Sailing with the Treleavens

The finish line was a welcome sight at 2237 hrs local time on the 11th December. Finishing in 24th place over the line we spent 15 days 13hrs 37 mins at sea covering 2712 nms. Now lined up with all the big ones we are very happy with our result. After a day listening to the rig making strange noises as we rolled over each wake, it was a long 230 nms motor sailing to the finish. A further rig inspection during the day discovered that both the top spreaders had also torn away from the pins at the front of the mast end. More lines were attached to steady the mast and with careful handling we managed to sail through the finish line, a rule of the race.

What a welcome we received, cups of rum punch, bottles of Bounty rum, beer and baskets of fruit. All demolished with ease as other yachts came up to congratulate us on our performance. The specialty mix was ‘mutton bird’, rum with bitter lemon. Even Kevin stopped drinking his Bundaberg rum to enjoy the local mix, talk about taking coals to Newcastle, bringing Aussie rum to the home of rum.

Now a few more days of celebration as the rest of the fleet arrive at Rodney B ay, St Lucia.

Not only were we 24th to finish we were also the first of the 5 Australian yachts and the first Beneteau. The topic of conversation in the port is how long did you motor for.? We were forced to motor due to rig problems but have found a large number in front and behind us motored for over 70 hours. It was a slow race with the last days being windless and yachts do put importance on arriving in Rodney Bay as early as possible to enjoy the rum.

Our crew were all fantastic each offering something special to our crossing. Kevin forward of the mast for the first time in his life, David with his sail repair skills and mind games, Andrew as the youngest aboard going up and down the mast, Nick as ‘Capt Araldite’ (we couldn’t get him off the wheel) and Michelle dishing up meals. We all had a lot of laughs but also worked very hard to get us into the position in which we finished.

We now look forward to slowing down and enjoying our Caribbean experience for the next 5 months. What we have seen so far has made us feel very relaxed about the culture and beauty of the islands.

“Taking the weather with you” to “Ain’t that a Kick in the Head” by Dean Martin.

Our 29th wedding anniversary today and you could cut the air with a knife. Motoring and still racing we can only assume every yacht around us is having the same conditions. Our secret weapon now is fuel. The reason for the cruising division being able to motor is that they do want you to get there and it is a very long way. Handicapping for motoring is based on a fast or slow race; no one knows that till the end.

Day 14. Not a very happy day as we try to find some wind. We went from trying to out run rain squalls to chasing them in a matter of 24 hours. The Eastern wave that went through during the day has caused a lot of damage to yachts and now has sucked all the air away from this area. Just our luck!

Day 15. 9th Dec. Becalmed this morning after a valiant night of going north to find wind, unsuccessful we start motoring. Inspecting the rig Ian notices the starboard lower is very slack and realising that something is wrong discovers that the port lower spreader base has collapsed. Not wanting to put the rig in any danger of going over the side our racing is over. Securing the rig with inner forestay and lines to the affected area as best we can we will now motor the 280 miles to the finish line. Remembering we are still in the race and will now go for a good position over the line.         

After working so hard to get into such a good position it is soul destroying to have to finish in this way especially after all the effort put in by all the crew. So much preparation went into ensuring that we were race ready and our strategy was going to plan and now it is all over. It’s been a very long and exhausting two weeks at sea, we never expected to do so well, only wanting to get a good result to be proud of. “You can take the boy out of racing but you can’t take racing out of the boy”. It is after all only a Rally. ‘Cape Finisterre’ has excelled herself and Ian is thrilled at the way she has performed. 

Everyone on board is fit and healthy, and at last being able to have more than 2 during happy hour. All are looking forward to land fall tomorrow evening.

The trip across was a challenge for me to undertake, two + weeks at sea, no turning back, getting seasick, I did consider flying. Then in the back of my mind something says "if they have a great trip, I would regret missing the once in a life time experience".
Would I do it again?

It was a long time at sea, I didn't get seasick and I never at any time wanted to go back. There where fabulous days and scary nights but I don't have a need to do it again.

As for Ian he is in is element with all the downhill sailing, we have only been without a spinnaker for about 6 hours. Almost as good as sex he says. This is Ian's 4th crossing of the Atlantic, the first in 1970 being the same route on the 72ft "Stormvogel" a previous Sydney Hobart line honours winner and yacht used in the movie "Dead Calm" starring Nicole Kidman. The amazing thing is that trip took 14 days on a fast ocean racer and we on our cruising yacht will do it almost as quickly. How design has progressed.

When daily positions were received last night we learned that we are in 15th place in the race to the line and that the yacht that passed us wasn't the X Yacht 55 but a much longer X Yacht 61 complete with full racing kit including a code zero for the light conditions.

Day 11. Slowly the wind filled in and we had the most stunning hot day. Trade winds from the east at 20 knots are cooling with a rolling 5 metre sea and the ocean is a gorgeous blue as is the sky. Enjoying the sound system in the cockpit , everyone bought their own iPod, with favourite music including Crowded House 'Take the weather with you', seems to some up our days.

Day 12. The squall that went through last night was very scary. One minute you are sailing along doing 9 knots under a starry night and the next thing there is a black cloud right behind and you can see the rain underneath looking like a mushroom. When they hit its 35 knots and the yacht is instantly surging to 18 knots, driving rain, drenching everyone and then back to normal in 10 minutes. No we don't take the spinnaker down as they seem to enjoy these little challenges.

Ian chases pressure systems to maximize boat speed; we have low pressure coming to the south and have gybed North West to get a better wind and angle for our home run.

We were still maintaining 15th position before this move and will not know for another day whether skirting the light winds will pay off.

Day 13. Daylight arrives with an Eastern wave wind system of 35 knots and we ease away on our final course to the northern end of St Lucia, 640 nms to go or as Ian put it one Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Rain squall's all around us we romp along riding the big rollers. The boys are in full wet weather gear, not what you would expect on the 17th parallel and close to the Caribbean.

Several squalls pass through at 30+ knots and strapping down the spinnaker we manage to run with it.

Just before lunch another eastern wave hits us with winds gusting over 49 knots. After a broach and getting back on track the spinnaker was snuffed and lowered, still in one peace. Thanks to Simon Willis from the Bay of Islands who made it. Michelle and I were not happy with everything flying around down below and we are now sailing along under a granny rig of poled out headsail. Lasted a few hours and out came the spinnaker again.

Land fall will be amazing. We can nearly taste the rum punch; hear the beat of the drums and dance the salsa, anything different will be welcome.

As the race has progressed the weight in the yacht has got lighter. In liquids alone we started with almost 1.4 tonnes made up of 500 litres diesel, 500 litres of water, 120 X 1.5 litre water bottles, 240 cans of beer, 72 bottles of wine and 48 large bottles of soda waters. And then there was the food!!

Position results for 1200UTC Friday 7/12 have just been received and it appears as though we are still in a top position. The larger yachts are starting to roll through us but we are very favourably placed with the yachts that we had originally identified as the ones to beat.