Juniper - A Great Start

We had a great start with only a small number of boats ahead of us off the line, who were in our group. Gennaker for the first 5 hours then blew out the block shackle at the top of the mast so limited use until the weather calms. Dinner was venison (must be a fleet winner!!) followed by the happy news that Guy is a Gramps. We are only allowed to call him that for a day he says....... Overnight the wind freshened as we expected and a roller coaster evening ensued with a top speed of 13.1kts at around midnight. We are eagerly awaiting the first fleet results news because we have taken (we think) a different strategy from most of the fleet. All will be revealed at some stage. 225 boats started at 1300. By 2300 we could see the lights of about 20 and this morning we can see 2. Not quite like. read more...

Juniper - Day 3 - the strategy revealled

A much more comfortable 24 hours although by the time we report at 1200 our mileage will be down. Wind has dropped to circa 15 kts which is OK but we are heading generally downwind so lots of rolling ( 165 degrees apparent). The night was easier with only one boat seen plus a chinese merchant man (cries of number 33 with rice please as he passed) on his way to Brazil. Our strategy is now clear on the race website tracker. Rather than the traditional go south until the butter melts and then turn west, we elected to try the great circle route heading with plenty of west straight away. This proved initially to be a good move as it left us with less distance to go than 190 others over the first 24hrs. We are aiming for 24N 25W where we will decide whether to dive south into the established. read more...

Juniper - Day 5 in the Trades

A good 24 hrs with wind from behind us at 15-25kts. Very steady direction - typical trade winds so hope they don't peter-out as we go west, having decided we would find them this far North, contrary to normal wisdom of November. Shared our bit of sea with two other boats last night - lights just visible behind us at 6 miles. Seeing so few is surprising when you look at the results on the ARC website and see that we are close to a number but not surprising given the vastness of the ocean. A good day for all with full showers this morning - we are now making more water and charging up the batteries. Making bread later. Skipper fell into a trap of chatting with another boat on the radio yesterday about what we were having for dinner - my only defence (as I said I would never do it) was that. read more...

Juniper - Fw: Stop Press - Wahooooooooo!

Pictures tell it all... The team as Children's tv theme with shore Director.. The team just as we sailed... And today......m_DSC03286 m_DSC03297 m_DSC03304. read more...

Juniper - To turn or not to turn...

Well, still flying along after a short few hours yesterday throttled back. In sailing you tack (turn) through the wind or gybe (turn) through the wind behind you to move the boom onto a new tack. In short course racing this happens all the time in a race. In ocean sailing you put a gybe in the diary for a day that you have to change course. Well we learnt a good lesson last night not to leave one particular member of our crew on watch at night with nothing to do but think about gybing. Sure enough, at 0200 a voice was heard to say to the sleeping remainder of the crew - " I think we need to gybe." This despite the fact that it was in the diary for monday morning. Well, you might think so what? Turn the wheel, duck and Bob's your uncle. Well- not so fast batman . Everyone up, furl the. read more...