I have had an ambition to cross an ocean under sail for
many years. I am now going to attempt to do it. (I do
fully expect to succeed; this is not very hare-brained).
I shall take part in the Arc 2000 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers
(http://www.worldcruising.com/arc/english.htm) which sails
from the Canaries to the West Indies, leaving Las Palmas
in mid November. It isn't safe to leave much sooner; you
have to wait for the hurricane season(*) to end. I shall
join the boat in Horta in the Azores. The boat is a 51 foot
cruiser owned by On Deck Sailing in Southampton. The
skipper is Dave Meacock who is capable and experienced
as a sailor and instructor at all levels. There should be six
of us in the crew - most of whom I have never met, so I
do hope we can all manage to get along!
I shall join the boat at Horta, in the Azores, where it is
now and sail it first to Las Palmas and then, along with
224 other boats across to St Lucia. We should be one
of the first to arrive as we are one of the longer boats.
I should be back in the UK some time around mid
December, depending on the winds.
If anyone knows of any good sessions in Horta, Las
Palmas or St Lucia let me know real quick. I shall be
gone early on Monday morning.
Laurie Griffiths
(*)
June - too soon,
July - stand by,
August - come she must,
September - remember,
October - all over
but as hurricanes are driven by convection and global warming means that the
upper atmosphere is cooler than it used to be (this has been measured) and
the lower atmosphere is likewise measurably warmer than it used to be,
October is no longer very safe.
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