After the exhilarating speeds in the big winds we are back to reality with the wind down to single figures and our speed, overnight at least, down below 4 knots at times. We had a good day under the Parasailor yesterday but our policy is not to fly it at night so we have reverted... Continue Reading →

Dawn revealed the conditions experienced through the night with big breaking swells running. An unfortunate flying fish must have taken off out of a swell and concluded his flight and life on the deck of Hejira. Stephen was not allowed to claim it as a ‘catch’. The water maker saga has reached a hiatus having... Continue Reading →

What a night! We have maintained the twin poled out Yankee jibs through the night with the winds and seas quite high but it has been exhilarating absolutely creaming along with the auto not having to work too hard and the rig forgiving any swell induced ‘weave’ - great stuff, this is the sailing I... Continue Reading →

There were crowds lining the docks and breakwaters waving us off with a cacophony of hooters as the fleet left the marina for the start. We ‘played safe’ and crossed the start line a minute late, conscious that a false start would cost us 3 hours added to our time. The wind was a little... Continue Reading →

It’s finally ‘start day’ and we are off at 1300 today! Bob and I attended the ‘skipper’s briefing’ yesterday for the final instructions and we spent the day in a fairly leisurely manner as we are pretty well ‘on top’ of things. This is more than can be said for some of our neighbours who... Continue Reading →

Our big shop required two large trolleys and we completely emptied the shelves of muesli. I was convinced we didn’t have sufficient stowage for it all but, bit by bit, it all disappeared into the lockers and with only a few fresh items to be bought today, we are pretty well victualed. We decided between... Continue Reading →

Wednesday was the last day of formal seminars and they have all been well presented and useful. This final tranche covered weather and routing, first aid, Cape Verde and St. Lucia and the return options. They have mostly been well attended but interestingly, the seminar on the return options was the least supported confirming what... Continue Reading →

Our first social occasion was the ‘Crew Supper’ on the evening we arrived in Las Palmas. Although we didn’t relish the occasion, it was actually enjoyable with a decent meal and plenty of liquid. The duck main course reminded me how good duck can be as it was really excellent. Seminars today on ‘Dealing with... Continue Reading →