Sailing News

All the latest news from the world of sailing and stories from experienced sailors.

We haven’t had a blog back from the crew today, but I do have the Skipper’s Log from Sue for the past 2 days for you. It sounds like the wind picked up nicely after the Doldrums and the crew are sailing again.     Tuesday 14th Jan, 2020 Time : 1522 GMT (1220 Boat Read more

Final preparation for Challenger 2 before sailing across the Atlantic – Man Over Board and emergency drills

The Crew of Challenger 2 – go swimming Training Challenger 2 slipped lines shortly after 1100 yesterday for a training sail to complete MOB & emergency steering drills in slightly more clement conditions than they had back in the UK last month. They then picked up a mooring buoy in Falmouth Harbour for some more Read more

Challenger 2 has reached the finish line in the ARC Rally 2019

Back on dry land You will no doubt be glad to hear our intrepid crew have safely made port in St Lucia after an epic trip across the Atlantic. Here at First Class Sailing it has been my honour to post the blog daily and most of the time I have merely posted the thoughts, Read more

ARC 2019 – Day 17 – Nearing the end of an amazing adventure

Only a day away With the crew of Challenger 2 around a day from the finish line today their thoughts are turning to being back on dry land, seeing loved ones and of course sampling some of the local rum! We wish them good luck for the final few miles of an epic trip and Read more

ARC Rally 2019 – St Lucia here we come!

Tuesday 10 December Becs and I are back on MF watch today, having taken over from the chuckle brothers Jim and Jason.  Personally I don’t get why they have a problem with getting up at 5.30 having been sailing half the night to cook a bunch of smelly crewmates breakfast Land ahoy! Sat here about Read more

ARC 2019 – DAY 16 – More stories from the Motherwatch

What a shower! Avid readers may be interested in the process of showering on the good ship Challenger 2 .  Our water production capacity allows for a shower every other day provided we all use minimum water. As we are very warm below deck and subject to random dowsing with sea water whilst on deck Read more

ARC 2019 – DAY 15 – Challenger 2 then surfs down into the wild foam and spray

Jim’s Blog – 2243 Nautical miles covered, computer says 740 Nm to go There’s been a perceptible change in the mood aboard Challenger 2 today, at least from my perspective and I think it’s shared by others. It seemed that after the half-way party (of which more later) which was excellent and a great release, the Read more

ARC 2019 – DAY 14 – What winds me up – penguins!

Ode to my Mum from Mothers Watch It was just past midnight when I glanced at our logbook before tucking into my bunk and noted that we had sailed 2,080 nautical miles with only 892 miles till the finish in St Lucia. I left word with the crew on watch to be woken promptly at Read more

ARC 2019 – Day 5 – Dorado fishing quotas not yet breached

Thursday 28th November – Day 5 – Hook, line and sinker Just coming off the night watch and reflecting on the journey so far and the last 24 hours.  It has been great to get to know the rest of the crew and share stories about our lives and to get a sense of why we Read more

Wednesday 27th, Day 4, Challenger 2 in quiet waters

  We’ve just received word back from our boat Challenger 2 currently crossing the Atlantic in the ARC Rally 2019 and you can read all about the progress and some of the more information on the day to day running of the boat. Mates Blog After a fast and rolly blast south from the Canary Read more