11/21/2010, Las Palmas
We have just watched the start of the ARC on our computer. Lesley has asked me to update the blog for them. She will send an email every 5 days via their Satelite Phone and I will add her comments and any photos they manage to send. If anyone wishes to follow their progress, just go to "ARC Atlantic Rally for Cruisers" website, click on the fleet viewer and follow the link......... Please feel free to leave any comments or messages as they will get them when they reach St.Lucia...........watch this space for an update next weekend!
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Comments [1]
Thanks Janet
11/19/2010, Gran Canaries
Well i think this is going to be my last update before i leave for the Caribbean, We will be emailing my mum every three - four days to let everyone know how we are getting on, weather conditions and probably what we are having for dinner !!
We have had a fantastic build up to leaving and it has been worth the thousand pounds we paid to join the ARC, We had safety day yesterday and it was very interesting, we watched a helicopter rescue and liferaft demonstration which was excellent, Lets hope we dont have to get into one !
Our pontoon party was a success, although James and I made a lethel punch , and are a little hungover today, my drinking days are over because i dont want any alchol in my system when i am at sea ! We have met such a lovely bunch of people and are having a blast ! I will be up at 7am to go to the market and get some cooked meats for the first few days at sea, the fruit and veg order is being delivered tommorow morning which all has to be washed and stowed and i need to go to Carefour to get my fresh meat ..
I just wanted to say GOODLUCK to everyone who is crossing and a special one to our mates Terry and Emma keep in touch !
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Janet xxxxxx
11/16/2010
This is one of the reasons why we are soo busy, This is just a day in the life of the ARC
Wednesday 17th November -
10am Power Management at Sea
11am Route and Weather for Atlantic Crossing
12pm Returning to Europe (not going)
2pm First Aid at Sea
3pm All about St Lucia
then eat some dinner and get ready for Fancy Dress Party !
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11/16/2010, Gran Canaries
It has been a busy few days, James Uncle and Aunty have been out for the weekend (Adrian and Jeanette) and we had such a lovely time. We went out for a few nice meals and saturday night went to the WOMAD Festival, World of Music Arts and Dance, unfortunately I came down with a poorly stomach, so i had to be rushed back to the boat asap, I don't know what was wrong with me but didn't feel too crash hot !
We had a lovely BBQ after the Opening Ceramony on Sunday and then hired a car Monday to explore around the island, It was such a shame because as soon as we got up into the mountains it was raining and you couldn't really see anything !
After dropping Adrian and Jeanette off at the airport, we had the car for the rest of the afternoon to do some more provisioning, We are nearly organised we just have to get Fresh Fruit and Meat organised and my HP sauce from Martin and I am ready !!
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11/16/2010
James and I getting a bit wet !
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11/16/2010
The parade had a real festival atmosphere with a local brass band leading the procession, local salsa band and dancers bringing up the rear. We had to run back to our boat which is on the other side of the marine and row back to teh fuel dock to make it to the Dinghy race, even though we were a bit late we still joined in the fun !
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11/16/2010
There are alot of British participants in the ARC this year, I think they are in the top 3 number of boats participating this year ! We haven't met everyone but this is our little gang !
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It was the Opening Ceramony on Sunday in the Marina all of the Flags were hoisted from the participating nations, I was a little torn even though I am sailing on a British Boat, I had to go and meet and march with the Aussies!!
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11/14/2010, Gran Cararies
If anyone is interested following us on our journey across the Atlantic you can do so by following this link :-
During the rally, all yachts will be fitted with a Yellowbrick Iridium tracking device, which will automatically upload the yacht's position to our online Fleet Viewer. Your family and friends back home will be able to view your position on the rally website, and World Cruising Club can monitor the progress of yachts at all times. In addition, there is a daily SSB radio net, which keeps the fleet in touch and provides an opportunity to share experiences amongst the boats.
www.worldcruising.com/arc/viewer.aspx
or
www.worldcruising.com/arc/
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xxxx
11/11/2010
Its 7.30am and I am de-stressed enough to update the blog. The last few days have been very hectic and non-stop. After more and more yachts arriving in Catamaran Alley and everyone complaining to the ARC, we were given the choice to move yesterday into the main marina, we didn't know what to do because we have met some great new friends and us leaving is not really fair on them either.. But after every Monohull left, we decided to as well.
When berthing in our new spot yesterday we felt a vibrating noise at the stern of the boat and James knew there was something wrong with the Propellor, he had to go for a swim in the filthy marina to see what had happened, one of the prop blades sheared off. James isn't a happy camper at the moment because that was the whole reason we lifted to boat out in Lanzarote was to take the propeller and get it re-serviced whilst we were back in the UK? We have already spoken to Kiwi Prop and luckily they have posted some new blades so our crew can bring them out next week.. I hope it doesn't happen again mid-Atlantic?
Today is the start of the seminars and I am off to a provisioning talk at 10, I hope I am going to learn a few things because it feels like I haven't stopped shopping and provisioning since I was in Gibralter! But I am nearly there I have most of my dry stock, with the exception of 58 milk cartons, around 250 litres of bottled water, wine , beer, coffee, tea and then next week it is onto fresh provisions fruit and vegetables and meat, which I will get two days before we leave.
We also had the ARC opening party two nights ago which was great fun and very boozy, luckily it started raining and everyone just ran for cover or back to the boats. Happy Hour is in a different place every day for 2 hours, sponsored by different companies , We are busy enough meeting up with different ARC boats who we have met along the way and all of us have seemed to have joined the same club in the marina, which has a swimming pool, gym, bar, pool table and internet it is our new meeting place !
Photos coming soon as I left my memory stick in someone else's computer DOPE...
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