Dear All
25th to 26th November 2007
Underway at last. We started the ARC yesterday after a week of
preparation (well a week by me and lots more by others) and far too much
alcohol. You may be surprised to hear me of all people say this but I have
had more than a sufficiency while ashore. I would not like to be aboard a
dry boat, as some people that we dined with on Saturday are, but as 1800
approaches I experience a desire for a drop. Some of the crew on the boat we
dined with had only just been told they were to be dry for 2 or 3 weeks and
were not entirely pleased.
The day started slowly after a grand happy hour where I unfortunately
discovered that rum and cokes were two for the price of one and naturally
spent as much as I would have done anyway. At midnight there was quite a
firework display off the marina but many crews noticed that the fireworks
were being blown quite forcefully to the south, a good direction but
whistling in the rigging was quite loud. After the slow start we carried out
a few last minute tasks and then stood on the foredeck watching other boats
going out. There was a very loud speaker on Pedro the fuel man's dock and as
each yacht passed he wished them farewell over the top of the incredibly
loud Spanish music. There was a large crowd all waving goodbye and the whole
scene was quite emotional and very heartwarming. I awaited our leaving with
growing anticipation but just as we slipped to join the procession a squall
came through and it pissed with rain! Most of the well wishers ran for cover
and we passed the dock with just a few bedraggled spectators. Unfortunately
we then had a fuel warning come on which made our leaving less enjoyable
than we had expected, the emotions changed quite considerably!
On out to the start and Jonathan had to reeve our reefing lines and
stow the boom cover which meant that we had gone well out to sea beyond the
start line and by the time we were settled and returned we missed the start
of the racing divisions and then decided to hang back for the actual start,
the penalty for being over the line is 3 hours and as it was a reaching
start the weather end was very "busy" and looked dangerous. We heard on the
VHF that an Oyster 56 (and therefore one of our more direct rivals) had had
an accidental gybe and hit a crew member on the head. They were headed back
to port with their casualty but we later heard that he had recovered and
they rejoined the race. There was also an unfortunate boat that lost control
just before the start in the fresh breeze and had to go to windward of the
committee vessel (a Spanish Patrol vessel of about 750 tons which was
rolling like a pig in the seas). That boat called in about 20 minutes after
the start to ask if they needed to start correctly! On being told that they
could either come back or take a 3 hour penalty they decided to return back
upwind. Later on we also heard that my buddy from my dive the other day had
lost his steering and had a rope around his prop. He was requesting
assistance and we heard no more as we were already 10 miles downwind of him.
i hope he is OK
We went out to the east on port gybe for an hour to avoid the
convergence zones that are to the south of each island and can spring a 35
knot gust down on you and really spoil afternoon tea! We came back down on
starboard with 2 reefs and a rolled genoa in 20-25 knots occasionally
touching 30 with some super surfing down the biggest waves. Roger had the
boat for most of the afternoon and my GPS logged his maximum speed as 14
knots, not bad for a cruising boat full of beer! We have beer stacked on
beer down below, most of it was on top of Roger's bunk but we took on a list
to port and Gabbie had us restow it all in the bilges to starboard which
meant unpacking each crate and packing individual cans in the bilge. The
three of us were really excited about that game.
I came on watch at 1600 (I stand the dogwatches, the first watch and
the forenoon at present) and was pleased to find that my GPS max was 14.3
knots, later on we logged a max of 15.7. On the VHF we heard someone had
logged over 20! It was amazing to find the fleet evaporate. At the start
there were 234 boats and by the time we were at the southern end (of[pkouyd
ooops accidental gybe!) end of the island we had sight of perhaps only 20
Sorry had to go and help Gabbie shift all the veg which was hanging
above Allan's bunk, it has swung in its hammock and the spreader dowel of
the hammock has made a hole in the head lining . The carrots have also
leaked juice all over Allan and his bedding! Took the shine off his day!
Anyway there were 20 boats in sight and then we sailed into the lee of
the island, 17 miles off apparently not far enough. We had to motor for 20
minutes and then the breeze filled in again. By the time I came back on
watch at midnight we had 3 slabs in the main and 2 rolls in the genoa and
had to hand steer for a while as the autohelm could not cope. I discovered
that my soft dentist's hands get quite sore after a while. Through the night
we only had 2 or 3 lights in sight and unfortunately discovered that our
tricolour light is not working (yes we did check before leaving), we had to
use our main nav lights which are 2 more bulbs and not visible from as far
away.
This morning when I came on at 0800 we only had 2 other boats in sight
and had a cracking good sail in 25-30 knots, I took off the autohelm and
steered just for the fun of steering at 10 knots. Now the hands hurt again.

We have has just logged 200 miles at 1243 which allowing for the 3-4 miles
before the start gives us 200 in 24 hours!!! Pretty good for a first day's
run! Allan has started quoting poetry at me again "It was a dark and stormy
night" so I will take this and try to send.
Bye all all well here hope it is with you,
Hedley and the crew of Aqualuna.