Sailing with the Treleavens

They promise, down wind sailing for this race to the Caribbean and that's exactly what we get. The start is a fresh northerly as two start lines get the gun for a south course down the east side of Gran Canaria Island. First off is the racing division of 35 yachts and then our start line 20 minutes later with 200 in the cruising division. Gennaker up we soon leave the fleet in our wake as most yachts take a conservative start with very few spinnakers going up.

Sailing at 10+ knots and reaching speeds of 18 with the help of rain squalls and the big waves we are flying and all I have to do is hold on. There are two routes one could take; a direct line to St Lucia or a more southerly route towards the Cape Verde Islands, turn left "when the butter melts" and run with the trade winds. We have taken the second option but cut the corner slightly as our weather man predicts there is enough wind to cut through the wind shadow of the Canary Islands. This wind shadow can extend out for over 150nms.

Along with the other Australian yachts we are sharing the services of Australian weather man Bruce Buckley. We email our position daily to him and he responds with the most favourable course to follow.

By the evening we don't have a yacht in sight and settle down to running with a 4 metre swell. The islands cast a shadow over the southern point and we have some light winds overnight. With gennaker up for 24 hours we cover 193 nautical miles and suddenly it's not a rally but a race, with all the boys reveling in these conditions.

The first schedule for yacht positions at midday is emailed and we are pleased to learn from the list received later in the day that we are in a very favourable southerly position relative to other yachts of interest to us.

Day 2 is still a little cold with the odd squall going through. They say the first 24 hours are the hardest and most of us are tired and take advantage of our off watch time to sleep. Sighting two other race yachts during the day turn out to be 90+ footers. Gennaker still flying until night falls when the tack ring rips off and away she flies. The next hour is spent sewing webbing to sail and the odd finger. Not a very easy job but up she went again and fingers crossed it will last the distance.

Day 3 breakfast, ripped gennaker repair and catching a fish fills in the morning, as we move south west at 7 knots in flat calm seas and a beautiful blue sky. Sashimi for lunch having come prepared with wasabi, soy sauce and home made pickled ginger.

Everyone on board is well and looking forward to it getting warmer every day. Plotting their own charts, reality is hitting in as to how long we are going to be out here.

It is fantastic to have iridium satellite telephone on board and email access to weather and all yacht positions. We are also able to request our own forecast on grib files and download onto a chart with arrows fro wind strength and direction.

We have set up our tracker to report our position every 6 hours on our website so if you are interested visit www.treleaven.com.au and connect to the mailasail link.

Opening ceremonies, parties, flag parades, seminars are all very exciting and great knowledge gained but at the start line it's only you and the Atlantic to cross. Late to fill in trade winds are now perfect for the 200 yachts on our start line, with a 25 knot northerly predicted and staying that way for 5 days. Sea temperature here is 20 degrees and by the time we get south to the Verde Islands it will be 26 degrees, so a little wave across the bow will be welcome.

All this talk about routes at waypoints, opps sorry, waypoints to routes, squalls that pass over so quickly you are left with shampoo in your hair and sea sick management, is all nervously exciting and a challenge for me.450 tea bags, 50 loo rolls, enough baked beans to fart our way across, 1 litre bottle of water per person per day, beer and wine for happy hour, etc, etc; provisioning is quite a challenge as there is no corner store for the 16 days at sea. With all yachts expected to fly the International code flags it's a spectacular sight across the marina. Here from Australia are John and Sue Gilder on 'Storyteller', John and Irene Hunt on Southern Princess, Phil and Robbie Hearse on 'Ant Eater Blue' all from Sydney and Hans and Suzanne Pettersson on 'Mullee Mullee' from Brisbane. No NZ boats but we do have New Zealanders Allen and Gerry Pepper, Kevin and Marie on board a 73foot Maxi 'Anxa'. Taking a break we take a bus trip inland to the highest point 1700 metres and a very dramatic landscape, looking back to Las Palmas. An island used to a water shortage and no winter but a place to relax and enjoy paradise. To the south sand dunes and resorts; to the north pine trees and beautiful valleys of palm trees.

Our time here wouldn't be complete if we didn't visit the museum to Christopher Columbus which recreates the voyage leading to the discovery of the New World. Columbus stayed in this house in 1492 before setting off from Las Palmas, taking 52 days to reach the Caribbean; it will take us 14-16 days.

240 boats entered with 1200 people aboard including children is quite a challenge for the ARC organisers as most of us have been here living aboard for two weeks. We have had a great time as the organisation has been fantastic. Camaraderie between all the yachts sharing knowledge and having fun has been a great experience.A large number of suppliers have had representatives on hand to assist with problems and we have taken advantage of Mastervolt, Raymarine, Onon and Mailasail.Great to see 'Oyster Yachts' have a team of 6 in town to ensure all of their yachts are Rally ready.

The advantage of an official Rally such is ARC is that it encourages you to get your yacht up to standard safety wise and ensure that all fittings and equipment are working correctly.With all crew now onboard and a test sail to blow away the cobwebs it's going to be a very bonding time for all of us. This is a once in a life time experience and another box to tick off.I will get 'Letter's from the Atlantic' out during the race via our Iridium phone and Mailasail. Also for more info on the race our web site http://www.treleaven.com.au/ will show our position and so long as its moves we are making progress or for the whole fleet positions www.worldcruising.com/arc .

Our destination is reached for the start of the 'Atlantic Rally for Cruisers' race to the Caribbean starting 25th November. So far the winds have been very light but that could change with 14 days to go. On board preparations for the two weeks at sea are now the priority with lots of social activity organised. We are very sorry that 'Loki' is not here as we looked forward to seeing some familiar faces.

2045 nautical miles behind us and as Ian likes to remind me, 2800nm to go to get across the Atlantic. For the past week we have taken our time down the east coast of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura the second largest of the Canary Islands. Some of the beaches are black sand and then golden beaches which seem out of place. The sand comes from the Sahara Desert, blown across in the Sirocco winds. With all year round temperatures between 25 and 35 degrees, huge developments of resorts now line these beaches. Thankfully there are height restrictions and it doesn't look like the Gold Coast. We have enjoyed anchoring and swimming in crystal clear seas under endless blue sky days, but does it ever rain? 

We are very sorry to leave the island of Lanzarote in particular Puerto Calero. Clean, modern and very good restaurants, even the bollards are polished brass. The Island of Fuerteventura is very baron with a population of only 50000 but we do find Puerto Gran Tarajal very useful, along side a high wall for sail repairs at the right height of the tide. 

Meeting Keith and Caryl Turner from Wellington NZ, we are fascinated by their story of cruising for the past three years. Buying a yacht in the USA and sailing across the Atlantic to the Med with not a lot of experience but now a wealth of knowledge and finally sailing home to New Zealand. Great to see people living their dream!

Our sail across to Gran Canaria is windless and fishless so not very exciting. Las Palmas looks amazing from the water at night as we arrive, ships waiting to get into this very busy port, cruise ships looking like a block of flats and oil rigs lit up like Xmas trees. Our marina and home for 2 weeks is full to capacity with 245 yachts entered for the race. Officially it is a rally but when does a rally become a race? The race director said this morning that the start was to be enjoyed, hang back and take some photos; you have 20 days to go. I looked at Ian's face and that completely went over his head and as for the photos, I would be so lucky.  From maxi yachts, catamarans, down to small cruising yachts, old and new, it is looking like one big boat show.  
  
As our crew arrive we are looking forward to an exciting build up to the race for us, comprising of four New Zealander's and three Australians, Nick and Michelle Smail, Kevin Horne, Andrew Cochrane, David Lennie and of course Ian and myself. 
 
Before they turn my home into a race yacht, I took these photos for my Mum and decided to share them with you. Welcome to the saloon, galley and our forward cabin (one of three).