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Sweet Dream - Day 35 February 16, 2019
Sweet Dream - Day 35 February 16, 2019
17/02/2019

Sweet Dream - Day 34 February 15, 2019

Dawn brought a flurry of activity amongst the WARC fleet anchored off Isla Contadora. Last bits of laundry fluttered in the soft breeze, dinghies came on deck or were secured in davits. Lines were run, mains rolled out and in again, light air sails queued up on foredecks, ready to be deployed at the start line. Finally it was 11:00, and we were off! Such a beautiful sight seeing so many colourful down wind sails pulling the vessels along. Radio reports revealed pods of dolphins and several whales cavorting in between the boats, while elsewhere, fish leapt at the lures and became delicious dinners. The wind filled in quite nicely and we enjoyed a really beautiful day in the water for the start of the third leg of our journey on Sweet Dream.image1.. read more...


Sweet Dream - Day 34 February 15, 2019
Sweet Dream - Day 34 February 15, 2019
17/02/2019

Sweet Dream - Day 33 February 14, 2019

Last full day in Las Perles Islands. All the little pre departure projects done. We sadly bid farewell to our new friends David and Susan Scott who were catching the ferry back to La Playita in Panama City to spend a bit more time with Pat and Sandi on Hope. David and Susan were very much fun to have onboard and we were sorry to see them leave. We attended the Captain’s meetings, had a last chat with Hans and Astrid from Zwerver, zoomed over to Danica for a sundowner with Glen and Mary, and were home in time for supper and dancing on the back deck. We turned in a bit early and read some more of Meltdown before heading off to sleep in our Sweet Dream.image1.. read more...


Sweet Dream - Day 33 February 14, 2019
Sweet Dream - Day 33 February 14, 2019
17/02/2019

Sweet Dream - Day 32 February 13, 2019

Las Perlas islands. We started the morning with Susan and Laura kayaking from the anchorage at Isla Chapera round the point to the beach at a Mogo Mogo. David and Lars followed in the dingy as the camera crew.We landed our crafts, walked on the lovely sand, swam, snorkelled, planted a shell garden and were relaxing and reading Meltdown, a book written by Debra and Paul of team Tumi, when who dinghied up but Team Tumi! Lars began reading aloud, bring great mirth and joy to our whole group. After a light lunch in the bright sunshine, we went back and weighed anchor, motored over to Isla Contadora, and got ready for the fun party and prize giving BBQ. Altogether a wonderful night! Thank you WARC team for enriching our SweetDream!Laura and Lars swinging on the beach while the boats swing at. read more...


Sweet Dream - Day 32 February 13, 2019
Sweet Dream - Day 32 February 13, 2019
21/02/2019

Tintin - Galalagos by moonlight

It's 5:00am and we're motoring down the N side of San Cristobel in theGalapagos.The moon is amazingly bright - almost full - and the skycompletely clear.The ecliptic here stretches from east to westdiectly overhead.Venus has just risen above the shadow of thehorizon, a couple of hours after Jupiter.Kicker Rock, a rocky outcropabout 100m and 200m across and teemingwith wildlife is a mile to port. We'll probably arrange a day diving orsnorkelling here before we leave.The favourble current has faltered over the last few hours, so we'llprobably be anchoring in Wreck Bay as the sun rises.Pretty Cool!. read more...


20/02/2019

Tintin - Hitch-hiking on the equatorial current

It's sunrise over my left shoulder and the moon is gently coming downto set in front of my right. We have had the most amazing andunexpected last 14 hours of sailing with steady winds of 10-12 knotsfrom just west of south. Tintin is creaming along close hauled inflat waters making 7-8 knots over the ground thanks to the 2 knotwestbound current.We will need to alter course if the wind doesn't change - even tack -to make the Galapagos, 140 miles to landfall. Before then we will becrossing the equator!It has been a glorious moonlit night with much friendlier clouds thanthe night before, and lightening visible in the far distance only. Maybewe are through the ITCZ (Doldrums) now? A red footed booby who had been perched on our mast spreader forseveral hours has just preened himself and flown. read more...


19/02/2019

Tintin - Dodging lightening in the doldrums

It is 6:15 am but it is still jet black outside, apart from theoccasional flashes of lightening which are lighting up the whole sky.They are coming from a huge thunderstorm cloud to our right which isclearly visible on the radar screen and appears to be a couple ofmiles wide. Using the radar we have managed to find our way through thesquall clouds over the last couple of hours and it is quitereassuring to see the dark blobs on the screen moving behind us as weput more distance between them and us. It is raining and the decks havehad a good rinse; the wind freshened a few hours ago and has veered 180degrees in the last half hour, and Tintin's motion is a bit more rockythan it has been for days in the lumpy seas produced by the squall. Yesterday evening we were treated to a beautiful calm. read more...


19/02/2019

Aurora Polaris - Re: St.Helena itil Ascension Island

Torsdagen har jeg allerede fortalt en del om. Det var den dagen da vi blekjørt rundt på øya i landrovere og til slutt var innom Comfortless Cove,badestranda med store skilt om haiangrep og gravene til de som hadde dødd avgulsott. Etter at vi hadde inntatt lunsjen vår, måtte vi plutselig draderfra. Grunnen var at nettopp da hadde de gjort klar«bargen(drivstofflekteren)» som skulle fylle oss opp med diesel. Vi så ingengrunn til å dra til land igjen for å spise middag, for vi hadde en avtalemed en gruppe damer som skulle ta oss med på stranda for å se nårskilpaddene la egg. Det skulle skje etter mørkets frambrudd, og vi måtte harøde hodelykter på oss. Ingen fikk filme med hvitt lys eller bruke blits.Det var jo kjekt å se, men bildene/filmene ble ikke fine på grunn av alt detrøde. read more...


Aurora Polaris - Re: St.Helena itil Ascension Island
Aurora Polaris - Re: St.Helena itil Ascension Island
18/02/2019

Cassiopée W - Log February 17th 20:15 - No fish for dinner

Le Français suivra ...As we approach the Equator, the temperature rises and there is still very little wind. Today we were only able to sail the spinnaker for two short hours. Because it has been unusually calm, our day was spent trying to hide under the sunshade, doing some maintenance on the engine, reading and fishing, or I should say trying to fish. From early morning, two lines were cast behind the boat, and the captain even installed new lures to the fishing rods so as to put all the chances on our side. In the middle afternoon, we all thought our luck had come at last when schools of yellow tail tunas passed by the boat. They were by dozens dancing away at the surface of the water. A few birds flying over them were also hoping to get a catch. Unfortunately our potential dinner’s. read more...


18/02/2019

Endo 2 - Auf nach Galapagos

Nun sind wir bereits seit 3 Nächten unterwegs, der Start zu den Inseln war am 15.2. Wir sind sehr gespannt auf die Inseln und freuen uns schon auf die Drachenechsen. Es wird sicherlich etwas besonderes. Doch der Weg dahin dauert leider noch ein Weilchen. Der Pazifik ist im Moment - jedenfalls auf unserer Strecke - etwas windarm. So haben wir die Nacht motort - dabei haben wir noch gute 400 sm vor uns. Die Nächte sind nasser als erwartet, bei etwa 88% Luftfeuchtigkeit bleibt nichts trocken. Durch die Motorwärme kann die Feuchtigkeit nicht so in das Schiff eindringen. Gestern hatten wir einen tollen Segeltag - bis gegen abend der Wind zu Bett ging. Wir haben sogar unseren Genacker gesetzt, leider nur für kurze Zeit. Danach wurde wieder "Schmetterling" gesegelt und wir waren sehr zufrieden.. read more...


18/02/2019

Tintin - Bobbing towards the Galapagos

All is very gentle in this part of the Pacific as we slowly make ourway towards the Galapagos.After a good sail on Saturday the wind died overnight,and yesterday wehad enough wind to help us along for a few hours in the afternoon. Thismorning when I took over from Rob at 6am there was just enough of abreeze to use the sails again. Turning the throbbing engine off iswonderful. Then you can hear the gentle slap and ripple of the water onthe hull.But as the wind drops, then so does the lovely sound of the waterslipping by. It is replaced by the snap of idle rigging as Tintin rollsgently in the small swell, and an annoying rattle from within the boom.Rob's head pops up the companionway and he suggests it is time to usethe engine again. And our speed in the right direction leaps from 3 to6. read more...


Misto - Sight seeing in Salvador
Misto - Sight seeing in Salvador
Misto - Cathedral in Salvador
Misto - Cathedral in Salvador
Misto - Ilya bom Jesus
Misto - Ilya bom Jesus
Misto - Itapareica
Misto - Itapareica
18/02/2019

Misto - February 9-18 2019: Salvador, Brazil

We arrived in the Termino Nautico marina on February 10 at 6.30 am.The marina is right in the town, a short drive or walk from the old town.An elevator takes you up the steep hillside to the Old Town with its historic buildings and restaurants.We have enjoyed a number of good meals here including the local speciality of fish stew which comes still bubbling in a clay dish.We enjoyed the WARC tour to a couple of the historic churches and the lighthouse.There are said to be so many churches in Salvador that there is one for every day of the year.On Valentine’s Day we booked a tour for dinner and to go to a folk dance show in a small local theatre.It was a lively and energetic show that we thoroughly enjoyed.Communication here in Salvador is frankly a challenge if you do not speak. read more...


Cassiopée W - Log 16 February - The magic of the spinnaker
Cassiopée W - Log 16 February - The magic of the spinnaker
17/02/2019

Cassiopée W - Log 16 February - The magic of the spinnaker

See English below La magie du spinnaker C’est au alentour de midi que nous avons décidé de déployer cette superbe voile dont j’avais oublié la couleur. Hier à la ligne de départ, plusieurs bateaux de la flottille avaient choisi de l’utiliser créant ainsi un festival de couleur devant le village d’Isla Contadora. Aujourd’hui, c’était à notre tour. Le capitaine, son tacticien Donald et nous les femmes avons essayé autant que possible de la déployer tout en gardant la grande voile mais les vents étaient d’arrière et cette dernière empêchait la brise de la gonfler comme il se doit. En d’autres mots, tout cette voile voulait, était d’être la vedette de la journée. C’est bon, on a compris! Nous sommes donc monté au vent, avons rentré la grande voile et avons déployé le ´SPI’. Oui seulement le. read more...


16/02/2019

Tintin - Preparing to visit the Galapagos Islands

You can't just rock up in a boat to the Galapagos Islands. TheEcuadorians work very hard to look after this unique archipelago and toprotect it as far as possible from the impact of humans, balancing thisneed with allowing visitors to come and see its wonders.The World ARC team have taken on the administration of our visit tomake it as simple as possible for us. But it still feels like preparingfor a test!Crew lists have to be submitted months in advance, with 5 paper copies(at least one in colour) of each crew member's passport. The ARC teamapply for cruising permits which allow us to visit 3 designatedanchorages within the island group.We have been extensively briefed about the rules and regulations thatapply to visiting yachts. We have to make sure that the hull of theboat is squeaky. read more...


Tintin - Preparing to visit the Galapagos Islands
Tintin - Preparing to visit the Galapagos Islands
16/02/2019

Charm - 16 feb 2019

Hello Charm followers,I’ve been given the task of writing the first Log for Leg 3.After a few day exploring the Las Perlas Islands it was time for race start day. It’s been a while since I’ve raced but lo and behold the usual pre-race start jitters returned! No nerves were however needed as Lara helmed us perfectly over the line crossing it in first place. My job was to be spinnaker trimmer for the first part of the race. The fleet slowly started to spread out as evening fell and just before the sunset we were treated to some acrobatic dolphins dancing across our bow.We have managed to hold a spinnaker through the night and our crew have worked hard to try and keep the boat speed high and in the general direction of the Galapagos. It’s been a steep learning curve for Sunil and Swagata. read more...


16/02/2019

Tintin - Settle down now...

After the ups and downs of the last couple of weeks, it may disappointsome of our readers if things get somewhat more samey for the next weekor so. I'm afraid that I'm rather looking forward to some plain sailingfor a few days. We started stage 3 from Las Perlas to the Galapagos islandsyesterday. 850NM direct, but we will probably have to do more miles inorder to keep the wind for as long as possible. The tactics are to headslightly west of south from the start, using the last breathes of theAtlantic trade winds that make it over the Panama Darien Gap in thePacific. These will peter out within a couple of hundred miles of thecoast and from there on we will be in the doldrums (or the ITCZ as it'sproper;y known).This is the area between the NE trades in the northand the SE trades in the. read more...


16/02/2019

Cassiopée W - Log Febuary 15 - Departure for Galapagos

Voir Français ci-dessousOur stay at Isla Contadora was filled with emotions. Full of happiness because of the fact that we are now four onboard, and this allowed us to experiment with new maneuvers while sailing among the islands Las Perlas, but also to take advantage of the expertise of our crew members to get to know our boat in more depth. Reuniting with friends of the fleet who we had not seen for six days, and enjoying the convenience of what land has to offer were pure joy as well. To sum it all, we received the second place in our category for the segment Columbia to Panama. Unfortunately, sadness was also at the rendezvous as we had to say goodbye to friends who have been travelling with the group since Saint-Lucia. Some left for other destinations whereas others encountered. read more...


15/02/2019

Charm - Test blog post

Hello Charm followers-Just making sure we can post.  Please watch for rotating posts from all our crew on this page.Also, see past posts at Charmof5.comBest wishes,The Charmies. read more...


15/02/2019

Rubicon IV - Crossing to San Blas Islands, Panama post ; 6

January 30, 2019Santa Marta, Columbia was beautiful, with mountains near the shore, cool breezes and blue skies. In short, we all enjoyed Santa Marta. We had a tour of the city, and a beach day with a BBQ. We were planning to leave on the 23rd, but, the winds were so strong it would be stupid to go out. Then the next day we were recommended to stay back as the waves were 4 metres and the next day would be 2. So we decided to wait one more day. On the 25th, we left for San Blas, Panama. On the way, our route crossed the outflow of the Magdalena River for 4 or 5 hours. There was a sharp border between the river outflow and the ocean. The ocean was a beautiful sapphire blue, and the outflow was a murky olive-teal. Nothing was overly exciting on the river, but once we crossed into the salt. read more...


15/02/2019

Rubicon IV - Bob the Boobie post ; 5

January 16, 2019Exciting things happened last night after I wrapped up with my last post.Our new crew came yesterday and left early this morning. He was Bob: Bob the Boobie.If I didn’t make it clear enough, Bob was a bird. After dinner, the adults were looking at something, and I didn’t understand what they were talking to, so I came on deck to see what the fuss was about. There was a booby, [BIRD] flapping its wings while kissing the railing as he was so close. Eventually, he settled on the cleat under a seat on the back of the boat. My mom gave me a briefing, “He landed on our dingy, [motor boat] and we shooed him off, but now he’s come back so we figure he’s very tired to put up with us.” Immediately we started thinking of names. He came from a Dutch Island, Aruba, so Glenn had said. read more...


15/02/2019

Rubicon IV - On the way to Santa Marta. post ; 4

January 14, 2019I’ve made some friends on the ARC, Eva, Daisy, Ivory and Lucia. We boat-hopped together in the marina for the rest of the time there in St. Lucia. A few days back, we left the marina for our first official ARC sail, St. Lucia to Santa Marta, Colombia. So far we’ve caught two fish, a mahimahi and yellowfin tuna that our crew, a man named Glenn, artfully carved. I helped my mom with her watch for a while before going to bedThe next dayLooking back, there wasn’t enough in my blog yesterday to post it. So here are some nitty-gritty notes about the wind, waves, sails etc.So far we’ve been underway for about three 24-hour periods. In short, three days and three nights. The waves are ‘confused’ or hitting the hull ( side of the boat ) from two different directions. So a constant. read more...


14/02/2019

Hope - sv Hope Status

With extreme sadness and huge disappointment we will be removing ourselves from World ARC 2019. We have suffered mechanical failure with our engine that will take 6-8 weeks to resolve. Not 100% sure but most likely will get issues resolved and cruise the waters of Central America for the next year and hope to rejoin World ARC 2020 when they get over to this side of Panama. We wish all the other family of World ARC 2019 all the best of this incredible adventure. Pat and Sandy.. read more...


13/02/2019

Sweet Dream - Day 30 February 11, 2019

Monday. We waited for our passports to come back from the agent. Typical Latin America no hurry attitude. Passports will be here at 09:00 hours..so we enjoyed breakfast and unlimited WiFi at the Beach house hotel while we were waiting for passports. At noon , with still not a passport in sight, we moved back onto the boat. At 14:00 we had a good talk with Pat and Sandi on Hope. They were elbows deep into an engine project, so we offered to take their friends, David and Susan Scott over to Isla Taboga then on to Contadora. That way,Pat and Sandi could focus on their boat, and David and Susan could see more than just the locks and marina. At 16:00, passports in hand, we loaded up David and Susan and sailed to Taboga. As we came into the bay , two pilot whales greeted us by dancing in the. read more...


Sweet Dream - Day 30 February 11, 2019
Sweet Dream - Day 30 February 11, 2019
14/02/2019

Sweet Dream - Day 31 February 12, 2019

09:00, we let go the mooring ball at Isla Taboga, motored out into the morning mist, raised sails and had agentle glide through the traffic separation zone. Lots of the WARC fleet were on the move populating our chart plotter with buddy boat icons. The wind took a nap, we turned on the motor, encountered two whales, probably a Moma and baby, guessing by their size and proximity to each other. We radioed Danica that the whales were coming their way...they ended up having to change course to avoid them! Other boats in the group radioed in about the whales. What a joy to share these moments with our fellow travellers! We dropped anchor off of Isla Chapera, went and had a nice walk on the beach, dinner back onboard, and dancing to cannedimage1.. read more...


Sweet Dream - Day 31 February 12, 2019
Sweet Dream - Day 31 February 12, 2019
12/02/2019

Cassiopée W - Log February 10th 15:30 - Isla Viveros, Las Perlas Panamá

English to follow...Ce matin, l’équipe de Cassiopée était occupée à nettoyer le sel accumulé durant les derniers jours après une navigation au près à travers d’autres îles désertes. Nous avons également fait la lessive, nettoyer les cales du bateau ainsi que la multitude de moustiques. Durant les derniers jours, la seule compagnie que nous avons eu était un groupe de dauphins qui nous ont escortés de Isla San Jose à Isla del Rey. Mammifères et humains étaient tous très excités de se rencontrer. Certains membres de l’équipage ont même avoué n’avoir jamais vu autant de dauphins auparavant. 10 points pour Cassiopée! Nous avons aussi rencontré ce que certains ont crû être un mammifère mort flottant avant de réaliser qu’il s’agissait du dos d’une baleine recouvert de bernacles. Pendant ce. read more...


12/02/2019

Timshel - St Helena to Brazil Day 16 nearly there.

Yesterdays GRIB showed all red arrows (18 kts +) for +24hr i.e. today, new one we got this morning was all green arrows (max 13 kts).Deployed the cruising chute with pole and sailed quite well with a little wind for some hours then it died even more, too little for even the lightweight sail to set, so we put sails away and switched to engine power - bit of a shock after 2 weeks - noisy.Also it is getting very hot.So we are plugging on, just 40 miles to go now so we will arrive in Salvador very early tomorrow morning, hopefully in time do go on the tour at 9am (Brazil time UTC -3) but will probably not make the closing time at the finish of 0700 UTC.But we did start a day late.. read more...


11/02/2019

Endo 2 - Panama

Hurra, wir haben es geschafft. Wir sind im Pazifik angekommen - kein Traum nein wir sind hier in Panama City!Die Kanalpassage war ein Erlebnis - im Päckchen durch die Schleuse ist schon etwas besonderes. Aber es hat alles gut geklappt und auch die Adviser der Kanalgesellschaft waren hilfsbereit und nett. Auch an unserem Essen gab es nichts auszusetzen, es schien geschmeckt zu haben.Panama ist schon gewaltig und wie alle großen Städte sehr vielfältig. Auf der einen Seite die imposante Skyline mit den riesigen Hochhäusern und andererseits die Altstadt, mit verfallenden Gebäuden. Dazwischen gibt es immer wieder toll restaurierte Häuser, und die Regierung scheint eine Menge für die Restaurierung zu tun. Es gibt allerdings noch eine ganze Reihe Brachen, die nach dem Abzug der Amerikaner sich. read more...


10/02/2019

Timshel - St Helena to Brazil Day 15

Mostly good progress today sailing in sunshine but wind is still pretty variable.The boat can be charging along at 7 -8 knots and you are thinking maybe it us time to reef then it all goes peaceful again.We are looking forward to arriving in Brazil, 178 miles to go.. read more...


10/02/2019

Sweet Dream - Day 29 February 10, 2019

Again we hooked up with Louis, our favourite taxi driver. We met him four years ago when we spent several weeks anchored in the bay outside La Playita, or on a mooring ball at Isla Taboga. Back then he helped us get propane, boat parts, the out board engine repaired, eye doc appointment and glasses for Laura, and charts. We are so happy to see him again. He took us to the wonderful Rey store for groceries, then to the duty free store for liquor. On our first trip across the Pacific we learned that good spirits are ten times more expensive in French Polynesia than in Panama, so it is prudent to stock up here. It is really lovely being on a dock in La Playita marina..just roll the cart to the boat! Decadent luxury being part of the WARC! We appreciate the ease of being in the marina here. read more...


Sweet Dream - Day 29 February 10, 2019
Sweet Dream - Day 29 February 10, 2019
10/02/2019

Sweet Dream - Day 28 February 9, 2019

We engaged the services of our favourite taxi driver, Louis, to take our crew for the Panama Canal transit of Mike and Ed to the airport, then did a bit of provisioning. Boat was cleaned, fridge and freezer defrosted and cleaned out, linens washed, .that never ending hot wind is great for laundry drying! Not a very exciting day....but that is the flip side of paradise...best part was receiving the exhaust flap cover plus spare ! We have tried to find this silly little important part in five countries and finally succeeded here!! A happy Sweet Dream!image1.. read more...


Sweet Dream - Day 28 February 9, 2019
Sweet Dream - Day 28 February 9, 2019
09/02/2019

Timshel - St Helena to Brazil Day 14

More wind today so good progress under white sails.The forecast shift to NE wind (from WRI supplied by World ARC) didn't really happen, in fact it is more SE so we gybed back onto port, still running wing on wing. More warm trade wind sailing.We are getting better connection to Sailmail stations with the SSB now - even connecting via Belgium over 4000 miles away so it is easier to download weather GRIB files.We are now on the other half of the folded chart - i.e. the half with the coast of Brazil on it.Nice to have the moon back too.. read more...


09/02/2019

Sweet Dream - Day 27 February 8, 2019

We sailed back to La playita marina in the afternoon. Tried to dock at d dock....not enough water, backed out through the churning mud and were given a cosy spot on c dock. We all enjoyed the delicious food, fun fellowship, and exotic belly dancing at Beirut restaurant in the evening. A very fine finish to our canal transit on the Sweet Dream.image1.. read more...


Sweet Dream - Day 27 February 8, 2019
Sweet Dream - Day 27 February 8, 2019
09/02/2019

Sweet Dream - Day 26 February 7, 2019

Isla Taboga....lovely sunrise, good kayaking, sweet swim off the beach, bump bump bump in the night from a fish boat pulling in a net on our stern! Even being woke up by the fish boat, it was a nice break here. In the afternoon Tumi, Eq2, and Cassiopee joined us in the mooring field. Just living the Sweet Dream.image1.. read more...


Sweet Dream - Day 26 February 7, 2019
Sweet Dream - Day 26 February 7, 2019
09/02/2019

Sweet Dream - Day 25 February 6, 2019

Left the marina at 1100 in the morning and motor sailed to Isla Taboga. We picked up a mooring ball and spent a lovely afternoon exploring the darling village. In the evening we braved the surf into town, walked up to the quaint hotel/restaurant only to discover their cook had not come to work....no dinner....back through the rolling surf to the big boat, and a quick dinner of Spaghetti and meat sauce with garlic toast. It was cool to have the entire anchorage to ourselves, and was an uber peaceful night.image1.. read more...