Dec 9^th – 12:43 UTC - Day 15

 

Hats off to the boys in Navillus (Brian, Peader & Mikey Bill), they may have been responsible for our hangovers the night before departure but to lift three guys from a liferaft 800 miles from land takes some topping! For those of you who don’t know, Navillus is a 50ft Bavaria out of Tralee and Brian a prominent member of the Fenit Lifeboat. Of course with an extra three crew, they should fly into St Lucia! As for Glorious Munster, going to LLanelli and winning 29 – 16, a fantastic result and we are proud to continue to fly the Munster flag from our starboard spreaders – hard to believe its still surviving!

 

We had another tough night on board last night. More high winds, lightening and heavy rain. Because of the high seas and constant heavy rain, we have had to keep to body of the boat closed up for the last 3-4 days. As a result, it’s like a sauna down below. Temperatures are at 28c plus day and night coupled with dampness from the wet, it’s a very uncomfortable combination.

 

As of now we are 672nm’s west of St Lucia and if the winds hold our ETA is late Thursday night. The ships clock went back again yesterday and we are now UTC – 3.

 

Louis is just cooking breakfast – eggs, baked beans and toast. He would be great behind a deli counter! With our water tanks still ¾ full (we started with 400ltrs), the skipper has relaxed the ban on fresh water showering. Briefly, there will be a lot of clean bodies around today.

 

As for those of you who picked up on the deliberate error in fish size yesterday – of course it was only 20cm and not the 200cm printed! Prizes will go out to you all shortly. We will be uploading our bulging bank of picture on arrival in St. Lucia.

 

ARC Control Update………….

 

Three crew from yacht SPAM were safely evacuated from their liferaft onto 116 Navillus around 1200 today.

 

Yacht SPAM is understood to be holed and sinking, after a dismasting this morning.

 

The vessel has been abandoned and is drifting.

 

Last reported for SPAM was 16: 29.500N 48: 31.027W

 

Wind direction 098 deg M. and speed 24kts.

 

The abandoned yacht is a Prout Quest 31 Catamaran with red hulls and white superstructure.

 

The liferaft has been punctured but is also adrift.

 

All yachts are requested to keep a good look out and report any sightings.

 

Thanks to those involved: Navillus and Regina

 

 

Thanks also to yachts that diverted to assist or provided relays:

 

Worldwide Traveler

 

Cat-man-do

 

Blue Spirit

 

No further assistance is required.

Advice received from MRCC Falmouth

 

 

Yacht NEREE

 

at position 15 25.4N 046 45.2W at 11:45UTC

 

Crew are intending to abandon the boat due to steering failure

 

In communication with yacht AVOCET

 

Yacht NORTHABOUT is attending and will evacuate the crew from NEREE

 

Any ARC yachts in the area are requested to offer assistance via VHF

 

MRCC Martinique is the controlling station.

 

ENDS

 

 

BARBARY DUCK

Barbary Duck reported drifting with mast in water trailing lines at position:

17 55.41N  43 07.20W at 18:30UTC  08/12

 

ARC Control