Daily Logs

Faraway - Faraway, log 2. Gibraltar, 3 November 2016

The 5 member Faraway POL9494 international crew have boarded in Benalmádena marina on the 30th of October. The boat and skipper are Polish. The crew are Canadian, Spanish and Dutch. Age range 29-63.We have worked hard for 2 days, turning the entire boat upside down, stocking it with extra diesel and food for 10 days. We have sailed to Gibraltar (spotting lots of dolphins!) were we have completed more work and had the engine and generator serviced. We have tested our fishing gear and have developed a pretty good understanding of who loves eating and drinking what. We found time to visit Gibraltar rock as well. Tomorrow we will leave the Med  for Morocco.During the weekend the wind will turn to NNW, which should provide excellent conditions to sail to Las Palmas in one go.. read more...

Lucky - Consideracions prèvies

CONSIDERACIONS PRÈVIESBenvolguts amics,Avui comencem a escriure aquest blog que esperem que us acompanyi duranttota la travessa oceànica que començarem d’aqui un parell de setmanes.Aquí hi trobareu el “report” diari de les vivències abord així com tambéfotografies que diàriament anirem penjant. Ens farà molta il·lusió que desde casa pogueu acompanyar-nos en aquesta per nosaltres aventurafantàstica.Com sol passar sempre en aquests casos, un comença amb uns projectes queal cap de pocs dies es van fent petits. Durants els darrers anys, en Luckyha navegat per tota la mediterrània, des de les Illes Balears, fins aSardenya o Còrsega, la costa del sud d’Itàlia, Sicília... L’estiu passatva creuar el mar Jònic fins arribar a Ítaca. Aquesta darrera singladura iles aproximadament 2.000 milles. read more...

Fleet II - Log day 1; D day -3

Having been on board since Monday we've achieved a lot, albeit the to-do list doesn't seem to shrink!Keith has been up the mast and Kim currently has his head in a cupboard installing the water-maker.A trip to replace the defective microwave is next on the list.The ARC seminars have been hugely informative and well put together, tho' perhaps we shan't comment too much on the evening entertainment (although if you're FB friends with Peter you'll have seen the pics already!).Only three days to go!Colin Chief Blog Officer 👮. read more...

Paw Paw - Log Days 297 & 298: The Birth of Our Twin Grandsons

Yesterday and today have been spent getting ourselves settled in. That included getting to the nearest town, Paihia, in order to get to a bank and pick up some groceries, getting access to all the marina facilities,obtaining membership to the Opua Cruising Club and getting some high priority issues resolved like our depth sensor and wind generator bracket. A trip to the farmer market was a wonderful outing and,needless to say,Elaine arrived back with all sorts of delightful goodies, like smoked salmon pate from the local smoke house, homemade chocolate clusters, a huge butter lettuce, freshly baked potato bread and avocados, which we cannot even remember when last we were able to purchase them. We also had the opportunity to reconnect with Time Bandit (Ann and Stewart)whom we last saw in. read more...

Breeze On - Testing Iridium Go

I am sending this post using our Iridium Go satellite phone. It is what we will use when we are offshore. Today we attended seminars on weather and Diesel engines. I also attended a women's round table discussion which was fun and helped to reduce the anxiety I have been feeling (at least a little).. read more...

La Capitana - Log 1, Essaouira, Morocco 28.10.2016

Last stop before Las Palmas and the start of ARC+. We had to come in forbunkers due to motoring most of the voyage from Portugal. A trip on the flatbedof a small Tuk-tuk with jerry cans to a fuel station was quite an experiencetoo! We arrived safely at Las Palmas on November 1 – on our 44 anniversary.   Captain Essaouira_small. read more...

Paw Paw - Log Day 296: Getting Settled in our New Home

By 1900 local time yesterday evening we were safely tied up to the customs wharf in Opua, helped by Talulah Ruby with our docklines, since they had arrived about an hour ahead of us. We'd no sooner had our celebratory drink, when three more yachts arrived, so we returned the favour of assisting them with their docklines. Needless to say,we were all very relieved to have arrived safe and sound and not having to spend another night at sea. Since the temperatures had plumeted, we were absolutely freezing, so we decided that the only way to stay warm through the night was to actually sleep together in the same cabin. It was snug alright, but we both had a good night's rest, nonetheless. What struck us though was the silence. After the roar of the ocean and wind in our ears for a week, the. read more...

White Satin - arrives in Las Palmas

Dear AllTuesday 1st NovemberA very hectic 48 hours began with an emotional departure from home, with three different neighbours standing at their windows/front doors to wave us off early on Sunday morning - thank you Pete, Lynne and Jennifer - that was very special. With the flight behind us, Vicki started to relax (she has been known to inform the stewardess that the airplane she was about to get onto had a crack in the tail - to which the stewardess most tolerantly responded "Madam, that is the rudder." ) The boat, having been left under the watchful eye of a British couple who are permanent live-aboards in Lanzarote, was exactly as we had left her (apart from a small problem in the Heads which will be fixed imminently). Puerto Calero came highly recommended as a safe place to leave a. read more...

Breeze On - We Passed Our Safety Inspection!

Breeze On arrived at Ocean Yacht Marine Center in Portsmouth, VA late yesterday afternoon. We officially checked in this morning and had our safety check this afternoon. We passed and are so relieved!  Lyall (shown in attached photo with George) had some great suggestions to make our passage easier.  IMG_0060. read more...

Woifal - The Boat

Here a photo of our Boat during a competition in CroatiaDSC_4374. read more...

Lady - Post Race Net Control

I understand that the Nanny Cay Caribbean 1500 office has closed.Thanks for all you did, Andy and Mia!Have a great vacation! I have been monitoring the SSB net since I left Nanny Cay, on Wednesday, and have had communications with Wavelength and Surprise. Tonight, 1900 Wavelength 20 52N 64 14W.Sailing, but not really fast, Surprise was at 20 28N 64 11W under power,wind E 8-9. Surprise estimates they will reach Nanny Cay about 1400-1500 tomorrow afternoon (Saturday, November 26, 2011) Wavelength thinks that they will get there tomorrow, but it may be after dark. Wavelength is uncertain if their VHF radio works. Charlie gave them advice on entering Nanny Cay after dark, and suggested to them that they tie up at the fuel dock either day or night if their radio does not work. Jenny. read more...

Dolphin Star - SUCESSFUL SAFETY INSPECTION (29.10.2016)

Dolphin Star has just passed the safety inspection carried out by the ARC safety officer. Nevertheless a few things need to be fixed like the dinghy water leakage or theupgrading of the rescue gear. Dolphin Star032 033. read more...

Dolphin Star - LAS PALMAS TOURING (27,10.2016)

Dolphin Star will stay there until 6/11, which is the kick-off date of the ARC crossing. The crew can rest and take time to discover this famous touristic resort. Dolphin Star030 031. read more...

Dolphin Star - GRAN CANARIA FOURTH STOP (26.10.2016)

Dolphin Star arrives in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria around midday as scheduled. The crossing was tough with heavy rains and strong winds with peak at 48 knt. It finally took16 days to get there since we left Barcelona on 10/10. Dolphin Star029. read more...

Dolphin Star - LANZAROTE THIRD STOP (25.10.2016)

Due to very unfortunate wind conditions, Dolphin Star continuously run the engine for the last 6 days and has to stop in Castillo del Aguil (south of Lanzarote Island) forrefuelling. This marina gets may be the best fuel station in the world with a lovely bar next to it. Dolphin Star026 028 022. read more...

Dolphin Star - TECNICAL ISSUE (22.10.2016)

Captain Kari decides to bring up the staysail with the hook system but unfortunately it breaks down for unknown reason. Another repair is now scheduled for our Las Palmasstopover. Dolphin Star019. read more...

Dolphin Star - FISHING DAY (21.10.2016)

Our captain Kari is also a passionate fisherman. Today is his day since he caught one sea bream and two tunas. Our chef Nick had then the opportunity of showing his cookingskills. Dolphin Star011 013 015. read more...

Dolphin Star - GONE WITH THE WIND (21.10.2016)

According to weather forecasts Dolphin Star should have met 15 knt wind from north west. Here are the real conditions encountered on 21/10 : no wind, no waves. Dolphin Star009 010. read more...

Dolphin Star - UNRELIABLE WEATHER FORECASTS (20.10.2016)

Weather forecasts are totally wrong in terms of wind directions and velocities. No wind at all and the crew lie down for chatting. Dolphin Star006 007 008. read more...