ARC Day 1- the first sunset
Tillymint.fortescue
Sun 22 Nov 2009 19:22
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Where to start? Well first of all it is rather
overwhemlming to be back at the helm of Tilly Mint's blog, we last spoke as I
signed off on our approach to Lagos on the Algarve at the end of August, Since
then the blog was brought to you by my brother-in-law, Sam on the leg to
Lanzorote and then more recently by your very own Skipper, Alex. Then on
Friday evening, after 2 flights and 3 hours spent grazing the business
class lounge buffet in Madrid, the wife and children rocked up at Tilly Mint
with just 36 hours to go til the start of our Atlantic crossing. We have had
such a very short time to acclimatise to the sunshine and nautical intent of the
weekend; so that now I have a fair appreciation for the emotions felt
by the crew of the Star Ship Enterprise when they beamed down onto a new planet.
We are indeed boldly going and it is life Jim, but not as we know
it!
And here we are, the sun has just set on Day 1, we are 45 miles off Gran
Canaria with 2770 miles to go. Over 200 boats crossed the line at 12.30 this
afternoon and we soon spread out over the expanse of ocean so that by morning we
might have no neighbours in sight and no expectation of landfall for at least 14
days.Our world has become very small and infinite at the same time. Tilly Mint
is roaring through the night making 9-10 knots under main and genoa, lots of
boats tried out their spinnaker this afternoon but we decided to limit the
thrills on our first day. Our spinnaker (the big blue parasail that spooked Alex
earlier in the week) is a big beasty to fly and will stay in its locker til
morning. I've cooked a meal and the littles are settled into their first dvd of
the voyage. There's so much to tell you but for once (and enjoy it while it
lasts) I am struggling for words. I'll let the photos talk; the children let
artisitc talent rampage via official graffitti on the marina wall, we drew out
of the marina to the waves and cheers of crowds lining the breakwater and the
brass band played. It was awesome and inspiring. We made a good clean start
across the line (that's the yellow buoy next to the Hugo boy) and we are on our
way (and we know where we're going)
Until tomorrow
Night Night from all aboard Tilly Mint x
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