{"id":3627,"date":"2018-11-05T09:50:47","date_gmt":"2018-11-05T09:50:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/?p=3627"},"modified":"2018-11-06T13:41:45","modified_gmt":"2018-11-06T13:41:45","slug":"portsmouth-to-gran-canaria-another-adventure-begins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/portsmouth-to-gran-canaria-another-adventure-begins\/","title":{"rendered":"Portsmouth To Gran Canaria – Another Adventure Begins"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Challenger<\/div>\n

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On Wednesday 31st October another of our sailing adventures set sail with the FCS crew on Challenger 4 (just behind Challenger 3 above) departing Gunwharf Quay in Portsmouth for Gran Canaria: ahead of them the Bay of Biscay.<\/p>\n

Below is their first blog and summary of the voyage so far…<\/p>\n

Wednesday – The Big Adventure Begins<\/h2>\n
\"Porstmouth<\/div>\n

Trip started off in a bit of a blur. Slipped at 2pm from Gunwharf Quay and over to Cowes for a fuel top up. Stayed the night in Cowes and took advantage of the marina facilities for that final shower and other ablutions and Sainsbury\u2019s for those last treats \u2013 sherbet lemons yum.<\/p>\n

Some very pretty close quarter manoeuvering from our skipper to get us off at Portsmouth and alongside in Cowes. Various briefings along the way. This boat is huge – as is all the kit on it – sheets an inch in diameter and winches a foot in diameter and everything else in proportion!<\/p>\n

Thursday – Sea Legs Required<\/h2>\n

Left Cowes 6am passed through Needles channel. Wind building so all sail up. Mainsail is new so reefing lines had to be rove as it went up. All sails very large !<\/p>\n

Enthusiasm for trip badly dented by severe outbreak of seasickness on board \u2013 including yours truly and despite deployment of stuges and hyoscine patches.<\/p>\n

These drugs are useless in my view. The first 3 watches have therefore been something of a blur, and the cuisine so far untasted.<\/p>\n

Friday – The Healing Power of Stars and Dolphins<\/h2>\n
\"Friday<\/div>\n

Insufficient wind so engine on. A lovely morning as we passed Ushant and turned left \u2013 hooray the first milestone reached \u2013 we are now in Biscay and right on cue a pod of dolphins racing in front of the boat.<\/p>\n

Bloggos first meal taken \u2013 and it stayed down! Woo-Hoo An excellent one too \u2013 cooked to perfection and on the time dot by Sven and Lydia \u2013 our team for today.<\/p>\n

Early evening watch and though it\u2019s dark more dolphins churning up a bit of phosphorescence as they leap out of the sea.<\/p>\n

A clear night and wonderful stars. The Milky Way \u2013 something alien to bloggo\u2019s experience as he lives in light polluted London \u2013 overhead and just awe inspiring. The Plough to our starboard quarter and Old Orion on his side to our left \u2013 easing himself out of bed and I think that\u2019s Mars ahead \u2013 perfect to line a shroud onto from the steering position to keep us on track.<\/p>\n

Wind is building so up goes the staysail \u2013 hopefully later we can dispense with the engine.<\/p>\n

Matthew<\/p>\n

Ship: Challenger 4 XF181031<\/p>\n

\"Rough<\/div>\n

 
\nMore blogs about this Atlantic Adventure can be read here: Portsmouth to Gran Canaria<\/a><\/strong>
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