vindicated;
several of the squalls were briefly over 35 knots true windspeed, and one even
touched 40! Luckily Cleone remained well-balanced and easy to steer. By lunch
time, conditions had softened and the triple-reefed mainsail re-hoisted. We will
see how things progress thereafter.
With very best
wishes and love to you all,
James,
Francesca, Louisa and Kaya
Yacht
Cleone
At
sea
Position at
1200UTC on 03 Dec 2024:
N21deg20min
W32deg51min