ARC 2021: Live update from the first 8 days

ARC - An adventure across the Atlantic

Right now we have four boats sailing across the great and mighty ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, during the ARC sailing competition. Via satellite phone, we have received several daily summaries from our guest Carina on the boat "Jolie" and guests Isabella and Petter on the boat "Vi La Ut". They tell us what they have done over the days so far and now we want to share this with you.

ARC with "Jolie" Lagoon 52

Day 1 (Nov 21)

Start ARC Las Palmas at 12.30 am local time. On the 8-12 pm watch, Resque ships were sighted with flashing lights searching the area with strong searchlights. Suddenly it came towards us at high speed, passing just off our port side with a small rowing boat/rubber boat in tow, probably a migrant boat.

Day 2 (Nov 22)

When setting the gennaker, we had to make a MOB maneuver to save our lifeline which was knocked down by a fluttering shot. Smooth turnaround and recovery with boat hook and new placement of the lifeline on the manta train. The 230-volt electricity on board disappeared after fuses burned due to a short circuit. When the fuse melted down, the friend boat "Anna Isabella" was contacted via the VHF. They put their rubber boat in the lake with Olof who is a competent electrician. We ourselves have incredibly competent fellow sailors on board our boat, but it was good to get help and a second opinion because we are so dependent on electricity and also did not have the right stuff on board. When we still had to lie still for a good while, it became all men overboard for a lovely bath in the blue waters of the Atlantic. ARC can be really fun!

Day 3 (Nov 23)

In the morning Helena aimed whale on the starboard side ordered the binoculars but the whale turned out to be a smaller rubber boat probably migrant boat equipped for a whole family with diapered children. A tragic event that has affected the atmosphere on board. We salvaged the boat, punctured it and cut it down, then stowed all the plastic in our rubber dinghy so that it does not end up in the sea. The incident was reported by our captain Otto. We hope the passengers have been rescued somehow!

Napp! x3 Three large Guldmakrillar were pulled up within half an hour, Helena managed to get the big heavy fish up and filleted them lightning fast as the most natural thing in the world. Impressive!

Lots of dolphins joined up next to "Jolie" and the happiness was total as they swam in groups of ten right next to the hull. Nice movies to save as a memory! Then we had a safety briefing on board with ponered water ingress starboard engine. We went through the ship's abandonment with division into the life rafts and who is responsible for bringing grabbags, the EPIRB and which people go to each life raft.

Thomas loses his saltwater soap overboard! The only one on board by the way. Then the scrubbing brush was dropped in the water but we did not manage to save it either despite a quick MOB effort.

The night pass offered a fantastic "marine fire" when phosphorized organisms were stirred up in our wake by a bunch of dolphins that joined "Jolie".

Day 4 (Nov 24)

The gennaker was hoisted and we logged between 11 and 13 knots, felt like we were flying across the Atlantic. Surfed so it howled in the rig and the propeller. Lovely sound of speed even though it was not possible to sleep.
For lunch the freshly caught goldfish with mashed potatoes and white wine sauce. Yummy!
Johanna baked banana cake for the afternoon snack, yummy! There is no need for the crew on board the "Jolie". This day we covered 175 distances. New record!

Day 5 (Nov 25)

Mårten and PA fix breakfast and report on the night's change of course when we drifted for a long time because the autopilot stopped working. The engines do not start suspect low battery levels as the display is dead. Mårten and Peter find the error and get the engines running again. Some converter that was disconnected when we disconnected the shore power in Las Palmas. Later in the night generator stop with unknown error code.

Restart worked! 2215 distance left to Saint Lucia we are currently in 20th place of about 178 starting boats without regard to Srs / Light numbers.Weather forecast 5-7 s / m which hopefully increases to 10 s / m.

Shower day! Lovely with new smells on board. We have to save water so take advantage and enjoy!
Peter sighted killer whale or whale in the stern clearly heard the sound of exhaust when it raised up next to the boat. Amazing sunset magic!

Day 6 (Nov 26)

Wonderful sunrise, Good morning ARC!
10 am we lie across the Cap Verde Islands on the port side.
We in the guard are studying about spring maneuvers in the Cruise Club's book on good seamanship. Otto teaches "Australian pole roast" a quick variant of pole roast that impresses!

Today's safety exercise: MOB all hands on deck! All sails down turning and salvaging the ball fender / bucket on the starboard side.The wind increases we put the gennaker again!
Fresh fruit and vegetables start to rot now we have to use the fridge/freezer.

ARC with "Vi La Ut" Lagoon 50

Wednesday 25/11

Position:
N21 39.29
W20 32.49

Dolphins jump up and down, especially at night. On Tuesday night, the top halyard to the gennaker broke and the sail had to be recovered from the water, after daylight returned, skipper Hampus threaded a new halyard and we are sailing again with full racks.

During the night the autopilot suddenly lost its function but skipper and first mate solve situations with calm and confidence. Everyone on board is happy although some are suffering from some colds, no scandals on board except when a pair of underwear got stuck in a sheet block to the gennaker and then had to be sacrificed to Poseidon.

We are sailing at a steady 16 knots and the food still tastes great.

Greetings from the crew of Vi La Ut
Via Isabella

Sunday 28/11 ARC

Position:
N20 32.16
W27 57.96

We have now set course more or less directly towards St. Lucia.

A new weather has arrived and our first squalls we have made it through. The waves are about 8m and sitting on the bridge requires 110% focus. The slightest mistake and an unwanted gipp can come.

Sleeping on board is now a big challenge, imagine a dryer and you are close to our reality.

We have reefed our sails to cope with gusts of 18-20m/s.

At night the sky is starry and we learn new stars. The aerial fishermen fly between the wave tops in a fascinating way. What amazes us a lot are all the birds that stubbornly fly around out here. Where do they sleep and how, we wonder.

The sea is the only thing we see around us and sometimes dolphins come to visit. A magical sight was at night when the marble fire shone around them. They looked like luminous torpedoes in the water.

About 1900 distance left to sail under ARC and right now we expect another 10 days left before we get to feel land on St. Lucia. Today we celebrate the first Advent on board with foam tomatoes, gingerbread and non-alcoholic mulled wine.

Greetings from the crew of Vi La Ut
Through Petter

You can read more about ARC and sailing across the Atlantic with More Sailing, as well as book your place for ARC 2022 on one of our brave sailboats sailing across the mighty Great Ocean.