{"id":3805,"date":"2018-11-27T15:36:39","date_gmt":"2018-11-27T15:36:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/?p=3805"},"modified":"2018-11-27T17:06:24","modified_gmt":"2018-11-27T17:06:24","slug":"day-3-i-see-an-orange-moon-a-rising","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.firstclasssailing.com\/blog\/day-3-i-see-an-orange-moon-a-rising\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 3: I See An Orange Moon A-Rising…"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The orange colour is due to the scattering of light by the atmosphere when the moon is near the horizon<\/p><\/div>\n

In today’s blog, the crew of Challenger 4 are greeted to an Orange Moon rising over the nighttime horizon, and Mate Kirstie discovers salt water in the bilges. Where is it coming from?<\/p>\n

Mate Kirstie’s Blog<\/h1>\n

We are now at the end of our second full day at sea.\u00a0 After the busy chaos of Ocean prep at the marina it is great to have thrown off the bow lines and headed out into the big blue.\u00a0 Heading south to escape slack winds and make for the consistency of the trade winds the temperature has steadily been rising.\u00a0 Shorts and a light jacket see us through night watches and a manageable temperature is enjoyed through the daylight hours.<\/p>\n

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Orange Moon Rising<\/h2>\n

Everyone is getting into the rhythm of ocean sailing and relaxing into their own routines and rituals.\u00a0 We have been blessed with mainly clear skies, a special treat during night watches where stars busily twinkle overhead in the dusting that is the Milky Way.\u00a0 This evening the huge supermoon rose at 2200, casting its orange, blood moon glow over the stars and hiding all but the brightest.\u00a0 The moon will continue to wane until we are left with deeply dark skies for the majority of the crossing.\u00a0 Those that stay onboard to Antigua will experience the supermoon of the year, it being closer to the earth than normal and appearing to be 30% larger.\u00a0 There is also the promise of a meteor shower with 80-100 shooting stars per hour!<\/p>\n

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“It’s Great Being The Mate!”<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s always a surprise when you are about to go off watch at midnight to find a puddle of water on the floor and a steady flow seeping out from the generator hatch!
\nBraced, Ricky and Kirstie opened said hatch to investigate and were promptly very wet!
\nGenny off, water taste tested (it’s great being the mate!), the leak was soon found to be the saltwater inlet pipe.\u00a0 A few tool boxes later the problem was solved and the process of pumping out the new jacuzzi in the bilges began.\u00a0 Some vegetables had a little wash, but all in all, we are happy to regain a mostly dry boat!!<\/p>\n

It\u2019s all fun and games at sea!
\nThe temperature has really heated up today and we are doing a great course in good winds under poled out Yankee 1.<\/p>\n

Still diving south, ever hunting for the trades .<\/p>\n

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The Rude Awakening – Mark & Bev’s Blog<\/h2>\n

After another beautiful starlit extravaganza on night watch, with more shooting stars and galaxies to wonder at, Bev had a very rude awakening shortly after midnight. Kirstie, realising that she was paddling in the aft cabin, raised Ricky to investigate the ingress of water. It seemed that there was water coming from the generator saltwater inlet. (The generator is housed right next to Bev\u2019s bunk). When the door to the generator housing was opened to investigate, Bev was awoken from a deep sleep with the full force of the water! The fault was quickly located (a broken jubilee clip), Bev put a towel on her head and quickly returned to her deep slumber\u2026Zzzzzz.<\/p>\n

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On our sunrise watch were treated to our first visit from a dolphin. Hopefully the first of many before our arrival in Rodney Bay.<\/p>\n

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The Motherwatch<\/h2>\n

Motherwatch began with hectic food preparation, as we decided it was time the crew were fed more fibre and vitamins! Copious amounts of fruit and vegetables have been prepared for lunch and dinner so that we can all take a short break from the carbs (Ricky\u2019s potatoes!). A huge fruit salad being hastily prepared as the papaya was definitely getting past its\u2019 best.<\/p>\n

It seems that today is also washing day for many. A bright display of smalls of all sizes and brands are currently flapping in the 20-knot trade winds from Challenger\u2019s guardrails.<\/p>\n

One Hand For You, One Hand For The Boat<\/h2>\n

We are now feeling the effect of sailing downwind on an Atlantic swell. Moving around down below is a little more difficult and planning handholds ahead is essential. The odd crash of crockery in the galley lockers is testament to our increasing movement. We\u2019re making great progress and by midday today we shall have covered 340 nautical miles towards that first rum punch in the Caribbean (not that we\u2019re obsessed with the thought of a welcoming glass of rum!<\/p>\n

Right\u2026.galley team to action stations. There\u2019s a hungry crew to feed!<\/p>\n

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Challenger 4 is trying to stay in the green belt of good wind and avoid sailing into the blue doldrums<\/p><\/div>\n

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Skipper Ricky’s Log<\/h2>\n

Time : 12:00 GMT<\/p>\n

Position : 24 39.3 N 018 51.7 W<\/p>\n

Position : 170Nm West of El Arub<\/p>\n

Destination : St Lucia<\/p>\n

DTF : 2460<\/p>\n

24 Hour Run : 179<\/p>\n

COG 240, SOG 7.0<\/p>\n

Fuel : 3 full, 1 in use<\/p>\n

Water : 3 full, 1 in use, Will start draining 2x tanks today for showers.<\/p>\n

Gas : 3 full, 1 in use, 1 Empty<\/p>\n

Notes and comments :<\/h2>\n

Chicken Thai curry last night, Messy eggs this morning, tapas lunch and sausage and mash this evening. All happy on board.\u00a0 A glimmer of a green flash seen last night, the Milky Way and a huge waning, orange supermoon moon rising behind the helm.<\/p>\n

Good gybe yesterday afternoon run by Bruce. We are now sailing directly for St Lucia but will probably gybe back again today to get more South in for the better winds later this week. Polled out Yankee 1, Full Main on a preventer. Helming is pretty respectable with just a slight wobble on change of helm and a couple who are still getting the hang of it. Sea state has subsided a bit. Very little wildlife after our early sighting of a whale blow and a few flying fish.<\/p>\n

Just gybed back to a Port Gybe with the wind shift which happened as predicted at midday. New compass course 245…<\/p>\n

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More blogs about this ARC Rally and other Atlantic Adventures can be read here: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Atlantic Adventures<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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