Seeing the ice in clear skies was a hell of a reward for the heavy weather yesterday. Thus far we’ve stopped to admire two big bergs from close range, bringing in ICEBEAR under power (the wind, after all that fuss, shut down completely around 1200 noon as we rounded Cape Race) to within a hundred yards or so. I put the drone up to get a bird’s eye view, and the crew stopped to admire the beauty of nature’s most striking sculpture. Both bergs we stopped for had at some point in their decay rolled, for the tops of them were pure white and smooth as marble, highlighted in spots by deep turquoise cracks where they’d broken apart and re-frozen during their lifespan.
This has been all over my Facebook page the past couple of days, thanks to Kevin King, who crewed with us and took the footage. When the whale first approached, we were in awe, and just enjoyed his company. Kevin wanted to film right away, but I kind of discouraged him - if you're always behind the camera, you can't appreciate what's right in front of you. But the whale kept coming back! I was afraid jamming the camera down in the water might scare him off (he thinking it might be a harpoon!), but eventually we gave it a go. I think it was worth it!
This was written yesterday, posted today (Monday). Photos below.
We arrived into St. Croix yesterday afternoon after what I think was probably the easiest passage I’ve ever done. We sailed on starboard tack the whole way, broad reaching in anywhere from 8-25 knots, and only motoring for one hour, through a pretty calm spot when the sails were banging around and we had to roll up the jib.
I will have WAY more to say about this in due time, but wanted to post it immediately. Thanks to Dave for sharing - you know who you are. Might we have finally reached a tipping point when it comes to taking offshore sailing seriously, instead of a ride to warmer weather?
I just had an interesting email exchange with a friend whose in the (years-long) process of outfitting his boat for extended ocean cruising. The boat is similar to Arcturus, and we have similar ideas about things, and somehow got in touch a few years back. Anyway, we've had several of these types of exchanges. I won't say who it is out of respect for his privacy, but I want to publish my response to his latest email about rigging, sails and engines. I'll preface each section with what I'm about to discuss, but won't include anything specific that he's emailed me. What's your take?
Mia and I are back in St. Lucia for the 5th straight year, working the finish of the ARC Rally. I'll be posting regular updates from here, but this one is pretty big news. What follows is the official press release from WCC HQ in Cowes. And don't miss my dad's Sojourner in the background - he was on the finish line this morning when they crossed! Photos by Kieran Higgs & Tim Wright.
Late last night, the Hylas 54 ‘Wings’ crossed the finish line of the 2013 Caribbean 1500, and for the second straight year took Line Honors. After a passage of a little over 7 days – and that ran the gamut with weather conditions – ‘Wings’ is happy to be in the islands.
Photo shows 'yellowshirt' staff Mia, Andy & Claudia. Mustache November is in full swing!
This is another guest post from Mike Hixenbaugh, a reporter at the Virginian-Pilot Newspaper in Portsmouth, VA. The article discusses the distress calls from Thursday night during the Salty Dawg Rally, and I'm quoted in here a couple of times. To see the original article, click here. I will personally have much more to say on this topic in due time...
Who needs all that equipment anyway!? Never fired a flare before? Never been in a liferaft, at sea or otherwise? Watch this video from the 2013 Caribbean 1500 rally to get an idea just WHY you need all that expensive stuff, and how it can save your life. One reason why the 1500 is the SAFEST way to go offshore. Video filmed and produced by our friends Ben & Teresa Carey.
This article is taken from the Virginia Pilot Newspaper's online edition Sunday, November 3. Read the original article here.
"The Hayes family had hoped to check out Olde Towne during their week at the Ocean Marine Yacht Center, but the Canadians had too much work to do getting their sailboat ready for an ocean voyage.
They were among about 30 participants in town the past week for the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers Caribbean 1500, a 1,500-mile journey that began Saturday in Portsmouth and will end at Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. The 24-year-old rally departed from Hampton last year; this is its first year in Portsmouth."
For the second time in as many years, the Caribbean 1500 fleet is bound for Tortola day ahead of schedule. Around noon local time today in Portsmouth, Virginia, skipper’s and their crews finished stowing last minute gear, rigged their jacklines and took off from the dock at Ocean Marine Yacht Center for a scheduled 1500 start time off Hampton Flats just north of Norfolk.
Since the World Cruising Club took over management of the Caribbean 1500, one of the main goals was to get more involved in the local communities that the rally calls home, both here in the USA and in the Caribbean. 2013 marks the first time the event is being held in Portsmouth, Virginia on the USA end, and thus far it’s been both challenging and very rewarding working with the City and the people and businesses that call it home.
This is a fantastic feature from our friends Eric and Pat Fulmer from s/v Cutter Loose, participants in the 2012 edition of the Caribbean 1500 last year. We just received this email this morning from Eric, offering to share their experiences in the 1500 and cruising down-island last winter. This is the story of their 195-day cruise. See their full blog - and lots more photos - at cutterloose.com.
Greetings! The news release below if of particular interest to me because one of the new owners of the Annapolis Boat Show is Mary Ewenson, my publisher at SpinSheet. I also worked with Mary a bit last year on the DelMarVa rally (and participated with my dad on Sojourner). Mary is awesome, and this should be a great opportunity. Interesting news if you're an Annapolitan too.
My mom would have loved the dream I had last night - but then again, maybe it wasn't a dream...? And who's to say it was or wasn't? It's the first time I've thought or talked about my mom in a while, and it actually made me feel really good. This story has some sailing in it, but it's a personal one too. Hope you like it.
I think it more or less appropriately describes our situation on Arcturus over the past week. This is the first time we’ve cruised the Stockholm archipelago (I don’t really count the time we brought the boat over from the west coast last year – that was more a delivery trip than anything, and we never saw the archipelago proper, rather sailed right on through it).
