Day 1 Practice

We got underway in Fresh conditions. We had some adjustments to do to the  new Genoa and the new Staysail to get them fitting perfectly for racing. after all was done we set off for a sail up wind and threw a good few tacks in. A bear away set to the A3 and off down wind. mizzen staysail up and we were sailing nicely. a few practice jibes and back upwind. We headed back to the dock and a nice work list to complete! Dinner on board for the guests and dinner at the Crew house for the race crew..

In Gustavia

On the Dock doing the final Prep for the bucket. Lots of busy hands...and feet. We are using the Wally to check all the areas of concern on the race course. Race Crew Turn up tomorrow and then the Fun begins..

Photo By: Wall-A-Day

Extra Watch Keeper

As the sun was coming up this morning we noticed that we had an overnight extra watch keeper

A Yellow Footed mature Booby Bird.

Photo by Ricardo "SOTB" Pires

St Bart's

Thursday the 8th and finally the swell up North was moderate enough for us to head to St Bart's 

We docked out at 0730 and had full sail set about an hour later. The New sails look great. We then gybed on to course for St Bart's 80nm away. We had a good motor assisted sail in a dying 14 knot wind and dropped Anchor here of Gustavia at 1600. Still too Rough to enter the port but we should be good to go Tomorrow

Drone photo by the BOX

No Lee

We went out on Sunday with what looked to be a promising forecast to allow us to change over the Jib and the Staysail. However the wind would just not die down. we even went to the West of the Island of Antigua and still found no lee. having someone up the mast in a 2m swell is not fun.

So we eventually managed to only change the staysail out for the New one before returning to the dock...

Photo by Nikki Mazilu

Sail Works

After settling back in to work mode, Clean up and de rusting the boat . We have started the Race preparation for the Bucket We have 2 new sails a Jib and a Staysail Which have arrived. We also take our race sails. Asymetric Spinnakers, A2 (1,700sqm or 15,500sq feet) A3 ( a little smaller) And Mizzen Staysail out of storage. last year we had a big tear in the A3 and here we are doing the repair. This was taken after midnight on Saturday. Andrew and travis worked 24 hours straight to get this repair effected. Thanks Guys..

Photo by Ricardo Pires

Last Day, We hope..

Been particularly role and Squally today as we close in to less than 100nm to go to Antigua.

We should be docked tomorrow the 9th around 1000 local or 1400Z. Lots of cleaning up to do on the hull and the boat needs a wash! Been a fast trip if not a tad difficult to sleep, cook or clean..

Great job from the Guys and Gals..

Photo shows Antigua to the left at the end of the Red line we have been following on the Great Circle plot Across the Atlantic about 3,900 nm in 2 weeks and 2 days..With 2 stops!

Photo by Hutch

1 Week Down..

So 1 week ago today we left Tenerife. we have been averaging 310nm a day and only have 500nm to go having travelled 2,200nm. An awkward number still to travel as we can not clear customs in Antigua and Dock at night.. So We will have to slow up to arrive Friday morning.. Winds are down a bit today but the roll goes on No showers and the weather is warm..How Lucky are we. this crossing will soon be a memory. It has had everything. Here last nights Sunset taken by Catherine

Photo by Catherine "Kat" Carr

Where are We?

Day 5 and 6 Were quite different. Day 5 was wet as well as Windy and rolly. We had many strong showers rinsing the boat of all the salt. However today was beautiful and warm with 24c The Sea temp is now 27c  Rosehearty Still rolls but that is what it is going to be. We are all carrying on and getting our jobs done. About 700nm to go now. We were training the Young un's in the old school of sextant work. Sun Lines (LOP'S) Noon Sights and even an upper limb of the moon that was nicely visible.

However the calculations might take a bit more time.

Photo by Lost in Space..

Day 4 A la Cucina

It seems like Groundhog Day out here and that is the way we like it.. Winds still in mid 20's and gusty in Showers. Seas still 4m and we are still rolling. Still on course and making miles. However as it happens we are approaching 1/2 way with 1350 done and 1350 miles to go.. It is a Sunday but work goes on keeping the boat clean and organized and tending to Rosehearty. In the Galley Raya does a great job while the boat rolls around every 10 seconds or so. can not be easy to keep us all fed... Always smiling..

Photo by Hutch "i" San

Sunrise Day 3

The roll goes on..However the winds are steady at 25 knots ENE with some higher gusts in Squalls and the odd Shower. It is warming up nicely 23c outside.  We are putting the clocks back today 1 more hour as we cross the 30Deg West line. and we are running about 300nm a day..1800nm to go. Beautiful Sunrise this morning followed by a rain rinse down!

Photo by Catherine Carr

To Zig or Zag?

As you can all see when you check the Tracker section we are wobbling along out here.

We go from 270T around to 245T compass heading to keep the boat rolling down to as little as possible. But take the room you are in..Lean it over to 20 degrees and then to 20 degrees the other way and do it every 10 seconds.. Then walk around , cook, do laundry and  sleep?

Anyway we are getting used to it now.

We had a fairly good day catching up on Paperwork, Doing Accounts and tidying up after the refit. Sun is getting warmer and we are now in Shorts and the Aircon is back to cooling mode. Temps are 20c as is the water temp. We now have about 1900nm to go.

Photo by Ricardo "The Wall" Pires

Tradewinds?

We are scooting along and trying, Not very well, to limit the rolling. We have genoa and staysail out and drawing. Some Engine assist to help the steering and we are doing around 14 knots.

These are not yet the real trade winds but are providing a connection to them. We should be seeing 20 - 25 its from the ENE to E in a day or so. For now we will take the NNE 30kts as a way to get South if only that N swell of 3-4m would start to come round!

Photo by
Hutch"I" San

View from the Office

We got away in good order and stood down the East coast of Tenerife. Smooth seas and not too much wind. Then we reached the bottom of the island and the squeeze point and wind acceleration Zones between Gomera, Hiero and Tenerife. Big seas and confused also. About 3-4m again but different directions Winds peaked at 48 knots.. You have to love Winter Atlantic crossings even this far South. Of course all of the above happened as Raya was serving a Lamb Roast. It was excellent but how she did it I don't know. People were sliding all over the Crew mess!! As for the Vaunted Super Moon it was nice but not the Blue/blood we are hoping for. Just a great round full moon you could read a newspaper by

Photo by Hutch i San

Atlantic Bound!

We are off the dock in Tenerife on the way across 2600nm to go. We are all looking forward to seeing the Super moon tonight. Although it has been spectacular already on our trip so far.

We have refueled with 30 tons of fuel. Re provisioned for 10 days and ,hopefully, correct some parts of the boat that were causing us problems. This photo is sunset on the 30th.. 

Photo by Ethan Toal

Tenerife and Rosehearty

Always with an Eye for a shot Richard took this great photo of Rosehearty in the marina.

Photo by "The" Richard Smith

Tenerife

Early the 30th of January we made landfall in Sea Cruz Tenerife. We came alongside and off to the Supermarkets for fresh produce. everyone was happy to be stationary for a while and the first few hours were spent catching up on sleep. A quiet night on board with Fresh Pizza and an early Bed at least for the oldie (me).. Here Raya , Hugo and Lenka who just re joined us, Watch a very nice Rainbow..

Photo by "The" Richard Smith

Then the Flash!

It was about .5nm away very loud and extremely bright The right hand flash is just starting the return to Earth. The left was the closer

Photo by Ricardo "Like Thunder" Pires

Oh What a Night!

We moved South Pretty Quickly from the Straights but even so it has been quite rough.

We had winds to the 30s and the NNW Swell of 4m  (13") made life onboard a little tedious with the rolling However we have made nice progress and hope to be in Str Cruz Tenerife tomorrow morning at 0800z We have a few parts to wait for and plan to head on over the Atlantic Departing the 31st. Meanwhile we have some nice Storm Photos from last night. It was fairly intense.. The leader going up is on the right.

Photo Ricardo "flash" Pires

Gibraltar

Here it is Gibraltar the 3rd gate for us. 1st gate to pass is crossing Golfe du Lion then passing Cabo de Gata and the last in the Med are the Straits of Gib. The weather calmed for us on approach and the Shipping and Ferry traffic was kind. We had a nice lunch in calm conditions. However by evening dinner time it was fully back on. Poor Raya in the galley did a great job as we rolled down wind in 4m seas and 35+ knots..Great Chili and Fish Tacos! Also we are making nice time with the weather behind us. We did get lucky in that 6 hours after we passed the Straits it was blowing a Gale there.

Photo by Hutch