Everyone Has Time For Dolphins, Especially Challenger 2’s Crew

Skipper Ricky reports on the slow journey to Cape Verde

The FCS crew on Challenger 2 were racing to St Lucia in the ARC Rally. Things were going well until a problem with the rigging meant a repair was needed before carrying on. They are now out of the race and under diesel power to Cape Verde. Spirits are high as you will read in Skipper Ricky’s report…

Time on Our Hands – Lots of It!

All good on board.. Mild bit of excitement as I upped the revs by 100 to 1900 to counteract an increasing headwind which was compromising our eta. The hourly log is providing much needed exercise for the crew as they make their way down the companionway steps (backwards) write 200 in the Compass Course column, 193, or sometimes 192 (shock) in the COG column and 193 in the BRG column. At least the RNG column is reducing by a steady 7 miles each hour.

Cloud cover is quite variable and has gone from 1/8 to 2/8 from time to time. Never 0/8 even though at times there is no sign of cloud, I guess that is a British thing, a disbelief that it can be that cloudless to be zero.

The good news is that the wind forecast for early next week looks great for a good start of our sail across to St Lucia. 15 knots of broad reach, turning into an 18 knot run by midweek. And it all looks like it should be pretty stable winds across the pond. Maybe it isn’t a bad route after all, motor down to the Cape Verdes and then pick up the stable trade winds across to the Caribbean.

The wire breakage is stable and hasn’t changed since it was first noticed. We may inventory the food again today, or arrange it in colour sequence or alphabetically – I haven’t decided.
The mystery of the missing long life sliced bread continues – and although perhaps still alive it will probably have started sprouting other life forms by the time it is found, Sharpened the 2B pencil and Gary sharpened the China graph – can’t have the skipper doing all the maintenance and having all the fun.

If Only We Could Fish Like Dolphins

There isn’t much to report about the day which is the same as the day before. Yesterday the tedium of deafening Perkins and rolly boat was broken by a fine display or particularly playful, leaping dolphins. Then they got bored with us as we failed to respond with leaps or jumps of our own as we just lumbered on, so they gave up the entertainment and went to catch fish.

We have been trying to catch fish of our own, but are failing dismally. The race to catch the first fish was won by Challenger 1, so we are desperate to catch the most fish out of the two boats during the crossing, but currently our score remains a big fat zero. It is not for a lack of trying as the two fishing guru’s are trying all the lures in their arsenals.

Unfortunately confidence waned when they disclosed that they were all fresh water lures, and the only fish they have caught recently were in rivers. Well I guess the Atlantic is like a big river but the ocean fish seem unimpressed by the fly lures and the casting technique – may work for Trout but not for Tuna…

I am getting mast climbing withdrawal symptoms. Even a spinny pole climb would help, but can’t be done until the riggers have made the playground safe again.

Ricky (Skipper, Challenger 2)

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Posted by: First Class Sailing