As the log books come in from the yachts at sea, and looking at the fleet viewer, it’s clear that many are celebrating reaching the halfway mark of their crossing from Bermuda to Horta; always a highlight within the crossing which often calls for a well-deserved meal. Many boats actually passed the halfway mark on Tuesday 21 May however due to a passing gale, crews seemed to hold out another night until the sea state calmed allowing for a safer and more comfortable session in the galley. The sea life has been keeping some lonely yachts contented with sightings of sperm whales, dophins, sea turtles and Lobster trap!
There have been some very mixed conditions as well during this passage with many yachts namely Johanem and Easy Rider reporting sunbathing and swimming. ‘The crew spent a considerable time sunbathing on the tramps, not something we expected to do sailing across the north Atlantic!!’ – David, Easy Rider.
Morale seems high on-board rally boats, with some especially humorous logs from Amelie D’Oslo, praising themselves immensely for being the first yacht in their class to reach the halfway mark. Congratulations guys. Skip-Per signed off ‘It may be hard to go back to the real world’.
Ayama sadly broke her boom within the first 24 hours from the start from Bermuda so they turned back for repair work, but have now set off again making good progress, having sailed 130NM already. Owner and skipper Stefan Berg said ‘The boom had a pretty clean break so we welded it, and more importantly put aluminium profiles on each side of the boom over the break. These were then riveted with 48 1/4 inch pop rivets. I feel confident it will hold until we arrive to Europe. Hope we get winds so we can see you in Horta.’
Caiman, having done so well in keeping up with the fleet after taking a late start from Nanny Cay in Tortola, and again a late start from Bermuda had an unfortunate breakage which has caused Marten and his crew to turn the boat around and sail back to Bermuda for repair work. ‘The forestay broke in light conditions after 24 hours of pounding upwind with a reef in the main and the genoa furled in twice. While unfurling the genoa, the sail came down. It was an easy sail downwind back to Bermuda’ – Marten Peter Leerling, Caiman.
