We were first across the line and the first to hoist our spinnaker on a down wind run through the Solent. We crossed the Solent, the English Channel, the Bay of Biscay and then into the north Atlantic on our way to Madeira.
We weren’t always in front, with the lead changing several times throughout this first part of the race. The conditions changed constantly; one minute we would be becalmed, the next minute the wind was up and we were doing some 15 knots beating into the wind.
At one stage we had to drop our kedge anchor to stop ourselves drifting back. We were in 140 metres of water with anchor chains, sheets & halyards being used to give us the length we needed. The anchor also broke free and there was much grunting & cursing as we tried to make good our anchor at the bottom of the ocean.
We saw dolphins & whales. Crossing the shipping lanes at night with driving rain is no easy feat, our lookouts had a constant vigil and several times we were in radio contact with the big ships as they courteously altered course so as not to run us down.
The rough conditions brought the normal amount of seasickness, me included, particularly when in the galley doing ‘mothering’ duties.
Some ships log entries*:
5/8/11 Very fast, very healed over, very scary.
6/8/11 Going nowhere.
7/8/11 Lovely clear night, sailing well, pleasant conditions.
8/8/11 First wrap of spinnaker all hands on deck.
9/8/11 Great dinner, great news – we’re in the lead by some 60 nautical miles & travelling fast. First sighting of land since departure.
The sun was shining as we arrived and there was a small fleet to greet us on arrival. The Madeira Islands are volcanic and steep with much vegetation on three sides of the islands. It was first settled in the 1400’s by the Portuguese.
We were happy to be on land again, having travelled some 1400 nautical miles.
We were happy to be on land again, having travelled some 1400 nautical miles.
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