20:17.84N 062:12.94W
Tioram 4
Tina & Tony
Mon 10 May 2010 16:17
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Hello from Tioram,
The good ship Tioram set off from Jolly Harbour,
Antigua yesterday Sunady to continue her travels around the Atlantic.
Departure was one day later than scheduled due to the need for the crew and
particularly Tina and Tony to have some R&R following the hard work they had
put in over the last 4 days to get Tioram in ship shape and provisioned. The new
crew on board consist of a motly bunch with an international flavour. Malte
who is a young 22 and from north Germany has spent the last couple of years
working in S America. He sailed up to Antigua from Brazil. James is from
South England and arrived in Antigua by rowing the Atlantic in 110 days. He's a
bright lad and has already worked out that sailing is a bit easier. Then there
is John probably best summed up by the phrase old sea salt. He arrived in
Antigua on BA just avoiding the Icelandic dust cloud. Skipper and
first mate Tony and Tina need no introduction.
So as we quietly left Jolly Harbour and slipped
through the narrow entrance it could not have been more different than to the
start of the ARC with all the razzamataz and 220 boats on the start line. We
hoisted the white jobbies and set a course in a F4-5 up to the passage between
Sandy Island and St Johns and towards Barbuda. The wind was perfect but
there were clear signs of Caribbean rot from the skipper as he floated the idea
of a final barbie on Barbuda. After some discussion he was disuaded with threats
of jumping ship from John.
The afternoon continued with Tioram doing an
average 8.4 knots courtesy a clean bottom. We were joined by a school of dolpins
who played around the boat for 30 minutes. One member of the crew has reported
that he thought the skipper and first mate may have experienced a romantic
moment on the windward rail, sad at leaving the Caribbean but reports could be
incorrect.
Sailing Tuition continued for James who is clrealy
going to catch on very quickly and Malte keeps on reading a book on sail
trimming which is getting the skippe a little concerned.
And so the watch system started and our first
evening meal cooked ashore. A great nights sail and a daily run of over 200
miles.
Best wishes to you all.
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