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15:05.000N
58:22.000W
The plan is that tomorrow will be pretty busy with
sail changes to put us in the right position for going in to St Lucia and Rodney
Bay. We are down to around 200nm so the ETA is dusk tomorrow - Tuesday.
Once arrived we will be off to a bar for a little drink so this
will probable be the last blog. Its a bit deep and meaningful but I
wouldn't want you to think that we were always so shallow, flippant and
superficient - just most of the time.
So the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers). Is it
easy? Is it difficult? The answer to this is based on the skipper,
boat, crew and mother nature. The fact is that when it comes to the sea
there a few places that can change so quickly and be so powerful, relentless and
menacing when it does. Sailing is relatively easy when things are going well and
immediately life threatening when they do not. This year the ARC has seen
moderate to strong winds and despite being a 'rally' all skippers want to do
well. The boats are pushed hard, sails are blown out, rigging lost, jury rudders
made and boats scuttled. Easy? Yes if everything works. Hard? Yes within
seconds. One of the key things about ocean crossings is the sense of
isolation. In the end you cannot radio for dry land and a safe haven - you are
on your own and the only thing that will get you out of it is the boat and
those on board - no roadside assistance, no doctors or dentists. Yes there
are other boats around but until you have done an ocean crossing you don't
realise that anything more than 5 miles away you can't see and many are 200/300
miles away, over 2 days away and then in many ways they can only do what you can
- still no safe haven or comfy bed.
Is it just a tick in the box? 'Done that'. No it's
not. To do the ARC, or anything that takes you outside your normal
environment, is to experience new things, test the boundaries and get
to know new people. Arriving in St Lucia will be a time to put faces to names -
Julian from Northern Child (93), Fred from Dream Catcher (121), Boo Tiger (106),
Silhouette (122) and of course to share stories with Chris from Kotari -
guaranteed to be the highest (and often lowest) of humours. All the best to
Group C and the rest of the fleet of 2006.
The measure of a true professional is their
ability to make the most complicated things sound easy. To sum up years of
study and expertise in simple words and actions. David and Tony are
such people. A quick look at the set up, a minor tweek and the boat is once
again finely tuned and doing just what it should. Ok we had a laugh but crossing
an ocean is a very serious matter - a thing that was made much easier by their
professionalism, tolerance and understanding - thanks guys, a cracking skipper
and first mate with thanks from all your obedient, finely honed crew.
Thanks also to Phil back in the UK - GE did us proud - a few small things
broken but also some things fixed - honours even I think.
David upper and Tony lower - 'just as it
should be you scurvy dogs'
This evening was time for the skipper to cook the
food. His slightly annoying singing as he was doing so (well it had to be Bob
Marley didn't it) covered the fact that even the skipper can sing and open cans
at the same time! - and to think that woman say that men can only do one
thing at a time, Dave just proved them wrong - we showed 'um. The fact is that
the corned beef curry was stunning - a true dog bowl meal (yes many skippers,
perhaps of the old school, still use dog bowls to serve meals). They
are incredibly fit for purpose and you can choose your name, Fido, Shep,
Rover heh its yor choice its a democracy - 'you scurvy dog' seems highly
appropriate while sitting with Fido on your bowl. So the skippers food -
balanced, nutricianal and fit for purpose but until I'm on dry land I wouldn't
say anything else would I?
So the ARC will leave its mark on all of us -
different things for different people. Maybe new friendship, highly likely. The
one thing I can guarantee is a shared experience of a good skipper and first
mate, a good crew, and a boat blessed with a safe passage.
Hope you enjoyed reading the blog. Many perfectly
good reputations have been trashed in its production and many hours sat at this
chart table typing on a jumping keyboard - but heh anything for a
joke.
Have a safe watch Ian, Jackie, Lizzie, David,
Pascal, Martyn, Tony
For all you who took the time to read this blog -
live the dream!
Andrew on yacht Great Escape
(100)
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