ARC 2016 – Day 1 – And We’re Off!

Finally at Sea

This is the first blog to arrive from Challenger 3 and is written by Deckhand Ralph Goodchild and Skipper Ricky Chalmers

And We’re Off! At last… some of us had been in Las Palmas for 10 days or more (not to mention those among the crew who delivered the boat), and the excitement and adrenaline had reached fever pitch, which only intensified as we bobbed around among the floating tankers and jolly-boat well-wishers crowding the harbour before the start.

But at 12.45, we were finally off, racing across the start line as the most downwind boat in our class (and therefore the ‘stand on’ vessel – i.e. with right of way over the other boats).

We have a friendly competition with our sister boats Challenger 2 and Challenger 4, and we were ahead of both (although we are now taking a slightly different course to them) for much of the afternoon.

The crew spent the afternoon on deck, getting our sea legs, which also involves learning to resist the incredibly soporific lull of the waves, beneath a gentle sun which came out for us finally in the early afternoon.

Food For Thought

There is a very large ham swinging and sweating in the sail locker. The hand of bananas has been chopped up (controversially), and bunches now swing lazily in a long line beside the ham.

The Ham

The Bananas

Relative novices like this writer lazily practiced their knots on deck. Senior members of the crew traded war stories (literally, in a few cases). The mood on the boat is very relaxed, as evening draws in, and we approach the first watch.

A quick word finally about the farewell party at Las Palmas Real Nautic Sailing Club, which was hosted with great enthusiasm by members of the Gran Canaria and St Lucia tourist boards.

Members of Challenger 2 crew led the charge on the dance-floor, to the delight of the local bigwigs, and our cries of ‘una mas! Una mas!’ were rewarded with the chance to jump around madly to Billy Jean before the plug was finally pulled and we all staggered back to the boat along the beach. Magic.

Ralph Goodchild, Deckhand

Unusual Anchors Away

It was an interesting slip from the pontoon, with an anchor laid with about 40m of chain in the marina. I know this is a super yacht technique and it was requested by the marina, but with other vessels trying to depart and a side wind, retrieving the anchor from the fairway of the marina was a little unusual.

After that though we left with banners flying past the photography point and into the harbour for our start.

We had a great start clear of other vessels at the pin end, and clear of an anchored cargo vessel which caused a bit of a blockage and resulted in an incident with one boat being T-Boned and having to return to the marina. A very different start to last year’s ARC, downwind yes, but with a flat sea and 10 knots of breeze on the beam, it was all very pleasant.

Can you Smell the Rum Yet?

Challengers 2 and 4 are stuck together with Challenger 2 still marginally ahead. They are currently six miles to the east of us and marginally to the South. We are playing a slightly risky game by being closer to the wind shadow caused by the volcanoes, but we are closer to the Caribbean and the rum.

With 2645 miles to go to the finish line, we have just clocked up 55 miles towards our destination today, and have a long and hopefully exciting race ahead.

Ricky, Skipper Challenger 3 – First Class Sailing

This Way to the Caribbean