Date: Wednesday, 08 December [13:30 UTC]

 

 

Facts and figures:

• Distance to go to St Lucia: 1090 miles
• Day’s run (23 hour day due to time change) 11:30 – 10:30: 180 miles (light winds to start off with finishing with E-NE F5 - F8)
• Depth: 4000 meters
• Closest land – French Guyana: 765 miles
• Distance from Cape Verde: 1020 miles
• Distance from Rathlin Island (N.Ireland) 3130 miles 
• Temperature: 30 degrees centigrade
• Relative humidity: 65%
• Ship’s time is now –3 hours UTC

We are now 1090 miles away from St Lucia and we are still firmly in the grasp of the E-NE trade winds. For three days now, we have been able to maintain good daily runs of 140, 134 and 180 miles respectively.

 

Before dark on Tuesday evening, we removed the down-wind running sails as we needed to put a little more northing into our direction. Winds strengthened overnight and we were hitting boat speeds of over 10 knots. Messrs Jimmy and Dermot – during their 04:00 – 08:00 watch claimed the speed record of 10.2 knots (Speed over ground). Throughout Wednesday morning, we continued to experience strong E-NE winds which were gusting in excess of 30 knots at times. Sustained winds were being held at F6 – F7. The seas are building and we have had a few waves crash into the otherwise dry cockpit. Heavy rain showers have been experienced too and the sailing conditions – albeit warm and humid, resembles sailing to Islay or Jura on a typical N.Ireland summer’s day!

 

Messrs Jimmy and Dermot have lodged written complaints to skipper Ivan. In summary, they are claiming damages in respect of the following ailments:

• Hair styles destroyed as a result of excessive spray and rain – require hair appointments in St Lucia (Perms and blue rinses for these boys....)
• Fake tan washed off – require special care and attention from a beautician in St Lucia (Additional work required too – list too extensive to share)
• Wet clothes – Jimmy has had his only shirt destroyed by salt water and rain. His only pair of pants have also been ruined (albeit that they are Barbara’s??)

We acknowledge the many emails that continue to hit our inbox daily. We cannot reply to all of these, but thank everyone who is following the ARC and our position with interest (must be better than “X-Factor” and “I’m a Celebrity” in any event!) and providing us with information, jokes and support too. Continued support from Coleraine Yacht Club and the Royal Ulster Yacht Club is noted.

 

We note that we are approximately 16 miles behind ‘Windflower’, so we have her in our sights. Whilst we may not be in the running for any of the major prizes, we are holding our own race.

 

Hard sailing conditions for all presently. The yacht is handling impeccably in these seas and we are sailing her hard ensuring that we do justice to the yacht’s ability in addition to the crew’s desire to pick up the places we lost in the early stages of the race due to light winds and adverse tides. We are currently sailing under reefed genoa, main and mizzen. Big quartering seas with some large confused cross-swells too. The sun has come out too - Ocean sailing at its best!

 

Kind regards from Skipper Ivan and the crew.