Anyone bored enough to want to read me bragging?

[jezjez]

Just back from the Arc+ - there were no sandbars or swatchways or creeks between Cape Verde and the Caribbean. 5400 metres depth, no ships, planes or anything human seen for 10 days over 2200nm.
Weather was very kind. It was warm at night. Shooting stars and a big moon towards the end of the passage.
Dolphins and flying fish, a family of sperm whales passed us and several squalls saw us over the finish line on day 13.
I was NOT the skipper so life was easy in a six-strong crew. Well fed. We even had crazy Elon’s starlink and daily contact with the world - in fact better than WiFi at home!
A few days in Grenada and king for a night on Virgin Atlantic (first long haul flight in 11 years). No need to do it again because the east coast is the bestest coast but an incredible journey. Brag complete!
Thanks for reading!!!!

 

[johnalison]

Oo-er. Some of us would get vertigo in that depth.

 

[tillergirl]

Oo-er ditto.

 

[Concerto]

I know sailing the Atlantic seems like a challenge, but I feel it is more about sailing for 13 days continuously. Lots of boring time with little to see or do. Someone commented to me that sailing round Britain single handed was far more challenging as you had to contend with entering lots of unknown harbours, variable wind and sea conditions, navigation challenges involving strong tides, unlit fishing markers, plus no one else to rely on for assistance. I did not disagree having done that trip myself.

Glad you enjoyed your trip. Would loved to hear in more detail about your encounters enroute and to see any photos.

 

[jezjez]

I am sure that’s quite right. Sailing downwind for 13 days with only the odd change of sail for strength and no course changes as such was easy. I’m sure it would have been a bit different if the weather gods had not been kind. But imagine a round Britain sail would involve a lot of decisions, bad weather and sail changes and course corrections.
We were relaxing and occasionally watching telly!!!

 

[Minerva]

I know sailing the Atlantic seems like a challenge, but I feel it is more about sailing for 13 days continuously. Lots of boring time with little to see or do. Someone commented to me that sailing round Britain single handed was far more challenging as you had to contend with entering lots of unknown harbours, variable wind and sea conditions, navigation challenges involving strong tides, unlit fishing markers, plus no one else to rely on for assistance. I did not disagree having done that trip myself.

Glad you enjoyed your trip. Would loved to hear in more detail about your encounters enroute and to see any photos.

Come on, no need to pee on the OP's chips like that!

 

[Shaz77]

Just back from the Arc+ - there were no sandbars or swatchways or creeks between Cape Verde and the Caribbean. 5400 metres depth, no ships, planes or anything human seen for 10 days over 2200nm.
Weather was very kind. It was warm at night. Shooting stars and a big moon towards the end of the passage.
Dolphins and flying fish, a family of sperm whales passed us and several squalls saw us over the finish line on day 13.
I was NOT the skipper so life was easy in a six-strong crew. Well fed. We even had crazy Elon’s starlink and daily contact with the world - in fact better than WiFi at home!
A few days in Grenada and king for a night on Virgin Atlantic (first long haul flight in 11 years). No need to do it again because the east coast is the bestest coast but an incredible journey. Brag complete!
Thanks for reading!!!!

What anchor, chain, warp ratio do you use at 5400 meters???

 

[Gargleblaster]

What anchor, chain, warp ratio do you use at 5400 meters???

One of my first Atlantic crossings was on a Southerly 115, i.e a lift keel. I was the navigator and I ran it aground twice.

We had 60 metres of chain and that was adequate.

As the navigator if the boat ran aground I was responsible for then going and lifting the keel so we could get off.

As a result I found that 'Bahamas' means Shallow Sea.

 

[potentillaCO32]

I know sailing the Atlantic seems like a challenge, but I feel it is more about sailing for 13 days continuously. Lots of boring time with little to see or do. Someone commented to me that sailing round Britain single handed was far more challenging as you had to contend with entering lots of unknown harbours, variable wind and sea conditions, navigation challenges involving strong tides, unlit fishing markers, plus no one else to rely on for assistance. I did not disagree having done that trip myself.

Glad you enjoyed your trip. Would loved to hear in more detail about your encounters enroute and to see any photos.

This does sound a bit like "my sailing round the uk was more impressive than your atlantic trip"

 

[PaulRainbow]

I know sailing the Atlantic seems like a challenge, but I feel it is more about sailing for 13 days continuously. Lots of boring time with little to see or do. Someone commented to me that sailing round Britain single handed was far more challenging as you had to contend with entering lots of unknown harbours, variable wind and sea conditions, navigation challenges involving strong tides, unlit fishing markers, plus no one else to rely on for assistance. I did not disagree having done that trip myself.

Glad you enjoyed your trip. Would loved to hear in more detail about your encounters enroute and to see any photos.

And of course, he never had the comfort of a Westerly Fulmar........

 

[Minerva]

A fulmar doing short day hops, tying up to a pontoon every night, with a pub within walking distance and a full 8hrs of kip each evening.

Yeah, much more challenging and impressive.

 

[Tradewinds]

A fulmar doing short day hops, tying up to a pontoon every night, with a pub within walking distance and a full 8hrs of kip each evening.

Yeah, much more challenging and impressive.

We anchored every night on our crossing back in '94. Doddle.

 

[dunedin]

One of my first Atlantic crossings was on a Southerly 115, i.e a lift keel. I was the navigator and I ran it aground twice.

…..

You did well to run aground twice on an Atlantic crossing ! Did you find Atlantis ?

 

[potentillaCO32]

Just back from the Arc+ - there were no sandbars or swatchways or creeks between Cape Verde and the Caribbean. 5400 metres depth, no ships, planes or anything human seen for 10 days over 2200nm.
Weather was very kind. It was warm at night. Shooting stars and a big moon towards the end of the passage.
Dolphins and flying fish, a family of sperm whales passed us and several squalls saw us over the finish line on day 13.
I was NOT the skipper so life was easy in a six-strong crew. Well fed. We even had crazy Elon’s starlink and daily contact with the world - in fact better than WiFi at home!
A few days in Grenada and king for a night on Virgin Atlantic (first long haul flight in 11 years). No need to do it again because the east coast is the bestest coast but an incredible journey. Brag complete!
Thanks for reading!!!!

Not bragging and sounds a fantastic experience that I am sure many would live to do/be able to do.

 

[fredrussell]

I know sailing the Atlantic seems like a challenge, but I feel it is more about sailing for 13 days continuously. Lots of boring time with little to see or do. Someone commented to me that sailing round Britain single handed was far more challenging as you had to contend with entering lots of unknown harbours, variable wind and sea conditions, navigation challenges involving strong tides, unlit fishing markers, plus no one else to rely on for assistance. I did not disagree having done that trip myself.

Glad you enjoyed your trip. Would loved to hear in more detail about your encounters enroute and to see any photos.

I’m sorry, but, tw@t!

 

[xyachtdave]

Not bragging and sounds a fantastic experience that I am sure many would live to do/be able to do.

Absolutely, well done OP.

My wife is really keen on this in a couple of years time when we can pack work in. We’ve got the boat and she has the experience so won’t be hard to put the pieces together to give it a go.

To be honest I’m not as keen, anxiety about encountering serious weather when a long way from a port of refuge is my worry, which isn’t an issue port hopping the UK coastline with today’s weather forecasts.

No need to get caught out in anything nasty these days when you’re day sailing, on your own.

 

[Gargleblaster]

You did well to run aground twice on an Atlantic crossing ! Did you find Atlantis ?

Yes it is at 42degN 42degW. But I didn't run aground there.

 

[The Q]

As much as the OPs trip was nice, I'd die of boredom.
I'll stick to tacking every 30 seconds or so, with a maximum depth of about 5 ft..

 

[Puffin10032]

As much as the OPs trip was nice, I'd die of boredom.
I'll stick to tacking every 30 seconds or so, with a maximum depth of about 5 ft..

Stop pulling our legs. There's nowhere on the East Coast where the water is that deep

 

[mattonthesea]

As much as the OPs trip was nice, I'd die of boredom.
I'll stick to tacking every 30 seconds or so, with a maximum depth of about 5 ft..

In a way boredom is a state of mind; wishing you were somewhere else. Once you've slipped the lines on a crossing you alter into a different state of mind. It's about three times longer to return (and less comfortable) so you slip into a different place. Very little changes besides the sun coming up and going down. There are so few outside influences to your thinking; you start to let your mind wander, you listen to your self. For me, solo, it was the most spiritual experience of my life.

Follow the link on my sig. Don't buy the book; just read the first page. Read it slowly, take a pause with the punctuation. That still lives with me, as I say there, in the gaps between thoughts.

Don't get me wrong, I loved racing a National 12 on the Thames at Putney years ago. They are exclusive, but not incompatible
M