Rainmaker - rainmaker - T-1 day

So we?re now readyingourselves for departure tomorrow, when we'll set sail with over 230 other boats,into the sunset for our destination of St Lucia. We?ve spent the last 2 weekshere in Gran Canaria doing last minute preparations, not quite the relaxinggearing that we thought. Our two extra crew Mark Goodhand and Mark Meadows havejust arrived, and we?re about ready to go. We've had a magnificent tripso far and have been spoilt by having such good company on board, with a fairfew excellent passages as well as a few challenging ones!.The passage just thetwo of us from Lisbon to Porto Santo (Madeira) with the asymmetric flying in thelight winds was delightful. We tore our main sail in a force 7 approachingLisbon, but managed to get it repaired at a reasonable price by a sailmaker whohad. read more...

Rainmaker - Day 19 - Make a wish

So one of the delights we’ve all shared through this trip has to be sailing by the stars.  Upon leaving Las Palmas we had a full moon to sail by at night, which is always enchanting, but this comes a close second to sailing by the stars for me.  If you think sailing on a big sea makes you feel small and puts things into perspective, looking at the universe in that way is wonderous. For the past few nights now, this has gotten even better.  Having such a prime view of the stars means you can also see the shooting starts without too much effort.  So tonight I went through all the things I could think to wish for myself, then went through things for my family and friends.  Then, I ran out of things to wish for and started going round my wishes again (to. read more...

Rainmaker - Day 16 - Flying fish

Anyone who hasn’t come across flying fish before, they’re quite gracious creatus, when seen singularly, it’s easy to see the light blue coating as they flitter in and out of water, sometimes like a skipping stone through the rough sea, curving round as they do it.  When you see schools of them, you see them charging round in packs like a squadron of defence aircraft in packs heading out with purpose – zooming in and out of each other and the waves.  It’s quite an impressive sight.  But they have a dark side... At night, possibly confused by the navigation lights (I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt), they come at you.  Like kamikaze.  Occasionally the helmsman will have to duck as there’s one coming right at their. read more...