To check the progress of the bjb Atlantic Challenge click onto http://blog.g-comm.net/sundowner
On Saturday, 24 October we set out on the first leg of the bjb Atlantic Challenge to raise money for the Donna Louise Childrens Hospice. A yacht and crew, sailing from Plymouth against the elements to Southern Portugal, through the infamous Bay of Biscay. The forecast is gales and rough seas!
The second part of the challenge will set off from Southern Portugal in early December to sail nonstop across the Atlantic, arriving in Antigua (hopefully better weather !) around Christmas time.
We hope to raise a minimum of one pound per mile sailed, which will go directly to the Donna Louise Childrens Hospice. This fantastic local charity gives physical, practical and emotional support to children, who due to illness or accident have life limiting conditions.
Please support them.
Thank You
Travel Blog - dated 24th October 2009
The problem with sailing is the wind rarely ever comes from the direction you want nor with the desired strength. Saturday morning in Plymouth was no exception.
We eventually set out at 11 on Saturday morning directly into a gale with 45 miles per hour wind and very rough seas.
Sunday we were 25 miles off the French coast near Roscoff. We had a pounding, many sea sickness pills were consumed, most of which didn't work judging on the look of most peoples’ faces. But still we had to make progress in to Biscay, one of the most fearsome areas of sea in the world. Passing the island of Ushant in the afternoon we braced ourselves for another rough night --we weren't wrong. But this time most people coped better having now unpacked their sea legs, which they had left in their bags the night before.
We have now seen 4 different pods of dolphins and are making good progress about 100 miles south west of Brest, the sea is still choppy but manageable at the moment and half the crew have still not figured out why it came light an hour early yet ( the hour change ), night watches do have their advantages though -where else do you get the chance to eat a mars bar at 3.30 in the morning with out feeling guilty!
Travel Blog - dated 9th November 2009
WE MADE IT !
Well at least the first 1000 miles or so after leaving Plymouth on a bright but windy (gale 8 ) we made our way south across the Bay of Biscay arriving at Portamao a week later.
The crossing was not without its interesting parts, the container ship in the photo was a distraction and not one we expected to see so close when we were 150 miles off shore. Perhaps he just wanted a closer look at the only yacht out at this time of year
The dolphins were always a welcome site if not a surprise in the middle of the night !
The next and final leg starts on the 5 December. Thank you for your continued support.
