Jonathan Crinion Ocean Racing
Jonathan Crinion and one of the world's leading Naval Architecture firms; that of Owen Clark Design LLP have together designed and developed a superb racing machine to the new Class 40 Rule of 2004.
| Vessel Name: | Friends of the Earth |
| Vessel Make/Model: | Owen Clark Design Open 40 |
| Crew: | Jonathan Crinion |
20 October 2006 | Pendennis Marina, Falmouth, UK
Falmouth
Well that's it, Cape Town to Falmouth. This last bit of the voyage from Madeira has seen some of the worst weather ever - non stop. My wind strategy worked well to go up the centre of the English channel and ships criss crossed all night. The weather grib files have been hopelessly wrong for the past [...]
18 October 2006 | 48,5.57N , 9,13.81W
Knock down
The ocean can be brutal. More to the point the weather can be. Yesterday was sunny but with large swells and I had been hitting 17 knots reaching on and off for most of the afternoon. Speeding off faster and faster, the feeling is exhilarating. With a reef in the main and the Genoa up I was under canvassed [...]
17 October 2006 | 45,29.51N , 11,19.44W
Approaching the channel
All along I've used one nautical chart for the Southern Hemisphere and St Helena and another for the Northern Hemisphere plus one for Madeira. I'm making fast progress at the moment and should be on the 10 degree West Longitude line shortly where I will switch to a detailed chart to take me into La [...]
17 October 2006 | 42,44.86N , 13,40.48W
Contemplation
I'm starting to understand why Bernard Moitessier made the turn and headed towards the Pacific. He was wondering what he would arrive back to if he kept going on to the UK. It's so vast out here and so far away from everything. I have a 360 degree view of the universe. I'm completely self sufficient [...]
16 October 2006 | 42,33.68N , 14,3.52W
Storm Warning
Wisdom says go wide of the Bay of Biscay but my weather files are showing a huge area of no wind to the West of me which forms the centre of a large and very vicious looking low heading this way.
Friends of the Earth crosses the Equator
Speed: 9 knots, Course: 323 deg.
UTC Time: 28. July 2006 10:20
We have covered 3165 nautical miles so far and are slightly more than half way to the UK. We have our massive 'Friends of the Earth' Gennaker flying off the bowsprit and a full main.
With not a cloud in the sky and gently rolling waves we could do with more wind but we are happily coasting along at 9 to 10 knots anyway with lots of suntan lotion on. Haven't been in a queue, no traffic lights or congestion charges, in fact we haven't seen another boat since leaving St Helena - just clean air and a vast ocean seemingly filled with flying fish.
Best of all we came all that way with just a bit of wind and sunlight.
I cannot believe the number of flying fish. We cannot go more than 200 m before a school of flying fish take to the air and skim away from the boat. They go for about 30 to 50m and then bounce off the water and keep going en-masse. It's not just random jumping either, you can see that they are quite adept at flying and know how to play with the wind. A wonderful treat to watch.
The moon only comes up for a moment in the evening, so it is still very dark with a spectacular display of stars and planets. A meteor lit up the sky like a flash of lightning that lasted half a minute, as it crashed to earth last night.
There is a sailing expression 'Head in the boat' which basically means it?? s important to stop fussing with all the stuff on the boat and look around at what surrounds you on the water.
When I look at all the stars and planets as we sit on this vast ocean it's easy to feel totally insignificant in the scheme of the universe and at the same time feel wonderfully unique. I can't help but think that 'Head in the city' is part of the problem facing humanity.
Toronto had huge blackouts for a week two years ago. It was wonderful! There was no electricity and in the summer evening you could hear children laughing and playing outside, candle light suppers and barbeques all around, people went to bed early, and every corner had neighbours chatting.
The hum of air conditioners was gone and traffic moved better than it ever has. People were courteous and shared what they had and I hear there is talk of a staged re-enactment because people enjoyed the moment and talk fondly of when they had their 'Head out of the city' and momentarily they could see the stars again.
All the best,
Jonathan.
