Indian Summer - Day 4

DAY 4: I wasn't going to post a log: not much has happened, yet (we're only 280 miles out: another 2700 nautical miles to go). A few broken shackles but no serious gear failure; light winds, unsuitable for our moderately heavy boat and therefore requiring some nocturnal motoring. Sunshine, good food, equally good company but nothing really noteworthy; nothing much to write about.However, I've realised there may be some advantages in doing this: First of all, I can convince the crew I'm being industrious at last though - since I'm typing in the cockpit at 3 am whilst they are asleep - this strategy might be doomed to fail. Posting an ARC log should go some way to alleviating any feelings of guilt I have about not keeping up with my email correspondence to home (If you lot can't be. read more...

Indian Summer - Indian Summer Day 6: mixed fortunes

Its an easy day today: lying here in sunshine with consumptive crew sounding as if they have created the NE 4-5 winds with ceaseless coughing. All except Lizzie are taking antibiotics but we are deceptively well (Lizzie, though not seasick, is probably near suicidal listening to the expectoratons drowning out the sound of the waves). We haven't touched tiller nor sails, on a broad three sail reach, since teatime yesterday.Yesterday wasn't so good: an idyllic Wednesday night, gently trailing a blue-nosed, bulbous spinnaker under the stars, ended with a pre-dawn burst block, sheared guy, lost shackle and brand new parasailor torn by the shrapnel in three (thankfully small) places. Several hours repair work proved to be successful but winds have risen since and full trial postponed.The. read more...

Indian Summer - Westing at last

Day 7: We've been at sea for a week; 800 miles on and all well, having just turned right at the Cape Verde Islands (where the "butter melts"). Only 2068 miles to go as I look at the log! No disasters: only a few gear breakages aboard and crew all fit; Lizzie, thankfully, no seasickness whatsoever which is a great bonus.Yesterday we were visited for half an hour by a pilot whale, swimming alongside, and we've seen numerous flying fish & dolphins. Glyn caught a small bonito and, better still, a couple of dorado which did us just fine for supper two nights ago - one hour from hook to plate.A few words to reassure those at home concerned for our safety: on dark moonless watch last night we were able to utilise our new piece of safety equipment. This is called an AIS (auto info system). read more...

Indian Summer -Day 9 - feast or famine

Day 9: Little sailing excitement as we westward slowly in light winds,the "trades" not fully established at present. We fly our parasailor spinnaker during the day and twin headsails at night - though resorted to a few hours motoring when last night's wind deserted us.It seems the bigger, faster, westward boats are experiencing a weather system which may be a mixed blessing: more wind but occasionally a surfeit. We heard one completely lost his parasailor in 27 knots of wind whilst one of the racing division (sailing across further north) lost his mast and is motoring/limp-sailing under jury rig to the azores. Another yacht's lower shrouds parted a few days ago, obliging them to lash up supports and motor to Cape Verdes for repairs. That crew have been blighted by bad luck: Their dinghy. read more...

Indian Summer - Day 10: The green sea

Day 10:A swift sail at last as light winds increase to a force four - and all under parasailor (a spinnaker-like headsail, vented like a kite). This is filled by the wind and then hauls the boat along through halyard, guy and sheet. This forward motion transforms the sea into a torrent of water racing past the hull and driving the self-steering servo-pendelum laterally, a movement dependent upon the swivel imparted by the wind controlled vane and transmitted to the tiller by ropes. The boat steers herself free from the touch of human hand, once set.Meanwhile, this same stream of water drives a turbine deployed off the rear of the boat, converting from hydro to electric power and thus driving our instruments, lights, radio, fans, pumps, refrigeration, communications and computer. Another. read more...