Cassini - blog #63 - The Finish Line Approaches

Well here we are with just over 24 hours and 150 milesto go, and and we look set fair for an arrival in Grenada sometime tomorrowafternoon. This has been a long journey and I don't just mean themiles. It is now 15 months since we bought Cassini and hatched a plan to do theARC+ and visit the Caribbean this winter. In that time we have had many ups anddowns, and some times when I thought we would not make it. From preparing theboat to selecting and preparing the crew it has been hard work, but with a keenfocus on the aim and the great achievement it will be.    We had challenges: just getting to the start line fromthe UK with fickle weather and some serious breakages that cost us time (andmoney). The weather never did what it was supposed to do and we spent a lot oftime motoring. read more...

Cassini - Cassini Blog #62 - A note from the novice

Following a lot of talk about the technical considerations of the trip I thought it about time that I piped up to givea perspective from a less qualified member of the crew. In fact I would say that in sailing terms I am very much the novice. I have of course spent a great deal of time at sea through my naval career but little did that prepare me for a lexicon that includes sheets, halyards, blocks with soft eyes and blocks with hard eyes, travellers, stays, spreaders, vangs, reefs and so it goes on! I have to say that nearly 4 weeksin I now have a rudimentary grasp of most of these items and would even say that Sarah and I form a fairly competent team on the foc'sle when asked to go fo'rard and dip the pole in in preparation for a jibe. This allows the large headsail to be rigged on the. read more...

Cassini Blog#61 - Running down the rhum line to the rum

We passed the halfway mark, 1080 miles, on our voyage across the Atlantic yesterday, marked with a beer and snacks to accompany lunch, and later in the evening, a three-course meal. Delicious. We've had more wind for the last three days, resulting in our daily runs increasing from a little more than 120 miles a day (at most) to between 140-150, a welcome change from the light wind start from Mindelo. The higher winds and swells of the last three days have made it more difficult to come up with the best adjustment to Mildred the Hydrovane - in an ocean swell she needs more of the subtlety of Strictly's Anton Du Beke than one of the brash youngsters, to ensure Cassini's 16 tons are manoeuvred on a consistent and manageable course across the ocean.The surface sea weed has been a real issue. read more...

Cassini - Blog#60 - 26th November

Whoop whoop!A day of celebration:We are over half way to Grenada, looking at miles to go!We have less than 1000 miles to go to the corner of Grenada.Wrexham won 6-0, making at least one senior officer very happy,And the wind is blowing!All this means we are a happy crew, so we started with cooked breakfast, eggs, bacon and beans. Even in the tropics you can't beat an English breakfast. Then a celebratory cold beer for lunch, which tasted l-o-v-e-l-y! Cant wait for a few more of those when we finish!!!Then before lunch it was my first chance to practice my bread making skills. Having practiced many times at home, and once in Las Palmas, I felt the pressure was on. At first it looked like it could have been a disaster, but then, with a bit more flour, and despite the sweaty palms, it all. read more...

Cassini - Blog #59 - Mildred

Well, hello everyone. I've managed to sneak onto the blog thingy while no one else is looking. I thought that it's about time I had my turn. It's all well and good all of them banging on about watch keeping and navigating etc but we all know who really does the work around here, don't we? When did I last get a cup of tea? And how many of those does one person need in a day? When did I last get to go off watch and lie down for a while?Anyway, having gathered myself, this is Mildred speaking. The rather good-looking, slim attachment on the stern (see picture - rather a nice one I think, catches my red vane nicely in the light). I have a separate rudder from the one on the boat, which does the 'point it in the general direction' type work; but when there's any form of subtlety or finesse. read more...