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Paula Rosa - Sunday 9th December – Paul Rosa



Sunday 9th December – Paul Rosa

Last evening we had a very lovely sail, the beautiful light of evening and a good breeze, we all did a final helm, slipping along at 9 – 12 knots.

A small group of tiny dolphins appeared around the bows, it felt like they were welcoming us in.

The asymmetric was lowered for the final time, you will be pleased to hear without incident, the main and jib up to get us around Pigeon point and head for that finish line. Of course suddenly confronted with numerous lights, it is not easy picking out the yacht with an orange banner (in the dark) but the orange flashing light was easily identified and we were soon being hooted and congratulated as we crossed the finish – what a huge relief, our official time 20.25 and 47 seconds!

Eyes straining in the dark we gingerly find our way into the narrow marina entrance and within ½ hour we are securely tied up along the dockside – we have done it.

After all those days we are soon standing alongside Paula Rosa, ice cold rum punch in hand, everyone jubilant, a great mix of happiness and almost disbelief that we are there. Amazingly a voice shouts Dee and there is an old friend of Davids , John Bart who had recently completed the ARC plus (same route except that they head south from the Canaries and stop off at Cape Verde before heading across to St Lucia. John had been following our progress and it was really wonderful to be met by a familiar face, thank you John.

We had to have a visit to the bar for a nightcap, everyone was much too wired to sleep! The crew of Nica soon joined us (they had been hot on our heels) and we chatted away until we were politely asked to leave the bar as it was closing! Wills and Pete were invited back to Nica where I believe the drinking and chatting went on for a good bit longer !!

A fabulous sleep….. quiet, completely still, no alarm, unbelievable!

 

Finally then as I close my blog, it is with thanks to Paula Rosa and her motley crew

Eileen has kept us truly fed and watered, all day breakfast (omelettes, bacon butties you name it) lunch and supper, freshly baked breads and puds – an amazing job mostly tanking along at various angles

Pol – our Captaine, keeping us all on track, keeping us safe and keeping Paula Rosa performing.

Sergio – Weather interpretor and navigator, a great source of knowledge and experience, always smiling

Team Dodd – 3 brothers, all very different, Chris faster faster but actually lets make a better course, successful watch leader, always up for a chat,

Nick, helmsman, fisherman, charming and diplomatic,

Pete, initially the least experienced sailor but rapidly became a key member of the foredeck team and excellent at understanding technical issues and suggesting solutions!

Team Murray – Wills, great bowman and tactician and generally lets make this boat go faster

David – helmsman extraordinaire, fixer, suggestor and so happy that Paula Rosa performed amazingly well

Thank you too to the team of yellow shirts the ARC organisers for keeping us informed before setting us all off and throughout the passage, sending weather bulletins, and finally a fabulous welcome into Rodney Bay! Despite seeing few boats after the first few days it is a great feeling to know we were all out there together, a great event – thank you and so proud to have completed it for a 2nd time.

So its farewell to all of you who have followed our progress fast and slow! We are all so excited we will be all seeing you back home again soon, thank you

 

A freshly showered, rested, happy Dee x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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