One Man, One Boat, 4000 Miles!!!

Tropic 4 Cancer Trans Atlantic challenge is an expedition to sail single-handed 4000 miles across the Atlantic, from the western seaboard of Africa to Antigua. The route follows a defined course along the Tropic of Cancer, which is a circle of latitude running around the Earth at approximately 23 degrees north, and which marks the most northerly position at which the sun may appear directly overhead. Find Out More

Day 17 – Wind, Waves & Flying Fish

Posted on November 19th, 2013

MOONBOWThe wind has picked up in strength again, and I’ve now got 20-25knts of wind. As we all know with wind, when you’ve got it, it’s always too much….!! The sea state is much rougher too, with the wave pattern still a mess!! Such fun!! Le Cirque de Bucket has gone back to full on bucking bronco mode!!!

This change in weather has also brought a couple of amazing sights – both involving more rainbow action. Firstly, during one squall, the rain drops were hitting the water so hard that the splash was high enough for the sunlight to refract through, and the whole sea surface became a simmering rainbow. Then I saw a complete ‘moon bow’ – a feature I’ve seen once before, but not so well defined.

Basically the full moon has enough light for a rainbow to form – and it’s in shades of grey, touched with rainbow colour hues. It was spectacular!

As we’ve made our merry way westwards, I’ve been puzzled as to why flying fish bomb burst away from us as we approach – leaping out of the water as if to greet our arrival with a huge cheer and a jump in the air!! Then I figured that Haskapa’s keel might be the reason. In profile, the keel looks like an inverted T shape, with the downstroke being the keel, and the cross stroke is a big blob of lead, shaped into a bulb, which I guess because of it’s design looks a bit like a big fish!! So rather than celebrating our approach with aerobatics, the poor little things are flying for their lives!!

Even so, I’ve had a fun time watching their antics – and scoring them on performance! The winner by a country mile was a fish called Wanda  (hee hee!), who attempted a 360 jump around the boat. Taking off from the port side, she flew under the bowsprit and along the starboard side, before flying under the boom and back to the start point!!! It could have scored 10/10, apart from the judges penalised her heavily for an ugly dismount, as she face planted on the guard wires whilst exiting stage left!! The judges gave a ‘Strictly style’….all together now….’SEVEN’!

Haskapa’s ‘Mo’ is looking very threadbare now, as the surfing down waves picks away at her moustache. The clumps of bionic growth cling on at one end, giving it the appearance of a bedraggled Mexican bandit!! Don’t think it will last much longer!!!!

I also saw the lights of a passing ship last night – which is the first sign of any other human life I’ve seen for nearly a week. It was kind of reassuring!!

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Today’s dedication goes to very kind donators; Mary & Martin Bailey, Michael Blakley, Gilly & John Pollard, Jennie Bailey & Family and K Makepeace.