Whitbread - Log Day 1 The Start
This is it, the start of the World ARC a trip we've been eagerly awaiting
and Whitbread had a top start. It was a great atmosphere with banter
between the boat crews and one boat even blasting out 'Rule Brittania'
through their cockpit speakers.
Within about 2 hours of the start we'd had 2 close encounters. The first
with Lyall at the helm bringing us within spitting distance of the stern of
a large oil tanker pulling into Castries. And secondly Sam came within
about 2 boat lengths of completely sailing over
a couple of local fishermen in their small boat. We're not too familiar
with the Patois language but the hand gestures were easily recognisable!
Our newest crew member Wolfy, who flew in the night before the start and has
never sailed before, not only has one of the smallest bunks (we like to call
them torpedo tubes) but also ended up down below preparing dinner in the hot
and very rolly galley - not the best start for a newcomer but he's not
fazed.
Our course is not as direct as a lot of the fleet with poles so we're gybing
downwind on broad reaches in somewhat of a zig zag along the rhumb line.
But our boat speed is good and there's been plenty of wind so far.
As I write this a rather large shadow of a container ship is getting bigger
and bigger on our stern........
Lyall
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