Two months ago, while moored in Gibraltar, we made the decision to join ARC+. What a whirlwind this past two months has been as we have prepared our boat for this awesome rally! Joining an ARC event forced us to improve the safety standards on our boat and also gave us the opportunity to try out our downwind sails as we sailed to Madeira and then on to Las Palmas on Gran Canaria.
In Las Palmas we met our two amazing crew, who had been sailing on a friend's boat and came highly recommended. Andy is a classically trained French cuisine chef and K is a nurse. They both completed their RYA Day Skipper courses in Gibraltar, and we've been together long enough to feel like a family already. I don't think we could have got our boat ready in time without their assistance. Mealtimes have become a pleasure beyond words, and we have a lot more confidence about medical emergencies now that K has taken control of First Aid.
We have scrubbed the decks, bought enough provisions to last for several months and finally finished the long list of boat jobs. We've watched an emergency helicopter rescue and taken part in a swimming pool life raft practice launch. Clambering into a life raft from the sea is more difficult than you think, and we were reminded that it is usually safer to stay on your boat. Liferafts are a last resort - "Step up onto the raft."
A couple of days ago we had a terrific 1970s party. We quite literally let our hair down, as you will see in the photos. Darrol went as John Lennon, but somebody thought he looked more like Ozzy Osborne. 😀 K and Andy absolutely rocked their costumes. It's quite amazing how all the yachties were transformed into Dancing Queens - with platforms and flared pants and plenty of Seventies' florals. It has been so good to have a break from boat work most evenings, enjoying all the social events.
With seminars on weather routing under our belt, and a smattering of celestial navigation, as well as important pointers on rigging and provisioning, it has been so worthwhile being part of the ARC+. We're not out of the starting blocks yet, but already we're impressed by the ARC organisation - the Yellow Shirts are friendly and helpful, and we have appreciated the ARC's involvement in country check-ins, always tricky for us South Africans!
We are filled with excitement and trepidation - tomorrow we'll be sailing the high seas in our 1988 Amel Mango! We'll say goodbye to the good friends we have made on Pontoon K. With the wind in our sails we'll be heading south to Cape Verde in our beautiful old boat, Disa. Unlike fast, modern boats, Disa is slow and steady - a stately lady on the ocean. You can use the Fleet Tracker to follow our journey. Check back here for more updates in the future.