Monday, 22nd November, 2010
2100 UTC
25’26 N
17’23 W
This is Snow Wolf with its first blog since departure Grand Canaries for ST Lucia! The build up to our departure was what I would describe as frantic. As all crew arrived at our new home for the next 3 weeks, we were each greeted by our skipper Matt. On board we are 8 in total. Our talented crew were all complete strangers to one another (albeit it now feels like we have known each other for ever) and consist of Tony, Tom, Eric, Tim, Bruce, Yens, and me, Phil. Our first task was to figure out how much food and drink we would need, and what we should bring. This all turned out to be very logical based on weight of food per person. For example, 125 gm. of meat per person per day was made up of chicken curry, sausages, beef stew, chicken stew, etc. Our meat was delivered to our boat in 1 kg vacuum frozen packed. Similarly ingredients were approached on the basis of consumption per person per day. For example, 75 gm. of rice per person for 8 days, one potato per day to provide 160 spuds, and 5 prawns each to total 240. The whole process took several hours and we have everything from chocolate bars, to crisps, nuts, apples, oranges. Every spare space is now occupied with our rations. Drinks are included with 188 cans of Coke, 60 litres of milk, tea bags , coffee; but no alcohol, save for champagne for the half way Atlantic Ocean point!
We left with band playing and spectators everywhere on Sunday at 11.00 for the start line. On route Matt had us undertake various tactical exercises on Snow Wolf including setting up the spinnaker pole, goose winged until we too passed over the start line, just last but one, out of some 200 boats! This was no mistake! We smoked passed many yachts with the spinnaker up, and we have just heard we are now 14th! Unbelievable really.
Moral is very high. As night fell we had our first crew prepared hot meal thanks to Jens and Eric. Delicious mince with onions, tomato, pasta and other secret ingredients. We have now settled into our watch system which goes 3 crew per watch, 3 hours on, 3 hours off, 3 hours, 6 hours off, 3 hours on, 3 hours off then final 3 hours on every 24 hours! The highlight to date on the 0300 to 0600 watch was to have a flock of 6/8 dolphins right alongside the boat! Fantastic!
All is well on Snow Wolf as we continue our long journey. Each day it is hoped that each crew will contribute to this blog.
Phil