westernaustralia2011.com - Crew Blog

Blow ye wind blow - 10 October 2007

11 October 2007

10 October, Western Australia 2011.com

On deck things have certainly changed since our last report; the sky has grown dark and mysterious with black clouds all around and it actually rained. One crew member was in a lucky position under the reefed main and was only too happy…

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Quieter than the Nullabor

09 October 2007

And I thought the Nullabor Plain was quiet! This mid-Atlantic ocean is really quiet!

In the last 48 hours I have seen one swallow, one unidentified black bird…

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24 hours in the Doldrums

08 October 2007

The big blue boat screams on!
What 24 hours holds.
1645 nautical miles to go.
Seventh to sixth position.
Two spinnaker failures.…

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A letter home

08 October 2007

Dear Doris,

It may be just as well that you were unable to accompany me on this cruise. It is not at all like the QM2 we went…

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Food on board - 06 October 2007

07 October 2007

We are moving again at a good speed, at last, with the medium weight spinnaker flying proud (even if it is inside out). Nothing extraordinary to report so I thought…

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Peeling potential

05 October 2007

Yet another day onboard with relatively low trade winds, 10-12 knots, while our boat speed averages around 8-9 knots. The repaired medium weight spinnaker is flying well and our trimmers…

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Weather watching

03 October 2007

So begins another day and we have finally and very patiently gone south of the Canaries in our endeavours to reach Salvador. The wind cannot make up its mind which…

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Tantalisingly close to civilisation

01 October 2007

I went to bed with the big blue boat drifting in the current, sea smooth as silk, Gran Canaria lit up like a Christmas tree off our starboard bow and…

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Calm seas, banana muffins and a birthday

01 October 2007

30 September 2007
westernaustralia2011.com

Sunday’s dawn was spectacular; calm seas and very little wind, which is not ideal for racing but wonderful for the soul. It…

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Scrubbing up for ocean crossing

30 September 2007

westernaustralia2011.com
29 Sept 2007

Pressure is on as Hull & Humber claw back a few miles on our lead. Alarm bells rang when 3 yachts appeared…

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Dealing with chafe

28 September 2007

G’day from the midst of the Atlantic Ocean - currently north of Madeira!!

Morale onboard westernaustralia2011.com is at an all time high following the 06:00 sched; now in…

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Disaster strikes - 26 September 2007

26 September 2007

26 September 07 and disaster has struck on board Western Australia 2011.com.  After being lead boat for a number of miles, Hull & Humber took a wider track and has…

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Western Australia Daily 250 25 September

25 September 2007

Well 41 hours into the race, it is the usual story of good news and bad news.
The good good news is that the last sked shows us…

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Bonjour from Bay of Biscay - 23 September 2007

23 September 2007

Bonjour from the Bay of Biscay.  We have not long left La Rochelle and after a near miss with Singapore over the start line our spirits are high we climb…

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Race to La Rochelle - 18 September 2007

19 September 2007

Day 2 Race to La Rochelle, and the first corner was passed. With the Skerries disappearing behind, a poled out Yankee was the order of the day, in strong winds…

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Start day finally arrived - 16 September 2007

17 September 2007

16 September 2007 and start day had finally arrived; the glass was falling and the wind in the sails was far from what the GRIB weather files had suggested.  Hearts…

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Preparation week

15 September 2007

westernaustralia2011.com enjoyed a wonderful week in Liverpool, making the most of their final few days on land before the start of their epic adventure. The crew put in plenty of…

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