Oldies On Tour

Position @1200 UTC

32⁰ 11.32 N 64⁰ 42.91 W

Distance travelled last 24 hours:- 115 Nautical Miles

Had another very quiet night weather wise, little to no wind so engined all night. None of us went to bed as we were to excited to arrive in Bermuda, especially as we had been seeing the island since daysbreak.

To day is also the morning they are airlifting the crew member off “Whinbrel 11”, the boat is now within Helicopter range from Bermuda. It is amazing how much trouble they authorities have gone to. Bermuda does not have a helicopter so the USA Coast guard had to send one from Florida! but the distance being so great it had to fly to anUSA aircraft carrier to fuel up half way accross. This helicpoter was also shadowed all the way by a fixed wing to ensure it arrived OK. Once “Whindrel 11” was in range the chopter went out. The whole process has to be repeated in reverse to get everything back into place! I hate to think what the bill will be, ouch!

We had to check in with Bermuda radio 5 miles out then again when we got to the safe water mark. My My there are lots of rocks an reefs around but the channels rae well marked.

We crossed the line at 1130 hrs local time on engine, even though the wind had now got up and was trying to blow us back out to sea as we made our way through , what is known locally, as town cut. This is a channel cut troughinto abeautiful lagoon. Bermuda law says there is only one first port of call and that is Customs and Immigration: Once cleared in we were going to anchor but with around, 20 knots of wind whistling straight down the Lagoon, we went and moored alongside the wharf where the cruise liners and freighters moor up; much more comfortable! though a huge wall to scale when the tide is out!

Walked into St Georges to book into the office and pay our dues.

What a pretty place this is, very quaint, very british and colonial will take a lot of pictures.Lat afternoon we went to Rally control for a drink then Andrew and I were in need of fresh meat so went off looking for a Steak, which we duly found and enjoyed! A stroll back down town and into bed for the fist comfortable night for a wek.

Position @1200 UTC

30 ? 39.50 N 65? 32.09 W

Distance travelled last 24 hours:- 131 Nautical Miles

Wella very quiet night, we all managed several hours un-interupted sleep and
flt better this morning. So, aftwer minimal rations over the4 past 48
hours, Andrew put things right with a fried breakfast including Fried Bread.
Very nice after what we have been through.

The rest of the morning has been taken up trying to find the wind, yes I
said find the wind and what was thre again was coming from the north,North
East.We ere expecting it to vere but it didn;’t so tacking is still the way
forward,well side to side!

Under the extreme weather conditions earlier in the week,Chris found his
hatch leaked so had a wet bed. So out came (a job for when we arrive in
Bermuda) came his duvet, sheets and matress and they are strewn acrossthe
boomm and rear coach ro0of in the sun drying. I had the floor plates up and
pumped out the bilges, even the small front one that collects from the chain
locker had more in there than I have seen for a long while. Anyway we are
ready for anything else again.

We decided that BBC would be in order today but instead of just Bond, Beer
and Crisps, we had Bond, Beer and Canape (picture attached) The Bond film
oday was “From Russia With Love” Whilst we were watchimng this, being no
wind, we were just bobbing around when suddenly Andrew called usup to see a
whols school of Dolphins. They were of all shapes and sizes with small baby
ones tryinhg to do somersaults! Very entertaining. Oh yes,the sea is like
a mill pond.

A couple of words from Chris:

Well today took the biscuit!!
It puts a whole different perspective on ‘racing’.
We keep hearing (On our SSB radio) from all the others discussing tactics
for the shortest/fastest route into Bermuda and what do we do?
We ‘hove to’ – basically stopped the boat in mid Atlantic, took down the
sails and had another Bond film – this time ‘From Russia with Love’ We even
had to PAUSE THE FILM!! because of a commotion outside caused by a family of
dolphins. Still, a very pleasurable interuption it was……..

After BBC on went the engine and off we toddled, calm sea and no wind.

Afternoon turned into night and regular watches as per the pattern and a
straight,un-eventful night was has by all and tomoprrow we arrive in
Bermuda..

So don’t expect any records to be broken or cups won etc!
We felt we deserved a break since we had a couple of days -and one very
memorable night!! bouncing around with the wind etc being a bit naughty.
I had to ‘swim’ out of my bunk but hopefully it will have dried out by
tonight.
Andrew’s breakfast was magnificant – and for ‘pudding’ we had fried bread
and marmelade – not something normally associated with breakfast?
IF we don’t stop for any other treats along the way, we should be into St
Georges – Bermuda tomorrow (Thursday) at about midday local time (about
16.00hrs BST).
We can hear Bermuda Radio on our VHF radio so that’s encouraging – it means
it can’t be that far away!!
We are motoring at the moment since we have little wind – but we are
‘promised’ some soon and look forward to the last few miles.
Love to all……….

Position at: 1200 UTC

29⁰ 18.04 N 65⁰ 19.25 W

Distance covered in 24 hrs 124 Nautical Miles

Heading: Too far NW

I can’t say we woke up as we were up all night with only the odd hour and cat nap between us: Still sun is shining but still very very rockey, we will have to wait to see what the day brings forth. No bread making today, I fear!!! More of the same I fera.

The morning was all about managing the situation and deciding where and when to tack as the winds were straight on the noseand getting the odd hou of sleep. No body feltl like breakfast and when it came to lunchI cookeda boit of past with some tomato sauc and that was that.

The afternoon arrived and butby now we were begining to slowly get back into our normal watch routine (otther than the bad weather we were doing now) Andrew also managed to get alongh the deck and resecure the empty fuel drums that had ben dislodged.

BBC is definatly our for today, talked about, but rejected ,perhaps tomorrow.

The afternoon merged into the evening and apart from a couple of changes of tack, nothing to report. Our estimated arrival timne had been Wednesday just before it got dark, but now becauseof the wind changes causing us to tack etc., our new estimated timeof arrival will be sometime during Thursday mornimg.

Into the night watch patterns, whichh means, hopefully, each of us has a 6 hour slot so will be able to catch up with most of their lost Signing off

now, more tomorrow.

27⁰ 35.41 N 65⁰ 01.73 W

Distance covered in 24 hrs 125 Nautical Miles

Heading: Somewhere Northish depending on wind

Had a vey slow and quiet night as can be seen by the 24hour distance; down from the heady heights of 176 to the lower level of 125, Uck!.

This morning the sea was so calm, it was like a mirror and this is the Atlantic, unbelievable, no doubt it will have the last say and sometime during this trip we will have a force 9 down our throats! still it is nice ,albiet slow, whilst it lasts.

This morning was about chores, Andrew topped up the fuel tank, Chris poured over weather forecasts and listened too everybodys interpretation of the forecasts, but still no wind. We do have a series of plans depending on how and where the wind comes, or not!.

Fishing, still no results other than much weed.

Anyway we decided as we wernt going anywhere we had BBC, the first this trip. For any new comers to our website, BBC is simple, we stop and watch a Bond film with a can Beer and a packet of Crips, though on this occasion it was over the lunch period so we added a sandwich!

A couple of observations from Chris:

As noted above, I have now well and truly been indoctrinated into the AC way of doing things!! BBC has started with the very first Bond film (Dr No) which is the one where Ursula Andress pops up out of the sea – a defining moment in my formative years!!!

It looks like we might have a couple of ‘lively’ days from a weather perspective but is our skipper phased??

Oh no, the main consideration is whether to bake a loaf or blueberry muffins tomorrow!!

We have about 240nM to go to Bermuda but the various forecasts are suggesting that the wind will increase and be on the nose – no different here than any other sailing then!!!

Another little expression on AC for tea is MT or TT. The first one is Man’s Tea, and the second (you know the funny smell one) is Tart’sTea. You may be mildly interested to know that we are firmly MTs!!

After listening to the afternoon net and talked to boats father upthan us,we have a prospect of heavy rain and 20knot and gusting winds, so up went the hood, down went the cusions and books etc, hatched battend down and the main furled, so we travel with the engine on as we are waiting for the wind, expecting the worst: still we will know if we were right by morning!

Firstly around 2100hrs we saw the black clouds gathering to the west and even awaterspout, it looked likea vortex of water spirialing up high into the sky, an amazing site.

Well it all let loose around 2200hrs, Chris and Andrew in their bunks, wind shlot up 20 knots plus and the rain poured down, no time to do upmy anorak, soaked to the skin andI needed help as the wind gusted toi 29 knots. Up they came,we spiled some main and reefed it more.adjusted the staysail and eventually brought her into a more stable situation. Unfortunatly as usual we couldn’tmake our heading as the wind was straight on the nose and the, waves were around 3 metes and breaking into our bow, so we were all up all night and very uncomfortable it was.

To add to the problem we came upon a commercial bulk tanker travelling accrfoss our path, west to east. b The first ship we had seen all trip and what a time to find her especially as she was going at her own pace and we didn’tknow she had sen us. For safety sake we had to channge course which under these conditions was not the easiest thing to do. Anyway she slowly passed us and wewent on our bunpy, slow way.

Dawn arrived a little after 0500 hrs, rain stoppede, wind easier butseat state rough as we are still suffering from 3 meter waves.

We are all OK and taking in our stride though Anam Cara haw thrown many things out of the cupboards!

25⁰ 37.02 N 64⁰ 49.42 W

Distance covered in 24 hrs 142 Nautical Miles

Heading: Where ever we can find the wind

Sunday came up like all the others, sunny and hot but no wind, The sea was like a mill pond and we had had to have the enmgine on during the night. What a dissapointment after the excitement of breaking the 24 hour distance record, oh well we will see what has happened to the rest of the fleet when the net controllers get going later.

In the mean time, being Sunday we had a leisurly breakfast and put the world to rights as we contemplated “Where had all the wind gone” , After breakfast I had to go and sort out the head in our en suite as it was not pumping water through. After dissmantling the pump assembly I found the bottom valve to be broken, good said I, easy as I have a spare on the boat. I put it all back together again but still it didn’t work, oh s..t the thought of having to change th discharge pipe was too much to bear so in came Andrew and had a go at un-blockingh it but to no avail. It has come to that time in its life when it is so gunged up, nothing will pass through it and all the white vinigar in the world will not cure it;what chance have I got and besides; I cannot be too surprised as we only replaced the one in the forward head backJanuary.It was sure to go soon after all she is 20nyears old! . So, in Bermuda there’s the first job to complete, though how I have yet to decide.

Anyway, being Sunday we all enjoyed a glass of sherry before a snack lunch and after we were going to watch a film or somethin but the Heads pipe took us well into the afernoon before we finally gave up and accepted we need a new pipe.

We then listened to all the tales of woe around the fleet when the net controller came on. Everybody has been caught out by the lackof wind and most yachts have had to switch their engines on, just like us!

After all this it was dinner time so we dressed (naturally) for dinner of cold chicken and ham salad with new potatoes followed by an ex services ration pouch of Lemon Sponge with lemon sauce, these Army boys know how to live!

Long discussions took place before, during and after dinner about what coiurse we should take. Normally an easy decision but in this case we have been given conflickting forecasts. so we will have to wait and see..

Ran he generator later in the evening,it did a good job I am pleased to say, so batteries charged and had the engine going to ;propel usdue to l;ack of wind, yes, still

Bye for now from all in Anam Cara

23⁰ 14.20 N 64⁰ 35.74 W

Distance covered in 24 hrs 176 Nautical Miles

Heading: Due North(ish!!)

Well we did it, Anam Cara surpassed herself in the last 24 hours, we did 176 Nautical Miles, the old record of 168 has been shattered, well done AC.

A concetrated effort on fishing left us minus another lure, even with wire, they certainly breed the fish with sharp teeth around these parts!

The morning was taken up with Andrew fitting the new battery charger, what with the heat, confined space, grovelling on the floor and general bobbing about of the boat, Andrew had a job on his hands, but never mind he completed the task and we now have a battery charger working at full capacity: Lets hope it continues like that! The generator was on for several hours and the batteries were brough up to full charge in no time. Thank you Andrew.

We next attacked the fridge. As usual it was swimming in water so we ceaned it out an decided that all the chicken I had bought for 2 meals needed cooking. So on our first Saturday we had a chicken Thia green curry and three roasted pieces for a Chicken Salad, maybe tomorrow. A Chocolate sponge cake with custard for puding and all washed down with a nice bottle of chilled white vino. I understand that when I finish the regular log our esteemed navigator and comms man has a few wordshe wishes to say.

Towards the end of the day, the winds started dropping and to keep some momento going into the night we were forced to turn on the engine, a great dissapointment as we had been going so well.

Apart from the jods it was a quiet day, nothing on the horizon to see other than the same boat thatt has kept station with us since day one,

I will now hand you over to Chris who as I said wants to make a few comments,

The days are swiftly passing as we get into our daily routines. One interesting difference on this boat is that the day is ‘driven’ by the menus we can expect with our skipper producing all kinds of cullinary delights.

Each day has its own unique ‘reason’ for a little treat – we even had serviettes last night in the cockpit when we had the chicken.

Today is Sunday so no doubt we will have lots of treats and will of course be dressing for dinner this evening.

Things like daily passage milages and setting up the boat assume secondary importance – the only reason that Andrew spent half the day upside – down fitting the new battery charger was so we could have cool G and T’s prior to dinner!!

Having said that we have equalled and now exceeded the boat’s previous best daily run ever so the good food etc must be doing something.

A little bit of navigation – we are experiencing a strong E to W set in the current of about 1.5knots so we are having to point up to maintain our course to Bermuda. Unfortunately the weather is not playing ball with that since the wind has backed (headed us) and nearly died and we are therefore currently on our way to Florida. (We happen to be on the same latitude as Miami, Florida at this time

All of the weather here is ‘driven’ by a high to the E of us – which has decided to disappear to the E and dissipate. We are not yet far enough N to get any wind benefit from other potential lows that sweep over the Atlantic.

The sea is has a lot of seaweed from the Sargaso Sea – we keep thinking we have a big fish and managed to ‘land’ a 20lb lump of seaweed yesterday!!

The area is known as the ‘Horse Latitudes’ and are known for their lack of wind.

Having seen what the local fish do to wire lures we are not keen to have a swim although the water is very tempting and warm.

Anyway on with the day’s ‘chores’ – cutting up the lemons etc for tonight…………………..

Love and from us all on Anam Cara

P.S. I am glad to see we have our serious sailor (Chris) into the social way of sailing as found on Anam Cara. Skipper.