Lanzarote Information

By popular request, and as we couldn’t publish one of the Transglobe Yacht’s blogs without letting the other two have their say, here is the Navy’s account of their crossing on the yacht Adventure and arriving first “with honours” at Puerto Calero in Lanzarote.

Adventure’s Blog – Day 4, Tuesday 14^th July

Day four, the fruits on the turn and so are some of the crew, with initial bouts of seasickness a distant memory the Doc is happy to report a reduction in reported cases of toilet hugging despite lumpy seas in the Bay of Biscay.

Our mother watches have been doing a great job with the food, with such culinary delights as beef jalfrezi, chilli, enchiladas and the matelots favourite pot mess with optional tabasco sauce. Its safe to say that the crew of Adventure like it hot, and good food is a surefire boost to team moral.

Leaving the solent via the Needles was with strong winds on the nose and there has been little let up since then. It would be fair to say that the sea had thrown its all at yacht Adventure and its brave crew, but when tested they did not come up short.

For we the 14 crew of Adventure, this band of merry men (plus Mandy) have but one goal and one goal alone. That is to see this vessel safely along side at its destination. Once there to regroup, pause a while and await the arrival of our comrades in arms aboard the yachts Discovery & Challenger, where we will give a cheer and any assistance necessary, such is the spirit of Adventure and its crew.

But for now Adventure bids you all a fare thee well and happy sailing.

Adventure out.

CREW SHOUT OUTS:

Hi to Nicky Bean from Tim p.s don’t get to used to having all the bed xxx

Hello to Zoe, from Ed, have a nice trip to Wales.

Adventure’s Blog – Day 5, Wednesday 15th July

Despite the imminent turning of the fruit we have, thus far, managed to stave off the scurvy.

The day started a little quieter than the previous two, with winds distinctly lighter and the seas a little calmer. The past couple of days have seen every watch (inc. the Skipper and Mate) soaked in salt water. The Bay of Biscay delivered everything it promised: rough seas, a force eight and a consistent beat to windward. Whilst exhilarating and challenging, it also proved to be very tiring which becomes evident when trying to carry out the more mundane of tasks. Getting dressed to go on watch can take up to twenty minutes. Simply going to the toilet can be at best time consuming, normally laborious, and occasionally quite painful. Even getting into bed requires a certain amount of forethought, planning and careful execution.

We are now making our way under blue skies towards Cape Finisterre with a feeling that we have left the worst of the weather behind. The mood has changed noticeably; the shift in the weather lifting morale and putting a smile on everyone’s face.

The mother watches have continued to surpass expectations from the galley. The blue watch flavour fusion (delivered courtesy of Gavin, Ed, Tim and Mandi) delighted us with an excellent tomato and bacon carbonara (??), whilst tonight’s speciality desert, driven by Pete and Dan, was a chocolate banana custard (warm of course).

Our banana mountain has finally receded to a manageable level, and the danger of being crushed at the saloon table by thirty five kilos of bananas breaking free has finally diminished.

High point of the day: Frequent visits from schools of dolphins that played around the yacht keeping us company for a while.

Adventure out.

CREW SHOUT OUTS:

From Dan: Hi to my two beautiful girls, Nic and Maysie xx

From Dave: Hugs and kisses to Lalotte, Helm and Mrs C. xxx

From Mike: Loads of love to gorgeous Helen

From Stephen: To Andi, hope the new job’s going well, lots of love x

From Pete/Dad: Sending all the Roberts clan all my love, hugs and kisses x

From Colin: Love to my beautiful wife and my three irritating children xxxx

Adventure’s Blog – Day 6, 16th July

Things are looking up on the Royal Navy’s yacht Adventure!

Yesterday we passed out of the infamous Bay of Biscay where we had been assaulted by gale force winds and high seas. The crew had been tested and sailed hard. Sail changes, reefing the mainsail, cooking, cleaning and running repairs were amongst the challenges – all at 15 degrees from vertical and wet through!

Now, having passed the picturesque Cape Finisterre the sun has come out, literally. The wind has, finally, come around and we are racing along with the spinnaker up for the first time. Dolphins have joined us too!

 

Best of all is the news we are streaking ahead of the Army and RAF boats. There is a long way to go on our sociable sail but look forward to welcoming our comrades to Lanzarote when they join us alongside.

Spaghetti Bolognaise with garlic bread for dinner should finish a good day of sailing. More from HMSTC Adventure tomorrow Shipmates!

Adventure’s Blog – Day 7, Friday 17th July

After a night spent in relative comfort with a reef in the main and the No 1 Yankee pulling us along, the Skipper shook us back in into ‘racing’ mode with a 0645 cry of “Get that spinnaker up!”. In just 20 mins White Watch and the Mate had the heavy spinnaker up and the speedo regularly registering over 10 knots.

The forenoon was spent racing down the Portuguese coast. With a steady 25 knots on our starboard quarter Lisbon was in our wake by mid afternoon and we passed the 600 miles to go mark. With the sun out the crew took the chance to soak up some rays or do a little laundry whilst off watch.

Lunch was inspired by local cuisine; tasty Moroccan cous cous. Sadly it was a little light on quantity but the Purser produced some extra chocolate from his “not on board store” and a mutiny was averted. Tensions had already been running high after breakfasting (or not!) of burnt porridge, so the pressure was on Blue Watch to produce the goods at supper. Thankfully freshly cooked popadums with mango chutney followed by lamb dopiaza with rice and naan bread topped off by strawberry trifle fitted the bill.

After supper, the now recharged and rejuvenated crew set about repacking the dropped spinnaker before settling into their watches, having set the No 1 Yankee poled out to port for the night.

CREW SHOUT OUTS:

From Gavin To Emma sorry about loss of reception and a happy anniversary for yesterday xxx

From Dave hugs and snuggles to Larlotte, Helm and Misses C.

From John a big hi to the McHarrie clan.

Adventure’s Blog – Day 8, Saturday 18th July

White Watch started the day once again in racing mode. With white horses racing high above Adventure’s tail, we maintained high speeds peaking at 14 kts through the water. The sterling efforts of White Watch ensured we had increased our lead over the RAF and the Army over night, despite Neptune’s attempts to impede our progress (the other watches also helped (a bit!)). Crazy Dave, the 1^st Mate, learnt an important lesson after failing to fully secure for sea, affecting the ship’s water tight integrity which resulted in a wet chino and blazer combination. During White Watch’s roller coaster ride, Pete ‘Petrified’ Roberts took the helm in some of the most arduous sailing conditions known to man. This was a short lived experience as the Skipper strongly suggested he ‘might not want to be on the wheel’. Pete then assumed his usual white knuckle grip, on his knees position in the bottom of the cockpit.

White Watch have now taken a deserved break after their heroic efforts during the testing conditions, assuming the cooking responsibilities. So you can rest assured exquisite culinary delights await the crew of Adventure over the next 24 hours. Luckily the conditions have abated so Red and Blue watch can resume upper deck duties.

Adventure Out!

CREW SHOUT OUTS:

Dan (White Watch). Miss you both loads. Will ring in a couple of days. Xx

Pete / Daddy (White Watch). Love you all loads. Can’t wait to see you soon. Xoxoxoxoxoxo

Colin (White Watch). Hello to my beautiful wife and 3 lovely children. Xxx

Stephen (White Watch). Hello to Andi, Archie and Hamish. Miss you loads and see you soon. xxx

Adventure’s Blog – Day 10, Sunday 20th July

Following our crossing the line with honours I would to take this opportunity to thank the Navy crew of Adventure for their total professionalism from the moment we crossed the start line and finishing in Lanzarote.

Each crew member proved under some testing conditions crossing Biscay, and constantly changing tail winds from Finisterre to Lanzarote, they were grasping the patience and stamina required for blue water sailing.

Their ability to learn quickly all the different sail plans I required to keep the boat ahead was a joy.

Thank you for being a great crew.

The skipper

Michael

 

CREW SHOUT OUTS:

From Stephen. Happy Birthday Andi and hope your graduation went well. Love you loads and see you soon. Xxx p.s. I hope you’re taking good care of my dogs!

Challenger, The Army’s Blog

Transglobe - British Forces Arrive in Lanzarote

Discoverer, The RAF's Blog