Transatlantic Passage

[rbgarr]

My big brother recently signed aboard as delivery crew on a 47' Amel ketch. The four of them left Portsmouth, New Hampshire for Gibraltar via the Azores shortly before the recent no'theaster that claimed Ian's GRANA.

Here are a few lines he sent us via SailMail:

"We've had variable conditions since Saturday but nothing like the winds we had at the start when we were all getting our sealegs and fighting off seasickness. Monday was a terrific sailing day with plenty of sun, following winds, dolphins, and seabirds. We've entered the Gulf Stream where it splits into the North Atlantic Current (on to England) and the Azores Current. We have been out of wind but carried toward our destination (Horta) by the current alone. A good sized storm is heading from south to north ahead of us, and we should catch some of it tomorrow. It will take us in the right direction if its course and winds continue as they are going now. We are about 1300 miles from Horta. Something killed the radar last night and it is out of commission until we get to Horta if not longer, but that is not a real problem as long as we keep proper lookouts.

Getting plenty of sleep. I understand there was a storm along the NE coast that was a mess."

--------------------------------------------------

"We started sailing*back on our track toward the US about 24 hours ago to avoid that storm, but turned back again about 2 hours ago. Thus we missed getting whacked by 50-60 mph winds by about 120 miles, which would have had serious consequences. Cap has good judgment. We all sat around the galley table last night reviewing our planning for what we would do if such and such were to happen, etc. So, we are now back on course but about two days behind where we were when we made our first U-turn. It's still cold, with 0-25 knot winds and pretty good sized waves, but otherwise nice sailing.* We'll start to get warm*in a couple of days when we get*in the heart of the southern arm of the Gulf Stream. Then we can take off these snow suits. We've only changed our clothes and washed once since we started out, and can only prepare one real (hot) meal a day. Otherwise it's PB&J sandwiches all around."

There are no pictures, but I'll send along updates as I get them if anyone is interested.

[Alan D. Hyde]

A good post, Dave.

Thank you.

I'd appreciate more, including photos later if available.

Alan

[rbgarr]

Here is a link to some pictures of a sistership to the sailboat he's aboard:

http://yachtworld.com/core/listing/pl_boat_full_detail.jsp?slim=quick&boat_id=1368828&units=Feet&currency=USD&access=Pub lic&listing_id=51350&url=

[PatCassidy]

I've got Horta photos from being there last year:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y267/Pat558/051904-Faial005.jpg

Yuo can barely make out the marina.

[rbgarr]

They should have made it into Horta yesterday afternoon (Azores Time) after a variable passage: long periods of powering in windless, cool, gray weather and sloppy waves alternating with beating into 30-40 knots winds in 12-15 foot seas under storm canvas. It's taken them quite a bit longer to get to Harta than they'd planned and we hope to hear more details about the trip via telephone before they leave for Gibraltar.

[bamamick]

That's probably the one sailing adventure that I'd like to do that odds are I'll never get to.

A trans-Atlantic voyage. Sounds great. As much as I hate sleeping (or not sleeping, which is more often the case) on a boat, I'd do it for a chance like that.

Great post. I love this stuff.

Mickey Lake

[rbgarr]

I was tempted to forward the King Neptune photo of Horta harbor from the "Bugger It!" thread to others in my family but it would have scared the bejeezus out of them. As it was, the transit took seventeen days of cold to cool motoring in sloppy cross-seas and beating into, retreating from and heaving to in some extended heavy weather. They never had any shorts and t-shirt weather, but saw a good bit of wildlife. It sounds like they may have tied up with mere fumes in the diesel tanks.

My brother says "It's been very interesting and he's glad he's been aboard such a sturdy vessel with a cap't who keeps his worst concerns from the crew while keeping us prepared." He also says will have had enough of it for a while when they reach Gib. The voyage is one he's fancied doing in his retirement for years but only signed on for a few months ago, so it came together pretty fast.

The crew for the crossing was two older guys in their sixties and two women (everyone unrelated). The youngest woman, an aerobics/yoga instructor and gymnast has been a bit distracting. :cool:

[ 06-18-2005, 08:55 AM: Message edited by: rbgarr ]

[rbgarr]

Update: Apparently as they entered Horta the weather was a bit dicey, so when they approached the dock yachties from other boats assembled to help with/watch their maneuvering and docking. My brother reported that the docking was so smooth everyone applauded them. I imagine he was chuffed.

[ 06-19-2005, 07:27 PM: Message edited by: rbgarr ]

[rbgarr]

They got to Gibraltar from Horta (800 miles) but it took them a week and they had lots of broken gear and a fuel pump failure on the way.

My brother was glad to get in and will be travelling aorund Spain (Cordoba, Seville) for a bit before he heads home to ply his new skills on coastwise cruises aboard his H-28.

Still no word from Magwitch??

[ 06-26-2005, 02:07 PM: Message edited by: rbgarr ]

[Billy Bones]

Thanks for the updates to the story of your brother's crossing.

Originally posted by rbgarr:


Still no word from Magwitch??I've been curious about Ian too. Still, I suppose we're not at the top of his update list.

ACB is close to Ian, both literally and figuratively, I recall. If he hasn't been run off, maybe he has some news.

[rbgarr]

It sounds like the weather Magwitch encountered in the Bay of Biscay may have extended Atlantic-wide in June. From my brother, now back in the US:

"The trip to Gibraltar was not great from a weather point of view, but a great experience nonetheless,,,glad I did it, never do it again, etc, etc. Had full confidence in captain and boat, which helped me avoid scary moments. Some of the scrambling around on deck in the gales was hairy, but not fundamentally unsafe. It seems winter weather patterns persisted into May-June, very unusual.

The only other unusual item was the extracurricular activities between the captain and one of the crew - the personal trainer/yoga instructor/ex-gymnast, cute as a button one. And the captain was just married a month before we sailed to another woman who has since flown over to join him...."

Ah yes, life aboard a small ship!

[ 07-02-2005, 07:10 AM: Message edited by: rbgarr ]