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Northern Child - ARC DAY 4: 30/11 (25N 26.2W) - written by Adolfo



Typing earlier today with a cup of coffee after a long hour at the helm with 30 knots of wind and large waves towering over the boat. Not a pretty sight. I wish I could send pictures or films. Now I fully understood the subtle difference between an "ocean certified boat" like Beneteaux, Jeanneau, Dufour,.... and a "designed for ocean yacht" like this Swan..  What a difference in stability, control and dynamic between rudder, transom and waves.... Impressive ! I must admit that I can't stop thinking about those people I saw in Gran Canaria ready to join the ARC with smaller boats, small crews and "mediterranean boats". If we are feeling tired and a bt down due to taxing sailing conditions I can only imagine how they must feel by now.... In their case it certainly feels nothing like what they had imagined. I hope they are safe and well.

Last night I had my first "what am I doing here ?" moment.... it only lasted 5 minutes but with the continuous banging about, the bruises from hitting different boat parts, the lack of sleep and the never decreasing waves and wind, I had a "funny 5 minutes". I got over it. I knew these type of moments would eventually arrive but was not expecting them after 600 miles. C'est la vie ! All well now and very proud to hold the guest crew speed record at the helm of Northern Child reaching 20.2 knots ;-)))) and that was with a reefed main sail and not all the genoas out.

You might know from following us on the internet but we continued on the wetter northerly route and made good progress against many boats. We just gybed today onto a more SW course to meet the rest of the boats coming from the southerly route. When we meet in a couple of days, real positions will become clearer. I think we are doing well (but forfeiting sun and easy sailing for it). Hopefully we can change soon to sun and more relaxing sailing. ;-)

I dont expect or need a Caribbean cruise as Sarita puts it but something more relaxing for a few days would be good. I very much hope we can avoid the low pressure ahead of us. We dont need that just now.

Today I am in two places at the same time: here and mentally at home with Sarah and the girls packing to go and spend a nice weekend with friends in Madrid and join a fantastic fancy dress birthday party. Then I reallize that I just simply miss Sarah and my girls and the weekend are always harder. I think I will drink a beer tonight to celebrate... Signing off....back to the helm Adolfo








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