Quick links : The Charity | The Crew | The Party
Direct link – http://live.adventuretracking.com/VRBritain
24hr distance reports (nm) :: 120, 113, 127, 119
Total sailed :: 479 nm
Best individual day :: Day 3 – 127
Average speed :: 5.0kts
Latest position updates
Laura and the whales
Captain’s log : “Laura is back amongst us. Liz and she scrubbed the cockpit this morning and got the puke streaks off the topsides too! Rhiannon’s had p’s and pot noodle, Ella is delighted. We saw a small whale, dark, small fin. Only surfaced twice. A common seal too, seemed a long way from shore 25nm out. No boats or lobster pots for days. Fishingboat and one buoy today, very exciting! Helen and I had to avoid the only other yacht on this West coast at about 2am. Going to Burtonport for diesel and water as long as no fog.” [Ed : small steps starting to make big differences by the sound of it]
“Got hold of harbourmaster at Burtonport, should be in by 6pm easily. Just seen a turtle! omg, definitely. So exciting. It’s like bl**dy seaworld up here!”
Feathering props and sampling the deep
The boat has MaxProp feathering propellers that greatly reduce drag when sailing by being able to align their blades with the waterflow when the engines aren’t being used to drive the boat forward. Trouble is the port one is occasionally “un-feathering” itself and starting to spin in neutral when sailing. Means a bit of an annoying whine but not too much of a problem. Might be some weed jamming the prop. Just heard that a brief spell with gear shifter in reverse then back to neutral has cured it…
Lynn : “Ella is a brilliant crew. Has had to nurse Laura and Rhiannon, but they are struggling on valiantly. Helen & I did water sampling this morning and there was so much life it bunged up the net. I needed 8 bottles to store it all in! Includes tons of plankton and even a few tiny fish. I felt least ill of all after, Helen had a bit of a setback. Had a hot shower and feel fab!“
Good progress
Around 127nm on day 3. Laura still bad with seasickness but the other 7 all pretty good by the sounds of it. More updates no doubt later today as they come in comms range off Connemara.
Dolphins, at last
Normally you’d have expected to come across plenty of the cetaceans by now but it’s taken until being off SW Ireland to happen across the first dolphin sighting.
Crew surfaces
What’s nice about this trip as with 8 on board that means 8 times the family, friends, supporters, helpers and sponsors to check this website. So, pass the word on and keep your support for the girls and the charity rolling in.
They might only be into their 3rd day of watch cycles but it’s been a long trip already for some with a, shall we say, somewhat limited view of their surroundings. Yes, there’s been a touch of sea sickness but spirits are undiminished :
Ella : “I am never eating an oatcake again”
Skipper : “Can I suggest you have some chocolate ‘cos that tastes much nicer than an oatcake on the way back up”
Available in all good stores soon, the official VRB parfum “eau de vomette”.
Anonymous : “Is there an airport in Dingle?”
Ali was also very taken by the am-dram section of the crew deciding to run their version of the Exorcist with Ella using a red torch to illuminate Caroline’s fact filling a bucket at 0300!
Lovely.
More light head winds
After heading West from the Isles of Scilly the VRB girls have tacked and are now ploughing on towards Ireland. 113nm today but a jib traveller failure has slowed progress a little…
Jib traveller failure
17:09 so, many thanks to William at www.riggers.ie for the prompt responses and help but crew’s decided to push on and await a delivery from Harken as no UK stock anywhere at moment, until Monday. And for Harken UK, thanks to Tom for getting on the case with ideas about the failure and sorting replacement parts.
13:10 the offending article shown below. Plastic end cap broken, balls fall out, car comes off track. Solution – new end caps, new balls and ball loader…need to order for delivery to Scotland maybe? In the meantime a good jury rig for the jib has improved upwind performance!
10:19, “re-rigged headsail and now points better on stbd tack”. Bypassing the traveller track and car? Repeated chafe and contact is the real enemy on board. Sounds like some clunking, slamming and movement has taken its toll after 2 days of beating into light winds.
Masts and Rigging of Crosshaven on standby…
Message received 09:18, “jib car broken, track ok”. Sounds like a failure of the jib traveller track end-stop has let the traveller car come off the track and lose ball bearings.
Day one done!
Mon 26 11:30BST :: So, around 120nm in first 24hours. Not too bad for light winds and a cruising catamaran that heavily loaded with bananas. A late night update from off Scilly just as comms coverage ended was “no wind and dark fog“, I wonder if they got the moonlit night we eventually enjoyed? They’ll be out of touch until picking up the coast of Eire.
Go! Go! Go!
The VRB girls left Mylor pretty much exactly on time and and enjoying the lovely NW winds and sunshine. Bon voyage and be sure to check back soon for regular updates! The on-board tracker is active and will provide hourly position reports.
A dockside full of family, friends and supporters with both cheers and tears. Initial reports are that there are a few green faces on board but not to worry, there’s a long way to go and it’s all for such a good cause – which reminds me, don’t forget why they’re going round…http://www.justgiving.com/crasac-vision/donate
