Marc Bow: Its 16:45 UTC and were crossing the Valdivia Banks as we write. the ocean rises from 5000m to about 30m, like a mountain range, wixked swells. Weather overcast and chilly, wind stong and boat is screaming along. Sitting with back against hull down below and can olny hear water flying along behind me. Ryan and Billy are helming like demons in our bid to keep Banjo behind us. They are favourties for line honours and were hoping to beat the RMS to the island. knowing were just ahead its flat out here now to see if we can take cup and line. Spinnaker only coming down when really warrants it, otherwise the boat is humming and zinging along on a plane as we surf and slip down the 4 meter swells. Still trying to find out why so many boats retired, especially in our IRC class, hope everyone is ok. Itshard to get reliable, let along much info out here. Just glanced up as we helmed over to see the ocean racing by, the hull is slamming into the waves as we slide off the front of the swells, Ryan is singing while helming, which is worrying cause that only means one thing....were going fast, real fast!!!
From the cold, wet, bumpy and fast South Atlantic
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Spook Trainor Posting
Our fourth day at sea and we are now in the South East Trades proper. The wind direction is pretty consistent, gentle but decent breezes by day so the we shift along at 6 to 9 knots. At night the wind picks up so that we can start surfing and klapping 15 knots plus. These SIMONIS 35s are so stable and dependable on a plane and Rian is an expert surfer!
We have just had lunch - heaps of rare to medium rare rump steak with onion, potato, butternut and Peroni! We don't have a fridge so we reason that we just have to eat it. Tonight we will have strips of the same with olives for sundowners. The sun is shining and we have the warmth we expect at 28 degrees 05' South; 9 degrees 30'East. Bathing over the stern with a buckets of ocean is a special pleasure!
Sundowners last was magical. The stratocumulus clouds that you get at these latitudes have odd forms rather like the sandstone formations you find in parts of the Cape Peninsula Mountain Chain - dragons and crocodiles and angels. Or the weird shapes of the Rohrich [?] ink blot tests!
Keeping the middle watch last night was still chilly. Middle watch is midnight to 04h00, die spookwag in Afrikaans. We wus Billy, Spook and Aaron. We had a merry time. The curl at the top of the spinnaker that tells you the sail is setting well was named Lippy. Now Lippy Lipschitz seemed a well-known name: not a man of the cloth, nor a man of the classics, maybe artist fits? And so, who did we find on the helm but Billy Bilschitz! [I promised to not tell Chris R at FBYC. I don't know if he reads blogs so please don't tell him!!!]. I say, "Hey Billy, you are really making this yacht move". Says Billy, "You can see it in the speedo"!!!
We watched the mast, spreaders, and masthead light swaying wildly across the Milky Way, taking on Orion with his sword and belt. By our estimation we won the duel - Orion was well and truly shafted! The other heavenly bodies in the play were the Seven Sisters. They were perfectly positioned ahead for Billy to steer by. This Billy is quite a guy! [You should have seen him at the start of this race - bang on the line at full tilt, close to the Navy's start ship and inhaling the gunsmoke like a real gunner][We in OUR DIANNE are very proud of our Billy!]
We are happy with our progress and glad that the BANJO and SWIMLION are behind us [at last report]. We have the Valdivia Banks in our sights and should get there tomorrow
We are sad about the boats that have had to retire. After so much planning, preparation and anticipation it must be a helluva blow! We are very glad that HAIKU is back in the race. Come on James and Derrick we need you to talk to on HF at 11h00 UTC - tomorrow!
We have just had lunch - heaps of rare to medium rare rump steak with onion, potato, butternut and Peroni! We don't have a fridge so we reason that we just have to eat it. Tonight we will have strips of the same with olives for sundowners. The sun is shining and we have the warmth we expect at 28 degrees 05' South; 9 degrees 30'East. Bathing over the stern with a buckets of ocean is a special pleasure!
Sundowners last was magical. The stratocumulus clouds that you get at these latitudes have odd forms rather like the sandstone formations you find in parts of the Cape Peninsula Mountain Chain - dragons and crocodiles and angels. Or the weird shapes of the Rohrich [?] ink blot tests!
Keeping the middle watch last night was still chilly. Middle watch is midnight to 04h00, die spookwag in Afrikaans. We wus Billy, Spook and Aaron. We had a merry time. The curl at the top of the spinnaker that tells you the sail is setting well was named Lippy. Now Lippy Lipschitz seemed a well-known name: not a man of the cloth, nor a man of the classics, maybe artist fits? And so, who did we find on the helm but Billy Bilschitz! [I promised to not tell Chris R at FBYC. I don't know if he reads blogs so please don't tell him!!!]. I say, "Hey Billy, you are really making this yacht move". Says Billy, "You can see it in the speedo"!!!
We watched the mast, spreaders, and masthead light swaying wildly across the Milky Way, taking on Orion with his sword and belt. By our estimation we won the duel - Orion was well and truly shafted! The other heavenly bodies in the play were the Seven Sisters. They were perfectly positioned ahead for Billy to steer by. This Billy is quite a guy! [You should have seen him at the start of this race - bang on the line at full tilt, close to the Navy's start ship and inhaling the gunsmoke like a real gunner][We in OUR DIANNE are very proud of our Billy!]
We are happy with our progress and glad that the BANJO and SWIMLION are behind us [at last report]. We have the Valdivia Banks in our sights and should get there tomorrow
We are sad about the boats that have had to retire. After so much planning, preparation and anticipation it must be a helluva blow! We are very glad that HAIKU is back in the race. Come on James and Derrick we need you to talk to on HF at 11h00 UTC - tomorrow!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Settling in at last
Where do we begin. How can so much happen in such a small space in such short time. Most importantly were having a ripper ofm a race, or at least as far as we can tell. With so mny forms of comms available the news coming in conflicts with the other. At dawn today we heard the news that Reaction and Zeeslang were both out the race, effectively turning the trophy race into a one horse event for us now. On the line honuors front we seemd to be right out in front with both Swimlion and Banjo within ten miles but no where to b e seen on the horizon. Swimlion we know has to be at the island in time for the RMS's departure and has been using their engine to keep on schedule, according the the cruising class rules they are allpwed 100 miles anyway and this evenibgs call to the club revealed they had opened up a 50 mi;e lead or thereabouts. Banjo though we know little of other than they were close after this am's sched.
Life on board took a turn for good today as the sick ones began to stabslise at last. Marc described ocean racing as, to go fast you need wind, if theres wind the sea is rough, if its rough its bouncy in the boat and if its bouncy in the boat your get sick. So to win you need to be sick he concluded. But that appears to be behind now as I bash away in the dark here at 9pm SA time. Today we had little wind, as predicted a few days ago, bot speedof only around 5 or 6 knots, topspeed so far 14.2 first night out.
Waking for a night watch is cetainly a low but other than that spirits are up at last and the banter has begun. Wind is climbing now, hoping for a fast night, which mens wet n cold up top....
Life on board took a turn for good today as the sick ones began to stabslise at last. Marc described ocean racing as, to go fast you need wind, if theres wind the sea is rough, if its rough its bouncy in the boat and if its bouncy in the boat your get sick. So to win you need to be sick he concluded. But that appears to be behind now as I bash away in the dark here at 9pm SA time. Today we had little wind, as predicted a few days ago, bot speedof only around 5 or 6 knots, topspeed so far 14.2 first night out.
Waking for a night watch is cetainly a low but other than that spirits are up at last and the banter has begun. Wind is climbing now, hoping for a fast night, which mens wet n cold up top....
Thursday, December 2, 2010
First Day At Sea
Wednesday morning saw Team Our Dianne celebrating their departure with Family and Friends. Memorable speeches, well wishes and the Blessing of the Fleet by Bishop Peter Storey ended with Erika Spilhaus playing a beautiful and evocative Scottish Air to an emotional audience. We were prileged to be allowed by his parents to dedicate our race to the memory of Tom Murray, who sailed on Our Dianne in the 2004 race.
Then the start. We were at the line early to suss it out and the crew placed Our Dianne bang on the line at the gun. By the first mark we were 200 metres ahead of the next yacht and at the second mark even further ahead. The spinnaker hoist was immaculate and off she charged.
The sail to Cape Point was iffy, with the wind all over the place. We rounded first, although Swimlion had motored into the distance, taking advantage of her cruising allowance. The fickle wind changed to a favourable westerly, going south west and then south. Off we charged along the coast and the loom of Cape Town and Table Mountain was soon fading over the horizon.
Now, after an exciting night at sea, we are surfing along at speeds up to 15 knots, averaging around ten.
So..........a weary (a couple a little seasick - Marc will communicate with his wife and baby when he is able to look at the screen without having to rush to the side) crew are really upbeat.The vibes are excellent, the food the best and the happy hours are looked forward to with a thirst.
We are in regular satphone communication with the people of St Helena through Mike Olsson of St FM and Nicole Peters, Commodore of St Helena Yacht Club and will soon also be communicating through St Helena Radio.
Hilights of the trip have been sailing within hailing distance of Banjo, up spinnaker!!!, and the bulk of Table Mountain silhouetted against the loom of the city lights receding in the distance and off we went. The rain on our heads did not put us off. Heavy gusts at 3am had us dropping spinnaker, poling out the #3 headsail and still doing 12 knots, careering through the whitecaps, no moon and lots of posphorescence like pooing green fairy fire crackers. We were flying like the Red Bull in our bellies. Sardines and coffee also kept us awake.
Thanks to our supporters, well wishersand our sponsors.
Team Our Dianne
Then the start. We were at the line early to suss it out and the crew placed Our Dianne bang on the line at the gun. By the first mark we were 200 metres ahead of the next yacht and at the second mark even further ahead. The spinnaker hoist was immaculate and off she charged.
The sail to Cape Point was iffy, with the wind all over the place. We rounded first, although Swimlion had motored into the distance, taking advantage of her cruising allowance. The fickle wind changed to a favourable westerly, going south west and then south. Off we charged along the coast and the loom of Cape Town and Table Mountain was soon fading over the horizon.
Now, after an exciting night at sea, we are surfing along at speeds up to 15 knots, averaging around ten.
So..........a weary (a couple a little seasick - Marc will communicate with his wife and baby when he is able to look at the screen without having to rush to the side) crew are really upbeat.The vibes are excellent, the food the best and the happy hours are looked forward to with a thirst.
We are in regular satphone communication with the people of St Helena through Mike Olsson of St FM and Nicole Peters, Commodore of St Helena Yacht Club and will soon also be communicating through St Helena Radio.
Hilights of the trip have been sailing within hailing distance of Banjo, up spinnaker!!!, and the bulk of Table Mountain silhouetted against the loom of the city lights receding in the distance and off we went. The rain on our heads did not put us off. Heavy gusts at 3am had us dropping spinnaker, poling out the #3 headsail and still doing 12 knots, careering through the whitecaps, no moon and lots of posphorescence like pooing green fairy fire crackers. We were flying like the Red Bull in our bellies. Sardines and coffee also kept us awake.
Thanks to our supporters, well wishersand our sponsors.
Team Our Dianne
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Off to a great start!
 | ||
And they're off! With a picture perfect start right over the start line seconds after the gun is fired!
|
Making it official....
 Skipper Billy getting all the race info & instructions from the officials |
 |
The day has finally arrived...
 Team Our Dianne...2 hours before the start....  |
| The team & their families in the final moments.... |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)