From Fred

We are now on our 8th day, with approximately 5 more to go, and we now
have some lovely easy winds and the sting ray is up.

The previous week has been a different story - navigating a series of
unstable weather systems with their associated drops in pressure and
spikes in wind and localised squalls. It has meant a busy time on board
the good ship Tintin. This is a stark contrast the crossing that Ben and
I did with Rob 6 years ago. Then, we put up our sails, the trade winds
filled them, and 3 weeks later we arrived in St Lucia.  By contrast,
sailing the Atlantic from west to east is a trickier affair. Whilst
there is a stable high pressure zone to our south we need to take a more
northerly route to reach the Azores. This means sailing along a line
where the high pressure zone meets a series of lows that are spun off
North America and Canada.

So we have had busy days, grey skies and intermittent rain. Our progress
was also challenged when we noticed the stitching had given way on a
panel in the big Genoa (our primary furling headsail). It meant we could
no longer use it (without fear of it ripping some more), and so were
limited to used the storm jib as our headsail. Whilst this provided some
stability, it lacks the pulling power of the Genoa, and our pace in the
fleet and progress to Horta suffered as a result.

But that was last week.  We have now sailed further north, and have a
period of stable but gentle weather where we can all take a breath,
sleep a bit more easily and relax. The crew is in good shape - fresh
bread and yoghurt is made (separately) every other day, we are fishing
(but so far no joy), and we have daily limericks to stir our
creativity.  Other good news is that with the wind has  changed from
southerly to northerly, whilst it is cooler it is less damp - so at last
the cabins are feeling better too.

Love to all.

4pm Limerick from Toby

In a squall off the coast of Bermuda
The wind found the jib and it chewed her
Rob gave it a fight
as the crew pulled ropes tight
till at last they with tension imbued her

Bermuda start

Wednesday 21st May - 7pm

Wind from the North West, force 3-4, gentle seas.  We have just had
supper (bangers, mash and broccoli) and are settling in for the first
night at sea.
It has been a reasonably busy last couple of days of preparation -
re-stocking our food suppliers, topping up the water tanks, collecting
sails that needed patching, etc.
The most entertainment was gained on refueling day - each boat had a
dedicated time slot to leave their berth, and head up to a separate
quary to top up their diesel tanks.
However, for those if us who where moored stern-to the marina quay, the
biggest challenge was getting away.  There was a strong headwind, and
when the first boat tried to
leave, they were unable to free their anchor (it was stuck underneath
the huge hurricane chain on the sea bed). Consequently, as the wind
caught them, they swung around and their propeller
managed to cut the mooring line of 3 other boats!  Pandemonium ensued
and we did out bit to help secure the other yachts - Toby most
heriocally (fortunately we were not affected).

The start was a little sketchy - rather than giving us a start line out
to sea with plenty of space, we had 30+ boats jostling for position
inside the St Georges Lagoon, and then funnelled through
the narrow gap out to the atlantic.  Fortunately, everyone behaved and
no incidents - and also some great photos.

Morale on board is high, though so far, no fish.

Night Watch

It's 3:00 on Wednesday morning - the start of our 5h day at sea. After
an excellent, fast start in which we covered half of the 870Nm to
Bermuda in 2 1/2 days , things have slowed down.  We only did 120Nm
yesterday.  The gentle easterlies meant that we maintained an acceptable
speed without resorting to the engine (except for an hour or so in the
evening) - but the sailing is extremely comfortable. Most of the fleet
is ahead,   Our hope is that they have used their engine more, and will
be penalised in the results.  We're flying the newly-repaired Stingrray
as a Code ) on port side and it sets beautifully on a beam reach with no
vices.

Life on board has settled into an established rhythm - we do the same
watches each day.  I (skipper) am on 2-4am, 9-noon and 6-9pm. On this
night watch I get the benefit of the huge full moon - there hasn't
really been a properly dark hour yet on this passage.

The yoghurt is brewing ovrenight, and I'll need to knead some more bread
in the morning watch.  The first loaf was good, but perhaps not my best
- needed longer on the hob

300Nm to Bermuda.  Eta sometime on Friday.

Tintin: Day 2

We're now approaching 200nm north of Sint Maarten enjoying a beam reach
with sunny skies.

The start yesterday went well - everybody safely across the line after
the gun went with no collision.  A run along the south coast of Sint
Maarten put Tintin near the front of the pack and we've been steadily
finding our rightful place since then.  There were quite a few strings
of lobster or crab pots off Anguila, but Toby on the bow saw us through
them safely.The conditions were good for fast passage making - but quite
lively for people unused to the ocean.  Bertie skipped supper and Toby
wasn't quite his normal ebullient self.  The wind is set to stay from
the SSE for another day or so - so we continue to make good progress and
the seas are settling a bit.

Sadly, the RCC burgee pole snapped during the night - Toby saw it
trailing in the water behind attached by the burgee halyard.  That's the
only breakage so far

Bertie tried breakfast - but it didn't stay down.  Lunch - so far -
appears to have fared better.

All in all the crew is settling into the ocean life well.

This is Tintin shortly after the start taken from another boat - sadly i
can't remember the name of it.

Under way and looking good

Tintin and the gentlemen

Preparations complete

We set sail for Bermuda tomorrow morning, so it's just as well that preparations are now complete. 

Tintin came off the hard in Antigua on Thursday last week with a newly antifouled hull and no working water pump. A few days spent in the bowels of the boat dealing with the latter issue and at the top of the mast hauling up sails provided strong opportunities for team building between Rob and Toby, particularly when the captain was reduced to Ankle-Holder-in-Chief for a couple of days by virtue of having shoulders too broad to fit into the bilge.

Bertie joined the crew on Sunday and the next afternoon we set sail for Sint Maarten. Light and favourable winds rendered the largest issue on this passage to be finding the most comfortable position from which to drink beer on the foredeck as we watched the sunset from the shade of the genoa. A falling pole fortunately put a dent in the deck rather than anyone's skull (just) and offered a valuable chance to re-examine this particular part of the rigging.

Sint Maarten passed by in a blur of ARC-sponsored barbecues, briefings and odd jobs. An unfortunate spot inspection of our shopping by another crew seems to have landed Tintin with a reputation as a gentleman's boat. Time is yet to tell whether they will regret snubbing our beer, cheese and crisps when they get a week into their ocean gruel.

The island has been a great centre of learning for the crew. Lectures have been concentrated on optimal fridge set-up, timekeeping and the etymology of obscure germanic vocabulary. Other topics included safety equipment and liferafts. The second and third mates even dabbled in teaching with an admirable trip to the local casino to demonstrate the perils of gambling to fellow sailors.

Rob insists that the plan for tomorrow is to sit back from the start line until all the carnage has died away and then to sail through peacefully. We will find out at 11:30 whether the other crews have bought this ruse.

The mood is buoyant and the boat is looking swell. Watch this space to find out if our large investments in lures at Budget Marine provide the boat's fishing expert with his first ever catch.