Log 1 – Mon 24 November – 14.30 UTC
2650 to go to St Lucia – Position: N25.57 W15..28.5
Speed: 4.3knots Course: 232
After an emotional send off from Las Palmas with a 20 odd piece brass band playing to us arranged by Ekrem, we waved g’bye to Marlies and Nick who looked more than ready to send us off having worked day and night to have the boat absolutely ship shape for our journey…we really can’t thank you both enough for this tremendous effort, and are now beginning to appreciate your wealth of knowledge in how to feed the hungry sick or over eager on our 2,800 mile adventure. But again thank you thank you thank you.
Introducing the crew…skipper first: Boogie – the only man to cross the start line wearing clogs…. Well I guess they float if you fall in and they match your bright orange hair. Short of building a windmill on the foredeck I don’t think we could have made Holland more proud.
First watch was taken by Red Watch: Mystery man Barry thought to be on the run from the Tongan police and hiding in the Atlantic for a few weeks, Super Susan Sami who is ensuring we will be the best fed crew on the Arc and Jim who will start running fitness classes tomorrow to make sure we won’t also be the heaviest crew on the ARC.
Next Blue watch a model of European integration. Taking the best of each country we have Germany and Axel providing the sense of humour, Leon from the Netherlands a series of riddles that we can’t solve in English let alone double dutch all helping to take Fran’s mind off seasickness.
..and finally White watch…. Mike’s in charge and providing the experience to harness the youth and enthusiasm of Ome and Liv. Ome can relax now we’re at sea and his Las Palmas fan club are making their own way across the Atlantic. Liv is looking cool and calm and ready for anything.
Spent a calm first night averaging about 6knts, slight seas and wind average. Doing watches of 3 hours on at night starting 1800 then 6 hours off, 4 hours on during the day and 8 hours off. We’re just catching bit of sleep here and there, but bodies still fighting to stay with our land routines, will take few more days to let that go. Have had light rain occasionally, but otherwise very starry skies and sunshine. Comfortable temperature during the day yesterday and today.
We are all well, some feeling wee bit sea sick, but watch patterns allow us enough time to get flat, and hopefully in time our sea legs will arrive.
Shame the brownies got left back in the hotel freezer we did wonder whether the coast guard would be dispatched to bring them for us….but no sign so far…maybe in St. Lucia?
Crew Star Chaser ARC 2008