Peak - Peak, Swan 65/001

We left a day after the start taking into consideration the ARC is a rally and not a race. With a better weather pattern we departed 24 hours later. Soon after the start we hoisted for the first time our new Parasailor, lovingly called Rose, and off we glided into the sunset. The crew settled in and we quickly adjusted to the ship’s motion and watchkeeping. We know Peak, which has been in our family for the past 18 years, is kind and gentle to its crew regarding seasickness. Therefore we were not too worried when one of the crew, which we accepted on board via Ocean Crew Link, became seasick at first. A few days sailing South we decided to cut the corner West as the opportunity arose in the unstable weather. Then after 6 days, some 1940 nm from Saint Lucia, we decided to head South for Cape Verde to drop off our seasick friend. He was really very ill. However, perhaps unsurprisingly, the closer we got to Cape Verde the better he felt. Once arrived in Mindelo, we moored on the fuel dock, all stayed afloat, and left within the non-clearance 24hour ‘emergency’ period as communicated by the ARC, leaving our friend behind.
By the time we passed the 1940 nm mark again we lost a good 4 days which gives us a good incentive for the rest of the trip.

Today we have hoisted our gennaker. That makes the number of sails we have used so far 7. Not to count the numerous combinations we use with mizzen and main. Peak enjoys herself and so are we. Our co-skipper Steven turns out to have the lucky hand fishing allowing the gourmet kitchen run by my wife Tera to present one exiting dish after the other. We are blessed!

Pieter