Big Spirit - Bright orange, 72 ft long and 50 tonnes of steel - a downwind race for this monster is going to be a challenge but a delightful one.
We slipped lines at 1030 hours on race day, Sunday 23rd November, motored out of the marina and headed to the "playground" - an area just off the east coast of Gran Canaria to hoist sails and get into the swing of things. Due to our size, weight and the crowded start line we opted for a simple sail plan and hoisted a full main with only a yankee No.1 - the second forward sail, the staysail, was left in the sail locker to make life easier on the start line. For those of you who don't speak yacht - the yankee is the sail at the very front of the boat more commonly known as a genoa or jib between friends and the staysail is the sail just back from the yankee.
We tacked and gybed around the start area, assessing the line and marking out our intended start and checking the angles and the time it took to reach the line so that our approach could be effective and fast. After putting in a few tacks and gybes, with the cheers and foghorns of spectator boats ringing in our ears - a ten minute countdown and horn sounded and the adrenalin began to pump. I looked around the boat and the smiles on the faces of my crew became broader and broader. Their wait to begin a transatlantic race was almost over. All eyes were outside the boat checking for competitors making a bee-line for the bright orange boat. Bang - the five minute gun and we were in the thick of it. Fortunately people were clearing a path for us as we powered along the edge of the startline which made our life easier and as the countdown to race start blasted out over the VHF radio we were all in position: 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 - GO!! Next stop St. Lucia. The wait was over and the race was afoot!
Now then - I would like to introduce you to my crew - a fun and raudy bunch - eleven of us in total. We cover three nationalities and a full spectrum of experience and character. Sadly our twelfth man had to leave us unexpectedly the day before race start and we remain a little lost without him - so Charles, this race start is for you and we think we did you proud! You are sadly missed - hope all is well.
As we settled into our day, the race start over, the adrenalin of the start line easing a little, the troops began to relax and enjoy the sun and the beautiful breeze that was being kind to this heavy orange beast propelling us at a very healthy 11 knots in the direction of Africa. All was well with the world.
I too settled into life on board and marvelled at my surroundings. Ambling from the double cabin on board I headed to the laundry room, being careful not to knock the tumble drier and washing machine as I went in, to rumage through one of the two freezers on board containing huge quantities of fresh, now frozen, meat and treats to retrieve a frozen mars bar. On my way back through past the galley I stopped to collect some fresh fruit for a crew member and check the time on the microwave. I was just heading up on deck after taking time to select what to wear from an array of clothes I had been allowed to take with me on this trip and that is stored safely in a numerous collection of boxes. I remember thinking how wonderful my permitted showers will be!!!!
Now all this may seem completely normal for many of the ARC participants but for me, on my umpteenth crossing of this ocean, this is the most luxurious. You must remember that the last time I sailed on board a Challenge 72 I was entering a round the world yacht race which was bound for the Southern Ocean where freeze-dried food and daily handfuls of vitamins and minerals to keep the body happy were the order of the day. Where cleanliness came in the form of four baby wipes per day and the choice of clothing was a dirty team t-shirt or the second, spare, hopefully slightly clean-er team t-shirt left in our one storage box! Microwaves, washing machines, fresh food, unlimited clothing - all very unusual items for me at sea. A very different experience and what a treat! This is truly a luxuriously converted boat that I could get very used to.
As we settled into the nightwatches the boat went quiet and on deck darkness fell. However, I was rudely awoken by the sharp movement of the boat and the calls from the on deck watch to turn away from the wind the boat kept turning creating an unusual movement of the boat down below, next I heard an exclamation and the boat tried to gybe - thanks heavens for preventers! We were being targeted - a large fishing boat was making a bee-line for us. We were fully lit and the boat had been spotted but to the watch's horror it turned at the last minute and went for us. With hearts pumping Big Spirit was manoeuvred into a safe position and calm ensued on deck - each crew member imagining what had happened if ..... A call placed on the VHF to all ARC boats in our vacinity ensured that all were aware of this crazy boat which, as we turned, proceeded to play the same stunt on the yacht on our stern. Playing chicken with a 240 strong transatlantic racing and cruising fleet was clearly his game.
On that note - it is off to bed
Em
Big Spirit