Canadian Boating May 2024 - 21

boats " to the same dock. Before long, the 20 kids from eight
different countries were fast friends, and their parents enjoyed an
instant social network as well. The " Yellow Shirts " seemed to be
everywhere at once, always ready to assist and help.
As with many major undertakings, one of the keys to successful
offshore passage-making is preparation. I fl ew out to the
Canaries a week ahead and we checked over the rig, engine and
systems to ensure we caught any problems early. We ensured
halyards had Kevlar sheathing in critical spots and backed up
other areas with Dyneema loops. People often underestimate
the relentless fatigue experienced by an offshore sailing rig, and
after the ARC, it was interesting to hear how many of the spinnaker
and halyard dramas could have been prevented with a bit
of preparation.
Provisioning for a passage is an art unto itself. It is hard to
gauge how much food to bring and no one wants to worry about
running out, especially with children onboard. Natalie and Peter
ensured that we had the supplies to eat very, very well and it
seemed that we could have sailed straight back across the Atlantic
with the food we had onboard!
Before long, the seminars, the provisioning, the checking and
double checking - oh, and the parties - were fi nished and it was
time to cast off lines. Having completed a few offshore races,
I am used to starting lines, but the ARC provided an amazing
spectacle, with a band ashore and boats ranging from 34' to 100'
jockeying for position in the light air.
With the sound of the gun, we were off!
Peter, Natalie and
I went into our watch rotation, and the kids, as kids always do,
adapted quickly and fell into a pattern of homeschooling and helping
onboard. When my wife and I do our seminars on offshore
sailing, people often ask what we do to keep busy. Somehow
the days always seem full and pass quickly! We checked the
weather with Predictwind twice a day and debated routing strategies.
Food needed to be prepared and dishes cleaned. Boats
always need some care and attention, and we did daily checks of
the rigging and steering. The kids completed their schoolwork,
and I put my instructor hat on to cover the CRYA Yachtmaster
Offshore curriculum with Peter and Natalie. With a washing
machine onboard, we even did laundry most days!
Even with all these chores, there was still time for watching
the stars, sitting on the trampoline or in the " dolphin seats " for
the frequent dolphin shows, reading books and generally taking
in the ever-changing surroundings. It was almost magical to be
at the helm with a good coffee in hand, watching the sunrise as
the boat surfed along easily under spinnaker. I couldn't help but
think that these are the moments that draw us back, time and
again, to the sea.
There are two primary routes from the Canary Islands to St
Lucia: the rhumb line - the most direct route - and the more
traditional route that Columbus used. The directions to follow
Columbus are pretty simple: sail south towards the Cap Verde
Islands " until the butter melts " , then turn right and head towards
St Lucia. The rhumb line route promised some potential for a
faster time, but as we were racing the Hunt's family home, and
the Nautitech is highly capable in light air, we chose the traditional
route.
The ARC is a " rally " and not technically a race but ... the
crossing times were being recorded, so we had a continuous
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Canadian Boating May 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Boating May 2024
