Crossing the Atlantic, Gran Canaria to St Lucia.... Firstly let me tell you that we all arrived safely in St Lucia last Friday, secondly I'd like to confirm that its darn hot here, especially while sitting below writing this.
I kept a diary on the crossing which will be the source for writing this. So here we go from the beginning...
The wind stayed strong all night, which made an uncomfortable night below, and when a wave knocked us right over Matt and I were flung from our berth into the table, which was so securely bolted down it ripped through the floor and collapsed half the bed, it was all quite frightening and I certainly didn't fall asleep again before going back on watch. As morning broke it seemed to calm down but we didn't hoist the mainsail as we were still averaging about 7knots. We covered over 150nmiles in our first 24hours which is fantastic. If El Syd have the same wind as us they'll be almost halfway there! If they average 15knots everyday, they'll arrive in St Lucia in 7.5 days, how crazy is that! On these big waves I'm not sure it would be that comfortable.
Oh what a night, the 2AM - 6PM shift is doomed. Around the same time the table broke Sunday night, tonight a huge wave broke over the back of the boat and soaked both Matts through to their undies, luckily I was a little further forward in the cockpit and got away lightly. Day 2 saw another afternoon of sun and I was very excited to notice that my legs are browner than Matt's! I'm still searching for a whale. Ooh, we lost another lure off the fishing line yesterday, I think thats now 3. We should be in the Tropics in the next few days. The waves are still really large, hope they change a little at some point during the trip. It all seems very bariable so far and I think this will be the windiest bit.
Day 4, what a night!! We only took one wave and that was around 8.30PM, the other watch saw a cruise ship, we saw dolphins and then this morning we saw another yacht, and it was Magic Number, a Sigma 38, who were moored up opposite us in Las Palmas, we've seen shoals of flying fish, and Suzannah nearly caught a fish. Magic Number mentioned a hurricane, so now we're wondering whats going on out there. Mr G looks a little better today but that didn't really take much!!
Day 5, under 2000nmiles to go!!! Although it doesn't really excite me, I'm enjoying hanging out and getting a tan! Last night Suzannah got hit in the face by a flying fish! Oh my goodness I would have had such a fit if it had been me!! Its been a scorcher of a day and I've had to wear my sunhat. Still no idea where the rest of the fleet is. We've heard various boats on the VHF but the signals can bounce for miles out here, so they could be anywhere.
Day 7, today I feel restless. Its another baking day and I'd love to go swimming. The chart is slowly looking better. We're still cruising along at 6knots. There is still no sign of a fish but it keeps us amused for a few hours each day. We've heard nothing on the VHF for 2 days now. Last night was the first night we've sailed in our shorts. I'm already craving my surf and turf that I'm having on our arrival. I really want to go swimming and an icecream would be nice!!
Day 9, we don't seem to be having the same luck with the fishing today. Today is so hot that Matt and I have rotated evey 30minutes on the helm, I thought I was going to pass out before I put my sunhat on. ARC are expecting the first boat in this Friday, we'll still have a week to go at that point.
Day 10, We caught a tuna, it wasn't ready to give in without a battle and unfortunately the tuna won and took with him our last hook. I think I might have seen a weavel in the pasta box last night, I've been bugging out over it ever since, I'm going to have to empty that side of the cupboard today to check.
Day 11, everyday has been hot but nothing, not one of them compares to today. As there is only 5knots of breeze, there isn't much hope in keeping cool or being comfortable down below. At lunchtime we were going nowhere, so we all jumped off the boat and had a little swim, the water was so blue it was amazing and to think the bottom was some 4km below us!! It certainly made us all feel better. This morning the Matts were feeling creative, Matt A was sewing buttons on his shorts and Matt B built a lure out of a few hair pins and a rubber glove, unfortunately we're not going fast enough to try it out just yet.
Day 13, we've broken the 1,000nm to go barrier, bring it on!!! We celebrated at lunch with another bottle of bubbly, which went straight to everyone's head! We also put the clocks back another hour. Mrs Barnes called today to check up on her Matthew and told us that El Syd are doing well and are near Barbados. We passed another yacht in the night but there was no sign of them this morning to try and call them on the VHF. So the end of our trip is almost in sight, to think we have around 7 days left is really quite strange. I think the five of us have all adjusted quite well to sealife and sitting in the sun. Today is a little cooler, and I only mean a little!! There are a few clouds in the air which is making it a little more bearable, looks like its t ime for the sunhats!!
Day 15, WOW, we've got just under 700nm to go. We completely stormed it last night. It was so windy that at 1am this morning the Matt's and I were putting 2 reefs in. Started reading the sailors guide to the Windward Islands and I think I want to try every restaurant on every island!! Today has stayed overcast, giving us a chance to cool down, although getting burnt is still a possiblity. We have the distance of the Fastnet to go, I can certainly cope with that. Matt and I have been putting ideas together for Mr and Mrs Wide's holiday in January. Its my chore day today, and it is certainly a chore, at least the weather is cooler today so it shouldn't feel like a sauna in the heads while I'm cleaning it.
Day 17, A week ago we were hoping to finish today, today we are thrilled at the thought of finishing Friday. 324nm to StLucia!! Today is another scorcher so sun hats are back on in force. We placed the bets on finishing times and first sights on St Lucia, everyone's times are quite similar which is a good thing. I'm thinking these last 2 days are going to drag, oh well I'll paint my toe nails to take my mind off that thought!!
Day 18, can you believe there isn't much to say, we've still got over 24hours to go, so we're not quite into 'This is our last breakfast, our last lunch' but I'm sure we'll be full of it this evening!! The wind is blowing good, and we're averaging 7knots. This afternoon we had our first rain, luckily Matt and I had just gone off watch, and he told the others to put the washboards in, they said no its just going to be a little shower, Matt replied 'No put the washboards in' The shower lasted around 20minutes and Matt B and Suzannah got the shower gel out to wash, it was very funny to watch!!
I'm not quite so confident about the journey home being quite that good, so I think we might stay!!!
Revised -- Wednesday 19 December 2001
Continue to Weeks 10-12, Life in the Caribbean
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