Day One
Date 23/11/03 Time 12.42pm
Position 26 50'356N 015 04'068W
Heading 249 Speed 3.4knots
Wind from 065 at 6.7knots
Pressure 1017
Sea Temp 22C
Sail Configuration Full Main, poled out No.1 Genoa
2670 miles to go
Who would believe that when the race started it was 15-20knots from the west??? 50 minutes after the start we had our first squall with the wind hitting 39knots. We started with the no.4 jib and a reef in the main, we put the second reef in slightly later and by 9pm we had taken the main down, making sleep possible for us all and allowed the green faces to disappear!
The wind died to 20-25knots by 2am and it seems to have made a rapid drop in my watch from 8am-12pm, average speed around 15knots is now at 7knots!
Today the sun is shining and the crew are settling into watches and gaining new sea legs. David has just had his first night at sea, he seemed to enjoy it and is on a speedy recovery as he was the first victim to sea sickness. Having last nights chinese for lunch as there were only 3 of us who ate it!
Day Two
Date 24/11/03 Time 13.40pm
Position 24 52'170N 016 37'073W
Heading 245 Speed 6.4knots
Wind from 328 at 10.9knots
Pressure 1019
Sea Temp 21C
Sail Configuration Full Main, No.4 Jib
2579 miles to go
We're making good ground and have been since about 2am. The only downside is George the autopilot, he keeps turning himself off with an error fault, looks like we're in for some serious hand steering! Matt has been into the aft lockers twice trying to spot the error.
We had our first dolphins jumping high in the sky yesterday afternoon and had a few ready brek ones fly by in the early evening. There's currently no moon at night which treats us to the most amazing starry night, we've seen some huge shooters.
David made bread today, it was fantastic especially with some bacon lettuce and tomato put in the middle of it. The sea is slowly changing colour. We got the first of the fleet's positions today, a few boats turned back or stopped in Gran Canaria and a few others just had random positions!
Must remember to tell Anna that no one put marmite on their fresh bread! Breeze has picked up to 15knots lets hope we can get some miles in.
Day Three
Date 25/11/03 Time 10.30am
Position 23 50'568N 018 53'228W
Heading 274 Speed 5.9knots
Wind from 088 at 13.2knots
Pressure 1024
Sea Temp 22C
Sail Configuration Full Main, No.4 Jib
2451 miles to go
As David says 'It's a champagne sailing day today.' We have had a beautiful sunny morning, bikini tops were on and on show. Last night I had the 12am-4am watch and it was pretty tough. It was a real watch the instruments night, as the wind went further east and our course came more west. We had a few more dolphins fly by. David and I had another mystery flash, which he thinks came out the water? Dom & David got really rained on.
News has arrived that Gio was dismasted and is heading back to Gran Canaria. Very glad we pushed on south to miss the low that must have got them. We are lying down the bottom of the fleet but we are also the furthest south. Really we need the wind at about 15knots top get some good speed. Just seem to be plodding along at the moment.
Biggest Tradegy - George is officially dead!
Day Four
Date 26/11/03 Time 10.18am
Position 22 40'659N 021 21'660W
Heading 249 Speed 8knots
Wind from 071 at 16.5knots
Pressure 1024
Sea Temp 23C
Sail Configuration Full Main, poled out No.4 Jib
2311 miles to go
Clouds came over yesterday afternoon, they're still here now! Been an interesting day. We had our first bite on the line and he bit right through my trace, now my 'deadly for dolphin' lure is hanging out of his cheek. David has set up a new trace and lure and we're trying again. Good job we stocked up before we left!
Wind is giving us good speed and I made it to 9.08knots this morning, next aim will have to be 10knots. The sea is still confused so we'll have to wait to do some serious surfing!
Kate & I sang ourselves through our night watch, which made it pass very quickly. She's made bread for lunch today and maybe I'll make cakes this afternoon? Going to check today's fleet positions, I wonder how we did?
Day Five
Date 27/11/03 Time 10.03am
Position 21 03'463N 023 45'482W
Heading 280 Speed 6.2knots
Wind from 069at 10.8knots
Pressure 1021
Sea Temp 25C
Sail Configuration Full Main, poled out No.4 Jib
2175 miles to go
Had my first big squall on the helm at 3.30 this morning. Matt got up when he saw the wind hit 30knots. Kate had already commented that it looked evil. I held it through and had a huge roll in the middle were I slid across the seat but recovered without damage to myself, Kate or Disco.
I took over from Kate who was awarded Top Gun in the afternoon with 9.8knots, with a new record of 10.3knots. Dom thought he'd beaten us this morning but it looks like the girls are coming out on top. On the whole it was a fast 24hours. We have to average 8knots for David to make his flight!
Kate and Matt caught a dorado that was ready for sushi at sunset - mmmmmm. Dom & David both excelled in wasabi eating but both declined on licking the spoon. Kate made fresh bread and I made fresh carbonara sauce, so we were spoilt all day long. Gybed this morning as planned!
Day Six
Date 28/11/03 Time 12.12pm
Position 20 49'723N 026 52'256W
Heading 267 Speed 7.5knots
Wind from 082 at 15.4knots
Pressure 1019
Sea Temp 25C
Sail Configuration Main with 1 reef, poled out No.3 Jib
1999 miles to go
Its been a long 24hours. Lunchtime yesterday there was an hour of rain that poor Kate drove through while David and I made lunch and the other 2 were off watch. It then turned into a rather pleasant afternoon. For dinner we ate chinese chicken and black bean sauce followed by hot chocolate chip muffins!
The beginning of the night was very pleasant, Kate & I sang our way through a few more musicals. David came on watch and just 10minutes before I was due to go off the rain started and the wind jumped straight from 23 to 30knots. We gybed, David managed to get the main back over but he was quite shaken. I stayed up to make sure it was over and as I looked up, I noticed the top of the main had lost its shape. Going below to get Matt, I slipped on the top step and was hanging through the hatch until I managed to get my footing.
The main was taken down, the top two battens smashed to pieces. At sunrise we changed up to the no.3 jib and have fitted a genoa batten into the top pocket of the main, its holding so far.......
Day Seven
Date 29/11/03 Time 9.50am
Position 20 29'057N 029 39'878W
Heading 265 Speed 7.8knots
Wind from 071 at 17.2knots
Pressure 1019
Sea Temp 25C
Sail Configuration Main with 2 reefs, poled out No.3 Jib
1840 miles to go
Fray Bentos pies - top shagga! Very hot day yesterday, we're all going browner. Put a second reef in last night for mine and Kate's 4-6 watch, we got soaked, well I did, maybe tonight I'll wear a waterproof top as that's the second night running I've been caught!
David and I had a great dawn and Dom was up for the actual sunrise, its beautiful, its all on camera!
Everyone is happy, happy, happy as we're all getting more and more settled in Camp Disco. Still knocking the miles off making good progress against last year's plots. This really is the trip we all hoped for with sun, sea and surf.
Oh my goodness, Kate saw a pod of whales yesterday afternoon. Just gave us a few toots through their blowholes and went on their way and David saw another spout this morning. Think they must have been pilot whales as we didn't actually catch a glimpse of them over the water.
Day Eight
Date 30/11/03 Time 14.26pm
Position 19 57'923N 033 32'333W
Heading 266 Speed 7.5knots
Wind from 084 at 21.3knots
Pressure 1018
Sea Temp 26C
Sail Configuration poled out No.3 Jib
1623 miles to go
Clocks went back 1 hour today so David & I had the pleasure of a 5 hour watch. Currently surrounded by clouds and the odd drizzle & shower.
Gybersannonymous had its first meeting this morning, I think it was quite successful! Took the main down this morning leaving just the 3 poled out. Wind is pretty constant at 20knots with a few stronger puffs, boat speed is 7knots average and its easier to steer a straighter course.
Waves are turning into rollers, some look as thought they'll make it into the cockpit.
Dom seems to have flu, hopefully it will pass quickly and he'll feel better soon.
Day 9
01/12/03 11.07pm
Position 19 21' 763N 035 50' 294W
Heading 275 wind Speed 6.8 knots
Wind from 106 at 17.8 knots
Pressure 1019
Sea Temperature 26C
Sails Poled out No.3 jib
1492 miles to go
Clouds,
clouds & more clouds. Its actually very hot still and the boys made it through
the night in shorts although had to quickly get some waterproofs on when it
poured with rain at about 2am. Where was I? I was sleeping! Having my 6am -
10am off was dreamy, when I've finished this I'm going to go and lie down again!
Lunch is fresh bread sandwiches with corned beef and tomatoes. Nachos at sundown
and then pasta pesto for tea, yum yum.
Last night was very calm and other than the odd rogue wave it was quite flat
too. Still knocking the miles off. We're all chatting about reaching Antigua
and what we're going to eat and do.
Having a great birthday. Have had pressie & card time already, got some
very cool bits. The Disco Kids at home have remembered and I've had texts from
them as well. Shame they can't make my party tonight!
Sitting here I can here David singing away on deck, he's having a good time.
Dom is on cleaning duty and I just spotted him cleaning the heads with his sunglasses
on? Kate is napping after making bread for lunch and grilling David for 2 hours
this morning as she got to be on watch with him. All is well at Camp Disco.
Day 10
02/12/03 13.05pm
Position 19 18' 472N 038 51' 979W
Heading 269 wind Speed 7.2 knots
Wind from 144 at 14.6 knots
Pressure 1017
Sea Temperature 26C
Sails Main with 2 reefs and No.3 jib
1319
miles to go
It is a hot day
below decks today. Unfortunately we can't open the catches as we're getting
water on the decks and encountering quite regular patches of rain. Last night
the clouds began to clear and we saw some stars. Just after I came to bed at
6am, Dave & Dom had some serious rain that lasted an hour, Kate went up
in her bikini and washed her hair as as the rain was so hard. We are seeing
blue sky today and are getting nearer the trough. Winds have been between 10
and 20 knots and I don't think we've had a gust higher than 25knots yet. I think
they're shaking out the second reef as I write this.
Yesterday was a great birthday, only thing that was missing was the sunshine
but I think I can cope with that. Have heard its raining and miserable in London
so I have to be glad I'm not there!
David also gave in and washed his hair yesterday afternoon, he screamed like
a girl when Kate poured the water over his head! Very amusing to watch, must
remember to video it next time! We have managed to jump up a few places since
yesterday, it looks like we all have something to play for after the first 3
who are way out west. It will be interesting to see who gets hit the worse in
the light winds that we expect in the next 24 hours.
Better get on deck as the sun is out, got some serious tanning time to make
up on after all this cloud!!!!
Day 12
04/12/03 08.24pm
Position 17 40' 290N 043 52' 195W
Heading 260 wind Speed 5.2 knots
Wind from 237 at 3.6 knots
Pressure 1016
Sea Temperature 27C
Sails Full Main and No.3 jib
1032
miles to go
No wind here! Have
finally given in and put the engine on. We had a reasonable night speed at about
6knots but after going through a squall all the wind got sucked up and was never
to be seen again! Its still quite cloudy but we have patches of blue sky.
Two nights ago we witnessed some extreme lightening activity and managed to
sail ourselves round the evil patches of darkness, at one point David and I
reckoned there were at least 5 different storms kicking off. We, luckily, didn't
even get wet.
Very hot below decks as the wind is no longer from behind us and we're missing
the cool breeze that had been blowing in. Sleep is manageable after you have
dealt with the heat!
Last night David and I were passed by a tanker without a watchman! We also saw
our first sailing vessel in 48hours which makes us think that there must be
a way out of all this cloud!
Everyone is happy, happy, just wishing the wind would fill in and from the right
direction but I think just wind would satisfy most of us for now!
Day 15
07/12/03 11.17pm
Position 15 44' 44N 052 36' 252W
Heading 274 wind Speed 7.7 knots
Wind from 102 at 15.4 knots
Pressure 1017
Sea Temperature 28C
Sails Main with one reef and poled out No.3 jib
541.3
miles to go
Its been an interesting
few days out here, we're all very tired so wanting to write a diary hasn't been
top priority but we're back in action as I was abruptly woken from my sleep
about 30minutes ago. I walked out of the bedroom to see Dave, Matt & Kate
sitting round the table with Dave's medical bag emptied all over it! I better
say now that Dave is fine, really fine, I think Dom is the only one suffering
as he wasn't centre of attention for half hour and had to drive in the rain
and miss all the action!
Last night when Matt, Kate & I were putting in the hopefully last gybe to
Antigua, this yelling came from Dave's cabin and a lot of banging noise, I called
back and that must have woken him. When he arrived on deck his elbow was quite
swollen, it hadn't got any better and seeing as Dave is a mild haemophiliac
it was decided to crack his medical bag open. Doctor Matt headed up the event
with Nurse Kate assisting, the needle was inserted and medicine mixed up and
pumped in, the procedure went without hitch and the patient is recovering on
watch (no sick notes on this boat!). The procedure will be carried out again
in 12 hours just to make sure he's all set. He says ' Mum, I'm fine, no need
to worry.' and 'Hannah, Daddy says hi, he misses you very much and looks forward
to seeing you this weekend!'
So, what else have we been up to..... minimal gybing! We're had news of the
first boats finishing the RAC & ARC. We've had some scorching weather and
we've all gone a bit pinkie, still seem to be having far too much rain although
I seem to have been luckier on my night watches, David and I just seem to be
attracting all the wind and seem to be regularly be waking Matt to get him to
come up and give us a hand putting a reef in. We managed to have about 18 hours
of George on the helm which was good, we're saving him now for the last day
when we expect to be motoring as the wind is forecast to die off. We've been
eating roast potatoes, chocolate brownies, more fresh bread, and our last dose
of the most popular of them all, the Fray Bentos pies its all yum, yum, yum.
500 miles to go, Burn Baby Burn
Day 16
08/12/03 14.25pm
Position 15 43' 71N 055 22' 722W
Heading 281 wind Speed 4.4 knots
Wind from 124 at 8.4 knots
Pressure 1018
Sea Temperature 28C
Sails Main and poled out No.3 jib
374.9
miles to go
Oh dear, the wind
died earlier than expected and we're very slowly making progress towards Antigua,
its been like this for 12 hours now and the weather forecast says its not due
to fill in until the weekend, lets hope we can find some magic zephyrs to get
there!
Sunset last night was quite dreamy, we had the perfect horizon sunset without
a cloud in the sky, a beer, caramel slices & listened to Norah Jones, completely
chilled out and we were all completely loving the moment other than poor Dom
who was galley slave and missed most of the sunset.
David is just fine. We are all suffering a bit in the heat as there is no breeze
to cool you down. The barometer say 31C, and that's in the shade so we can only
imagine how hot it is in the sun, we have rigged up our parasol for the daylight
hours so the driver doesn't melt when at the helm, its fantastic. And means
there should be a little less Burn Baby Burn!
Day 18
11/12/03 03.25am
3004 miles later we have arrived in Jolly Harbour. James from World Cruising met us on the dock with some rum punch, its fair to say we haven't missed that these last 6 months, so we cracked open the bubbly and eventually made it to bed at about 5am! We ended up motoring a total of 56 hours the last 3 days really were windless and soooooo hot it was almost unbearable! David missed his flight yesterday but luckily had booked another for this evening, we're going round to Nelson's Dockyard for lunch at HQs and then round to Skullduggerys for the first Espresso Martinis of the season!
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