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05/11/2023

Wild Goose - Day 1 of ARC+

Well we have finally left! And what a departure it was.  Perfect weather, light winds and a few puffy clouds.  A certain amount of good natured chaos as 98 boats all tried to cast off at the same time.  The boats remaining behind to do the‘normal’ ARC did a fine job of waving and cheering us all off, and those who had big swanky air horns tooted away wildly.  The harbour walls were also lined with well wishers shouting good luck and farewell greetings. We hoisted our main in the outer harbour fearing that there might be a big swell outside and windy, but in the event the sea was smooth and wind very light.  We decided to approach the down wind line on starboard gybe and james let me steer.  I am afraidto say that the competitive streak came out immediately. read more...


Wild Goose - Day 1 of ARC+
Wild Goose - Day 1 of ARC+
Wild Goose - Day 1 of ARC+
Wild Goose - Day 1 of ARC+
05/11/2023

Northern Light II - 5th November

What a week…… The last 3 days have been very hectic. Sarah and Cat have been amazing designing the menus , buying the ingredients and cooking for the first few days at sea. I have never seen so much food. Tom has been busy fixing things, sorting the storage, making the nets (see photos) and Geertje has got to learn the boat , assisted Tom, led the bulk shop for non food items and made sure the boat always had water. Tom & Geertje enjoyed the last day of boat cleaning and for some reason were  totally wet from head to foot. A great crew who have certainly worked hard to make sure we were ready to go this morning. We left the marina with Bat out of Hell playing following the prize for the fancy dress on Wednesday Now heading south and I will update the blog. read more...


Northern Light II - 5th November
Northern Light II - 5th November
Northern Light II - 5th November
Northern Light II - 5th November
Northern Light II - 5th November
Northern Light II - 5th November
Northern Light II - 5th November
Northern Light II - 5th November
Northern Light II - 5th November
Northern Light II - 5th November
Spirit - View of the fleet behind starting
Spirit - View of the fleet behind starting
Blue Wonder - Ed is on watch
Blue Wonder - Ed is on watch
05/11/2023

Risque Business - Day 1 of the Rally

Last minute preparations this morning and we slipped our mooring just after 11 am for a 1 pm start. The multihulls start 15 minutes before us (and they’ll probably arrive in Mindelo quite a time before us too!).A sunny day with a light breeze and everyone milling around near the start line. The forecast is for a front to come through this evening, so it’ll probably get a bit lumpy later on.Here we go! image2. read more...


Risque Business - Day 1 of the Rally
Risque Business - Day 1 of the Rally
05/11/2023

Spirit - Turtle joining us for the start!

Spotted this little fella as we were raising the main...IMG_5873. read more...


Spirit - Turtle joining us for the start!
Spirit - Turtle joining us for the start!
04/11/2023

Offbeat -

The forecast is looking good for a quick passage down the coast and nothing too excessive in the wind or sea state to deal with. We are all excited for the event to start...... Follow us on our blog... https://sailingoffbeat.com/2023/11/04/ready-for-the-off/. read more...


Blue Wonder - Ed the Iguana is getting settled on Blue Wonder
Blue Wonder - Ed the Iguana is getting settled on Blue Wonder
04/11/2023

Wild Goose - Blog

From Tim on Wild Goose:So I was a late arrival, flying in on Wednesday 1st to meet the boat in Las Palmas.My skipper had arrived a few days before….We left England in the face of a terrible forecast so expected rough flight.In fact it was not bad at all.A bit bumpy as we climbed through the clouds over Gatwick, then brief sightings of Chichester, Southampton and the Island, Newtown and Yarmouth and even the Needles clearly visible.A lot of white water on the beaches and over the Shingles, I think I saw a glimpse of France and one of the Chanel Islands but then nothing. We flew over some awesome looking clouds stretching to the horizon which I guess was the storm, but about an hour ago the sky started to clear revealing a bit of Spain and now I can look down to the sea and little puffy. read more...


Wild Goose - Blog
Wild Goose - Blog
Wild Goose - Blog
Wild Goose - Blog
Wild Goose - Blog
Wild Goose - Blog
Wild Goose - Blog
Wild Goose - Blog
Wild Goose - Blog
Wild Goose - Blog
Wild Goose - Blog
Wild Goose - Blog
03/11/2023

Northern Light - Without a fridge

There’s a lot of advice out there for provisioning a boat to do a long journey. In the last few months I’ve been given several books, watched YouTube clips, and talked to many people. One piece of advice always stands out as being especially sensible: if you wouldn’t eat it at home, don’t take it with you. Well, no offence to all the experts.But when I’m at home my diet is predominantly fresh meat, fish, full fat dairy products, salad, and the best wine we can reasonably afford. And there is pretty much no way we can take any of that with us, because we won’t have a fridge. Let alone a freezer, which seems to be a must-have gadget for everyone in our pontoon-neighbourhood. It’s raised a good many eyebrows, and even hands flung up in horror - ‘how CAN you???’ But our skipper wants us to. read more...


03/11/2023

Risque Business - Day 6

DAY6 - carnage. It’s been spent provisioning. We bought a massive amount of food and as the boxes which were delivered piled higher on the aft deck, we thought we must be provisioning the Ark Royal. The task over the last few hours has been trying to allocate space…daunting. We may have enough for us to open a general store mid-Atlantic. Sarah and Paula arrived in the evening, so Ric and Patrick have actual beds for the next three nights onshore. Bliss.image0. read more...


Risque Business - Day 6
Risque Business - Day 6
03/11/2023

Risque Business - Day 4

A day of seminars with titles such as “management of emergencies“ – we were getting the worst news over first! It got easier, going through rigging, down wind sailing and Atlantic fishing, finishing with us learning how to navigate across the Atlantic, using a transistor radio and a frying pan…if the USA turn off the GPS - the only problem is that nobody carries a small transistor radio anymore!).We’re busy prepping meals, vac packing and freezing them (Nick has even sourced rabbit for a fricassée and made his own stock). Early evening saw RB crowded for a chilled CA members drinks - 25 joined a group pic on the foredeck.We’ll be meeting them again in Modelo, Cape Verde after the 1st legimage0. read more...


Risque Business - Day 4
Risque Business - Day 4
03/11/2023

Risque Business - Day 3

Another day of 2 halves. The morning saw skipper and crew practice their sextant skills, which afterwards, involved Mark’s weathered old instrument being taken apart screw by screw and put back together again –we’ll know if it works when we’re on our way.The riggers turned up around lunchtime and spent a good few hours, during which they removed the spreader (see if you can notice in the photo below). We don’t think a new one will be available, though we’restill hoping. But they seem confident that they can make a workable repair. image3. read more...


Risque Business - Day 3
Risque Business - Day 3
03/11/2023

Risque Business - Day 2

This morning was the opening ceremony. Not quite London 2012, but really well organised, and there are 30 nations represented in this year‘s ARC +. As the Greek crew hadn’t turned up, we became the Greek flag bearers for half of the procession. We’re all hoping for an EU passport!Some jobs achieved during the day, and we’ve more or less sorted out how much beer and wine (as well as other essentials) we need for the trip. But, before dusk we noticed a damaged spreader which will need to be sorted before we leave. We’re hoping that a replacement can be found and shipped (we’re not expecting we’ll find one here). Sailing! All the well known sayings (‘tearing up £5 notes…’) apply. Tomorrow’s another day. image0. read more...


Risque Business - Day 2
Risque Business - Day 2
03/11/2023

Loreley - The crew is getting ready!

We as crew members of the Loreley are getting ready in four different countrys in order to join the ARC 2023 in Las Palmas very soon.All of us are very excited to get started and we are looking forward meeting other boat crews.We wish all of you a safe trip to Gran Canaria and an incredible, safe and cheerful journey accross the Atlantic.See you all soon …. read more...


Loreley - The crew is getting ready!
Loreley - The crew is getting ready!
02/11/2023

Gian - Why should you as an ARC crew already be in Las Palmas for the ARC+?

...a simple answer: otherwise you'll miss Halloween in the marinaimage0. read more...


Gian - Why should you as an ARC crew already be in Las Palmas for the ARC+?
Gian - Why should you as an ARC crew already be in Las Palmas for the ARC+?
28/10/2023

Risque Business - First blog from Risque Business

Sitting in the cockpit writing this first blog, it’s muggy and very warm, but very little wind. We’re all moving slowly and we’ve put off hauling up our old spinnaker to see if it’s been mended well. Attention has now turned to…the fishing we’ll be doing. The size and colour of the lures is spectacular - it might very well be that our adventure will end up being a grand fishing trip. It gets dark quickly here. The rugby final beckons……image0. read more...


Risque Business - First blog from Risque Business
Risque Business - First blog from Risque Business
26/10/2023

Aequitas - ARC plus Blog - “sail into the sunset” - “Hi”

Hi Welcome to our ARC blog, we’re Paul & Mary, our story is well documented on our ‘wee’ YouTube sailing channel “sail into the sunset” check it out https://youtu.be/ehKu1B9mmRc?si=urxb536fDoWmqrtb  if your interested. We have done a full circumnavigation of the UK clockwise and a 1/2 UK circumnavigation anti-clockwise. We are  retired, have sold our big old house, downsized and rented out a smaller house, sold a number of classic cars. Bought a big boat 47ft Oyster and here we are on our adventure . Our plans are cast in jelly, we are doing the ARC plus, and plan to cruise north from Granada up the islands chain, and then probably back to Granada to hide for Hurricane season. Paul & Mary. read more...


Nuvem Mágica - Oct 25 - Nuvem Mágica, Treize and Lost Abbey discuss sailing strategies over an epic meal :D
Nuvem Mágica - Oct 25 - Nuvem Mágica, Treize and Lost Abbey discuss sailing strategies over an epic meal :D
26/10/2023

Nuvem Mágica - Oct 24 - After some mast surgery operations, Nuvem Mágica is ARC+ Ready

Our halyards for Gennaker & Code Zero were passing incorrectly behind the shrouds connecting bar in the mast. Sylvain from the GLY team flew in to help us out and after 6 hours, the job was complete!  A7400921. read more...


Nuvem Mágica - Oct 24 - Nuvem Mágica is ARC+ Ready
Nuvem Mágica - Oct 24 - Nuvem Mágica is ARC+ Ready
03/09/2023

Walkabout - And then there were 2...

S18:25 E174:34There has been a lot of radio silence on our blog updates over the last few weeks.It has been a busy time on Walkabout, as we said goodbye to Tom and Bron in Tonga, and then 2 days later welcomed the Gammons x5.I think they probably felt that they had been mis-sold the South Pacific.The first 10 days of their venture was cool, cloudy and very wet at times.Not to mention - very windy.Our passage from Tonga to Lau (Fiji) was tough for everyone.Strong winds, big seas, rain and cold.It felt like the G’s regular summer trip to Cornwall, not the South Seas of the Pacific.On the bright side, everyone remained upbeat, no one was sea sick, which was pretty amazing given the conditions.During the second half of the G’s trip the weather improved, and we headed to Savusavu and then on. read more...


12/07/2023

Walkabout - The Day That Never Was

S18:35 W173:52After crossing the equator a couple of months back, we have now crossed another of those invisible lines that straddle the earth - The International Date Line!!In theory, if the Greenwich Meridian (0 degrees of longitude) is the foundation of measuring time, then the international date line should be at 180 degrees West (or East - depends which way you are heading).But the IDL is not a straight line.It zig zags down through the Pacific, tip toeing its way through all sorts of national and political interests along the way.So after some research we discovered that between Niue and Tonga, the IDL is at 172 degrees 30 Minutes West.Celebrations were hastily organised, and at 19.51 last night we crossed the line. Advisedly, I say 'last night', as who knows what day it was!So. read more...


11/07/2023

Walkabout - About to lose a day...

S19:19 W171:35We are back on passage on our way to Tonga after an incredible 3 days in Niue. We arrived in Niue in the evening on Friday 7th July in darkness and picked up a mooring buoy with all of the other arc boats who had arrived at various points throughout the day on Friday. After successfully mooring up with the help of Escapade and Northstar in their dingy, we enjoyed our arrival beer with some Pringles and then had the delight of a full nights sleep without any night shifts to get up for - what a novelty! From then on we had a completely jam packed time on Niue without a spare minute but we loved every part. We began by using the crane to lift the dingy onto the dock the next morning which was a new experience for us all but we soon found a routine for it… after checking in to. read more...


10/07/2023

Jadamama - Jadamama Bora Bora to Niue

Heno and I said our goodbyes to Maureen and Scott in Tahiti and have been joined by Heno’s dad, also called Henry/Heno, and my cousin Mícheál rejoined us in Bora Bora having last seen him in the Galapagos. I flew home for about ten days from Tahiti to reconnect with family and especially my wife Mairéad who has filled many of the gaps that I have left by doing this trip and yet has been unable to join for any part of it.I owe her and indeed all my family and friends a huge debt of gratitude for their support over the last twelve months that I have spent on the oceans around the planet.Looking back at the Society islands as a whole, we heard Moorea was the jewel and indeed it is a very special place to visit and explore. We loved the hiking, the snorkelling and just the geography and. read more...


07/07/2023

Walkabout - Day 7 - We have company!

S18:53 W163:38After four days of not seeing a sole, at 1300 yesterday, we have the best of company join us for our last few days at sea. Mary Doll just pinged up on AIS on the chart plotter and soon after they did, Letitia and Derek called up on the VHF and we all heard a loud HORAY when we answered! It was great and brought huge smiles from us all.Its now 0745 the following day, our arrival day in Nuie and Escapade of London have also just pinged up on AIS so now we are three. It is so good to have company on the water, it feels slightly more comforting knowing there are others nearby, you may not be able to visibly see them but you can call up them up and say hello, and keep an eye on the AIS, check out their speed, bearing and direction in comparison to you. Yesterday was a good. read more...


06/07/2023

Walkabout - Another Day for Fishing

S18:37 W165:52The morning shift consists of two important things, getting the blog written but more importantly getting the fishing lines in. We haven’t has much success since the Mahi that we caught on the first day, we did have two bites yesterday at the same time so Andrew was woken up to try and pull them both in. No sooner had he made it up here and started to bring the Genoa in to slow us down both fish decided they didn’t want to be dinner that evening. Gratefully they left both of our lures behind and swam off. We haven’t yet managed to land a double catch at the same time, although it is a goal. It has been quite a slow night aboard Walkabout as the wind has gradually died over the night. We have had sails crashing and banging a little as the wind dropped below 9 knots.. read more...


05/07/2023

Walkabout - Day 5: Variable, Mainly Good

S18:23 W163:37Back in the day, when people listened to the weather forecast on the BBC (whether though interest, boredom, inability to sleep or because it was before the news) there were (and still are) a variety of expressions that are used to describe the various facets of the weather.For example, ‘Variable” is used in relation to winds being ‘light and variable’.‘Mainly good’ is used in relation to the visibility.These days we all have access to the weather in all sorts of forms on line.Up until this passage we have relied on downloading Grib files whilst at sea and interpreting them to devise the best weather route.But Starlink has changed all that now.Now we can access all sorts of online weather information and multiple means of generating weather routing.But the general situation. read more...