They’re Off!

Current Location: Petronella, Lanzarote. Us UK. Lots of friends, crossing the Atlantic.

Whilst we shivver back in the UK, boats are starting to leave the Canaries and Cape Verdes off the west coast of Africa to make their passages to the Caribbean. First to leave were Rick and Robin on Endagered Species (Dangerous Spices to their friends) on the last leg of their circumnavigation. Their catamaran is bowling along westwards so fast that they have been unable to catch any fish so far. Every day they are 150 miles or more closer to home in Florida. Each evening we get an email via their radio telling us of their progress. Rick and Robin are conservative, defensive sailors. They taught us about making comfortable passages rather than pushing on to cut a day off passage time, to always reef at night to allow the crew more sleep and to make sure we are all well fed with extra goodies. Crew morale we learned on our sea survival course is critical to happy, safe passages.

A few days later the 38 yachts on the Atlantic Odyssey Rally left Arrecife. We met several of them while we were in the marina earlier in the month. They will be starting their fourth night just now. Progress has been slow for them. Forced to leave at a time dictated by the rally organisers they have had little wind for the first few days and what they have had has been on the nose (coming from ahead of them) making for slow progress. From what we can see from the rally website (http://cornellsailing.com/sail-the-odyssey/atlantic-odyssey/) all boats look to be making progress westwards. We are especially looking out for Sephina with Rob (now that is one cool dude) and French Jen (of amazing crepes with honey fame) aboard. Good luck guys. We’ll see you on the other side.

They're Off!