Fish - Boat 1-0!!

Today something has been baited at a speed of 15 knots, that was a fight with unequal weapons. While the fish was pulling and jumping over, the crew was busy with dropping sails to reduce speed. So you can imagine the consequences.. before efforts were paid pack, the fish was already quietly darting in the depths of the ocean ...

Otherwise it was a quiet day, after jibing (finally) we started to gallop towards W with a steady wind between 25 and 30 knots: these are similar conditions, but a little less stressful, to those we had 200 miles to the North.

The unpleasant consideration is that a low pressure is growing in front of us: it looks like within 3 days a bubble of light wind will appear right at our latitude. We will pay high price for our decision to look for more comfortable situations. 

"Se confermata avremo preso un granchio di dimensioni colossali!!"

On the other side the routine settles as stomachs do, we have less “green faces” and Nicola puts much efforts in his delicious dishes that are beginning to be a little more rewarded. As you know, you get used to everything.

Right now on my screen a boat has pointing to us, it would seem someone from ARC because it is proceeding at a relevant speed: it's nice to see a light on the horizon in this universe of with crests ...

Ciao a tutti!

CAPE ARROW @ more than 19 kts!

We are sailing under jib and mainsail, in 20-30 TWS.

Conditions are not very compatible with our goal: racing with comforts... I am sure Blues Brothers crossed the Atlantic before writing their song:  Rolling Rolling Rolling....

Gennaker does not look the best sail to fish at an average of about 13-15 kts, especially if often surfing at 18-19-20 kts!! Bookmakers give Cape Arrow-Fishes 12:1.

Team Russia enjoys, although the sea state prevents our chef from expressing his potential; well, to be honest, sea conditions prevent everybody from fully appreciating his efforts.

Our Kiwi "tiny" representative confirms his consolidated offshore racing experience: he falls asleep as soon as he  stops manoeuvring.  In the other watch, Niki and Guido, entertain their mates so actively that nobody would be able to fall asleep!

Regrettably we report some problems with the guest Wifi. We will try to sort it out tomorrow.

A presto!

Cape Arrow Crew

"It is the weather, not work, that wears out sails"

Glide day aboard Cape Arrow: the sea and frequent squalls speeded us between 16 and 18 knots, but they allowed ​​us to also exceed 20 knots on a regular basis. 24 hours after the departure we have covered approx. 270 miles, with an average of more than 11 knots.

We are beginning to feel Atlantic waves strength, so we are enjoying the strong wind before it inevitably starts to reduce its intensity. Tomorrow we hope wind reaches 20 knots against the current 25-27, however we will do our best.

Greetings from all, see you at the next message.

.

"It is the weather, not work, that wears out sails" 

(Thomas Fleming Day)

UTC Time: 27. November 2012 20:15

Position: 27,27.3N , 21,20.2W

Speed: 13 knots, Course: 205 deg

Let's Go!

It's been 9 hours since the warning signal and we have already met different weather conditions. Before leaving Tenerife we were right in the middle of a violent disturbance with heavy rainfall and wind gusts.

The entire fleet, with the exception of Shenandoah, has decided to leave the island of Tenerife along its north side. We have decided to sail downwind with many jibes and then gradually sailing ever closer, to be able to pass the depression on its northern side and to hook trading winds.

N.Simoncelli's Credits

At 15:30 UTC we have finally tacked finding ourselves on route: at about 15 miles from La Palma Island which we are going to leave to the South.

N.Simoncelli's Credits

In a little while we'll bear up again gaining speed! Now weather conditions are enviable: we run fast with almost 15 knots stable wind, and Cape Arrow is amazingly enlightened by an almost full moon.

Thus in all this confusion, Nicola has managed to pull a lasagne tray out of the oven: they were superb but he was magnificent!

UTC Time: 26. November 2012 21:55

Position: 28,50.87N , 17,31.43W

Speed: 11 knots, Course: 279 deg.

Ready, Set, Go!

Just few hours left to the warning signal (UTC 1.05 PM)...

The Cape Arrow Crew and TEAM RUSSIA are ready to start this regatta!

Follow us with the Maxi Transatlantic Race online tracking system:

http://yb.tl/maxitransat2012

From Cape Arrow to base, communication #5

It’s the day we were waiting because wind came up on time: first as southeast lightweight which progressively started to rotate and grow as expected, then as the current 14-15 knots from the south -southwest.

All around us and has changed, and the signs of the cold front that we are going to meet are clear everywhere: the pressure drops steadily, the sky becomes  ​​gray with scattered squalls and rain.

But the sea stays clam, making us run fast through the sea even if we are  wet with rain.

Now we are waiting to cross the front around 20UTC, then we could put the bow on Tenerife, and finally see Cape Arrow really run with fresh winds from the west.

Everything is going well, except for  the horn (located on the shaft, under the radar) that last night has decided to abandon the bolts that use to hold it in place and then to hang from the air hose.

But Bruno took the bosun's chair and he safely brought the horn on deck: once arrived at our destination we will provide to fix it.

Greetings to all of you!

UTC Time: 14. November 2012 13:25

Position: 33,41.12N , 12,58.76W

Speed: 11 knots, Course: 252 deg

From Cape Arrow to Base, communication #4

Finally the Ocean, with all his wide-ranging waves coming from afar.

This morning we hit the so far expected wind, and now proceed at 9 knots to the waypoint that we have set. From tomorrow we will begin to feel the effects of an Atlantic depression that is approaching from the northwest, so we are not directing the bow to Tenerife but to a more west direction. This will allow us to exploit the rotation of the wind behind the cold front will, and to quickly arrive to our destination.

For the moment we enjoy the sunny day.

Greetings from the crew, we will back to you very soon.

UTC Time: 13. November 2012 15:24

Position: 34,38.42N , 9,15.80W

Speed: 9 knots, Course: 252 deg.

From Cape Arrow to base: communication #3

At the moment we cannot say that the Atlantic is putting us to the test.

Calm day and smooth sailing, the night is all about stargazing.

Nothing is missing, or almost: the wind is playing hard to get because even if the direction is perfect (North right now, since few hours from now) some more knots would be better. Now it’s only 8-9 knots.

But we are confident that tomorrow the wind will increase enough to give us a good day to sail many miles: we have plans to follow as close as possible.

Something else is going greatly: Nicola doesn’t miss a chance to prepare something delicious for all of us!

Now the most dangerous risk is to put on weight in a record time!

Cape Arrow greets you and wish you a good evening!

UTC Time: 12. November 2012 21:27

Position: 35,33.71N , 6,29.59W

Speed: 8 knots, Course: 236 deg.

From Cape Arrow to base: communication #2

By this time we stop Cape Arrow radio silence, only due to technical  exigencies. A day off in Malaga harbour to partially change our crew and to find shelter from a very strong  West that has hit the Alboran Sea till the early hours of this morning.

Once left the dock at Pier 1, at at 0519 UTC (yes, we are really picky) we begun to take a run: 65 miles separate Malaga from the alignment that links Europe to Africa. From Ceuta begins the Strait of Gibraltar, the Pillars of Hercules.

And the chase is real because at the first dawn lights Cape Arrow runs at 14knots,  with full mainsail and staysail, the bow exactly on course. The sky is amazing and so colourful, the air is thin and clear as on mountain top, the visibility is excellent as well.
In few hours we have been able to cover most of the distance, admiring all that surrounds us . We prompty take advantage of the subsequent decline of wind so we can prepare the equipment for the Atlantic, we are ready to sail under gennaker.

It is really hard to sail through the Strait in such favourable conditions, I can remember only three or four occasions like that in 30 times I have been here : a great start for Cape Arrow and all her crew!

Once in open ocean, winds and mild climate will be waiting for us at least for the next two days, but we will keep you updated.

Now I leave you.. you cannot see us but since we left, we have all been on deck, no one wants to miss the show: that’s four miles to the line...

UTC Time: 12. November 2012 11:28

Position: 36,9.77N , 5,13.74W

Speed: 8 knots, Course: 231 deg.

Welcome aboard!

This is the Cape Arrow personal blog, where you could attend at all our events, regattas and adventures that we will meet.

We hope you all will enjoy this time with us!

Cape Arrow team

"There is nothing more enticing, disenchanting, and enslaving than the life at sea." - Joseph Conrad