Daily Logs

Misto - Days 3-5 The days blend together

Winds that were lighter than expected enabled the continued use of the parasailor and the last couple of days have been calm and uneventful.I never really expected to be able to use it day in and day out and so this has been a pleasant surprise.The hydrovane has also worked well and we tweaked the settings, getting better results and less yawing. Regrettably we have not caught any fish, although other boats caught tuna, king fish, and a 60lb marlin that was returned to the ocean to fight another day.Close the dawn on Wednesday the wind died, the parasailor has had to come down and we have had to motor for a few hours.Our objective is to make landfall in Santa Marta early evening on Thursday and so avoid the worst of the nocturnal gales that are being reported in that area.-----At. read more...

Aurora Polaris - 9 og 10.januar 2017 - World ARC 2017-2018

Til å begynne med, seilte vi nærmest i teten. Vi hadde bare noen katamaraner foran oss. Nå dukker den ene etter den andre opp bak oss. Det kunne se ut som at de andre valgte å gå ned langs land på St Lucia, for så å sette av gårde med tradevinden. Vi har tatt ut korteste linje mellom Rodney Bay og Santa Marta. Det betyr at vi må seile «platt lens». Det går ikke fullt så raskt som når vi har vinden på tvers eller bakenfor tvers. Det kan også se ut som om mange av våre konkurrenter driver og krysser. Da må de gå ganske mye lengre enn oss, men til gjengjeld er det raskere! I nærheten av oss har vi hatt Laura Dawn, Aschia og Shamal. De har også forsvunnet. Vi kan bare se dem av og til på AIS og radar. Enda så mye jeg har lyst å konkurrere, må jeg finne meg i at kapteinen heller vil kose seg.. read more...

Timshel - St Lucia to Santa Marta Day 3

Distance run noon to noon is 135.3. It seemed a very easy day, nothing much to do to the sails etc apart from the daily checks, Hydra (the hydrovane) has been steering since soon after Castries.Then the wind changed and we found ourselves heading south, we had to gybe, do the SSB net(Steve was net controller) and put the chicken in the oven for dinner all at the same time.Also diverted a bit to avoid a rain squall, must have been successful or else it went away as didn't get wet.Reefed down a bit overnight, erring on the side of caution.It seems surprisingly cold on watch at night, have had to fetch out long trousers and fleece not worn since our arrival back in Grenada.Saw a couple of ships, so not totally alone out here, only a very small flying fish on the deck in the. read more...

Skyelark of London - Gary and his fish

We are making good progress on our way to Colombia, with calm seas and trade wind sailing. The fleet has been fairly tight and we have been in sight of boats visually or on AIS until now. Yesterday we decided to deploy the fishing kit and have been rewarded with a delicious yellow fin tuna and a sizable Kingfish -which put up a long and tough fight, after Bob and Gary were looking beaten, we had to concede and slow down and even then it took a while. So ceviche on the happy hour menu today and Kingfish for dinner. Gary and his Kingfish. read more...

Timshel - Day 2 St Lucia to Santa Marta

Distance made good noon to noon is 127.9.We have been making very stately progress ie not fast.Gybed back on to port yesterday afternoon so going more in the correct direction, hopefully the gybes are getting faster.Again a lovely night sky, moon and stars, but our sail plan was conservative.Now we don't have any more to set and the wind keeps dropping away.Is 5 knots made good enough to get us there within the time limit? We will just enjoy the sail in the sunshine. Steve is net controller today, it seemed to go OK this morning and most of the boats came on.We are wondering whether we should deploy the Aquair towed charger (shark), but at the moment we seem to have enough power with the new solar panels.we have run the generator and the watermaker for a short time each day so the tanks. read more...

Firefly - Firefly on the move again

Firefly left Cape Town yesterday, we started from the Royal Cape Town Yacht Club line keeping Paul's record of being first across the start line. The departure is probably one of the most spectacular one can make in a yacht with the backdrop of Table Mountain, blue skies, breeze behind us and passing close to Robben Island. Our next scheduled stop is St Helena some 1700 nautical miles away but along with a number of other boats are going slightly off piste to visit Luderitz in Namibia for a short stop over.Just before rejoining Firefly Peter with wife Jane spent a couple of weeks touring Namibia and the historic town of Luderitz was one of the few places they didn't visit.Paul, Gareth and Peter,. read more...

Aurora Polaris - 7. og 8.januar 2017 - World ARC 2017-2018

Der var mange forberedelser til denne dagen også! Kapteinen sto virkelig på for å bli ferdig til vi skulle ut på havet igjen. Storseilet måtte få nye spiler, da de gamle hadde brukket under atlanterhavsseilasen. Han forstod ikke omfanget før han sto midt oppi arbeidet med å skifte de som hadde fliset seg opp. Det viste seg da at alle måtte skiftes.I tillegg var det feil på fryseboksen vår. Kapteinen ventet en hel formiddag på han som skulle komme og fikse feilen. Tidene her er nokså like som de er i Spania. Han var ganske «trekt» da mannen endelig dukket opp. Han fikk dermed heller ikke være med på bildet av alle World ARC-deltakerne. Det var bare to av tingene som måtte fikses.SSB-radioen hadde vi heller ikke fått til å virke. Alle må ha denne radioen, fordi den har mye lengre. read more...

Aurora Polaris - 3.januar 2017, Saint Lucia - World ARC 2017-2018

Kl.9.00 var vi på ARC-kontoret hos Cecilie Hammersland og registrerte ossfor world-ARC. Vi fikk nye t-skjorter, flagg og banner, og fra og med imorgen blir det tett program med rally briefing, fotografering, vær-briefingog downwind sailing seminar.Etter en kaffekopp på Cafe ole, var det tid for sikkerhetsinpeksjon i AuroraPolaris. Som forventet, hadde vi alt på G. Vi bare surfet igjennom!Etter lunsj kom Jorg, SSB-radiomannen. Han gav kapteinen kyndig undervisningi bruk av radioen. Vi fikk det ikke til under vår atlanterhavsseilas –uvisst av hvilken grunn.Så kom «søta bror». Han ville vise oss bluetooth-headsettet han og konabruker når de seiler. Dere som kjenner kapteinen, vet at han ikke ervanskelig å få på glid når det gjelder duppedingser…Resten av dagen har kapteinen for det meste. read more...

Timshel - St Lucia to Santa Marta Day 1

Distance run noon to noon: 122.3NMIn fact this is distance made good by GPS not distance through the water as the log has stopped working (again!). Fine when we went into the marina, not now.After a hectic week getting the boat ready (made more so by the failure of an important piece of plumbing luckily the chandlery had one in stock) and the great socials meeting our fellow crews, it was good to get to the start line yesterday.The start is always exciting with everyone together, but after 24 hours we are rolling peacefully along in a world of our own, no-one else even in AIS range.Surprisingly in the last set of position reports we were not last, but we probably are now.There was a lovely moon for the first part of our first night at sea, a rain squall later had us reef the yankee right. read more...

Misto - D2 - Flying the Parasilor

We raised the parasailor around 4 pm yesterday and after some discussion left it up through the night.It turned out to be a good decision as the winds never reached their forecasted highs in the 20's and were around 13-17k all night.Today the swells have increased and we are surfing down the waves.It's really a beautiful day for sailing and everyone is doing really well. The only issue with the parasailor is some chafe on the port sheet.This is due to the fact that we are running almost dead downwind and the line catches on the gate fittings that we have on the port side.We have tried a fix and we now have a blue pool noodle with bright orange duct tape covering the length of the lifelines where the issue is.We might also sew some chafe guard onto the line - but we are waiting to see how. read more...

Misto - Day 1 - Depart St Lucia

Misto crossed the start line for the World ARC at 12h00 flying her gennaker. Anticipating at least 20k of wind in line with all the weather forecasts we had received, we also had one reef in the main.We rounded the mark at Castries and set a course for Santa Marta Columbia.Two hours later the winds have not filled in and we are wing on wing doing around 5 knots in 10 k of wind - rather a disappointment! We are currently deciding whether to set the parasailor.. read more...

Misto - Our Crew Have Arrived!

Our crew for the journey from St Lucia to the Galapagos is now complete as Chuck and Sharon arrived on board on January 4 in time for the Marina Manager's party at Rodney Bay marina.  Excitement is mounting as we work to complete our last minute jobs and provision before checking out of St Lucia. Shopping in the Caribbean is always an interesting experience with many fruits and vegetables never seen in US stores. However, the challenge is that many items are often not readily or consistently available and a good maxim is "If you see it, buy it", as when you next shop it may not still be there! DSCN4498. read more...

Misto - Rodney Bay

Misto is spending Christmas in Rodney Bay while we freeze in Denver CO with our daughter! After a few days enjoying Marigot Bay and sailing down to view the Pitons from offshore we arrived in Rodney Bay around the same time as the last ARC boat was coming in.Ros and Howard S/V Misto. read more...

White Satin - Reflections on an Atlantic crossing

Rodney Bay 0 miles to go!!As some of you know I did my first Atlantic crossing on a yacht called Northern Child, I was one of 10 paying crew and I was pretty new to sailing.It was a fantastic adventure and, to be honest, a one off as far as I was concerned. I remember returning home to find that Caroline, one of my colleagues at Dega my old company, had plastered our work kitchen walls with all the daily blogs. I was really touched and came away with a tear in my eye.I never dreamt that, 10 years on, I would be doing this voyage in our own boat, it is a very different experience but one we will all savour for a long time. Although as Vicki said I did promise to bring her back here, so maybe the plan was actually hatched then.It all worked because every one of the crew worked so hard to. read more...

Starblazer - ABS at Rodney Bay

Hope that you all understand ABS.We are on our second 24hour stint on the ARC 2016 Finish Line.The line officially closed at 12am local time today but is staying manned until tomorrow morning.Three boats due to arrive at approximately 2300, 0400 and 0800, then we get into the marina.Tomorrow evening is the big end of rally party that we also get to attend as Finish Line instead of having to cross the Atlantic!It's been a wonderfully quiet day so far with no arrivals.It will be interesting to see which WCC blog this gets posted to.Sarah (WCC) it's probably up to you. [Editor's Note: You're ARC 2016 for this week ;) Thanks for your hard work]This morning the bow thruster switch to push to starboard stuck on, so that gave me a job to do. Yesterday it was fix the broadcast radio (pulled fuse. read more...

Tulla Mhor - Recovering

Have been here for 5 days now and beginning to feel normal. Our boat has been beautifully cleaned by a team from Vision yacht service and is very shiny. Inside cleaning is a little slower but I am getting there and Tulla is starting to look more like her old self. Andrew has flown back home and Hugo is returning next week for his family Christmas. Kate and Colin travelled home yesterday.It was lovely to see them and really appreciated the welcome. We have been meeting up with friends from the Canaries and had more parties and drinks. All together a great experience and achievement for everyone.All that is left is the Tulla prize giving:Bake OffBread:HugoCakes: ValPudding:DugaldSweepstake for arrival time: Andrew5 Crowns card game champion: HugoMost likely to say 'let's put a reef in'. read more...

Gwendoline - 26th day at sea

S/Y Gwendoline M - Atlanterhavskryds16. December. 08.00 UTC.On bord Lene, Bente, Annette, Maiken, Oliver, Orla og KimPosition: 14.14.4421N 58.29.621WThe moment we can say that we've conquered the Atlantic ocean is closing in fast. Well - maybe not conquered - because you never conquer the Atlantic Ocean, but then at least having crossed it - which by it self is a personal victory for everybody on board S/Y Gwendoline M.The past 24 hours, the weather has been changing a lot. From the steady 20-25 knots of wind, we suddenly lost it all, as the wind was reduced to merely 10-12 knots over a period of 10-14 hours, which resulted in a dramatic speed reduction from 7 knots to 4 knots. Late in the evening, the wind finally picked up again to 20 knots. We do hope that this wind speed will keep up. read more...

Hot Stuff - YB Connect Message from Girls For Sail

Day 22Having battled offthe squalls for 16 hours, we enjoyed a calmer day of sailing. Hot Stuff surfed the waves through 25 knots of wind and the sun was out. We were all happy to have survived the relentless squalls of the day before and enjoyed a merry day on deck.Not long after nightfall, scirocco encountered the first squall of the night, as they circled all around us again. We took the mainsail down and rode out the weather with the jib alone. Skipper Sophie spent another night sleeping on the sail in the galley, ready to jump up to help as the squalls hit. Unfortunately Sophie took a few hits of her own as the crew stepped on her occasionally, sorry skipper!During the night we had to furl away the jib completely and in one of these episodes Paula took a bump to the ribs, she's been. read more...

Gwendoline - 25th day at sea

S/Y Gwendoline M - Atlanterhavskryds15. December. 10.10 UTC.Ombord Lene, Bente, Annette, Maiken, Oliver, Orla og KimPosition: 14.20.7585N 56.20.444WWe are fast approaching our final destination Rodney Bay - St. Lucia. We have merely 267 nautical miles before we make landfall. We are sailing quite fast, and on a direct course towards St. Lucia. It has turned out that our "butterfly" rig is extremely effective in down wind sailing.During the night shift, we overtook Mangon - a multi hull which was 210 nautical miles in front of us dec. 12th at 12 o'clock. Orla and I had a blast watching him on the chart plotter as we in the wee hours of the night came in front of him. We are no more the runt of the litter, as we are in front of:232,Katika,225,Mangon,41,Miss Phoceanie,219,Mr. read more...

Gwendoline - 24th day at sea

S/Y Gwendoline M - Atlanterhavskryds14. December. 07.30 UTC.On bord Lene, Bente, Annette, Maiken, Oliver, Orla og KimPosition: 14.20.241N 53.24.644WThe time is now 07.30 UTC - 04.30 Gwendoline local time and 08.30 Danish time - on this glorious Wednesday Dec. 14th - and we have 440 nautical miles left to go.The wind has, to our great satisfaction, become more manageable - as we now have a steady wind of 20-24 knots. This has also resulted in a much more calm sea - which again improves our sleeping conditions immensely.The night watch has also been much easier, as Orla and I only had to make changes to the sail configuration a couple of times on the watch. At 04.00 Gwendoline local time, Maiken and Bente took over, and I expect that they will have a uneventful watch.It is obvious that we. read more...

Gwendoline - 21st, 22nd and 23rd day at sea

S/Y Gwendoline M - Atlanterhavskryds13. December. 18.00 UTC.On bord Lene, Bente, Annette, Maiken, Oliver, Orla og KimPosition: 14.14.585N 51.48.144WWe are now so far west, that we have changed the local time on S/Y Gwendoline M. in order to align the sun position with the local time. The local S/Y Gwendoline M time is right now 16.00, UTC is 18.00 and the time in Denmark is 19.00The latest 3 days have been fast - sailing vice. This also means higher waves, more rolling and pitching and therefore also not so ideal sleeping conditions.We are all marked by the constant tumbling and turning of the boat in the ruthless Atlantic swell, which makes it impossible to rest and relax, as you always have to tense your muscles to counteract the ships movements. This takes its toll on the body, and we. read more...

Gwendoline - 19th and 20th day at sea

S/Y Gwendoline M - Atlanterhavskryds10. December. 09.45 UTC.Ombord Lene, Bente, Annette, Maiken, Oliver, Orla og KimPosition: 13.33.900N 42.53.500WTime is ticking away - hour after hour at its own pace - and so does life here on board S/Y Gwendoline M.Nothing much is happening - here on the vast Atlantic ocean. We are quite alone - as we have not seen any ships for several days.One important thing did happen tough - which proved beyond any reasonable doubt - how important the very high level of security we hold on board is. Thursday afternoon Bente had decided to sit on the very wide fore deck and read her book. She had done it many times before, and she thought nothing of it. As she is sitting there - all concentrated on the action in her book, with her security line safely clicked on,. read more...

Dolphin Star - FINAL DESTINATION SAINT LUCIA (03.12.2016)

Dolphin Star crosses the finishing line (indicated by the committee boat) at 8:29 local time, which makes little less than 17 days to complete the crossing. Everybody isvery happy of this achievement and and eager to retrieve a more comfortable way of life.   Dolphin Star 015 033 020 035. read more...

La Contenta - Day 23: On the happy boat La Contenta

Day 23: On the happy boat La Contenta   We crossed the finish line at 21.00 hours 24 minutes and 29 seconds lastnight.   We had been escorted on our last 40 miles by a fleet of squalls, severalrainbows and a full moon.   As we entered the marina the other boats horns started to sound and we knewwe had (finally) made it.  We were greeted by our friends on Nisidi, OceanBlue and Flabrach who joined us on the boat for an impromptu party.  Calplayed the guitar and we proudly sang our boat song.  We sat up until thewee hours drinking the rum we had been given and reliving some of the memoriesof our days at sea.  I would like to thank LC for looking after us, Davefor his skippering, Cal for his music and Ewen for his humour and cooking. MCfor her never. read more...

Hot Stuff - Day 21 - The super moon was out in force

Day 21 - The super moon was out in force & Hot Stuff was bathed in silvery moonlight as we ran before the wind. The change of watch at 3.00 am heralded a change in the weather with the wind freshening so that helming became hard work. A call to the Skipper & the full force of the squall hit hard- Elizabeth & Thalita took turns helming as the wind reached gale force while Oline and Sophie reduced sail. The rain lashed down making it hard to see & Elizabeth began to call out the waves as they towered behind us in the darkness. As dawn broke the Southerly Busters watch came on. Almost instantly another squall hit with others surrounding the boat. They tacked to avoid a w evil looking black squall but others were waiting &they ran the gauntlet until the BIG one arrived.. read more...

Dolphin Star - ANOTHER DAMAGED BOOM (02.12.2016)

The wind suddenly changes of direction and the main boom is immediately under pressure through the preventer (a forehead rope securing in place the main boom). It happenedmany times during the crossing but this time the boom end cannot held the force and a key aluminium part splits off. The crew promptly reacts but the damage is done to adjust correctly the main sail.   Dolphin Star 007 006 011 009. read more...

Dolphin Star - REST DAY (01.12.2016)

Dolphin Star offers many alternatives to have a nap or get sun tanned. Here are the favourite places for each crew member. Our captain Kari always reads first before fallingasleep.   Dolphin Star 002 005 003 004. read more...