Finished!
Sulana's Voyage
Alan and Sue Brook
Sun 12 Dec 2010 22:17
Rodney Bay Marina, St Lucia. W.I.
"Sulana" finished the "race" rally at 21.20 on Friday night. Sadly it was dark but this made no difference to the friendly welcome that we received. We rounded Pigeon Island from the N.E. and the finish line, a yacht with a yellow flashing strobe, was immediately visible, about ½ mile.ahead.
As we approached Tim Wright, in a powerboat, arrived alongside with cameras flashing away, to get a memorable impression for all of us to keep for ourselves and families for the future. Then, with detailed instructions over the air, we made our way in to toots and clapping from all the yachts already in, it was quite unforgettable. Needless to say we were ashore for a rum punch before you could say knife and after a satisfactory number of those it was back to the good ship for a crash.
So we did it, and all under sail which has not been the norm for this slightly unusual ARC. High head winds from the west above 20 degrees and no trades until 11 degrees, which is a very long way south. We took a middle line and did as well as most, the probable winners plunged straight into the westerlies, sometimes up to 55 knots, and will well deserve their victories.
Our more middle line turned out to be quite quick and was certainly a lot more comfortable, having only faced the harder stuff for four days.
I think Sue would have resigned her commission had we carried on up there!
I have just read Alan's log for yesterday and very touching it was. I am perhaps the chap to say a little about his effort. He prepared his yacht meticulously; she is a pleasure to be aboard and I am as jealous as hell. It is a big responsibility to skipper a yacht on an Atlantic crossing, especially when you have your loved ones on board. He also wanted to make a good showing in the cruiser division, and he did that with a keen competitive spirit throughout, but tempered with thoughts about the comfort of his crew.
Not only is the design one of Oyster's classics, but Alan specified her in the light of all his experience of 30 odd years with Oyster. Nothing went wrong and within a couple of days of arrival I am sure she will look just as she did the day she left Fox's. She will do a magnificent job for them on their world cruise, for which I wish them well and Godspeed.
On a personal note, I was surprised to find that one sailed within one's own horizon, without too much regard for the fact that land was up to 1,500 miles away. It all became a routine.
The exception to that might be a low pressure area the size of southern England which might hit you in five days' time, depending on the direction you sail in the next few hundred miles and whether the Met 5 day long range forecast got it right.
Peter