Antigua to Portsmouth Day 1: Introducing the Best Watch

The first of the blogs from the FCS crew on Challenger 4 as they set sail from Antigua to Portsmouth and make one of the epic journeys that sailing is all about.

We’re Going To Barbuda!

The journey begins.. with us running away from the ‘not-so-Jolly Harbour’, nine members of our 16 person crew having been struck down with a mysterious sickness bug, more or less overnight.

Some of the crew who slept on deck that night witnessed a steady stream of their new found friends stumbling across the deck in the semi darkness and hoping their aim over the side was true.

Others were seen waddling down the pontoons in some haste to get to the marina toilets. If you have ever seen the Exorcist…

The skipper made a wise decision for us to head to Barbuda and escape the miasma. We anchored overnight to recuperate and sanitise the boat. A few of our crew members commented on how different Barbuda looked after hurricane Irma. I’m glad to say we had a peaceful night with only one further
casualty.

We started our voyage properly on Tuesday with a brilliant upwind sail with the toe rail in the water. Our first overnight sail brought us a starry
clear night, phosphorescence in the wake and 20 to 30 knot winds.

This did much for crew morale as we settled into the watch system.

Watch It All About?

On a daily basis 3 or 4 crew get a watch off sailing to do the cooking and cleaning for the day. Our watch, the ‘Best Watch’, set the standard today
with popcorn, bread and butter pudding and mango surprise.

We also had a mother watch crew member sort out that stench from the starboard side bilges which turned out to be liquid courgette and aubergine, having only been at sea for two days! We had thought it was tomorrow’s mother watch!

Signing off after 1.5 hours overtime, we’ll be back with our next blog in 4 days’ time.

Myles, Ryan, Chris
Merja selvisi tulematta sairaaksi. Ilma on kuuma ja taivas ja meri ovat tosi suuria. (Merja survived without getting sick. The air is hot and the sky and the sea are great.)

The Best Watch

You can read more blogs from this voyage or other Atlantic Sailing Adventures here

Book Your Own Atlantic Adventure

If this blog has inspired you to have a voyage across one of the world’s oceans then start speaking to the team in the office. They can assess which Atlantic voyage will be good for you and, if you need it, which RYA course would take you to that level.

Fill in the form below and they will call you back.

Posted by: First Class Sailing