Blake - where did everybody go?!

I love the way all the rally boats exit the marina in Las Palmas for the start of the ARC, such a noisy and fun atmosphere all around. From about 10am onwards the boats say their goodbyes to family, friends and other crews and slip lines from the dock. It seems to be that the big boats leave the wall first and have the loudest boat horns which gets everyone in the mood, but it’s hats off to the guys at the fuel dock that have an air compressor hooked up to a giant couple of air horns - honk! honk!

Before long it’s a slow, steady progression of rally boats headed out the marina and out to the start line, sent off by crowds on the breakwaters. With a countdown for the 1300 start everyone is off and tacking in light headwinds down the coast of Gran Canaria. To be honest after watching the start of the ARC+ two weeks ago in some washing machine seas we much prefer this start. The light winds continued into the night and by 4am we’re left wondering where did everyone go?!

With a mix of AIS and the last of phone coverage to have a look at the Fleet Viewer it’s nice to see where everyone is. It kinda looks a little like a shotgun going off with boats heading anywhere from south to west. We look to be on the southern side and after some tinkering with a code zero it’s time for some motoring in glassy seas.

It’s nice to be back on the water and live slow for a few weeks. Aloha, Blake