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These are the official Lancelot boat logs from throughout the ARC (15-20):
Day 15 - 1100 to go
Position - 13'20'.8N 42'04'.3W
Time - 1600 GMT 5th Dec 2010
Speed - 8 knots
Heading - 280 degrees
Wind - NE 15 knots
Day 15, eleven hundred miles to go. During the day yesterday the trade winds finally kicked in and the sea built steadily during the afternoon. With it came squally conditions - some we avoided and others gave us a thorough soaking and in the strong gusts some good surfing moments. Earlier in the day an egret was spotted and it spent some time circling the boat, presumably trying to figure out the airflow round the sails with a view to landing for a rest. Unlike last year however, this one declined and flew away to the north. We wished it well.
Following last night's dinner - a very tasty risotto prepared by Deb - the wind continued to build and despite both Jacko and I thinking about it we went into the night with the spinnaker up with some big squalls chasing us. This made steering extremely tricky - we were sailing across the wind and waves as opposed to running with it and there were one or two interesting moments. We therefore decided to drop the spinnaker which is never easy in the pitch dark in big conditions. The drop went like clockwork and we continued with a full main and headsail, averaging around 8-9 knots. With the continuing squalls came strong gusts and big wind-shifts, together with torrential rain. I have never been wetter. Eventually the inevitable happened and in a big wind-shift the boat broached and laid over, filling the cockpit and immersing Jacko up to his neck, as he was sitting on the leeward side.. Once the boat got back on its feet it was a case of 'don't stop me now' and we were off again with no harm done.
These conditions continued all night, and as well as the heat down below it is pretty wet too. When and if the wind eases we'll have a dry out session. It is now mid afternoon and the weather is better, with sunshine and scattered clouds. The wind is still strong and there is a fair amount of flying spray so the clothes pegs stay in the box for the moment. It is about 40 degrees down below with probably 99% humidity. As I write this a bead of sweat has dripped onto my laptop.
This is a longer passage than expected and is quite tough on the crew, especially those not used to it. Everyone has their occasional low moments but despite this there is plenty of laughter aboard. The adventure is in the crossing of course, however we are all looking forward to a cold beer and walking about on the unmoving land in a few days time.
That's it from me.
Love to all at home, especially Mrs W...
Mick
Day 16 - Bumps, Bruises and Toes
Position - 13'34'.8N 45'38'.0W
Time - 2020 GMT 6th Dec 2010
Speed - 8-10 knots
Heading - 291 degrees
Wind - NE 20-25 knots
Well here we are on day 16 and well underway in the trade winds (at last!). This voyage has been a physical challenge to date in so far as we expend so much energy just trying to make our way around the boat without falling over, not to mention the ad hoc injuries - Paul with his continual head bumping and toe stubbing, Jacko and his flying fish encounters and me with a huge bruise on my hip following a crash into the cooker and then a painful shoulder meaning I can't help out with helming - frustrating. With the shift patterns, our bodies don't have time to recover properly and I can't imagine how people manage this alone and for long periods around the world - all credit to them; I couldn't do it. For those of us unaccustomed to all of this, it's becoming more of a test of our mental and emotional strength and we are counting down the days until our feet will once again be on terra firma and we can have the longest shower we like! As I write this, Paul's wife and boys are winging their way towards St Lucia to meet him at the marina when we arrive on Saturday.
While we question who in their right mind would choose to get up several times a night and sit in the freezing cold pouring rain and crashing waves for fun, the hardened sailors amongst us possess this crazy little thing called love for the sea and all of its adventures.
Spirits do remain high though and we are excited to be so far head of the pack, hoping that we will come in on Saturday as one of the top 2 in our division. As I write this, most of the crew are lazing around on the deck, Mick is surfing the waves with our new spinnaker up and trying to beat Debs' earlier speed record of 12.5 knots.
We finally caught the various life jacket thieves and with Mick's new system of clips and bits of rope, mine will hopefully stay away from wandering hands. The sweetie box pilferer is still at large though and with only 5 days left to go, we are not hopeful he or she will be reprimanded!
Dolphins have joined us once more after a dry spell of about 4 days, the flying fish are targeting Jacko's head once again but alas, still no whales which is disappointing. Big news for a boat this size is that we all managed to a have a fresh water shower this morning so are smelling sweet as daisies, for the time being at least.
For those of you following our adventures and feeling generous, one of our crew members, Paul, is doing this challenge in aid of Demelza House which is a children's hospice based in the southeast of England. He has set a target of GBP 3,000 and would be grateful for any donations, large or small. For more information and to make a donation, please visit: www.justgiving.com/paul-waltonarc2010
Well, I think that's all from me for now. Love from all the crew to friends and family around the world.
Linda xx
Day 17 - It's a Miracle
Position - 13'57'.8N 48'43'.4W
Time - 1845 GMT 7th Dec 2010
Speed - 8-10 knots
Heading - 290 degrees
Wind - NE 15-20 knots
Hello again Log Fans
Didn't think I'd be doing this for the third time this trip! Still, we are on our way in the trade winds. We have a poled out genoa and full main up. It's a miracle - Paul managed to do 15 knots which is better than all the yee ha surfing we did under the spinnaker yesterday and we are going in the right direction.
Life on board is still going well. Talk has turned to exactly which cocktail we want to have with our breakfast when we get to Rodney Bay - I think it has to be rum punch but there is a strong vote for Pina Colada.
Night time sailing booboo - the gas bottle ran out early in the evening so Mick had to get up for two night watches without having a cup of tea. Anyone who knows Mick will understand the level of torture that that is to him.
Jacko narrowly missed his fifth or sixth flying fish hit. It managed to go over Debs and Linda, missed Mick and barely missed him as it jumped clean over the cockpit.
Innuendo of the day -Oh my god, it's huge! (me, on a large wave)
Innuendo of the trip so far - Mind my knickers Paul, I've nearly lost them three times already today (Debs, on not losing her washing over board)
Thinks that it as I'm off to watch the dolphins playing in our wake. See you all soon
Prue
Day 18 - Best Night Yet
Position - 14'03'.2N 52'17'.0W
Time - 1930 GMT 8th Dec 2010
Speed - 8-10 knots
Heading - 290 degrees
Wind - ENE 18-25 knots
The best night's sail so far, amazing shooting stars and no smelly flying fish. The wind was good and we really were (and still are!) all in good spirits, time passed by really quickly as we are all helming. Tea plays a big part in our night watches as does Mick, lighting up before and after every crew change and toilet breaks, the water bottles escaped last night rolling around the cockpit floor waking everyone up.
A marvellous day as had by all today, surfing down the huge rollers, I now feel we are finally reaching our destination after a long passage. Savlon is now being requested daily by our crew who sit around in wet shorts all day is causing a little sore discomfort and a fair amount of wriggling!!
Jacko has just announced "showers for all tomorrow and Friday" hooray!... how kind... he has a reason for this generosity; we need to empty the water tanks, get rid of the last of the food and lighten up.... this is a race and we only have One Vision to win the racing class!
If we continue with this good wind then we may well beat my son Justin in by a few hours who is flying in. Perry alas, is a couple of days behind on Coyote 2; his spinnaker was described as "terminal" by Anthony in and e-mail to Lancelot, his crew also seem to have had a bit of seasickness to deal with. It will be a wonderful reunion when we all get there together.
Shouts from deck, more speed records being set and tummies are rumbling for dinner.
Love to all family and friends, see you all soon
Debs xxx
Day 19 - Rum Punch???
Position - 14'27'.0N 55'56'.3W
Time - 2100 GMT 9th Dec 2010
Speed - 8-10 knots
Heading - 290 degrees
Wind - ENE 18-25 knots
It's day 19 and last night was a bit of a tough one - big swells and difficult steering conditions with everyone feeling a little bit jaded. We did, however, have a really clear night with fantastic shooting stars - something you never see unless you are at sea. We also experienced yet another awesome sunrise which was good news for the photo club.
We're now well into the proper trade winds with big winds and even bigger swells. As we approach the finishing line, we are hopeful of a first in class and even first overall in the racing division. There is a smaller boat a few hundred miles behind us that we need to take some time from in order to win - keep your fingers crossed for us. Jacko and I pondered a lot this morning over hoisting the spinnaker in such testing conditions and inevitably arrived to the conclusion of yes. This required some skill and huge concentration at the helm. We did manage to push our speeds up though and this has been the biggest Atlantic swell I've ever experienced. Later on we dropped the spinnaker in favour of a poled up no. 3 and a full main which made for a relaxing afternoon.
We are now running out of some basic supplies after a long race - tea bags, tinned fruit, cereal and most importantly haribos. Prue has rationed us to 10 tea bags each in our own labelled ziplock bags so now we just raid each other's in the middle of the night! We'd better get there soon otherwise there'll be trouble! We are kept going, however, with the thought of rum punch getting closer and closer.
Our speed record is now 16.7 knots (with me on the helm both times!!). To be beaten tomorrow I'm sure.....
Love to all at home, especially Mrs W.
Mick
Day 20 - Last Day…..or should be at least!
Position - 14'26'.8N 59'00.0W
Time - 1845 GMT 10th Dec 2010
Speed - 8-9 knots
Heading - 275 degrees
Wind - ENE 14-20 knots
The last day is here! After a very hot few last days of sailing, all the crew of Lancelot are pleased to be now only 114 miles from the finish line in Rodney Bay, St. Lucia. Last night was another beauty, clear skies for most the night, shooting stars and a great ENE wind pushing us along towards the finish. At first light this morning the team had the spinnaker up by 0730 (local time) and we where soon surfing along again, all be it with a little less wind than in the last couple of days.
Thoughts are now pretty much taken up by land, Paul can't wait to meet up with his family that have flown out to St. Lucia to meet him, Prue is quietly considering which cocktail is first on the list... I have a feeling no cocktail on the list will be safe on Saturday night! Deb's is very much looking forward to the arrival by air of one of her son's Justin, and the other son we hope not too long after - Perry who is currently on Coyote 2. Lia, Rob and Linda are all very much looking forward to their first ARC welcome in St. Lucia, after having a couple myself, I can assure them it is worth the wait!! Mick and myself have been, as usual, thinking up a job's list ready for our arrival, the list we have I think is worth a read;
1. Arrive, park, drink Rum Punch
2. Jacko to customs to clear everyone in - hopefully not too drunk!!
3. Scrub decks on boat - (she has been good to us and deserves some fresh water at last)
4. Go to pub to drink more Rum by 1000 am
5. Wake up on Sunday at some point
That is just a draft of the jobs to be completed over the next two days but I think everyone aboard agrees that it is one of the best job's lists ever created aboard a boat.
This has been another great ARC crossing, totally different to any ARC's that Lancelot has done before, wind's very light at first, having to sail a very long way South to avoid upwind sailing in heavy airs, rain from a frontal system in the middle of the race, more light wind (more like no wind) sailing, then eventually, what all the crew have been waiting for, the Trade Winds to push us along the final 1400 miles to the finish.
On arrival we are looking forward to meeting up with some friends who have already arrived, Mark, Tim and the crew on Hydrocarbon; Andy and crew on EH01; the Matt's, one on Snow Wolf and other on Mojomo; and many others, who if are not already in, will hopefully arrive soon with safe winds.
Looking at the times, we have a chance of doing fairly well in the racing class this year, we will have to keep pushing on over these last few miles and keep a look out over the next few days as well as a couple of boats with lower handicaps will come over the horizon. Whatever happens with the results I have yet again really enjoyed the ARC and am very much looking forward to my time in the Caribbean this winter.
Love to Family and Friends
Jacko
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