Bluejay Report Tuesday, November 21,
2023
At 1116 hrs local
time Gran Canaria, the 60 foot cutter Bluejay of Portsmouth was gangplank-up
ready to slip her lines to commence the famous Atlantic Rally Crossing, the ARC
2023. Moments later the bonded Bluejay crew of 10 (Michael, Richard, Nic,
Robert, Steve, David and yes another David, Anders, Andrew and Angus) followed
the calm yet decisive directions of Skipper Holly and first mate Manu to cast
lines and off we went, into the traffic jam procession out of the
moorings.
At 1304 Bluejay
crossed the starting line along with the numerous other boats in the Cruising
Division. The fleet followed the guidance of the ARC weather experts and set out
across the top of Gran Canaria SOUTHWARD towards the continent of Africa in
order to catch southerly winds.
Winds were
sufficient to keep sails full however soon many boats, including ours, was under
main sail and motor, the telltale configuration for steaming. The goal? Catch
those southerly winds. And it worked?
As the afternoon
wore on up went the Yankee and later the staysail and we were heading
south.
We were treated to
a beautiful sunset over the south eastern tip of Gran Canaria and said goodbye
to terra firma. Training had been done while in harbour, many a meal taken
together as a crew, bunks set, emergency procedures practiced, all that now a
memory.
Guess what?
Cellular signals continued to work whilst near Gran Canaria, and many a crew
member could be seen sending their last messages to loved ones or tending to any
final bits of business. And then the cellular was gone.
We were where we're
supposed to be, on the venerable Rubicon 3 clipper 60, with just one task to
achieve. Cross the Atlantic as a team generating not only a good crossing but
new friendships on what is to the ocean a tiny bobbing speck adorned with bright
white sails.
Sails were trimmed
for the night and the radio was a clatter with other skippers discussing
suitable setups. But we were set, and the watches began, 3 hours on, and repeat
six hours later, thanks to our 3 watch teams approach. Lots of time to rest up,
cook, clean tend to boat chores, and catch fish.
As we write, it is
Tuesday at 1020 hrs, and WE HAVE CAUGHT FISH. A nice looking 'massive' Dorado,
near on one meter in length, allowing for fish story slight exaggeration. Manu
had set the line earlier and while Monday had produced just an empty hook, that
was not to be the case today, Tuesday. Perhaps we have to adjust our lunch or
dinner plans.
Sunday night was
beautiful stars across the sky and watching the half full moon shimmer upon us
from all points of the horizon until dawn beckoned. The night itself had all 3
watches learn a few things about night sailing, managing the compass and
heading, and keeping any eye out for other boats. We were in sight of perhaps a
dozen other ARC contestants and the Rubicon3 sister ship Hummingbird was in
closer to the coast and out of sight.
Monday night as
another story. For the uninitiated sailor the west Saharan sand filling the sky
like clouds was a bit of surprise. The sun was filtered during the day and the
moon obscured completely, as were the stars for most of the night. The winds
were flowing 10-18 kts throughout the night, moving from S to SE direction,
causing rapt attention by the helm to adjust accordingly. As much as the skipper
asked for a course, 210 being the repeated refrain, at times one could only sail
to the wind. We mostly kept on track however the wind oscillation made for
tricky adjustments through Monday and into the night.
Noting the wind
changes, the sheets were hardened to tighten up the ship for a close reach
resulting in an extra knot or two and were able to come closer to the heading,
210 always the target. The helm became more responsive and the midnight to early
morning sail became quite pleasant, small touches to the helm being most
effective. So much so that the cabin was treated to the sound of sleeping crew
and sometimes the not so quiet atmosphere that many on the ARC will fully
understand.
We remain headed
towards Cape Verde and will be doing our best to stay in the now elusive
winds.
-Michael