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Helen - Day 17 - nearly there



We will have completed 17 days at sea exactly by 7am local time tomorrow ( GMT - 4) and we expect to cross the finish line shortly thereafter. Time for a little reflection on the Rally and our yacht.

The ARC is a fantastic way to cross the Atlantic for amateurs like myself. The organisation, the support and the checks on boats before departure and of course the social programme. We thoroughly enjoyed the events in Las Palmas and know that there will be no time for Blogs when we get into St Lucia.

I know that I can sail the Atlantic without joining the ARC but if there is a next time for me then I am sure that it will be with the ARC, simply because it's fun.

The Yacht Helen was ordered with the ARC and crossing oceans in mind. At 59ft she is as big as an amateur like me wants to handle but is both luxurious and wonderfully stable when the weather turns against you mid ocean. Having been involved throughout her build I simply would not change a thing for a crossing like this.

It is with great pride that Yacht Helen was built in Norfolk, 10 miles from my home and she is a fine example of the best of British craftsmanship. She also sailed the Atlantic under the burgee of the three Norfolk Broads sailing clubs that I belong to.

There have been no injuries beyond the normal bruises and minor burns of a yacht bouncing at sea. There is only one piece of damage, a smallish tear to a sail!

Imagine the scene when running before the wind at speed - generator on to charge the batteries, turn generator off, all electrics trip ( why?, we never found out), autopilot fails, crash gybe, head to wind, try and put the Big Dog away and there you have a small rip in a sail.

Well actually not too small, in fact the rip is about 60 feet long and beyond the capability of our on board sewing kit! It will have to wait until Ipswich to give our sailmaker a little challenge.

And finally the crew. I will ask them to tell their tale tomorrow.

Philip, Skipper of S/Y Helen



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