can we help
+44(0)1983 296060
+1 757-788-8872
tell me moreJoin a rally

Menu

DreamCatcher - DreamCatcher - Day 3



So here we are, at 0930 on Tuesday 11th November.....bobbin' around in the North Atlantic. 'We' are Edd, James, Josh, David, Margaret and Martin, and we make a pretty fair, and happy crew.

We got off to a flying start with some incredible downwind sailing. With the wind gusting to over 30 knots we only used the white sails, but were regularly recording 11, 12, 13, and even 14.3 knots over the ground (Maggie on helm).

Currently on a port tack with the Parasailor flying, but with scarcely 10 knots of wind, we are only making some 5 knots. At least it isn't uncomfortable.

This is the first time we have flown Pandora for anything other than training drills, and she has coped very well. We began using her yesterday, with the strong gusty winds and lumpy seas of Sunday behind us, and flew her through the night. She really needs more than 10 knots, and only begins to show us some real speed above 15. Where she wins at these levels (all levels?)is comfort - being pretty stable.

As evidenced with Pandora, we are just taking things steadily, testing the kit and making sure all is working to plan.

For example, after the first 24 hours of hand steering, we began to use the autopilot to see how it would cope with Pandora - and she has 'done good'. Another box ticked.

Today, we'll rig Carly, the wind - you're so - vane. We'll also drop Pandora to adjust a few things, and run the engine to charge the batteries and make some water.

throughout, the duogen has been working extremely well, keeping the batteries within 95% of full charge. We do have an issue with the vols, which at (only?)12.7, the fridges don't seem to like - for some reason not yet investigated.

Currently, the crew are all A-ok, and gelling together very well. I say currently because that first lumpy night caught David out, plus we've shared a few minor grazes and a rope burn, all occurring as we got used to sailing the boat in earnest, full time, in the initially exhilerating, but soon to be lumpy, conditions.

David is now fully recovered; we are settled into our watch routine; people are catching up on their sleep and morale is pretty high. David even has the fishing rod out! Fresh fish for supper?

Apart from the odd light drizzle, the weather has been ideal, really - with cloudy, but sunny skies not posing too much of a sun burn risk as David gets acclimatised, and we all now live in the cockpit with the bimini down - to keep a weather eye on the lovely Pandora. It also helps us to enjoy the night sky. The air temp is good, but chilly in th small ours, while the sea temp is reportedly 27.6C - which must be very comfy for the many dolphins we have already seen. (Maggie thinks she spotted a 'blowing' whale this morning, but it's not verified)

Finally, the ssb is doing its job,- if you are reading this blog! - now that we are away from the interference of the marina. Whilst there, I also got Joeg of Yachtfunk to tweek my settings (hmmmm. Nice) and improve some connections, giving a big improvement in performance.

So there we are: DreamCatcher and Crew are in fine fettle, working together on this her maiden ocean passage!

Thanks to the ARC+ who really have done a comprehensively great job, getting this show on the road. Well done, guys!


Martin.




Previous | Next