The crew of Challenger 4 ready to depart on the ARC!

Day One – The Arc Rally of 2018 Begins

In this blog, Marsh and Wendy describe the excitement of crossing the ARC’s start line and the routine of the watch systems aboard. Skipper Ricky sets out his race strategy at the end.

 “Large Spanish navy ship”

A “large Spanish navy ship” was on the Port side of the start line, and a bright orange can marked the Starboard. A cannon on board the ship fired a 20-minute warning, and Ricky decided it was time to hoist the Yankee to get a final feel for the wind. We were short-timers now as we tick-tocked the countdown to our gun. Anticipation was soaring.

When I write “large Spanish navy ship” in quotations it’s because it really isn’t large at all. Certainly, it’s rather teeny, especially if compared to the sort of ship Her Majesty has at her command in Portsmouth, just up from the Gunwharf Quay Tall Ships assembly point where we all first met. If you are looking for a large navy ship, I’d recommend viewing the new aircraft carrier HMS Elizabeth, or even HMS Victory if you like a little history. Great boats those, by all counts.

This Spanish ship not may not even be that large if compared to the sort of Spanish vessel that came to the English coastline as part of their Armada, although it may be hard to prove that visually, as most of THEM are conveniently lying as diving wrecks for world-class English and Welsh scuba experts to practice their skills ahead of the any unfortunate wandering Thai cave crawlers. Nope. It is not large like that. If the Spanish navy hadn’t planned that attack, our divers might not have rescued the Thai team.  But I digress. Back to our sailing…

Boats everywhere, ours near the front, and a happy crew visible on all faces.

This Spanish ship is certainly large enough to loom over us as we shoot down the line on a Starboard tack, luffing just enough to avoid a penalty, then gybing across the line in a classic start. Bang went the starting gun. Poof went the gunpowder cloud. “WAHOO!!!” went the crew. Wahoo again! We’re racing on the ARC. Suddenly, we are as large as we’ve ever been, and that little Spanish warship fades away into the distance behind us.

Challenger Sails across the start line

On board, we have a full complement of really happy people… we shall be divided into two watches for the duration, but two of us are assigned to “mother watch” for a full day of food prep and care. The mother watch is an important job, and Simon and Wendy have taken to it masterfully, giving us tea and some sandwiches that’d have cost you over £7.50 at a fancier place in town. Back on deck though we all were as we crossed the line, raising sails and grinding winches and soaking up the thrill of starting this voyage officially. Cameras and iPhones have recorded all the action from various angles.

Simon and Wendy made fancy sandwiches

We have spotted our most sensible competitor, Challenger 3, off to our Port quarter, and trailing by a margin that allows us to chew slowly and speak happily about winning. Mobile phone reception from Las Palmas still allows us to check Yellow Brick and we see that we aren’t doing too badly for a boat famous for its ability to sail upwind. This race shall be downwind predominantly, and we are indeed a heavy vessel, but if we stay safe, stay focused and keep all our sails flying, we should be in St Lucia before the rum runs out.

Challenger 3 spotted off the Port Quarter

The Watches Begin

The routine of the watch system now begins… Bruce beat Peter in a Rock-Paper-Scissors Best-of-Three that was competitively fought (a world class bit of sporting drama that made me proud to witness) and while Bruce won, Peter was gracious in defeat and has rallied the squad into helming. Our first logs are being recorded (position, weather, distance to travel, that sort of thing) and some are resting below. The rhythm of offshore racing is slowly settling in. Our course of 185 degrees is designed to get us south to the trade winds, our speed should pick up a little bit more. Wendy and Simon shall shortly begin their final mother watch chore of cooking that classic English Feel Good Dish of Spag Bol, but we won’t be feeding until the sun is setting, some hours from now. It’ll be our first sunset at sea.

With a waning moon and a calm sea state, those on deck through the night will not yet see the finest, as a darker sky at the new moon will allow some astronomical gazing of the highest order, but for now, it’ll be a cooler breeze from the searing heat of Las Palmas, and a chance to see a few shooting stars. For now, with so much still ahead of us, we’re just enjoying the great coaching and comradery of today’s accomplishments. What a great way to break in a new set of leather sailing gloves.

Marsh and Wendy

Skipper’s Log

After a frantic 9 days getting Challenger 4 ready for the ARC, we are good to go. Thanks to the hard work of Sue and Nick and their crew for getting the boat down for us to Las Palmas, to Gary, Sam and their crew for helping us out, to John and the Tall Ships support and to Kirstie, Bruce, Barry, Peter and my fantastic crew – we are 100% ready for the ARC and have completed all the ARC and Tall Ships inspections and safety checklists.

We have a brilliant crew who have put in long hours and are now rearing to go. The weather looks very light at the moment (0.0 True Wind showing on the B&G instruments but the forecast for the crossing itself is fantastic. I am expecting a fast crossing with strong and favourable winds. The strategy is to head at least 3 degrees (180Nm) South as fast as possible before making any West. The trade winds are predicted to last at least a week under a band of High Pressure extending from Spain to Florida. We need to stay under that High-Pressure Ridge.

Ricky sails CH 4 due South to find some stronger winds

Customs clearance at 0830, Slipp at 1000, Start at 1245. I don’t expect to do many miles today in the light winds, but they should start filling by midnight.

Thanks again for all the help and support everyone. Sorry if I have been a bit anxious and grumpy of late. Stay safe Challenger 3 – have fun and hopefully we can have some close racing…

More blogs about this ARC Rally and other Atlantic Adventures can be read here: Atlantic Adventures

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Posted by: First Class Sailing