Azores trip with a solid crew

Hi folks

It is my intention to publish on this Blog some of these retrospective trips then continue with the daily and weekly bits that come up from time to time and this is one from awhile ago, this trip was 2 years ago.

Antigua to Azores Gibraltar and the South of France

 Below: That's Brother surveying all.

Well another Atlantic crossing completed, it’s difficult when we are snug in a comfortable berth to remember what it was really like but this time I can say it was bloody awful!!

We left Antigua on the Rhum Line for Horta in the Azores, the crew, Myself, Jane, Dave Benton and Brother!! Yes that’s right Brother, we were a bit light weight but with two relatively experienced crew I figured that Brother would hold his own and there was little or no work for him in Antigua so why not eh?

The Crew for those of you who do not know them:-

"Brother" alias Edwin Walwyn Ralph is a black Antigun guy who has been helping me in Antigua for years, his capacity for hard work and laughter is legendary and having worked on the boat off and on through the season he at least knows where everything is because he helped stow it.
Dave Denton nicknamed by a previous crew the “Constant Gardener” because he is constantly doing something, he’s a good climber so is up the mast checking and adjusting before problems arise, he is also a good engineer and love’s reading Manuals   

Jane McMinn a veteran of another Atlantic crossing the other way, who was determined to complete this trip regardless of what it takes, Jane has a small power boat in Scotland which dose fishing charters and trips. Her idea is to eventually buy a  largish sailing boat to sail the Caribbean et al. She has produced some memorable meals which have helped ease the pressure in the galley for the trip.

Well we left the Caribbean in some pretty lousy weather, strong head winds and torrential rain for about 12 hours it was horrible, this was followed by more mixed conditions, then a double header low pressure system came through our track and we had every thing except snow. At the worst the winds were at 50 to 55 knots with some gusts higher the seas were like the Brecon Beacons and they say 8 to 10 meters but the saving graces were one!, it was a following sea and two!, it was on our track for the Azores. Our tactic was to reduce sail down to 50% of the staysail and our speed was topping out at 14 knots surfing off some of the waves but mostly a steady 10 Knots. The boat performed well just a few minor cracks in the facade, and we lost the spinnaker pole over the side, Oh! yea and a big sea dumped on us and crushed the spray hood.

Our weather routers were trying to persuade us to detour to Madeira as a safer option, but the thought of beating up to the straights of Gibraltar from there was a diabolical thought, so I told them on the Sat phone to go away and pray for something better.

The crew knew it was going to be OK when in the worst of the weather Dolphins were cavorting through the big waves; they stayed with us off and on for the whole trip to Horta. The 2000 plus nautical miles completed in just over 9 days.

As is often the fact the worst moments for me was the approach to Horta and the relatively narrow seaway between there and Pico, the seas were building, with some at 15/18 metres we managed to slowly crab across the seas and in behind the Caldera at about half a cable away. Then all was peaceful as we crept into Fial and the well trodden venues of this sailors, Atlantic staging post. Food at the hot brick and 24 hours sleep.

Our trip was marred by the news that a boat behind us on the crossing lost a man overboard in the heavy weather, poor folk could not get there engine started to get back to the guy. A chopper and a fixed wing went out to assist from Punta Del Garda but there was no sign of the guy. It only serves to remind us, that the sea can be a deadly place. I am always reminded when preparing a boat for a long passage of the seven P’s

“prior planning and preparation, prevents piss poor performance.”

Then fill up with fuel and away again heading for the straits of Gibraltar and then France.But not before had painted the boats missive on the dock!! It is considered bad luck not too!!!.

For those who don’t know the boat is a CNB 77’ very pretty and seaworthy.

Left the channel between Horta and Pico The mountain in calm weather.Full moon what could be better?...

Florida V

Oyster 66

Dominican Republic to Nassau then Newport RI. Two

When I was asked if I wanted to be involved and possibly skipper this Oyster 66, I was in Newport Rode Island shipyard rummaging around in a large container belonging to the Gunboat Pheado, a 65’ rocket about to compete in the North Atlantic race. The idea being to pack their gear away for shipment to Southampton UK., that way, the guy I was helping, my great friend Rolly Bennett and I could have some time together before he went to South Africa and I went back to UK to start teaching for Southern sailing.
Bearing in mind that it is the hurricane season, a time when few sane sailors will venture out of their comfortable marinas! I of course said yes please!

The trip was to be in two legs the Dom Republic to Nassau in the Bahamas, with the current skipper in charge, where the official transfer of ownership took place, then on up to Newport for some work to be done prior to the Owner and his family joining the boat for a cruise at the end of August.

Unusual airport transfer.

I am often sceptical of a vessel which has been up for sale for two years, especially when it is been kept in a hot humid climate like the DR. I was to be pleasantly surprised; both by the Island and the quality set-up.

I was transferred to this beautiful Marina in a smart land cruiser driven by a guy with 9mm automatic in his waste band! I was told he carries it always because he is in the Navy!? Having been around weapons for some of my life I was unsure as to if he was my protector or I was his prisoner. Maybe I thought the boat was so bad they expected me to turn and run.

The boat when we arrived was without doubt very well presented, clean, the deck recently sanded, fuelled crewed and ready to go. The sea trials completed before I arrived threw up some issues and except for a serious problem with the Hydraulic sail handling “there was none” we were off the dock and away.

The Crew were something else!

The skipper for the first part of the trip was Carlos the Cuban, an amiable and competent seaman, always smiling and willing to help, the drawback he could not speak English, the owner, Steve who was joining us up to Nassau had a novel way of communicating with him, he used to speak to him in Italian which seemed to work, me I just adopted the old method of speaking louder and some sign language. Carlos has a fascinating history he used to be the boat master for Raoul Castro, Fidel’s brother, the guy now in charge of Cuba. As they say, scratch the surface of any man and there is a story, it is a pity he had to leave in Nassau otherwise we could have explored his colourful history deeper.

Then there is Toni Torres the proverbial jack of all trades, and he thinks the master of all, an OK chef/cook, and maintenance man constantly looking for work, agile in the rigging, but with a biased opinion on all things, his energy was wearing, just to watch him was tiring and his basic seamanship was non existent, totally dependent on electronic navigation, His opinion was always the only way to do things. He would change the fuel filters and half an hour later produce a sushi dinner made from scratch, every boat should have a crew member with Toni’s energy but they should all come with a muzzle and re-education to make them understand that both Yes and No are complete sentences. He slowly became my confidant and when we came to the end of the delivery I had hoped we could have had a heart to heart, but that was not to be the case, his decision to drink himself into loud oblivion the moment we were along side precluded any further chat. There is no basis for future work together.

His other talent is that he is the on board fisherman, he did not endear himself to me however when he woke me up in the middle of a deep sleep to tell me he had at last caught a reasonable Wahoo and a small Dorado but he was soon forgiven when it appeared on the plate thirty minutes later.

The other member of the crew is Greg, aboard for his additional local knowledge I have sailed on one short trip to Maine with him before. He has skippered a few boats since getting his Yachtmaster ticket. I wanted him on this trip because his last boat was an Oyster and I guessed that he would be in touch with the systems and in some ways that has proved a blessing. He was paid off in Newport.

 The Trip

Several weeks earlier I did a similar trip” Ironically on another Oyster” albeit a 56’ that time from Antigua via Bermuda to Newport that was a incident free comfortable ride even though the weather was sometimes a bit lumpier. The degree of comfort and air conditioned splendour on this larger vessel together with its increased length and the benign weather conditions have been great. I must say however that I have missed Alex and my old mate the half man half mattress Pete Mac with the tall stories and solid back-up.

I was beginning to think that there was no wild life left but for the last few days ending the trip we have seen Whales and dolphins galore, not to mention a Wahoo and a Dorado. In Nassau we managed to fix the hydraulics for the furling except the main out haul which we will be addressed in Newport together with some other issues.

Well I have been told by the owner that he has now appointed a full time couple to run the boat, so I wish him and the new crew the very best of luck for the future.

 

Antigua ...Home...

Antigua 05.06.11

Welcome to Taff's blog, the intention of this blog is to be informative and to give regular updates on what I am doing.
I hope that it will be helpful to people who are interested in distance sailing or working through the RYA and ASA syllabus. Many of you will be aware I have completed many Atlantic crossings and at least five ARC's that is the Atlantic Rally for cruisers.
These years of experience I would hope will benefit the reader. During the winter season in Antigua I am involved with various companies including On Deck and Horizon (Antigua) in their teaching programmes. I also enjoy the opportunity to often do short and long deliveries which people may be interested in joining from time to time. It is my intention to record some of these experiences from the past and in the future, in a relaxed and sometimes funny way seldom to criticise and often to encourage.

I will close with this:

Happy is the man and happy he alone. He who secure within can say, tomorrow do your worst for I have lived today.

Fair winds safe sailing Taff.

Hi Folks,

Well a long time since I sent out a newsy type letter to let you know what has happened and what is planned.

As some of you know I have been in Antigua for the whole season starting in November 2010 I was here for the Antigua Charter Show where every available berth was taken up with every imaginable charter vessel from the 77 Metre Maltese Falcon to smaller charter yachter boats down to fifty feet. It was superbly organised with lots of promotions and parties.

Next came the RORC Caribbean a six hundred mile race around the northern Islands, with fantastic winds the fleet breaking records with the winner, Rambler clear winner over Leopard by six hours. This race is now a must do for ocean racers, well up there with the Fastnet and the Sydney to Hobart. Each year see’s a bigger and bigger entry. The remainder of the season has been the usual round of Classics racing, Heineken, the St Barts Bucket and of course Antigua Sailing week, the latter being less of a spectacle than in the past mainly because the organisation is not very good.

Well that’s the background now a bit about me.

I started the season with no regular boat having finished last year with Swallows and Amazons I went back to teaching with Southern Sailing in the UK and really enjoyed it.

I came out again to this lovely island and decided that I would look for work doing deliveries and some teaching, in fact when ever I asked, people offered me jobs so in fact I have been embarrassed by so much work.

My main stream of employment has been for On Deck a UK based company teaching the non tidal RYA syllabus out here, I have also qualified to teach the A.S.A system this is the American Sailing Academy used by Horizon a great charter company I have been working for based in Jolly Harbourwhich has been different and fun.

I have also delivered boats to Fort Lauderdale, three from St Kitts, one from St Thomas in the USVi’s and several from St Martin. The season has all but finished here and I am finishing my last three weeks work then I am taking an Oyster 54 Gwylan (welsh for seagull) up to Bermuda then Maine in the USA then its home to the UK and a bit of this and that.

From time to time I answer direct emails from those of you who write and I am on skype the name is taffpearce .

I have just been reminded that today is the official start of the hurricane season, I shall be leaving here on the 12^th of June with weather routing by Commanders weather with a passage time of 14/16 days, I will route near Bermuda in case I need fuel. Failing that I will go into Newport Rhode Island to clear customs then it is only a day or so up to Maine via the Cape Cod Canal. I will aim to be back in UK the first week of July.

I have come to realise that there are no answers to life issues and problems, only understanding. Over the past years life has dealt me some funny moments, some crass ones of my own making but others; well how the hell have I survived? That I do know now and understand is that every day is a bonus, I wake and that’s a great start, I am working in an industry I love, at my age how many can say that?

It’s surprising how many people go through life without recognising their feelings toward others are largely determined by their feelings towards themselves. I suppose if I am not comfortable with myself. I will find it difficult to be comfortable with others.

The definition of a gentleman"Someone who knows how to play the bagpipes but dosent"

To Maine with Taff

Isn’t life great?

You may or may not have read the book by Griff Reece Jones called To the Baltic with Bob. As I remember it Bob was a rather sad miscreant soul who preferred the company of the bottle than his fellow crew, he like Griff were rather miss cast, but survived the meandering journey, just.

Well this trip from Antigua to Maine was the antithesis of that trip. It was mostly characterised by laughter and ribald fun and jokes. That is how in brief terms this journey is recorded.
The crew, a not too subtle blend of the aged and the youthful. The aged fogies task to know roughly which buttons to press on the plotter and thus help influence the best route through, taking careful regard of wind angles and heeling moments so that tea is never spilt, also to help disseminate the weather information provided by our posh weather routers “Commanders weather”. Every wind shift was carefully assessed analysed before doing exactly what they told us.

The nipper on board is young Alex, I call him young because he is seventeen and it irritates him to be junior (although he never shows it) This young articulate adult is looked up to by his peers and adults alike. He is contemplative, seldom wasting words. He is on this voyage because his formal education is finished and the informal magical collage of life takes over, for him this takes the form of the sea. He is already a knowledgeable and fearless fisherman and free diver. His thirst for anything nautical is sponge like, ready to absorb the still wondrous and sometimes fickle elements of boats and the sea. He is a great guy, on time for watches and learning slowly that a tidy boat is an efficient and safe boat. His patience and skill at fishing is rewarded when he lands a fabulous twenty five pound Wahoo on a hand line!! Fantastic eating!!
Then we have our other mature and fairly mellow mariner as first mate.The epitome of an old sea dog, resplendent with beard and necklace of sea shells. This is topped by a pair of blue, blue eyes and a fund of fact and fiction of sea lore, laced with humour. This is our mate Peter Mac, sort of half man, half mattress. He can sleep for eight hours then rise like Billy goat gruff, or a wraith and cook his interpretation of a gourmet meal, the said meal mostly arrives on the plate! accompanied with its unique blend of garlic and sweat, he even remembers the salt sometimes. By far the best meals are those pre prepared and frozen by Alex’s Mum, Nancy.

And then there is me and one of the most enjoyable delivery trips, with few problems and light-ish  winds. That blend of the Full and Bye and the steady plod of the Yanmar iron spinnaker. The boat has been a dream to sail and quite quick. I shouldn’t be surprised at the turn of pace and dogged reliability, because at one time I used to own one, and enjoyed its safe and comfortable ways on many a trip.

 We have had to rely quite heavily on the fossil for this trip but as they say “time is money and we must keep moving at a reasonable lick.

Quotation of the trip

“You should try every thing once, except incest and Morris dancing”

Taff

23 06 11