Chula - Log1 - Start +40hrs

Our boat Chula is a 1981 Vagabond 47, Joe and I (also called Jo!) have
owned her for 14 years and carried out all the work needed for a 40year
old boat ourselves. The most recent being a full deck replacement and a
new engine. It's a considerable accomplishment for us to have even made
it to the start let alone being on our way and sailing the ARC! We are
sailing the ARC plus with our family, Lowenna (9) and Rowan (7) plus an
additional crew member, Tim, who came recommended through the ARC family
Whatsapp group.

It felt like such a relief when we left the marina berth in Las Palmas.
We have been there for almost a month and we're itching to get sailing
again after our final jobs in preparation for the Crossing. However just
getting off the berth was tricky! We were next to the hammerhead being
blown on by the wind and other boats plus we couldn't make the narrow
exit in one go. The ARC community came to the rescue and we had 2
tenders out to help with the manover! There were lots of people plus
familiar faces clapping and waving us out the marina, a very special
experience.

We had been warned that it was rough with 3m swell so we slowly made our
way out of the protected port to feel the conditions first hand. Our
eldest daughter suffers from seasickness so the confused seas were not
to be taken lightly, in addition our extra crew member has never sailed
with us before.
Off we went, beyond the breakwater, the swell was big! Once we hoisted
our sails Chula stabilized us and off we went on a beam reach in order
to tack round and make the start. We've never been on a start line with
Chula - she definitely isn't built to race, indeed our handicap
calculates us to be the 5th slowest boat in the ARC plus fleet!

We crossed the start line just a few minutes after the starting horn
sounded and were off. The fastest boats steaming off into the distance
and we were left mid-fleet. It was an amazing sight seeing boats that we
had become familiar with in the marina finally having wind in their
sails and stretching their legs.

We opted for the offshore route to avoid the acceleration zone where the
wind was predicted to reach 35knots. As we went into the first night we
sailed on a fully reefed main sail only, a precaution to look after
ourselves and Chula. The wind speed reached F7 a number of times, our
highest recorded wind speed being 33knots. Both crew and boat coped
beautifully - even our daughter has not been seasick so far, fingers
crossed this will continue.

By morning we were in a smaller cluster of boats who we could keep in
contact with on VHF. Our first full day sail was lumpy but enjoyable;
getting out to sea on these long passages can be daunting but it's
amazing how quickly we get back into passage routines. The biggest
investment in Las Palmas was a Hydrovane, we didn't want to do our first
experiments with it in F7 but as soon as the wind dropped we set it up,
it was remarkably simple and it's reassuring to know we're not zapping
power!

Chula doesn't run directly down wind that well and with lumpy seas we
need to avoid an accidental gybe. During the 2nd night we ran at about
200degrees and needed to gybe to avoid getting to close to the African
coast and make more west in our direction. We try and avoid night time
sail changes and manovers as we need 2 adults - Chula is a very hands on
boat to sail! We opted for 3 hour watches with both Joe and I having an
hour overlap with Tim, our new crew member, resulting in a 3hrs on and 4
off routine. So much better than when we sail double-handed. 200nm
sailed with around 650nm to go.

We are currently sailing with the mizzen and reefed Genoa, the seas are
getting better apart from the big rollers which send us in a corkscrew
motion. I'm on watch listening to music with the kids in the cockpit
while Joe and Tim catch up on sleep.

Written by Jo