tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12277726140534111912024-03-13T03:23:17.982+00:00A Family's Adventures on the High SeasThis is the tale of a crazed ocean sailor, his wife, their two young children and their 65 year old yacht as they race across the Atlantic Ocean to cruise the Caribbean, Bahamas and Eastern Seaboard of the USA before returning home across The Pond.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger266125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-20758581961040782832013-08-25T12:11:00.001+01:002013-08-25T12:11:35.713+01:00Short AV of our Transat Classique 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Next one scheduled for January 2015 leaving Gibraltar - I wonder if we'll be there?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-9403968484771686282013-08-13T07:12:00.003+01:002013-08-13T07:12:27.432+01:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Croix des Gardes back at the Royal Harwich Yacht Club</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-37693620548204657362013-07-27T06:49:00.002+01:002013-08-02T08:00:55.822+01:00The Happy Return<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After Cowes, James had reached Eastbourne before the fine weather and the run of easterlies curtailed further progress. He hired a car and took the children home for the first time in nine months. A week later, the whole family (kids, wife, new au pair and cats) returned to <i>Croix des Gardes</i> to complete the trip and return home to East coast waters for the first time since 2011.<br />
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We planned an early start to run the flood to Dover and locked out at dead low. Sovereign Marina has been recently dredged to 2m and we should have had 50cm over astronomical low leaving a healthy four inch margin of water under the keel. In the lock, all was well and we allowed the visiting Dutch flotilla to leave first so we'd have more space to manoeuvre. Just as well - we left the lock and James commented that we actually had 1.5m under the keel and then instantly hit the bottom. We were no more than a boat length outside the lock gates and now stuck fast, blocking the lock. Fortunately, Sovereign have a second lock and were very apologetic as to the lack of charted depth. They sent out their work boat on the next lock and he nudged us off and we were under way.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aground just out the lock!</td></tr>
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It was lovely to be back on board after three months. The conditions were extremely light and we had a 'Caribbean' sail on smooth seas, warm air and turquoise water. E persuaded us that she didn't want to be on board any longer than necessary so we replanned to anchor in Ramsgate Roades for a few hours to wait for the tide and then continue soon after midnight on the ebb across the Thames Estuary. I have to say that sipping English Harbour rum in the cockpit off Ramsgate breakwater wasn't quite as I remembered from the Antilles!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The turquoise water of the English Channel</td></tr>
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The wind continued to drop and we motored and sailed out past North Foreland and into Black Deep. James took us through Foulger's despite new difficulties of picking the lit buoys among the city of new wind turbines, each showing a white at their base and a red at their masthead. By dawn, we were within sight of Felixstowe and home. I took us up the familiar Medusa Channel to Harwich shelf and we were back in the Orwell. The smooth waters, deep channel and gentle folds of the East Anglian landscape were even more beautiful after our absence and we reminisced over our voyage.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We even got the spinnaker up - and broached before we got it down again</td></tr>
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By 10am we were alongside at our home club of the Royal Harwich Yacht Club to see their fine new clubhouse. The kids played on the lawn and we tidied the decks ready for a weekend of celebration to mark the end of this voyage.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New crew on deck</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-67597185125391666772013-07-14T14:59:00.001+01:002013-07-14T14:59:44.978+01:00Cats, Cowes and Clogging!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After a fine passage up from Plymouth , via Dartmouth and Studland Bay, we stopped at Swanwick for a couple fo nights and picked up some fuel on Saturday before moving over to Cowes for the Panerai British Classic Yacht Club regatta. The new crew, Napoleon and Ensign seem to be settling in.<br />
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It was fantastic to see everyone again along with a great welcome from the club committee and membership. We where presented with a new club birgee, as the old one was on its last legs. The new one is defacted with an "A" at the fly distinguishing us as an Atlantic member. Another club boat, Swanilda received the same, in recognition of her Atlantic circuit in the same year.<br />
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We were also presented with a very nice pottery fruit bowl in pale blue and white, for the "Greatest Distance Travelled". Many thanks to the club for their support. It has been fantastic to depart the 2012 regatta, and return to the 2013 one having spent the entire time in comission and cruising.<br />
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With all those miles behind us we are now stuck in Cowes with the high pressure fuel injection pump off and awayin Southampton, thanks to water in the fuel. Not what you expect once you are back home! Thanks to the company doing the testing, we are here going on a week after they got the pump, despite promising a "48 hour turn around". Unimpressed.<br />
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PyroJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239082504341707016noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-56470379109845996282013-07-14T11:40:00.000+01:002013-07-14T11:40:34.600+01:00Some seatime photographs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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PyroJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239082504341707016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-39061993340437523822013-06-30T23:14:00.001+01:002013-06-30T23:14:32.446+01:00Crew Changes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We have settled down in Plymouth and the transatlantic crew have departed, back to their families and boyfriends, but we have two new crew that have joined us; Madamoiselle Ensign and General Napoleon. Two 3 month old kittens, one black tortoise shell (Mlle E) and one black (M. N).<br />
<br />
Full of playful kitteness, E thinks they are better than television!<br />
<br />
Cornelius and his family have made us wonderfully welcome in Plymouth, but time constraints mean w are off to Dartmouth in the morning for a couple of day and then the run up to Cowes.</div>
PyroJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239082504341707016noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-34914282658053680892013-06-28T09:58:00.001+01:002013-06-28T09:58:13.555+01:00Back in Old Blighty<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, we finally arrived in Plymouth to the welcome of Cornelius' family who came out at 0100 to stand on a headland and watch us in. Official arrival time of 00:41 on 28 June. 18 days 7 hours and 41minutes.<br />
<br />
All tired and now looking forward to a few relaxing days in Plymouth before heading for Cowes and the BCYC regatta.<br />
<br />
More to follow once we have sorted the boat out, cleaned up, showered etc.</div>
PyroJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239082504341707016noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-73474518465864383722013-06-27T22:11:00.002+01:002013-06-27T22:11:56.344+01:00Tonight or tomorrow?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
AIS website shows Croix des Gardes' last positoin before they drifted beyond the range of the base stations at 1951 BST.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-Q-fu6A_zAL5ISdCz_Nh3BDugMN_f3ZQriiaEJYU_cecwt2AEPZCnRalKYYX_MWlQHeeW7DrwM6SJKZYYSb1wHuFkMOCW8KaDOtE6IUh4oashJgMMUR0_NivJ-DSx6S7hDyMczvcdFs/s1106/20130627_position.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-Q-fu6A_zAL5ISdCz_Nh3BDugMN_f3ZQriiaEJYU_cecwt2AEPZCnRalKYYX_MWlQHeeW7DrwM6SJKZYYSb1wHuFkMOCW8KaDOtE6IUh4oashJgMMUR0_NivJ-DSx6S7hDyMczvcdFs/s640/20130627_position.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
This puts them with about 30nm to go but only doing 4.5kts. It's going to be a late night for the team.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-1203054190781105312013-06-27T15:34:00.001+01:002013-06-27T15:34:39.929+01:00SMS from 881631669242@msg.iridium.com1500 position 53 from Plymouth entrance.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-44153785833560723882013-06-27T12:56:00.001+01:002013-06-27T12:56:53.679+01:00SMS from 881631669242@msg.iridium.comNoon position 49 49n 5 46w. Just off Lands End. spinnaker up first this passage.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-73673822925871617162013-06-27T00:33:00.001+01:002013-06-27T00:33:27.191+01:00Anticipated Return<div dir="ltr">For those of you eagerly awaiting news on Croix des Gardes and her crew as she approaches the UK today, the AIS Marine Traffic website has not yet spotted her our side of The Pond. We worked out that we had to be within 5nm of a base station to be 'seen'. There are stations on the Scillies and at The Lizard. James should pass close enough to the former to be picked up sometime early this morning - the latest positions and speeds suggest between 7am and 9am - and they should then be tracked pretty much all the way in.<br> <br>AIS also shows the steady stream of ships making their way up and down the Channel as well as a small hadnful of other yachts approaching from the Atlantic so she should be in good company.<br><br><a href="http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/">http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/</a><br> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-5565382354918894532013-06-26T18:36:00.001+01:002013-06-26T18:36:26.999+01:00SMS from 881631669242@msg.iridium.com1800 position 49 32n 7 55wUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-25842808445393349802013-06-26T13:20:00.001+01:002013-06-26T17:01:03.110+01:00SMS from 881631669242@msg.iridium.com<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Noon position 49 26n 08 35w. light north wind four over the ground.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching the lights of the Scillies and Cornwall</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-15362547827556668002013-06-25T20:46:00.001+01:002013-06-26T07:11:19.988+01:00Position 1900 Day 16<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Position 1900 49 15n 11 02w<br />
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From this position, CdG is making 6kts again with winds forecast on the beam until they arrive. They are now over the continental shelf and should pass their first 'land' overnight Wednesday as they sail south of Bishop Rock Lighthouse. They reach Land's End and The Lizard shortly after that and should be inshore all the way to an arrival in Plymouth on Thursday evening.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-35962299103671787022013-06-25T17:08:00.001+01:002013-06-25T17:08:20.110+01:00SMS from 881631669242@msg.iridium.comnoon position 49 11n 12 11w. NNW 4 and almost sunny!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-68487878873365850672013-06-25T13:24:00.001+01:002013-06-25T13:24:57.351+01:00SMS from 881631669242@msg.iridium.comnoon day 25, 49 11n 12 11w. now in light north winds doing 5 6 knots towards Bishops Rock. sent direct from phone. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-12497635084141471312013-06-24T19:11:00.001+01:002013-06-24T19:11:32.446+01:00Evening Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Just spoke with the crew of Croix des Gardes. They have just passed 49.02N 14.57W which led to much celebration as they are now officially within the shipping forecast! James plans to arrive at Mayflower marina in Plymouth and will get them to arrange the customs clearance. If anyone is around that area, theyd appreciate visitors.<br />
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Cornelius is still feeling less than optimum but is coping, whilst Lidia seems to be OK but James is concerned that she barely seems to eat anything.<br />
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The children have been making dens in their cabin - the foc'sle - despite the fact that it must be pitching wildly. Elizabeth says I'd like the sailing right now as it's smooth and they're going really fast. Matthew had little to say, as usual, but thanked me for buying him a movie he'd asked for and wanting more details about the newly restyled loft complete with TV and DVD player. Neither of them were frightened in the storm but said it was a bit wild and tiring.<br />
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James is off to make supper now. They've had pizza a couple of times but Elizabeth says it's been mainly curry and she's fed up of curry now. Next update tomorrow and comments passed on to crew verbally. Sweepstake stands so long as everyone pays in!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-83681359832028977182013-06-24T17:17:00.002+01:002013-06-24T17:17:36.140+01:00Day 15 - seas smoother<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Noon position 48.55N 15.51W and "<i>all well. Wind west by northwest force 4</i>" although at 6am the report was "<i>still rough</i>". This position means that by now they have finally left the Met Office "High Seas" area and are now within the realms of that familiar monologue, the "shipping forecast". If anyone finds themselves unable to sleep at 5.20am BST or 00.48am with Radio 4 tuned, then listen out for area "Sole" (comes after Biscay, Trafalgar, Fitzroy). Alternatively, you can click this <a href="http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/marine/shipping_forecast.html#All~Sole" target="_blank">Met Office link</a>.<br />
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They have 460nm to run and made only 4.7kts average last night but picked up again to 6.4kts this morning. ETA now 5pm Thursday with pleasant forecasts as high pressure builds over the UK from the Azores.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-26619938748994509042013-06-23T16:17:00.000+01:002013-06-23T18:01:21.579+01:00Latest Position Day 14<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
James phoned in at 3pm BST - all well. Position at 7am was 48.21N 20.30W. This puts them significantly slower over night (back at 4.7kts) and with 650nm to Plymouth. Tomorrow afternoon they should cross 15W which puts them back inside the UK Shipping Forecast areas and officially off the "High Seas" so I'm very excited to be able to send them a more familiar forecast then.<br />
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Forecast is W'ly 20kts tomorrow (Mon), N'ly 10kts Tuesday, NE'ly 10kt Wednesday, N'ly 10kts Thursday and NW'ly 15kts Friday. Still looking like a Thursday or Friday arrival.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-90977664535751712552013-06-22T11:16:00.001+01:002013-06-22T13:36:32.538+01:00Position Day 13<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Text from CdG:<br />
<div>
Position 47.50N 23.24W</div>
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No other news on how crew or boat are faring but forecast is for conditions to moderate rapidly through today and into next week.<br />
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Update at 1330:<br />
James amanaged to ring on SatPhone. He hasn't been receiving any texts either so a verbal weather forecast was passed. He explained that the damage at the stern had happened during a double crash gybe. Croix des Gardes was picked up by a big wave and went surfing off down the front. Cornelius saw a speed of 24kts on the GPS as it happened. As she went, the preventer snapped and the main gybe over and back again and they think the sheet got caught round the stern and that took off the stern light and satphone aerial. The event only lasted a few seconds and they dropped the main straight afterwards.<br />
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Other than that, the sail is no longer chafing and all are looking forward to a bit less wind. They said it only really started to blow hard when the NW'ly came through and they're still in 20kts NW'ly with a forecast for it to back and decrease soon. The children are all fine and Elizabeth was reportedly in James' bunk eating porridge. Only one bunk is properly wet! </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-37359152281250410372013-06-22T02:26:00.002+01:002013-06-22T02:26:57.567+01:00Lost Comms<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Message from Croix des Gardes - they have lost the marine pack aerial for the satellite phone and also the USB interface through wave action and salt wate ingress but at the moment the text message function still works. As such they shall no longer be able to update you all here nor read any comments until they make landfall - however do keep them coming as they'll be able to catch up next week.<br />
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I shall continue to send them what weather info I can and shall post here each time I hear from them. Their last position had them 870nm to run and sitting out the last of the storm.<br />
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Sarah</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-15817749391600347882013-06-21T22:13:00.000+01:002013-06-21T22:18:34.127+01:00Day 12, another galeSW gales given over to NW gales and 6-8 m seas. All crew unimpressed and waiting for the "moderating".
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<br>Two crash gybes in heavy seas have taken out the stern light and the external satphone aerial. Now running under staysail only and doing 5-7 knots. Another uncomfortable night ahead.
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<br>Position at 2000
<br>47 39N 24 49W
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<br>--Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-2814443015640167442013-06-21T14:36:00.000+01:002013-06-21T15:13:37.579+01:00Noon, Day 12Position
<br>47 31 N 26 02W
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<br>All feeling a bit jaded after last nights blow. Lots of rolling, lots of water over the decks, still putting the gunnels under on the bigger rolls. Seas runing at about 6m. Wind 6-7, but teh sky is clearing and the centre of the low might be past.
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<br>--Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-20050173772569233102013-06-21T07:43:00.000+01:002013-06-21T09:45:29.537+01:00Dawn, Day 12<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A bit of a wild night, but running with triple reefed main and some of the genny poled out. Averaging between 7 and 8 knots. Reasonably sized sea at about 4m and lots of breaking crest. Plenty of water over the decks and in the cockpit. More to come I suspect.
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<br />
Position at 05 40 local
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46 30N 27 10W<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CdG took a course change south overnight to avoid the worst of the storm - averaging 7.6kts with 940nm to run</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1227772614053411191.post-77477149887717508682013-06-20T19:07:00.000+01:002013-06-20T19:08:59.983+01:00Evening, Day 1Clocks changed and wind building up, so an early even update.
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<br>Position at 17:05 local (GMT -1)
<br>47 11N 29 31W
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<br>Wind F6, SSW Seas about 3-4 m
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<br>Good speed and comfortable with 2 reefs and a heavily rolled genoa.
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<br>--Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1