Start of the ARC
Starcross Fair Log
Ross Wilson
Sun 21 Nov 2010 16:32
|
27:54.98N 015:19.13W
And so after a week of preparatiion we are finally
off!
The blue peter went up at 1030 and at the same time
the first marching ban appeared on the breakwater. By the time we slipped at
1115ish the whole breakwater was full of people all waving and
shouting.
The Starcross crew donned their highland head wear,
and with suitable Scottish music we exited the harbour to join the crowds of
boats waiting for the start.
Our first problem was finding the committee boat -
a Spanish Naval Frigate, which was appropriately camoflaged against the sea. Our
next problem was identifying the outer distance mark which we eventully found.
We were expecting a busy start (over 200 boats) and therefore carefully
planned a reach in on starboard, with a gybe and then run accross the line on
port.In the event we seem to have the whole start line to ourselves when the gun
went, and as a result are now enjoying a pleasent spinnaker run down the west
side of Gran Canaria, watching all the sails behind us and flying fish jumping
out of the sea.
The last week has been one of frantic preparations
interspersed with the odd meal and the odd disruption. Firstly Al wakng up on
Monday morning with a very sore tummy, and ending up on a drip for the
rest of the day to sort it out, and secondly UPS taking 4 days to
deliver a new vang from the airport to the marina - a 20 min bus ride. But now
everything is sorted and we have enough food on board to keep us going for
several weeks!
More tomorrow,
Ross, Al, Will, Alex and
Paul
|