Sailing News
All the latest news from the world of sailing and stories from experienced sailors.
After a squall blows through, Skipper Ricky and Mate Kirstie have their work cut out for them trying to keep Challenger 4 going in a straight line as the squalls blow through and try to take her offline. The crew have to pull together and it’s all hands on deck helping out. Tiring work,… Read more
Day: 9 The Race Is Hotting Up
Monday 3 December Today’s main event was the “half-way party” which was the strangest and most wonderful mid-ocean celebration most of us had ever attended. We are celebrating being slightly more than 1,550 nautical miles into this race, with a “short” 1310 Nm left to run. THAT, ladies and gentlemen of the internet,… Read more
Chocolate-Gate and the wobble of motoring
Day 16 Friday 26th January 2018 Nightly Chocoloate restriction lifted Position at noon: 41°11.88 North, 22°36.04 West Morning all Another jolly day on the good ship Challenger 2 still motoring, latest weather is still no wind until the channel, only slight change is that instead of us getting a right spanking it now looks as… Read more
Hooray for Rodney Bay! Challenger 2 Arrives in St Lucia
It has been voyage and a half, the crew will have ARC Rally memories that will last for ever and stories to tell to all and sundry. For skipper Ricky Chalmers he’ll certainly write this one down as a job well done. Here is his final post from the second leg of the Atlantic… Read more
Atlantic Ocean Challenge – 35 day voyage – Antigua to the UK!
Deep Sea Ocean Sailing – For those that fancy just escaping for a whole month! Sail from Antigua to the UK, Jolly Harbour to Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth. This trip is not for the faint hearted but is a great opportunity to get some serious miles and ocean sailing experience in. The distance is… Read more
ARC 2016 – Day 18 – The First of the ‘Lasts’ is the Spinnaker
But which crew will be on the beach first? “We are going through the series of “lasts” at the moment, doing the last night watches and we have just had the “last supper”” Only One Short Cut to St Lucia Wednesday 7 Dec 2016: The last 24 hours have been very interesting, and somewhat… Read more
ARC 2016 – Day 17 – A Bubble of Light Storming Across the Atlantic
Enroute to St Lucia – will Challenger 3 make it across the line first? We must have looked a funny sight, a hive of action in our little bubble of light storming across the Atlantic Ocean in the darkness. Tuesday Morning 6th December 2016: Still flying the spinny, still with Ricky on the helm,… Read more
ARC 2016 – Meet the FCS Crew – Peter Smith
“I missed the ocean life and wanted to be part of a team” – Peter Smith Experienced Solihull Sailor Competing in Transatlantic Race This retired Solihull man is donning his waterproofs once more to contest a high-profile two-week transatlantic yacht race. Peter Smith, 64, former Fujitsu sales and marketing director in Solihull, is preparing… 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 2 on the ARC. Torn Sails, spinnaker hoist, showers for the crew
Update from the FCS ARC crew on Challenger 3 after two days of racing. Tuesday 24 Nov Race Day 2 A word from the crew… Hello world! Spinnaker has just been hoisted and seems to still be in the right place still… Torn Sail Events over the last 24 hours include some drama with a… Read more
