A Race Against the Weather: Day 1 Biscay ’19
1,770 views | October 31st, 2019
The crew of Challenger 2 – Biscay Crossing 2019
And they’re off! Challenger 2 is already in a race against the weather
The crew of Challenger 2 set sail from Portsmouth yesterday making the most of an easterly wind to take them across the Channel to towards the west coast of France. Overnight the winds have been variable, but that seems set to change over the weekend with 2 fronts headed for the Bay of Biscay.
Things are likely to become quite exciting over the next week with strong winds forecast and pitting Challenger 2 in a race against the weather. The aim is to make as much way due South-West as possible and hopefully duck below the incoming storm. If not a short stop-over will be necessary to let it blow by. Once across the bay it looks like it will be all downwind sailing and fair winds to the Canaries.
The crew have yet to update us with their first blog as they are probably still finding their sea legs, but as we should have it by tomorrow. In the meantime, here is the skipper’s log:
Skipper’s Log
Date : 31/10/19
Time : 12:00 UT
Position :49.39.130 N 004.00.1800 W
Position : 80NM North East of Ushant
Destination : Las Palmas
ETA : 14th November 2019
DTF : 1450nm
Fuel : 3 full, 1 in use
Water : 3 full, 1 in use
Gas : 4 full, 1 in use,
Notes and comments :
Good Day, CH2 got away on time and has had variable winds overnight with plenty of rain and a very dark night with heavy cloud and plenty of fishing and commercial traffic. Crew settling into the voyage but with a easterly wind and a rolling sea several have suffered seasickness as expected. Helming has been difficult for several of them in these conditions but over the night this is improving as is the sea state. This morning crews have bounced back and getting into life on board.
More blogs about this Atlantic Adventure can be read here: Portsmouth to Gran Canaria
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Posted by: First Class Sailing
