Brian and Dee updates

Apologies for the gap in reports the last few days. This is a family-run website and we had a no back-up for illness.

Received at 0752hrs 26/11/09
 
Title: Aviva poised for stealth mode to the finish
 
A quiet night with the wind easing and the spinnaker up. The pressure is on for the right approach to the light airs off the finish line. We crossed gybes with Akena in the dark and have gybed too. We will be playing our stealth hand as I would guess would be the others so keep your fingers crossed we make the right decisions and get there before them.
 
Dee and Brian
 
 


Aviva Wednesday 25th November 2009 at 1238hrs
 
A little later than usual as we had a full on night and only now have the ability to email. We all gybed for the finish line just before dark last night and had a full on night blasting towards the line cutting down the miles rapidly. It was a wild ride too. A maximum wind speed of around 27 knots and a big swell in the seas made life like a roller coaster ride. Once the moon went down we have several hours in darkness where you could not see the waves and every now and again the bow would drop from the horizon down into a huge surf and at speeds in excess of 23 knots. The motion would make your stomach drop and you knew just a twitch of the wheel at the wrong time could spell disaster.
 
Concentration was paramount for Brian and I driving and we took it in turns at 40 minutes each. We were relieved when the sun rose this morning and you could see what was going on with the waves and the boat. Aviva wants to be a little rocket ship and we are trying to let her be, but it is hard work for us. Still we are just about to break the final 500 mile barrier so all is good and we are having second helpings of porridge for morale.
 
Dee and Brian
 
 


Received at 0739hrs 24/11/09
 
Fast sailing has been full on for the last 24 hours. With our group all doing the same there really is no let up and I am beginning to feel exhausted. If we are not gybing on shifts then we are facing squalls at break neck speeds only to be fighting back up to speed afterwards. It is a great feeling to have broken the 1000 mile barrier but I just know this is where this race is just starting. Costa Rica here we come. Also just wanted to say what an awesome race the lead boats have had. Congratulations to them and I hope they enjoy their welcome drink and some rest and relaxation.
 
Dee and Brian


Aviva Monday 23rd November 2009 at 0607hrs    
 
The gentle purr of an engine in the background as I write this is the generator producing juice for my batteries. It has been a while since we heard this sound and some very hard work has been done by the shore team, Brian and myself to get to this stage. It is a great place to be that marks our entry into the Caribbean Sea.
 
A quick detour into Rodney Bay saw us rendezvous with Adam Foster, the General Manager of Rodney Bay Marina and his guys as they delivered our much wanted package with a true welcoming smile. After a thank you and a discussion on how nice a rum and ting would be on the beach at 'Spinnakers', Brian and I turned back out to the west and set sail again.
 
Now we realise there are three of us onboard. We can use the pilot which had all but been forgotten and it makes a much better course than us who at times have been tired and distracted by hunger or thirst. Yippee! is the general consensus onboard and now we have some lost miles to recover.
 
Dee and Brian


Received at 0845hrs 22/11/09
 
Today at around lunchtime, hundreds of participants will set off from Las Palmas, Gran Canarias on the ARC, Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, destined for St Lucia in the Caribbean. For some it will be their first Ocean crossing and for others they will veterans of the event and will enjoy the camaraderie of the other boats and sailors. Eight years ago, that was me, setting off from the Canaries on my first Atlantic Crossing. I was responsible for yacht, crew and guests and I remember that adrenalin buzz, and I still get it. I also never forget how relieved, chuffed and grateful I was for the sight, 30 miles away on the horizon, of a tropical island. Even better still it was the right Island, St Lucia. Now today I will be having the same feeling.
Although it is not our destination, it is our entry into the Caribbean Sea and the final 1000 miles of this race. It is also the place where we hope a little pit stop will give us the power we need to run as normal as possible for the remaining race. Generator issues have left us running on next to nothing to use as little power as possible which has meant less weather information, less position reports, less routing with the chart software and deliberation. It has also been in the back of our minds that we would be struggling with no power as this charge allows us to operate our hydraulic keel and also our water makers. Both of these can be hand pumped but in the heights if the temperatures down below no one would want to wish that on anyone. So eight years on and I am sailing back to the Island of St Lucia.
 
Dee and Brian
 
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