![\"\"](\"http:\/\/cornellsailing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/AO151206-cropped.jpg\")
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Arrived in le Marin in the afternoon. Distance run today: 144 miles Mutterings continue from below decks. Now the whole crew Grandad, 1st Mate, Chef, even Spock are conspiring – and don’t think I don’t know what they call me behind my back! The latest complaint – brought to me by Chief Scientific Officer, Spock, is that they object to the turning back of the clock. This they feel was a violation of the time and motion agreement that the Pirates Union had established in 1491. I can’t seem to get it through their scurrilous, worm eaten, malodorous, scurvy ridden heads that they have gained an hour not lost it. They are acting as if I had dipped my hand into their silk purses and stolen their sow’s ear.<\/p>\n I have to be vigilant. I will pay particular attention to the unlabelled bag just extracted from the freezer by Chef. I don’t trust him and I am beginning to think he lied on his application when he claimed to have been trained at the best 5 mango restaurants in Goa.<\/p>\n From<\/strong> blog.mailasail.com\/sventerprise<\/a><\/p>\n Loads of wind – 20 – 25 knots so another good 24 hour run.<\/p>\n This morning, C Bligh came out of the master suite fully refreshed after a good night’s sleep at 08:00 local. As usual he announces “Morning cabin boy, all well”? Followed by (as usual) “tea and porridge?”. We have tea and porridge and continue our spinnaker discussion, of which more later. By then it’s around 09:00 and his skipperness says ” well we crossed 45 degrees west last night, cabin boy move the local clocks back one hour!” I do this, although words will need to be had about the cabin boy malarkey.<\/p>\n Now here’s the slightly disturbing thing: C Bligh then exclaims “Blimey 08:00; Tea and porridge?” I’m not sure the old fellah has quite come to terms with this time business….<\/p>\n So we continued the spinnaker conversation. It seems old Bligh has switched positions again from Idsa Rayce to Idsa Noda Rayce. Anyway I want the thing flying he wants it in the bag. Let’s compromise he says. Great I say, thinking progress has been made. “We’ll leave it in the bag” he says. This is a new definition of the word compromise I haven’t previously come across!!!! He then starts going on about the loneliness of command, most of which I missed as a result of being asleep.<\/p>\n Min of Ag and Fish says I have misunderstood the context of the word optimistic in terms of fishing. I thought they were optimistic that a fish would be caught. Apparently they were optimistic around learning whether their secret fish weapon would work. Their pilot, they say, was an unbridled success in that they proved conclusively that the new weapon doesn’t work. I await further announcements with some trepidation.<\/p>\n Today’s meal will be: An unlabeled frozen bag of stuff I made in the Canaries. Management seem fairly sure it will be curry. I can’t think why.<\/p>\n From<\/strong> blog.mailasail.com\/barnaclepete<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Arrived in Le Marin in the morning.<\/em> With around 100 nM to go, we estimate our arrival in the early morning hours of Saturday, 5th December in Martinique. Will slow down or go on anchor in order to enter Le Marin first thing in the morning.<\/p>\n … Not sure if we are happy or sad to have firm ground under our feet soon.<\/p>\n Got quite comfi here on the ocean…<\/p>\n At sunset we lost our inner cutter stay. It is secured now to the deck. Distance run today: 134 miles There’s nothing like some technical problems to distract the mutinous reprobates. Having given each of them a task, and with Spock fully focused on trying to remember his O-level electronics we are all busy. The threat of me rationing out the wet wipes seems to have provided the appropriate motivation to solve our electricity problems.<\/p>\n Goodness knows what Chef is up to – I saw him with a can opener in his hand, talking to himself, just like he used to when he was a star on the Muppets.<\/p>\n From<\/strong> blog.mailasail.com\/sventerprise<\/a><\/p>\n Bligh appeared from his presidential suit this morning, and instead of announcing porridge and tea will be served comme d’hab, whispers that he wants to talk with me. I am not good in the morning before my breakfast, so already I think we are going to have a bad day. I am right….<\/p>\n “That cook” he whispers conspiratorially “He’s not to be trusted” I think I will start locking the cupboard I sleep in, which he describes as the guest suite, very firmly indeed at night.<\/p>\n Anyway, the generator. I have examined it carefully and with the benefit of many years of technical experience, I have declared it buggered. Technically speaking. So we are now relying on the engine to charge the battery bank. This is not good as it uses twice as much fuel and cannot charge the batteries at the same rate.<\/p>\n We are convinced that there is at least one duff battery in the bank, which is severely impeding the performance of the others. We are going to try to identify the duff one today. It is a tad risky and will certainly take some time. Still neither of us was planning on going anywhere today.<\/p>\n Today’s dinner will be anything we can cobble together after a trip to battery land.<\/p>\n From<\/strong> blog.mailasail.com\/barnaclepete<\/a><\/p>\n Hello, Weather sunny but overcast\u00a0 Ce matin le ciel est nuageux et gris, l\u2019oc\u00e9an est gris aussi\u2026 On se croirait \u00e0 la Mer du Nord! (En juillet, pr\u00e9cise Michel )<\/p>\n Ce matin \u00e0 7:30 belle surprise : un troupeau de dauphins vient \u00e0 notre rencontre. Ce sont des dauphins bleus, il y a beaucoup de petits qui nagent \u00e0 c\u00f4t\u00e9 de leur maman. Il en arrive de tous les c\u00f4t\u00e9s, ils jouent avec les \u00e9traves et restent avec nous au moins 1\/4 d\u2019heure.<\/p>\n Un peu plus tard, pendant le petit d\u00e9jeuner, un fou de Bassan arrive, fait plusieurs fois le tour de Ti Punch, et vient se faire admirer tr\u00e8s pr\u00e8s de nous. \u00c9tonnant, car Michel D dit que ce sont des oiseaux farouches. Nous admirons sa technique de p\u00eache et ses plongeons en piqu\u00e9.<\/p>\n Ensuite arrive un groupe de 8 aigrettes, qui vient voir ce qui se passe sur ce beau cata rouge! Nous attendons les suivants, signes encourageants que la terre se rapproche!<\/p>\n La fin de la grande aventure approche, tout le monde le ressent bien, entre l\u2019impatience d\u2019arriver au Marin, de se sentir en s\u00e9curit\u00e9 et le regret de voir l\u2019aventure se terminer\u2026<\/p>\n Hier, nous avons bien navigu\u00e9, sous une belle brise, et pas mal de soleil, cela nous faisait pr\u00e9juger d\u2019une arriv\u00e9e samedi en d\u00e9but de soir\u00e9e\u2026 La houle en a profit\u00e9 pour bien monter. Cette nuit, des grains costauds se sont install\u00e9s, faisant compl\u00e8tement tomber le vent\u2026 notre avance s\u2019effondre\u2026<\/p>\n Ce matin, la situation reste la m\u00eame avec un ciel plomb\u00e9, un vent tr\u00e8s tournant et irr\u00e9gulier, une houle assez \u00e9lev\u00e9e et compl\u00e8tement d\u00e9sordonn\u00e9e, nous mettons par moment les moteurs pour avancer, seulement pour la seconde fois depuis le d\u00e9part.<\/p>\n Ces conditions sont tr\u00e8s diff\u00e9rentes des pr\u00e9visions\u2026 nous n\u2019avons pas encore touch\u00e9 les courants portants annonc\u00e9s par nos fid\u00e8les routeurs Marco et Jean Loup (merci \u00e0 eux).<\/p>\n Enfin, pour garder le moral au z\u00e9nith, hier soir repas montagnard de f\u00eate\u2026 daube de chamois de Jean Loup, polenta\u2026 m\u00eame moi, je crois que je n\u2019avais jamais autant appr\u00e9ci\u00e9 le chamois ! Je me suis mis \u00e0 la pr\u00e9paration pour d\u00e9gager Le capitaine Cook de cette t\u00e2che, pour une fois. Avec, la forte houle, alors que je pr\u00e9parais le plat \u00e0 gratiner avec du parmesan r\u00e2p\u00e9 bateau avec la polenta sortant du feu, il a valdingu\u00e9 sur mes pieds\u2026 Vite les pieds dans l\u2019eau froide, plus de peur que de mal\u2026 la polenta ainsi originalement assaisonn\u00e9e n\u2019a jamais \u00e9t\u00e9 aussi bonne\u2026<\/p>\n Pour finir un petit g\u00e9n\u00e9pi, et la nuit a \u00e9t\u00e9 tr\u00e8s bonne, un peu dure pour les quarts\u2026<\/p>\n From<\/strong> tipunchcapsurlescaraibes.net<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Our ETA Saint Lucia channel approach is 10:00 UTC and at the entry to Cul de Sac du Marin by 12:00 UTC (08:00\u00a0 local) Sunday 6th December.<\/p>\n We have slowed for the last few days so we arrive with daylight. We also lost a genoa halyard and have been running bare-headed\u00a0 while we sorted out a new arrangement.<\/p>\n Gunsan expect to arrive in about 10-12 hours. All well onboard and we look forward to a Rum Punch.<\/p>\n Not far now, should be there in about 4 to 5 days, everything good, its Saturday, Steak Night. Yummy.<\/p>\n From<\/strong> http:\/\/blog.mailasail.com\/dexter411<\/a><\/p>\n Distance run today: 133 miles I think I have finally subdued any thoughts of mutiny. Using the old technique of creating a common enemy to bind the nation together (topical reference …). The prospect of losing all new fangled electrical gadgets on board including the trusty autohelm (did I say trusty!) has bound us all as one to fight the common curse. As with the real world “It is all about Power” (Another topical reference … I can’t help myself today ).<\/p>\n I had the scum put out full sail, and we are now bowling along, almost in the right direction even. They have each been given a copy of Practical Boat Owner and a box of crayons, so that should keep them occupied until Chef brings out what is laughingly called lunch.<\/p>\n I can now get on with my reading… “The Golden Books Family Treasury of Poetry”, very calming considering what I have to contend with.<\/p>\n From<\/strong> blog.mailasail.com\/sventerprise<\/a><\/p>\n I think I need to start getting a bit worried about C Bligh. He announced this morning that since there are now so many people on the boat, and as I didn’t seem to contribute anything as far as he could see, I would need to move out of the guest suite. Apparently he wants Cook and Spock in my cabin where he can “keep a weather eye on them”. I just hope he doesn’t have a moment of clarity and realizes that they are both me!<\/p>\n I am now sleeping in my guitar flight case in the store room. I am fairly confident the case will float if I need to make good my escape.<\/p>\n Had an appointment with min of Ag and Fish today during which I pointed out that other boats seem to be catching and eating fish. There was a horrified silence and then Min said “but Sir, these are foreign fish!!!”<\/p>\n Today’s meal, in the absence of fish, foreign or otherwise, will be Lamb Stew.<\/p>\n From<\/strong> blog.mailasail.com\/barnaclepete<\/a><\/p>\n Hello, Weather sunny but overcast\u00a0 En cas d’arriv\u00e9e \u00e0 la nuit tombante ou tomb\u00e9e, nous irons mouiller \u00e0 Sainte-Anne.<\/p>\n Notre transat se termine. Ce projet pr\u00e9par\u00e9 depuis de nombreux mois est atteint.<\/p>\n J’ai appr\u00e9ci\u00e9 chaque vague , pr\u00eat \u00e0 recommencer d\u00e8s demain. Le grand large est beau et impressionnant par la hauteur et la puissance de la houle. Ti Punch<\/em> s\u2019est vaillamment comport\u00e9. Notre travers\u00e9e fut confortable .<\/p>\n La gestion du bateau est bien diff\u00e9rente de mes habitudes \u201dc\u00f4ti\u00e8res\u201d. J’apprends tous les jours. Florence nous a pr\u00e9par\u00e9 des menus de gourmet. Saveurs de GERS et pain frais tous les jours. Les poissons savoureux m\u2019ont combl\u00e9 .<\/p>\n Je salue les amis, les marins, et les terriens qui nous ont suivis durant ces 17 jours v\u00e9cus sur l’oc\u00e9an.\u00a0Kenavo.<\/p>\n Nous voici dans la derni\u00e8re ligne droite, il nous reste 78MN et on esp\u00e8re arriver vers 22h heure locale. La tension est maintenant rel\u00e2ch\u00e9e, et les conditions sont bonnes: soleil, 20 kns de vent, houle longue.<\/p>\n On r\u00e9alise que l\u2019on touche du doigt ce qui est peut-\u00eatre banal pour certains, mais reste un exploit pour nous. S\u2019\u00e9loignent les craintes des premiers jours suite \u00e0 la casse des drosses et d\u2019un des rivets de la barre de liaison, et le risque de perte de la deuxi\u00e8me barre aussi (on n\u2019en n\u2019a pas parl\u00e9 pour ne pas inqui\u00e9ter) qui nous laissait totalement d\u00e9pendants du pilote automatique \u2013 mais (touchons du bois), le pilote a tenu et a \u00e9t\u00e9 rebaptis\u00e9 \u201cMaverick\u201d vu sa qualit\u00e9\u2026<\/p>\n Renoncer n\u2019a jamais \u00e9t\u00e9 une option, et comme l\u2019a dit Jean-loup dans un de ses commentaires, la travers\u00e9e, c\u2019est aussi faire face aux incidents, s\u2019adapter, et trouver des solutions,\u2026 et continuer!<\/p>\n Le dernier challenge sera l\u2019entr\u00e9e dans le cul de sac du marin de nuit, mais on n\u2019a pas de mouillage \u00e0 poste, donc pas vraiment le choix. Trop tard pour un ap\u00e9ro aux accras \u00e0 la marina, mais \u00e7a sera pour demain!<\/p>\n From<\/strong> tipunchcapsurlescaraibes.net<\/a><\/p>\n Arrived in Le Marin today.<\/em><\/p>\n View the list of arrivals in Martinique<\/a>. You can follow the position of the boats and check their estimated time of arrival on the tracking map<\/a>. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Day 16 – Thursday 3 …<\/p>\n
See the report.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nEnterprise<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/cornellsailing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/AO1-2015-Enterprise4.jpg\")
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Total distance run:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2134 miles
Distance to go:\u00a0\u00a0 879 miles<\/p>\nRuss<\/h3>\n
Pete<\/h3>\n
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Day 17 – Friday\u00a04 December<\/h1>\n
Vivant<\/h2>\n
See the report<\/em><\/a><\/p>\nInvictus<\/h2>\n
Lazy Bones<\/h2>\n
All ok. We will travel a little slower.<\/p>\nEnterprise<\/h2>\n
Total distance run:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2219 miles
Distance to go:\u00a0\u00a0 745 miles<\/p>\nRuss<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/cornellsailing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/pages\/AO-P-2015-Enterprise-thb.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPete<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/cornellsailing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/AO1-2015-Enterprise-pete.jpg\")
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Me: “What?”
Him: “He’s up to something”
Me: “What?”
Him: “I think Spock may be involved”
Me: “What?”
Him: “I think they sabotaged the generator”
Me: “What? Why don’t you make us a nice bowl of porridge and things will look a lot brighter”<\/p>\n\n
Walden<\/h2>\n
Wind Direction + Speed\u00a0 – E\u00a0 – 20Knts
Barometric Pressure – 1020.7
Conditions\/ Mood On Board – All is well, mood is good<\/p>\nTiPunch<\/h2>\n
![\"French\"](\"http:\/\/www.cornellsailing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Flag-French.gif\" "\\"French\\"")
Florence: Terre \u00e0 250 milles: l\u2019accueil des animaux<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/cornellsailing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/AO1-2015-TiPunch-Florence2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n Olivier: On se r\u00e9gale<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/cornellsailing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/AO1-2015-TiPunch-Olivier.jpg\")
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Day 18 – Saturday\u00a05 December<\/h1>\n
Alba<\/h2>\n
Gunsan<\/h2>\n
Since it will be dark we intend to cross the finish line, note the time and then go to anchor outside Saint Anne. We will enter Le Marin tomorrow morning.<\/p>\nDexter<\/h2>\n
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Enterprise<\/h2>\n
Total distance run:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2447 miles
Distance to go\u00a0:\u00a0\u00a0 612 miles<\/p>\nRuss<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nPete<\/h3>\n
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Walden<\/h2>\n
Wind Direction + Speed\u00a0 – E\u00a0 – 18Knts
Barometric Pressure – 1019.5
Conditions\/ Mood On Board – All is well, mood is good<\/p>\nNew Horizon<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/cornellsailing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/AO1-2015-NewHorizon.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\u00a0Apr\u00e8s consultation des augures, des \u00e9ph\u00e9m\u00e9rides et du sextant (qui nous a confirm\u00e9 qu’on arrivait bient\u00f4t au sommet de la Montagne Pel\u00e9e), je suis en mesure d’annoncer que nous devrions franchir la ligne d’arriv\u00e9e demain dimanche 6 dans la fen\u00eatre 15h -19h locales.<\/p>\n\n
TiPunch<\/h2>\n
Michel<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/cornellsailing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/AO1-2015-TiPunch-MichelG.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPetit salut\u00a0\u00e0 l’approche de la Martinique<\/h3>\n
Dernier jour en mer<\/h3>\n
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Comfortably Numb,\u00a0Invictus, Irresistible Ocean, Ti Punch, Gunsan, Seamount<\/h2>\n
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