Gary O’Grady

Finally a win for the last race. The wind was perfect for us all the way round. With just 11 seconds separating first to third it was very tight racing but being on the right side of it is pretty sweet. Now the preparation for sailing home begins as soon as I’ve drunk my body weight in beer.

Bit of a longer race today and yet another 4th.

Absolutely perfect conditions. Wind force 4 and all day sun but only perfect for our light weight competitors. With such heavy boat we need force 5 to really get her moving. We finished in good order but only 4th.

A wet and windy day in Antigua. Wind from 10-30 knots from the east and plenty of showers but we got second today and 4th yesterday so just getting in to the groove.

A fair bit of weed on this trip which was quite apt as we could smell it being a smoked about a mile off! The engine cut out 4 times and needed new filters on each occasion. After having the entire fuel system cleaned in st. Lucia it was extremely annoying. I’ll race in Antigua for the next week before heading back to the UK solo

Log to follow! Still have a hangover.

The ARC departure gets ever closer. This trip was timed to arrive just after the ARC+ fleet departed for Cape Verde. After making over 7 knots consistently after departure we had to slow her down or have to circle aimlessly outside Las Palmas port for some hours. The anchorages were full to bursting and getting in to the marina before ARC+ departure would most likely have resulted in a rotten berth. Luckily the wind reduced quite a bit so we just drifted through the night. The moon was bright giving very good visibility. The TSS between Gran Canaria and Fuertaventura was particularly busy. When passed it a couple of years there wasn’t a vessel to be seen. Once at the port the marina called us straight in and sorted a perfect berth quickly and efficiently. The staff here I’ve found to be very helpful. So Sunday week (24th) at 13:00 we’ll make our way to St. Lucia but being, I think, the slowest vessel of the whole fleet we’ll be last home.

Had a tricky departure from my berth with a crosswind that refused to allow me to turn my boat which meant I had to do a 100 point turn and had to leave the pontoon backwards all the way round the fairway. Thankfully didn’t hit anything. Had a little wind outside the harbour which only gave me a speed of about 3 knots but when it died I was making less that 2 knots so engine on. The bottom clearly needs a clean off but so late in the season I’ll not bother til antifoul time. I can see the start line for tomorrow’s WOA Nab Tower race so that saves a 3 hour trip tomorrow morning. I’m committee boat. Looking forward to a breakfast of bacon sandwiches.

280 miles of a wind speed and direction being the same for the entire trip was unbelievable. It made for some quick sailing but the swell also on the beam made life on board very precarious having to plan and think through every step and movement. I’d like to go back to Madeira at some point and spend some more time there. Shame it seems to be just off the Atlantic circuit. Here’s a great coincidence. I read Ann Davison’s book ‘My Ship is so Small’ on the way to Madeira which recounts her solo Atlantic crossing (in a 25’ boat) which was the first solo ocean crossing by a woman. Such a brave lady which I have such admiration for. Anyway I’ve just started reading Sir Francis Chichesters book ‘Gypsy Moth Circles the World’ in which he states that he also read Ann Davisons book on the way to Madeira!! Also we both spent some time (me and Sir Francis) thinking about how to pass the Madeira group. He went through the middle of Madeira and Porto Santo whereas I went east of Porto Santo and totally unplanned by me picked up some great katabatic blasts from the eastern heights which gave a burst of speed. Sir Francis got light winds between the islands. The true answer however is to pass west of the group if you are not planning to stop there. I was bound for Funchal so couldn’t take this route. So now in Lanzarote where Cara will wait patiently for her first Atlantic crossing.