Antigua
Gaviota
Fri 21 Jan 2011 00:59
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17:00.815N 61:46.528W
Total distance 2229nm
Falmouth harbour, Antigua. Arrived Tuesday night local time
2100 making it an amazing 12.5 days crossing. Amazing because for a 46 foot
yacht that is extremely quick. And as a Brucey Bonus it means I get over a weeks
holiday in Antigua! We've had nearly near perfect conditions for the entire
crossing; clear sunny days, north easterly/easterly
wind, favourable current and good Syds curries to boot. All in Gaviota
has managed an average speed of 7.44knots, with some
really good days of 'surfing' the Atlantic rollers to over 12
knots.
Antigua was spotted with around 17miles to run, and it felt
like the longest 17 miles ever. With the impending doom of having no
engine/electrics, the nerves started to jangle. With Syd and myself doing a long
nightshift the previous night on the helm with little or no wind, we were all
very fatigued, and our average speed had dropped so much that the island felt
like it wasn't getting any closer. We watched the daylight fade, but luckily a
clear night and full moon meant visibility was good. As night fell the only
electrics we used was the compass light, and occasionally Syd would turn on the
laptop to make sure we were still pointing in the right direction. It's a good
job Syd has been here before, as the entrance to Falmouth harbour is covered in
shallow reef, and we kept the genoa up till the last possible moment and then
held our breaths as the engine was switched on....it worked....sweet noise!
Rounding the corner to Falmouth harbour opened up a scene that
looks like a set from the Borrowers. Gaviota felt like a dinghy amongst super
tankers. The marina was lit up by a city of mega yacht/gin palaces belonging to
the super rich, forcing mere 100foot boats to have to anchor as the marina
spaces were taken up by these monsters. Taking top spot is a boat called 'The
Maltese Falcon', a modern 300 foot square rigged, 3
masted (6 sails per mast) vessel where the masts need red lights
on top so aircraft don't fly into them.
But who cares about them, Gaviota is the real deal. She has
now crossed the Atlantic for the forth time, and is a superbly fast and
comfortable boat to be on. She needs a few repairs now we're here, but she
probably deserves a rest and a bit of a clean! So thanks Gaviota, and huge
thanks to Captain Syd, who now takes this Atlantic crossing thing in his
stride. In fact he commented that this crossing was "pretty easy really" but is
secretly over the moon that he's done it in such a remarkable
time. Personally I think that's down to having such excellent crew, who
would every so often stop sunbathing to wind in a rope or two.
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