Sailing News
All the latest news from the world of sailing and stories from experienced sailors.
Thursday 3nd December: Yesterday was quite chaotic on-board the Challenger 3. After a night of fun helming, the poo pipe on the starboard side was conquered. The open water is not the ideal place for the general bathroom facilities to go faulty, especially when no sailor wants to do the job. Dave and I volunteered… Read more
Race Day 10 on the ARC – The 3am Birthday Party and Sailing the Gusts
Wednesday 2nd December 2015: Last night we listened to our first Christmas Carols! DJ Dave’s jolly and never ending selection of Christmas tunes blasted out from the snake pit’s (area where many ropes are controlled from situated in the middle of the deck) speakers. Everyone sang along to the Poges and Ave Maria. Glad he… Read more
Day 9 on the ARC – No need for an alarm clock. Or shoes. And are the crew down to one loo?
Tuesday 1st December Race Day 9 A word from the ARC Crew After more than a week into our journey it is hard to imagine seeing anything other than the ocean, the sky and our 70 foot home. Even a container ship on the horizon a few days ago looked odd! It is also difficult… Read more
Day 8 on the ARC Halfway Across the Atlantic
News about the halfway party, the sky and night and messages from the crew to their loved ones. Monday 30 Nov Race Day 8 We’ve made it half way! We have been at sea for 8 days now and our lives have become an endless series of watches followed by a maximum of three hours’… Read more
Day 7 on the ARC – Flying Fish, Sunsets and Chocolate Brownies
Race Day 7: It was another hard day at the office. Calm seas and sunshine were the order of the day. Sun cream all around. Really tough. Good progress being made on “our strategy” just hope the wind knows! Crew morale is high and Challenger 1 is very much in everyone’s sights, focus, focus, focus……… Read more
Day 6 on the ARC – will the cunning plan pay off?
Saturday 28 Nov Race Day 6 A word from the crew Day 6 here on Challenger 3 has been quite eventful. The morning started with Lucia finding and disposing of a few flying fish that had decided to make the deck their new home. Once we had a fish free area it was time to… Read more
Day 5 on the ARC – Whales?, moonlit bakeoffs and a smooth gybe
Friday 27 Nov Race Day 5 A word from the crew Day 5 here on Challenger 3 and time is starting to get a little warped on board! Ricky and Dave (Skipper and Mate) remain on UT (GMT), whilst the rest of the crew had a 26 hour day yesterday which involved two seven hour… Read more
Day 4 on the ARC – fireballs in the sky, settling in to the watch system, and a moonbow
ARC update from Challenger 4. Less than 2000 miles to go! Thursday 26 Nov Race Day 4 A word form the crew So, we are 4 days in to our Atlantic crossing. In typical offshore sailing style our few days at sea have merged in to a series of four and six hour watches, waking… Read more
Day 3 on the ARC – spinnaker drop, dolphins and on going sail repairs
The latest update from our ARC crew. 2125 miles to go Wednesday 25 Nov Race Day 3 A word from the crew The first big activity of Tuesday evening was dropping the spinnaker on watch change as the wind increased. Unfortunately this pushed back dinner and a couple of guys suffered rope burns while trying… Read more
Day 1 for the FCS ARC Crew in the Atlantic Ocean
ARC Crew get off to a lively start. 40 knot winds, 1 meter swells above the helm, shooting stars.. Monday 23 Nov 2015 Race Day 1 of the ARC Carnage of sea, big boats and spray at the start of the race. Challenger 1 crossed the line astern and kept pace with us for a… Read more
