Forum Member (nigelpickin) Goes Transat

[IDAMAY]

Nigel has asked me to post this as he forgot to do it in the rush to set sail (or set motor as you will see later):


"Hello all,


Our long time ambition to take our own boat across the Atlantic Ocean began yesterday. Around 70 craft set off from Cape Verde a little before mid day. The next couple of weeks will be a chore but hopefully all worth while when we arrive in St Lucia. Some of you will know that our plan is to get to Florida, take the stupid b****y mast off and get back to being motor boaters. We will then spend a few years journeying around America's Great Loop.


We are sailing over with the ARC Rally. Not a bad bunch considering they are all "raggies," although I did get a few stern looks and tuts when I asked in a seminar - "must we really have our main sail up when we cross the start line." You would, I hope, all be proud that at the starter's gun we were bare masted and WOT. We crossed the start line at 11kts!


We only have fuel for around 10 days of the 18 day crossing so we will have to learn to work with the line and sheets - needs must.

Anyway thanks to Richard (Ida May) for remaining a great friend even through our transgression to the dark side and for posting this short report. I will try to keep some updates coming as we progress."

At 1500 today they were doing 5.6kts, had completed 146nm with 1940nm to go. They were lying twentyeth overall but I guess that doesn't count for much if you have the engines on!

If you are interested to follow their progress go to www.worldcruisingclub.com and look for the Arc+2018 Rally. The boat you are looking for is Saul Goodman. Let's all wish them fair winds and a safe passage.

No doubt Nigel will post at more length when they get to the other side, hopefully with photos and video.

 

[Lloydroberts]

What a wonderful way to spend a couple of years or more.

Here's wishing the crew a safe journey and I look forward to following their adventures.

 

[Mr Googler]

Safe travels to all. Epic adventure. He should sail lots....going to need the diesel for the generator so the coffee machine works

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Brilliant stuff, thanks for posting. Best wishes to Nigel and A. Hope to catch up with them in Florida sometime next year.

 

[colhel]

I was thinking about them today and wondering on their progress so thanks for the update.
Fair winds Nigel and Ann have a good trip!

Colin and Helen

 

[Firefly625]

Brilliant

 

[longjohnsilver]

Another great adventure, I love the idea of becoming a motorboat when over there and doing the loop. I expect a shallow draft boat will be ideal for that.

 

[rafiki_]

Great post, and I look forward to hearing more from the intrepid adventurers. Nothing wrong with mixing rags and mobos!

 

[IDAMAY]

At 23.00 last night Nigel Emailed that they were facing a short, choppy sea but were moving along at a good pace. One crew member (not N or A) suffering mal de mer.

At 10.00 today the WCC trace shows them at 6.1kts with 1811 miles to go. Not sure if the engines are still in use!

 

[NGM]

What an amazing adventure. Good luck Nigel and Ann.

It's a good website, look forward to following their progress.

 

[PEJ]

Did Nigel used to own a Prestige with the words Midnight or Moonlight in the name?

 

[sprocker]

What a fantastic thread and an amazing experience!

Best wishes and fair winds to Nigel and all on the voyage.

 

[Whitelighter]

Did Nigel used to own a Prestige with the words Midnight or Moonlight in the name?

He had a Prestige 500 or 550 called Breaking Bad

 

[petem]

Did Nigel used to own a Prestige with the words Midnight or Moonlight in the name?

I did a boat name for an ST35 "Midnight Moon" in May.

 

[RobBradley]

Wow, what an amazing adventure, all the very best of luck

 

[Blue Sunray]

Ever so slightly envious, please keep us updated.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Great news. Best of British to them for the crossing

 

[IDAMAY]

Here is the latest from Nigel received this afternoon:

"Oops!

400nm out of Cabo Verde and all was going well. Keyword 'was.'

F6 gusting 7 and we'd been shifting along at 7.5kts with thoughts that we might make the crossing in about 14 days. 04.00 this morning and a big wave picked us up and dumped us beam to the wind. Ann turned the whell hard to avoid Tack but then came a bang and the mainsail came crashing down.

Long and short of it is that the shackle at the top of the mast gave way. The only way to fix it is to send someone up on the hoist. There's no prospect of that in current conditions, so we will bumble along on the Genoa and relax.

It's a shame to see the rest of the fleet catch us up and pass by but we are enjoying our time out here and who cares if we arrive late and miss the prize giving."

At 17.00 today Saul Goodman had dropped back to 40th overall. She was doing 6.1kts, had covered 480nm with 1625 to go. EDA 5 December. Captain and crew reported all well.

 

[IDAMAY]

I have had a few updates from Nigel and Ann.

One crew member volunteered to go up the mast to effect a repair on the mainsail hoist (forgive me if the terminology is incorrect). However I think vertigo took over at the first spreader so they have been proceeding under genoa only. I expect it has been supplemented by engine at times.

All is well and conditions are now good. I saw from the WCC website that another boat reported a water temperature of 24.5C which sounds fantastic from a late November UK day.

Ann reports that fishing has been largely unsuccesful but that flying fish have regularly deposited themselves on deck. The day before yesterday the most interesting thing they saw was a lump of seaweed drifting past. Yesterday was a lot better as they had company of a whale (unspecified type) for about three hours.


The only other incident of note was a split transom shower pipe. This deposited one full tank of water before being spotted. Fortunately Saul Goodman has a water maker.


At 12.00 today Saul Goodman had 873nm to go to St Lucia with an ETA of 6 December. She is lying 59th of 72 boats on the ARC+ Rally.

 

[jrudge]

Sounds good.

I have been looking for a while to make an alarm that goes off after x litres as I think one way or another most of us have had something like this happen. Split, tap left on, knocked one etc.

They must have been horrified!