ARC Log - Day 19 - Arrival Preparations
Sulana's Voyage
Alan and Sue Brook
Fri 10 Dec 2010 00:40
At 22:00 UTC, we had made much more gentle progress in the last 24 hours. Still, with 199 miles logged, noon-to-noon today, it is a really great testimony as to how easy it is to drive Sulana along with minimal fuss. The autopilot, it must be said, has played a huge part in our helming workload.
We are also pleased to report that Dragonfly must have been quite upset to hear over the ARC radio net that their all night spinnaker activities had only resulted in them nicking one measly mile off us, whilst we were just toodling along under boomed out headsail! We had the swell running with us and surfed a lot last night, scudding before some decent wind squalls of 25-28 knots!
All in all today has been a quiet day of reflection for most of us, as the big voyage nears its end. We now have less than 205 miles left to go and it is looking more certain that we will be finishing in the early hours of Saturday morning. So we WILL be at the ARC's 'Arrivals' party Saturday night, but it has just dawned on us that this is our last full night at sea.
We put our ship time's clocks back for a third time at lunch today, so we are now only one hour adrift with St. Lucia upon arrival. Shortly before lunch a good-sized pod of Caribbean dolphins arrived off our bows to welcome us to their waters.
Each of the crew has been preparing themselves in their own way, to get ready for a renewal of their more normal shoreside life.
James has been getting his haircut, ready for attracting the attention of any female sailors ashore.
Fiona has been catching up on her sleep, so as to maintain her stamina for the first all-nighter on arrival. She has also done her Purser's job of totting up the bookkeeping for the last of the Ship's bills and Euro costs, so they do not get mixed up with Caribbean and US Dollars now.
Sue has completed an amazing day of recovery and recuperation after her nasty fall of yesterday. It really is a fantastic witness to the powers of Ibuprofen and Paracetamol,
or else, perhaps it is the thought of the sailing part of the crossing soon being over (far more likely - methinks!).
Either way, now it is almost impossible to hold her back. She is bobbing up and down, like the spring chicken she really is at heart. She has also just amazed us all by stating she will stay up tonight and share Alan's last two night watches with him! Heavens above!
Ben has been busy using up every last little scrap of leftover to be found in the galley, or hanging in our hammocks, so as not to waste anything; as well as, probably, trying to prove to us all just how well he shopped at the outset, in Las Palmas. Today's evening smoothie (the St. Lucian Splice) contained peach iced tea, melon, and forest fruits.
No need, Ben! We are all very happy to see we have still got some fresh oranges and apples left to go and there are T-Bone Steaks defrosting on the counter top, ready for tomorrow's Last Supper!
Peter has finally got around to starting his own personal Desert Island Discs selection and has become relieved to hear that the car and computer problems at home have been resolved for the time being. He is starting to dread the length of joblist awaiting him, though! And just when he thought he had left Liz all ready and set for an easy time ahead in his absence, too...
Given we only have one day left to go, it will be a busy day listening to the whole crew's music choices throughout the day.
Alan also took an extra hour's afternoon kip today, almost missing the Apparition radio cocktail net along the way. Good to hear that James and his crew enjoyed their first 205 mile day's run today, in their Oyster 45, after waiting a long while without spinnaker.
Yours truly has also been preparing the navigation and paperwork ready for the final stages of our arrival, so the forthcoming gybe towards St. Lucia can be carried out at the right time and smoothly.
Checking up on all the formalities of arrival, finishing, berthing and Customs clearance, etc. it is clear we had better be keeping clear heads about us, before the rum punches take too big an effect.
In practise, we will be at odds with this sensible plan, as the plan is to link up via Satphone, at 19:30 UTC, with all our sailing (and drinking comrades) back in the West Mersea Yacht Club. Their Chapter of the Royal Naval Tot Club of Antigua and Barbuda meets tomorrow evening, for a joint Christmas Rum Tot, and good friend, Richard Matthews, has ensured we are invited to join with them.
The three members of the Tot Club on board Sulana, Alan, Sue and Peter, together with their three guests, Ben, James and Fiona, will be joining the Mersea Chapter with their own on-board measures of Pussers Rum, ready to say in unison,
"The Wind That Blows,
The Ship That Goes,
And The Lass That loves A Sailor.
And The Queen, God Bless Her!"
Then the Tots will be downed in one and the resultant fires put out with water!
I hope the rich, treacly redolence of Pusser's will not dent our olfactory senses when it comes to smelling the first approaches of Caribbean land!
And, on that happy note, today's log ends, with expectant best wishes to you all from Alan.
