What a fantastic start! We crossed the start line just after the canon on the start ship (Spanish Frigate!!) was fired at 13:00 on the 21 November. We headed south flying our red, blue and white spinnaker.
The week leading up to the ARC start was extremely busy with everyone making the last minute preparation, seminars and shopping. The bike came in very handy for getting around.
The evenings were party time with opportunity for all the crew to get to know each other. The Siri Ros crew dressed as flying fish complete with "code piece" we gained an entry on the ARC website for this effort.
Andy has caught two Mahi Mahi's and a small baracuda (we think). We put the fish "to sleep" with a bit of rum and a dark cloth, works very well, no mess inflicted by blunt instrument. After all the fishing success we are now feed up with eating fish and Denise and Frankie are in charge of tonights dinner of Chillie Con Carne.
Our decision to head south appears to be a sensible choice as the rhumb line form Grand Canaries to St Lucia would have taken us into a large low depression with strong head winds. We are now bopping up and down in the doldrums instead.
Andy and Frankie went for a swim to cool down, the temperature is in the region of +30C. We are keeping in touch with the other 250 boats in the ARC fleet via radio, SSB and VHF.
We are all enjoying the experience and are getting used to living aboard.
Liz