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Avventura - Log Day 03: Gennaker
Avventura - Log Day 03: Gennaker
22/11/2022

Bolero - Day 5

Day 5Day 5 ended as it had begun with a spectacular display from the sun.Night watches began at 19:00 Atlantic Adventure Eastern time.Stokey Woodall said at the ARC+ seminar that there are more stars in the skies than there are grains of sand, and early on in the night, you could see this to be true.The dark sky looked as it it had been spray painted with the finest of mists.The night passed uneventfully without any further excitement from squalls. The Genoa was unfurled to the first reef and we started romping along.Things perked up a bit at 08:00 as a squall came bearing 30 knot winds and big seas.We quickly furled most of the gib, leaving the pocket handkerchief of sail that we had carried over night.We were unable to relax when the squall had passed as the temperature dropped again. read more...


22/11/2022

eXite - Exite 22/11 - top speed

Hit a new top speed and this time we don’t think it is going to get any higher for us with this boat.16.7 knots when crashing down a huge wave, with two reefs in the main and a small bit of jib out.We are starting to get a bit tired of having gale force winds about 12 out of 24 hours a day. The forecasts seem to have less wind in the end of the week, so that’s what we are longing for now.Other than that its all good on board, though we all think we are sitting still too much - but not much else to do while stuck on a small boat for two weeks..Now some pancakes and wait for the squalls to roll in, after all it is getting dark soon and they love to approach in the dark.. read more...


22/11/2022

Lomvi - Day 5 - Sea of love

Chére pamplemousse, Reporting from the latitudes and longitudes, we are still floating. Today marked our 1/4 of the trips, we believe. We passed 550nm and the trip is 2200nm. But our sloppy navigation and experimenting with courses here and there might make the trips a few nautical miles longer. Nevertheless, an opportunity to celebrate.Celebration contain one beer, pizza and as we write chocolate cake is baking in the oven. We have been dancing with the waves, where the enthusiasm of the youngest crewmember show evidence of a future central figure on the dance floor.Conditions of the ocean are improving. Sun is shining, and the waves are slightly smaller. Periods are still short, and forecasted to remain so in the foreseeable future. Better conditions have made it possible to. read more...


22/11/2022

Amokura - Log Day 4 - Seaweed & Squalls

Unsurprisingly we are spending lots of time looking at the sea on this trip. That's when we're not napping, anticipating the next meal, or doing jobs around the boat, including pumping out the stern locker, still experiencing water ingress, and needing attention every few hours.We've become very attuned to subtle changes, the direction of the swell, the wave height, the sound it makes at night as it approaches us, we can often tell if a splash is going to come on board! One of the things I love about sailing is being close to nature and its rhythms, we become so disconnected during our normal lives at home and work. So we soon noticed the increase in seaweed in the water, clumps and clumps of the brown fronds streaming past us, I wonder if they will end up on a Cape Verdean beach in the. read more...


22/11/2022

Sunbeat VI - Day 3 - launched Little Blue spinnaker

Wind force 4 to 5, crazy horses (large waves from an odd direction) reducing, so launched Little Blue - the small spinnaker. The crew were a bit rusty, but it went up without mishap. Achieved 214 nm in last 24 hours. Currently placed 11th measured by distance remaining to Saint Lucia, but the bigger boats are starting to pull through now, as expected.Sustainable fishing continuing - have still caught no fish.. read more...


22/11/2022

Endeavour III - Endeavour III - Day 2 on the Ocean Ocean

It only took less than 24 hours for most of the boats to scatter, leaving us with uninterrupted views of the sea up to the horizon. It’s an awful lot of space! Above, below and all around. After a not so restful nights sleep, the team spent a pretty lazy second day at sea (well I’m speaking for myself…). Lunch of fresh salad and homemade humus, and dinner of veggie lasagna a la Hugh. There were a couple of Cluedo murder attempts, though with suspicions running high neither were successful. To note, Dave made a valiant effort to pass Tash a pair of underwear at the starboard helm, alas it was to no avail as she clocked on to her imminent murder v sharpish. Sailing downwind with our sails goose-winged, we steamed forward at an average of 8.5 knots. This didn’t let up overnight, and we. read more...


22/11/2022

Skye Blue - First ARC blog from Skye Blue

Tuesday 22/11/22Third day at sea and all is well. Leaving the marina was full of excitement with the crowds cheering and waving us good bye then we were off in big seas and sunshine.We are 8: with skipper; Stephen, first mate; Malene, crew; Janet, Maja, Neil, Raymond, Ross and Ulrich (aka Baldrick). The crew are on a 2 man up rota of 3 hours on watch with 6 hours off.We are currently sailing South and are sitting at a steady 7 knots after surfing in a force 7 on the first night, with only the headsail. We are fixing things as we go along, including retying the foresail.Food so far has been excellent with tons of fresh fruit to be eaten before it goes off. To date everyone has managed to keep it down.370 miles done with around 2500 to go. LoveSkye Blue. read more...


22/11/2022

Falcon - Crossing Day 4

Distance run last 24 hrs 175 nautical miles.Distance to Grenada 1491 nm.We start today’s blog report with an observation; for the fourth day in a row, skipper Ade has mirrored my chosen yachting attire for the day.Bev thinks this is cute, and has likened it to Arnie and Danny Devito in the film comedy ‘Twins’ (not sure who’s supposed to be who!).I, however, have a different perception and am more inclined to believe something more sinister, as per pschyo thriller ‘Single White Female’, is afoot… I’ve noted the way the skipper looks at me and have taken to sleeping with one eye open! I wonder if they’ll pick Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise to play me in sequel ‘Single Tanned Cruiser’? I’m pretty sure the guy who played Herman Munster has it in the bag to play Ade!We’ve been exploring more ways to. read more...


Falcon - Admiral Bev looking cool in the midday sun
Falcon - Admiral Bev looking cool in the midday sun
22/11/2022

Jadamama - Jadamama Log day two 22nd Nov

We were skipping along in a fresh 32 knot wind when i went off watch at 2300. Stepped out of my life jacket and hung it carefully on the floor, ready for quick access, and happily passed out to the rocking and rolling, soothing sounds of 10m waves slapping the hull beside my ear. At 0130 I had a rude awakening when a rogue wave came crashing in through my roof hatch and saturated the foot of my bed and the floor of my cabin. Thought i had fully secured the hatch but the handles were not securely gripping the seal. My state-of-the-art life jacket swiftly blew up and the MOB alarm signal kicked up a might racket. Nearby yacht “Patience” very kindly radioed us immediately to ask if we needed help. Out with the mop and off with the duvet cover—we cleaned up in jig time and i fell straight. read more...


Jadamama - Jadamama Log day two 22nd Nov
Jadamama - Jadamama Log day two 22nd Nov
22/11/2022

Betelgeuse - BETELGEUSE Monday 21/11/22 DAY 2 – Loving Life on the Ocean Waves

Monday’s dawn was beautiful, witnessed by the A watch who had done two night watches in pretty big seas.Claire was nervous to helm at night as she had not done so before. With rollers of 3-4m high and winds of 25-30 knots it was not the time to try night-time helming for the first time. Beautiful clear skies at night meant we saw the most amazing stars and waning moon. Breakfast at 8 was enjoyed by both teams together – muesli and fresh fruit salad.Quiet morning with A watch catching up on sleep. Richard made a delicious salad for lunch with some banging tunes blasting round the boat.No showers or booze yet which has not been a struggle at all, but I think both might get rolled out tomorrow – yippee! Sadly, not much wildlife to report,just a few little flying fish and the odd lonely sea. read more...


Betelgeuse - BETELGEUSE Monday 21/11/22 DAY 2 – Loving Life on the Ocean Waves
Betelgeuse - BETELGEUSE Monday 21/11/22 DAY 2 – Loving Life on the Ocean Waves
22/11/2022

Blonde Moment - Blonde Moment leg 2 day 1

Afteralmost a week on Sao Vicente I think the crew of Blonde Moment had enjoyed themselves exploring the island and its neighbor Santo Antao as well as sampling the local cuisine. The skipper hada couple of SCUBA dives seeing , turtles, rays eels and nurse sharks along with the more usual smaller aquatic life and also spent a day windsurfing off a sand beach in a deserted bay with good wind and equipment ... what could be better!Start day arrived and Blonde Moment was one of the last boats off the dock as we had to wait for boats to leave but we eventually left the marina at 11:25 giving us plenty of time to join the crowd of ARC plus yachts waiting for the start.As we got to the 10 minute gunthe skipper decided it was time to put out the sails however it seemed that the hydraulics to. read more...


22/11/2022

Xenial - Day 15 - At night

It's 5am XST (Xenial Standard Time) and I am sitting on deck for my shift with Captain Ulrik. The small sliver of moon that we should see tonight is covered by clouds, so everything is pitch dark around us. You can barely tell where the sea ends and the sky starts. Both are glittering. The sky is full of stars, one of the few upsides to not having the moon shining. The white sea foam created by our passage is shimmering with fluorescent plankton, it looks like fire flies on a summer night. The only other lights we see are those of another Swedish boat, with whom we have been catching up all day, and overtook while I was sleeping. We just got a light drizzle of rain, but it's already behind us. You may not know this, but I always write this blog in the middle of the night during my shift. read more...


Bluewater Mooney - BLUEWATER MOONEY 20.11.2022; 21.11.2022
Bluewater Mooney - BLUEWATER MOONEY 20.11.2022; 21.11.2022
Bluewater Mooney - BLUEWATER MOONEY 20.11.2022; 21.11.2022
Bluewater Mooney - BLUEWATER MOONEY 20.11.2022; 21.11.2022
22/11/2022

Bluewater Mooney - BLUEWATER MOONEY 20.11.2022; 21.11.2022

Alles ok!Gestern, am 20.11. war der Start vor dem Hafen von Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.Unsere Division startete als letzte mit etwa 80 Schiffen. Da wollten wir uns „hinten anstellen“, denn Manöver zu zweit brauchen Zeit und Vorbereitung, und da kann selbst eine Wende ,um anderen Wegerecht zu geben, eine Herausforderung werden, damit alles klappt.Aber es kam natürlich wieder anders. Mit dem ersten Signal - 10 Minuten vor dem Start - hatten wir schon eine gute Position, und dann wurde zwischen etlichen Yachten taktiert, um als eine der ersten über die Startlinie zu gehen - und es hat gut geklappt. Wir hatten einen nahezu „Null“ Start. In Anbetracht der Strecke von ca. 2400 sm und einer durchschnittlichen Zeit von 20 Tagen völlig egal. Und natürlich kann man, wie es viele schätzen, auch. read more...


21/11/2022

Jo - Tag 1 - Start mit Hindernissen

Am gestrigen Sonntag sollte es soweit sein und um 12:30 der Moment, auf den wir Wochen lang hin gearbeitet und gefiebert haben. Der Start der ARC Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, die Atlantiküberquerung von Gran Canaria nach Saint Lucia in die Karibik. 160 Schiffe, große und kleine, Katamarane und Einrümpfer, Racer und Cruiser, Familien, Singles, Pärchen, Crews, 35 Nationalitäten, und alle mit dem selben Ziel. Und mit der selben Startlinie. Bereits 2018 haben wir das Gewusel und die (An-)Spannung schon einmal miterleben dürfen und wussten, was uns erwartet. Daher gab's gestern um 10:00 Uhr auch noch mal eine letzte Besprechung mit der Crew, in der wir um höchste Aufmerksamkeit und Konzentration gebeten haben. Danach nur noch die - vermeintlich - letzten Kleinigkeiten. Müll entsorgen, die. read more...


Jo - Tag 1 - Start mit Hindernissen
Jo - Tag 1 - Start mit Hindernissen
21/11/2022

eXite - Exite 21/11 - Squalls

Last night we got the proper introduction to sailing in the trade winds - squalls.At around 2am the first one for our passage came, and the following two hours we hade five more - two of them with winds around 35kn and heavy rain for about an hour. Can’t really remember when we had rain the last time. Maybe early September in northern Spain?Still no other boats in the vicinity or on ais, but we are getting there.. read more...


21/11/2022

Helia2 - 1/3 of the way to Grenada

Today we past 1440 miles to go of the 2160 total distance.To celebrate a third of the miles completed Ellen baked oatmeal cookies for the crew!Seas were settled enough today that we used wing on wing with the full main and the asymmetrical for eight hours.We are now on a deep reach for the night…image1. read more...


Helia2 - 1/3 of the way to Grenada
Helia2 - 1/3 of the way to Grenada
21/11/2022

Bolero - leg 2 Day 4

Day 4Last nights watches began at 19:00.We had a marvellous display of the constellations in the moonless, cloudless sky.We have been wearing oilskin bottoms as we have taken a few waves over the side.The Genoa was furled to the next reefing point as the winds increased early in the night. Gwyn and Ian were on watch when we encountered our first Atlantic squall.The winds increased to 36 knots, the gib was furled more and the boat was steered to go with the wind.The winds and rain abated after 30 minutes.Skipper’s leg had a glancing blow from a flying fishduring the night whilst he was sitting in the cockpit. It was returned to the Atlantic Ocean to surprise someone else!Gwyn saved another just before breakfast, 2 others were quite so lucky.Nick saw a turtle while helming, there haven’t. read more...


Falcon - Gorgeous Sunset
Falcon - Gorgeous Sunset
21/11/2022

Oceano - Log Day 2 - Mirrorwriting

These first hours on sea are always eerie. The mind plays tricks on your body. You can be hungry as if you starved for days, you can fall asleep so suddenly like a rogue wave hits the deck. You can be exhilarated, madly focused, madly unfocused. You can cry your stomach out or stare numbly into the horizon. Every sea sickness is different - but it is always a mysterious and often painful signal that we are entering a different realm. A realm that will change us, that will grasp our fragile selves and spit us out to land equally exhausted and reborn.  The realm of the ocean is ever changing, cruel and poetic, unstoppable and eternal at the same time. Your phones are losing reception, your body loses balance, your thoughts get all watery, mood unstable. Every time I wake up on. read more...


21/11/2022

Avventura - Log Day 2: sailing west

For the last 24 hours, we have seen no land, butwater and waves in many beautiful colours.   Position at 17:50 UTC 2022-11-21 (26:04.905N16:53.780W).. read more...


Avventura - Log Day 2: sailing west
Avventura - Log Day 2: sailing west
21/11/2022

Amokura - Log Day 3 - Water, water everywhere!

Happy Monday from Amokura!Some brief rainshowers today, coinciding with when I was sleeping, short lived and I thought I was having my leg pulled, having not seen any of the wet stuff since leaving the UK. But it was true. Monday morning, another shower, and some wind with it, so we reduced sail. We were rewarded with the most perfect rainbow though.The lottery of leaving our internal cockpit window open to overcome the stifling atmosphere did not pay off this morning as another rogue wave came aboard, Mark and Nic, plus Kindles, both got a seawater shower, and I acquired a wet bunk! Grrr! We were pleased to overtake a couple of boats in the night. Amokura was going like a train, surfing down waves, Trying to sleep was another matter. Like being inside a giant washing machine on the spin. read more...


21/11/2022

Sunbeat VI - Day 2 - good progress

Fresh north-easterly wind, poled out jib, full main. Good progress - 188 nm in 23 hours. Ed & Drac now recovered from seasickness and able to fully participate in the running of the boat. Hot lips (the affectionate name for our fishing lure) deployed, but no fish yet. Despite the apparent density of yachts in the WCC tracker, we have only seen 2 during the today.. read more...


21/11/2022

Lomvi - Day 4 - All is (s)well!

Dear young apprentice!400 nautical miles under the keel so far. Fresh baked buns for lunch and pie for dinner. Big sun, with occasional squalls. If you are following our adventure on the yb app, you might have seen us drift North. You might have thought that this was a strategic decision to take the Northern short cut to the Caribbean. It was not. In Las Palmas we (read: a skilled electrician) made a workaround so our B&G plotter could read our Raymarine compass data. This enabled us to set way points, and to get our course over ground. Very useful when navigating at sea for weeks. We have been following our Grenada way point using our compass course, while at the same time being curious about why our course over ground, the GPS course, have been 10 to 20 degrees further north. Line,. read more...


21/11/2022

Oceano - Log Day 2 - In search of tranquility

It was nice 24 hours. The Ocean greeted us rather kindly. The start was tight but wind force did not put our heavy princess in front of the pack. We weren’t betting on that. But when the wind came we started to sail quite nicely with speeds up to 15 knots and good average. From the beginning we opted for starting with second reef on main and it played out for us after all. When the wind came we just sailed as before. But faster. Without any reefing fuss. The night was rough though. Nasty swell but nice wind. One severe sea sickness and two mild ones. But they are getting better. The sun is shining, Alice in Chains is playing, Aglio’eOglio is on the stove. Happy days are just about to get startedRight now we are riding on full main and jib on south westerly course. Waiting to his our. read more...


21/11/2022

Disa - Three Days in a Gigantic Washing Machine

What people in their right minds would pay a small fortune to kit out a boat not much bigger than a bathtub and then sail it across a big ocean?We must be totally mad!The first three days’ sailing from Cape Verde towards Grenada have made me realise that sea monsters definitely exist and they are out to get us.Our little, plastic, floating home is keeping us safe and dry, as we navigate mountainous waves, strong winds from behind and swells from the side.If you enjoy roller-coaster rides then you would love the way SV Disa surfs down waves like skyscrapers.You would love the lurches to the side as rogue waves splash into the cockpit, and you would love the feeling of your stomach dropping into your shoes as she rises up the next mountain, perching at the top for a moment before plunging. read more...


Falcon - The Happy Falcon Crew
Falcon - The Happy Falcon Crew
21/11/2022

Games Maker 2 - Anyone for a movie?

Feel free to join us on Games Maker 2 for a movie and popcorn! Sorry,No alcohol permitted :)image0. read more...


Games Maker 2 - Anyone for a movie?
Games Maker 2 - Anyone for a movie?
21/11/2022

Games Maker 2 - 20 knot surfing

…on Games Maker 2. Here we are with the rest of the Beach Boys…image0. read more...


Games Maker 2 - 20 knot surfing
Games Maker 2 - 20 knot surfing
21/11/2022

Blue Moon - Blog 1 Blue Moon -we made it to the start!

Early prep for the upcoming racing start. Boat is well stuffed with fresh food, loads of salads, sweet candies, chocolates, pasta, pasta, pasta, cheeses, and fresh meat for the first days. Tanks are filled up with prescious water. Gas bottles changed, fuel tank refilled. Sails repaired, new toilet pumps (thank you Ettore!) and we got a second life raft on the Blue moon, which is getting a hitchhike to Antigua. During team briefing our captain kept us up to date with the current weather conditions: Wind 20-25 knots, swell is 11 seconds and 2 to 3 meter waves. We expect similar conditions for the next days! Everyone was quite excited. We made the last phonecalls to the homefront, and happy to leave the port and start this beautiful adventure!Sailing out of the port was an emotional moment,. read more...


21/11/2022

Falcon - Crossing Day 3

Distance run: 174 nautical miles.New Falcon speed record:13.1 knots.Miles to go to Grenada: 1662.Heartbeats lost - more than to be wished for!Sunday November 20 will go down on Falcon as the night that Mother Nature gave us a bit of a spanking - and not in the good ‘cheeky adult’ way either!Our story starts on a dark and stormy night… it really was; moonless and winds gusting to 30 knots with a few rain showers!Picture poor little Winch Monkey rudely woken from his sleep in the bilge (still no promotion!) to the sound of the boom crash gybing.Rushing up the companionway, he is met with the sight of a bare-chested, muscle-ripped skipper, his shirt shredded by the tempest… ok, some artistic license has been taken here.In reality, our Ade was looking more Honeymonster than Incredible Hulk. read more...


21/11/2022

Games Maker 2 - Top Secret plan….

….of Games Maker 2. Or are we spoofing?! IMG_4631. read more...


Games Maker 2 - Top Secret plan….
Games Maker 2 - Top Secret plan….
21/11/2022

Games Maker 2 - Lel’s Gone Bananas!!

Games Maker 2 crew looking forward to Lels banana cake that’s smelling great in the Instant Pot! image0. read more...


Games Maker 2 - Lel’s Gone Bananas!!
Games Maker 2 - Lel’s Gone Bananas!!
21/11/2022

Games Maker 2 - Games Maker 2 - Day 2 via starling!!

Nestor Lopez back in the groove with JJ Cale after a windy night (gusting 42 knots!) that was more spicy than our veggie curry!. read more...


21/11/2022

Endeavour III - Endeavour III ... And we're Off!

We spent our final day in Las Palmas doing some last -minute food shopping (Endeavour’s *cough cough - KEVIN’S* motto is ‘more is more’) to ensure if we decide to continue onwards to New Zealand, we will have enough essentials, such as Ottolenghi Berber spice rub, to fuel us with needing to stop and resupply.We had our safety briefing in the afternoon where we went over the daily inspection checklist and discussed the liferaft, emergency tiller, and bilge pumps (all things I sincerely hope we will never have to use, mostly because I was quite hungry by this point and my mind was more focused on when we were going to open the Pringles downstairs). Imara and myself then did a first aid briefing; explaining the medical kit and key messages for how to keep ourselves healthy at sea. There was. read more...


21/11/2022

Jadamama - Day 1 blog

Bumpy start led to a coffee capsize as 300 Nespreso capsules had to be retrieved from all corners of the boat ! Headed south to stay in the breeze as best we can but now heading more directly. Usual challenge getting the air out of the water maker after changing the filters and a stewards enquiry already booked for lunchtime over water. Great send off yesterday with lots of emails and messages and especially the personal touch from Colm and Mairéad who wrote a poem for the occasion. Satcom up and running, even had a chat over the telephone so thanks Javier, Ed and all at MailaSail.. read more...


21/11/2022

Betelgeuse - BETELGEUSE Sunday 20/11/22 DAY 1 – A spicy Start

A slight easing of shoulders amongst the crew when our fresh fruit and veg showed up Saturday evening, only a fraction later than the market stall promised, vastly improving our chances of a full set of teeth on arrival… and we got tucked into washing, drying and crating up the goods, hopefully eliminating any small scurrying stow-aways. The atmosphere of muted focus with dawning apprehension, dark with a fresh breeze and clouds blocking out the stars. Pete and Richard continued to create new inventions on the skippers suggestion, dismantling the odd one given further experimentation. A workshop of activity. Cooking galore with Claire and Richard prepping the first few days food and a heavenly stir fry from Charlotte that evening. Boats far and wide were jealous of the smells wafting. read more...


Betelgeuse - BETELGEUSE Sunday 20/11/22 DAY 1 – A spicy Start
Betelgeuse - BETELGEUSE Sunday 20/11/22 DAY 1 – A spicy Start