Author: Nick Mines

Having sailed for most of my adult life, I retired (took a step back) from my companies Atom and Thorp which continue in my partial absence, producing really excellent work and run by gifted teams of loyal employees. I now sail my Southerly 135 and crew on various friends yachts, just enjoying being on the water. I continue to 'nudge the tiller' at the studios, probably more often than really necessary or welcome!

Chafe

When running downwind, it is usual to hold out the jib using the spinnaker pole or the whisker pole. The sheet ā€˜worksā€™ across the end of the pole as it stretches and this, over a period of time can badly damage the sheet. Our solution was to ā€˜serveā€™ some dymeema outer sleeving over the sheet... Continue Reading →

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On the cusp

With such a featureless horizon, the passing of a cargo ship one and a half miles astern becomes noteworthy. The AIS data suggested it was heading for Portsmouth but not whether that is Portsmouth Virginia or Hampshire but judging from its course, it looks like Portsmouth UK although that is a Naval portā€¦ā€¦.. The temperature... Continue Reading →

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Squall dodging

The early promise at dawn soon condensed into heavy cloud and with lightning and thunder came torrential rain. I couldn't understand why a yacht in front we had been tracking on AIS, turned left and ran at 90 degrees to its previous course but this soon became clear with the massive wind shift that accompanied... Continue Reading →

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Day one

We had a clean start off Nanny Cay with the 40 ARC yachts heading west on a broad reach to clear the islands. Of the ARC fleet, there were different rallies sharing the same start, some were heading straight to Florida, most going to Bermuda but with some of those heading on up to Virginia.... Continue Reading →

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To the line

Just as in Antigua, the supermarkets seem to have a high proportion of Waitrose products and we actually bought a couple of bottles of Waitrose Prosecco to toast our arrival in Bermuda and then, hopefully, to toast our arrival in the Azores. It cost $8.55 which equates to about Ā£6 and could, from memory, be... Continue Reading →

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