12/04/2010, Atlantic Ocean
A lot has happened and changed since my last blog entry, we have struggled with lack of wind, found a stowaway and caught more fish. I am also starting to believe we have the curse of the cruising chute as every time we put it up with wind, it dies within 10 minutes. Lesley has been doing a great job feeding us all, I think James and Martin are starting to put on some Terry (weight)..
I've been struggling with sleep and find it hard in the heat and rolling action of the boat. It's getting hotter the closer we get to the caribbean and we all regularly dump a bucket of salt water over our heads just to cool down, except for Martin who I am convinced doesn't like salt water, he doesn't like to drink it either, (fresh water that is) nor bath / shower (he's dying for a land shower!) and James constantly smells..
As many of you know, all the boats have been struggling with lack of wind, It is amazing how moral on the boat can be effected so much by 0.5 of a knot or if both sails are out. I have been enjoying learning about sailing and how different set ups help us in different conditions, maybe one day I will own a boat? Well my night watch is almost over another sunrise to watch ........... such a hard life..
Love to all Lee ! x
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11/30/2010, Atlantic Ocean
Day 10 today and we have to eat our words on the LLLooser comments. Two days ago we decided to find some wind and head West and did we find it!! Not only did we find wind, we found it was head on, gusting 30 knots with big seas to go with it. We didn't really want to bash through it all night so we HOVED TOO (hovered in the one spot) for the night and all went to bed to try to get some sleep. The boat handled very well in the conditions and Martin (bless him) got up every hour to check if the wind had dropped and to see if any ships were around. By morning we had travelled eight miles in the right direction which was a plus, we decided to re-assess the situation and check the weather forecast. We discovered that if we continued heading West, we would have bad weather for the rest of the week. The crew want me to say that we were trying to write the words "Coba Libre" with the yellow brick (ARC TRACKER). I wish I could say it was working, but it wasn't! The latest forecast is that the Tradewinds are going to set in around 18 degrees North so we've changed course and are heading back to try and find them ?
We had our first flying fish on board, although I think we've had more because there are fish scales all over the boat.. So far we have seen birds, lots of dolphins and James has just told me he and Martin saw a massive Red Squid floating on top of the water. Lee has seen seabats (they don't even exist)! and we are just waiting for that big whale to pop up and say hello to us. It's shower day today so I think everyone is happy, plus I'm cooking a Chicken Curry so they have even bigger smiles on there faces..
Sorry, no photos until we get to St.Lucia. Signing off for another few days Coba Libre x
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Keep going Coba Libre
The Tates x
11/28/2010, At Sea
We've had a great first week at sea, Martin thinks we have an extra passenger on board - Billy the Bildge Boy? who seems to be taking the figure of eights out of our main and gib sheets, leaving the toilet pump on to fill and eating all of the mars bars.
He also said the other day that it would be great to do an experiment on one of us, drink saltwater for a week just so he can see what happens haha!! I think he should be the guinea pig.. The boys have been having salt water bucket showers off the back of the boat, you can tell they are getting smelly and bored as they were talking about having a wet t-shirt competition......they look like they are enjoying themselves to much.
Wait until you see the video on you tube!
Lee made a lovely Chilli last night and the meat supplies are lasting well. We have had a text message on the Sat Phone to tell us we are 13th in our division which is quite good and the local ARC news is that a an abandoned catamaran was seen at sea with the mast down and no one to be seen - how spooky..
Our daily routine is checking the emails around 12.15 and the weather, then plot our friends yachts on the chart plotter to see if we are beating them LLLLOOSERS!! at least it's giving us something to do.. I can't put any pictures on the blog at the moment as it costs a bomb and its strange we have been receiving text messages on our sat phone but can't send them back, so we will email everyone with our replies!!
Hope everyone is enjoying our journey with us and updates coming again soon. Oh, everytime we have a mint, we have to say THANK YOU Janet... I have just been informed that our speed has picked up to 4 knots YIPEEEEEEE !
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Go Coba...Go Coba...Go Coba
What an adventure - keep the updates coming. Love you all!
and Ali & Marty's wedding was amazing xxx
ps.See you soon - Yipppeeee
11/24/2010, In the Ocean
It is day 4 and the crew of Coba Libre are heading south toward the Cape Verde Islands. We think we are currently lying last place which we are not too fussed about, we just want to get there in good time and safely.
We have now adjusted to life on board, Sunset's around 7.30 everynight and the 1st watch 3 hours begins at 8pm, Lesley does the 1st shift and then the blokes go through the night. This you may think is a good deal for les, however she has agreed to cook most of the main meals. Best Deal Ever ! Martin can't cook and James is just a grumpy git unless he has 9 hours sleep. I have finally found some sleep and abuse this new found luxury!
So far we have managed to catch 3 of the biggest Dorado's ever seen, they all tasted a bit like Beef Curry and Spag Bol!! Light sailing has so far been calm and the stars are a wonder to see. I find it the best time to think and appreciate the situation we all find ourselves in, along with our good fortune we are regularly seeing dolphins, which put on a good show! Well I have rambled on now this is Cabin Boy Lee signing off the Coba Libre's Blog of the ARC! Love to all and see you maybe before Christmas..
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We saw them off on Sunday and they were in fine fettle! James has made a great decision to head that far south.
Good luck guys!
Terry & Emma
Libertine
then add the number (8816) 31669100 and send a short message to them. It is free to send and free for them to receive. I'm sure it will cheer them up to hear from you!
Terry
Libertine
11/21/2010, The Start - ARC
Well i think everyone is glad to be leaving port and get under way to the Caribbean, I was very stressed out yesterday because my meat delivery didn't arrive, Lucky enough i had some in the fridge that i bought from the Cash and Carry which has been vacuum packed and hopefully will last for two weeks and thanks to Nakessa who gave us two packets of Frozen Vac Packed Mince ! The fruit delivery came on time yesterday so we washed, dried and packed it away ready to go ! I have had to throw away a few bits already as things were going rotten.. So I am doing a fruit and vegetable check everyday !
We got over the start line at 13.03, with the Cruising Chute up and only a Force 3, We were sailing at 7 knots, we had steady North Easterly Winds and the forecast is for light winds for the next few days, We have been playing around with the sails more than usual because of the light winds and have been trying to work out a good watch system, but we have plenty of time for that.. Janet, Martin also wanted to say that the socks are the best thing about the trip !
Lee is going to do the next blog and we are all taking it in turns to write every 4 days..
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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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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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