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.

Clear Waters in the Atlantic

Mates Blog

After a fast and rolly blast south from the Canary Islands the winds have moderated and the sea calmed.  The crew have been enjoying mastering their skills at pole dancing (manoeuvring a large spinnaker pole to fly various sails from).  So far no moon has risen and the evenings have been dominated by a huge, dark sky, clouds blocking even the slightest glimmer of stars, making helming tricky at the best of times in heaving seas.

A flat, calm sea descended throughout yesterday as the wind died down and we again launched our spinnaker for the second time.
As the sun began to plunge into the horizon a delicate peach hue painted itself across the sky, a vibrant flash of pink vied for dominance and attention before succumbing to the inky blackness.

And then it was dark

Alas the stars rose, Venus the brightest planet, rose early with Jupiter hanging out just alongside.  The night so dark that the light from Venus left its own shimmer and light trail across the vast ocean ahead – a guiding light, a landing strip.
Twinkling stars and a flat sea allowed us to fly our spinnaker overnight, carrying us through very light patches and making the most of a dark cloud that gave us a little push in the right direction.

A star gazers dream!  Orion, his belt and his dagger dominated the midnight sky, Sirius and Ursa Major and Minor made an appearance. Then the Pole star rose from the sea.  The seven sisters, a pretty smudge of light far above, could be seen and each of the sisters identified if stared at for long enough!

The stern of the boat chomps through the brine, sparkles of Bio-luminescence leave a long, glittering trail behind us in our wake, a history of where we’ve been, our only trace left across this vast, watery desert.  Larger disturbances explode behind us. Like a strobe light under the surface, one a second, in random places, silent bubble bombs of light, enough to grab your attention, transfixed for a moment but gone before being able to discern the true shape or detail.  To see what made the disturbance, a form, an identity.  A little gift from the sea, a hint of what’s below.

Zigging and Zagging

The inky night continues, a chill in the air, quiet conversations on deck, 6 other yachts zigging and zagging a few miles away.  AIS, bright on screen at the chart table tells us of their speed, heading and where they’ve come from.  Some get close, we can see their navigation lights, occasionally a radio conversation, a shared discussion from one island of safety to another.  Large tankers appear on the screen, dots of lights on the horizon, a plume of light.  They come, glide past at speed and are then gone.  A different world, a variety of destinations.

A splash in the deep, an exhalation, a faint whiff of fishy, salty air.
Loops of bright-white light up the deep, lines like lightning fast torpedoes zoom close and far, a huge splash as the surface of the ocean erupts, glittering water cascades off the backs of playful and hunting dolphins.  Another treasure from the sea, a magical show of elegance and power, a glimpse into an unknown world to which we are visitors.
They stay with us, tease us, show off and then they are gone.

Challenger 2 spinnaker flies

The boat continues to cut its way forward.  The helm concentrates.  Others sleep in their bunks below.

Dawn approaches.  Later and later each day as we move Westwards.  Soon we will adjust our clocks.
A dark night gives way to a grey dawn, a pastel blue.

We need to gybe.  Ricky and I prep for the manoeuvre before Ricky takes the helm and the crew get stuck in to hoisting a new pole, rigging the lines and hauling in the mainsail. Pole risen, aft guy made, we then drop the old pole, de-rig and after a hive of activity the new preventer is set, the main eased out on the new side and we are making way steadily once again. A successful gybe of the spinnaker and the first of the voyage.

The sky is now a vibrant blue, the sun is beating down and sunhats, cream and shades are the order of the day.

…maybe today we will see a whale, the conditions are perfect after all!

Kirstie – 1^st Mate

Raising the spinnaker

Mother Watch Blog

First, an explanation of what “Mother Watch” is. In order to allow the Challenger 2 to sail 24×7, whilst her crew is well fed and the boat is maintained, two dedicated members from the crew are pulled off sailing duties each day to “mother” the boat and her crew.  Just as with the sailing (a gentlemen’s wager was agreed upon in the dark of night, to reward the crew member helming  the  highest speed over ground, so long as it is in the correct direction, with a bottle of wine in St Lucia) each day’s Mother Watch attempts to create the best gourmet experience within the limitations of our limited supplies at sea, and maintain a level of cleanliness that your mother would have approved of.

The watermaker

Speaking of clean, some of the true pleasure on a sailboat at sea, are clean clothes and a fresh water shower.  Thankfully, Challenger 2 has a functioning watermaker and our crew began to avail themselves of this true luxury yesterday.  Even though the Challenger 2 is crawling along at a snails pace, due to the pitiful showing of wind, her crew is jubilant and much less pungent thanks to said watermaker. As Karl Malden used to say “NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT ONE!!!!”

A big shout to those back home that don’t need to concern themselves with such trivial pleasures.

Today’s culinary delight

Gary

Skippers Log

Running for the last 24 hours under spinnaker, with some tricky light wind spinnaker helming  through the night. Helming skills are coming on well and we are making best use of some light winds with the benefit of very flat seas. The sky is full of very bright starts which is giving some visual reference compared to the cloudy and dark skies of last night.

We closed the path of Challenger 1 this yesterday lunch and had her visible for a long while, but finally lost AIS contact with her at about 1900. Hopefully we will cross paths again when we gybe to the South some time this morning. Update –  a dawn gybe went well and we are now on the Southern gybe.

Ricky Chalmers

Skipper Ricky

A dark, starry night under spinnaker.  Dolphins came for a visit, leaving sparkly swirls and torpedo trails.  Our wake left explosions of bio-luminescent bubbles – everyone on-board feeling very inspired.

Kirstie Chalmers-Rowe

And Finally…..

Also, a big shout out from Paul to the Cooper’s, Webb’s and the Glos massive.  Becks and I have been looking after the crew all day today – cooks and bottle washers.  I seem to have found my niche, I am for sure a better cook than helm (though improving and loving steering by the stars which are incredible, particularly with no moon at present light!).

Gary, Paul, Becks

Book Your Own Atlantic Adventure

You may have missed being on the Challenger 2 competing in the ARC Rally 2019 this year but if you fancy coming along next year or one of our other offshore sailing trips have a look here voyage across one of the world’s oceans and start speaking to the team in the office. They can assess which Atlantic voyage will be good for you and, if you need it, what course would take you to that level.

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Posted by: First Class Sailing