Post Crossing waffle
Stargazer of Southampton
Susie and Adam (both think they are skipper)
Sun 16 Jan 2011 01:10
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15:01.11, 14:04.61N 60:57.58W
Looking back at my updates from past couple of
weeks all I go on about is waves - but there is nothing but waves out there
really so I think that must be excusable. Overall I think we had a good
crossing, we thought we could do it otherwise we would never have set off.
We were worried about not having enough wind - if there isn't enough wind then
it causes real problems as the swell and waves are still there so everything
bashes and shakes but you get nowhere . . . and the boat gets shaken
to bits (that happened to a few boats that left before us - don't think they
were in bits but they didn't have fun), we went south for wind! - and found it -
most of the crossing we had average 20 knots, often up to 25 and on the last day
(glad it was only the last day) 30 knots for 12 hours which did build up the sea
a bit, but we had already had 2 weeks of getting used to waves and getting used
to getting sails away quickly.
The last 700 miles or so we also had the fun
of the squalls - but you do see them coming in the day and can see them
on radar at night so we just got rid of the headsail and went downwind on
the main which was fine, only once the autopilot couldn't cope with the
waves and so I steered. But - if you can avoid them - then you do as you
get completely soaked if they catch you, never seen so much rain
before.
Here's some pics of 2 of the squalls
that were unmasked a few miles away as dawn arrived - glad
that we had missed these bad uns' as they look pretty mean - you don't want to
tangle with these.
  We got our sleeping shifts sorted out and tested on
the way to the verde islands and over the past few months have got more relaxed
and happier to go to sleep knowing that we can each handle the boat. . . and if
things get too hairy then we'll shout. When we first crossed Biscay we
were both too worried about the other one to sleep properly wondering if they
are ok etc. - by the time we were reaching the end of our atlantic crossing if
it was not nice sailing (i.e. last night with 30 knot winds and large-ish waves)
then we didn't worry - but when we changed watch it was a case of 'you
have it, I'm going to bed!'
I think the most difficult thing about crossing was
the knowledge that you are so far from land and that once you leave the African
coast, then there isn't really any turning back, the seas downwind were fine -
but wouldn't like to have to bash through them upwind. Both of us
purposefully didn't think about how far away land was. . just how far we
had gone, ticking off the miles. It was great when we had other boats in
contact and it was nice that the first 3 days we had John and Alex on
Freespirit, usually in sight, but once we lost them we would usually go for 3 or
4 days without seeing any other boats. E-mails from family were also
always gratefully received and a nice surprise as home seems a long way
away.
We had a few things break - but nothing major, we
were lucky we didn't lose the whole mainsail after the webbing at the top went,
we took it off the other day in St Lucia and found that a number of the little
sliders holding it to the mast had cracked - glad we had fixed it in time to
take the strain off them. I was amazed the main didn't rip as we were
using an ancient one that we will throw away now we are here - I was watching a
patch in it get thinner and thinner every day and hoping it would last til we
got here, But - if it had gone then we could have just sailed on the genoa
or changed to our new main, it would have just been more effort.
It's not all squalls and drama - Adam
below eating '50 degree crossing celebration cake' in the sunshine - which
we had for most of the time, and we had magical warm nights of racing along
under a bright blanket of stars listening to great tunes on the iPod and
watching the phosphorescence light up the waves.
 The time actually went pretty quick - now we're
here it doesn't feel like we were out there sailing for 2 weeks, although it is
nice to have some food which contains fresh veg without having to worry about
how we store it and how long it will keep.
Arriving was good but we did have a last minute
concern - we saw the Verde Islands from 70 miles away, we got to 15 miles from
St Lucia before we could actually see it - I was starting to wonder if the
charts were right. At that time though a large group of Dolphins arrived
jumping out of the waves which is a good sign - we usually see dolphins when we
are not too far from land.
Also noticed that the birds changed from little
petrels and gannets in the east and mid atlantic to huge frigate birds and
tropical looking things as we got nearer to the caribbean. We ended up
having to give sea burials to dead flying fish pretty much every day. . .
when we came to anchor in St Lucia I opened the anchor locker and found 4 - not
sure how they got in there but at least they were fresh rather than 2 week old
dead fish.
Rodney Bay in St Lucia is about the easiest place
to come into - huge bay, anchor anywere virtually, which is pretty much why we
picked it. We spent the first couple of nights anchored out in the bay .
. here was our view. . .lots of boats!
 Then picked our moment to dash into the busy marina
when we had sussed out a space, we haven't had much time to relax or see the
island yet - first priority was to sleep and do nothing when we arrived, then
today we have made a cover for the boat to keep the sun off - it's too hot
here to have no shade. Here's a photo of some woman modelling our new
'boom tent' and hatch mossie nets which we made to get our boat sorted out for
tropical climates (we're getting into this sewing thing now)
 Rodney Bay lagoon which the marina is in is OK -
it's quite big but you can take the dinghy to the shops etc which is pretty
handy - evening view across the lagoon from our berth below, amazingly
there are no tenders on this pic - usually there are tenders zooming back and
forth all day to the bars, shops etc. The people we have met are all
really friendly and it seems quite a nice place, the only strange thing is that
we don't know any boats here yet - we got to know lots of boats in Fuertaventura
who all went to Gran Canaria then the Verde Islands in a bit of a pack
- it's strange to be somewhere new and not recognise any boats, but that
will change - enjoy the peace!
 We now have some sprucing up to do on the boat
after her epic voyage which will take us a few more days . . then
we'll set off to discover the rest of St Lucia and the Windward Islands. .
.. .not yet sure of the order but deciding that is half the
fun. |