Artemis Transat Day 3 - My First Solo Ocean Race - Dee Caffari Blog
I am now on my way to Boston on my first solo race, sailing a boat I have only known for five months. My start was okay yesterday, not where I should have been on the line in an ideal world, but I am always nervous manoeuvring these boats in the final minutes.
The light conditions plagued us as we reached the Eddystone and I had to concentrate hard to keep the boat moving. Just after the final hour of favourable tide had gone I reached the Lizard gate, I still had a few boats in sight but visibility was closing in fast. At one stage last night I could not see the top of my mast. Fog is spooky and I watched my radar well as there was still a lot of shipping close by.
This morning it is now about a boat length’s visibility and already I have had my first test. Once again I have had trouble with my power onboard, my fingers are crossed that this does not plague me all the way across, especially as now is not the time to be without a radar!
Tuesday
I could hear the sound signals of the 200 metre plus ships but I could not see them. The fog during the early hours of Monday was spooky. Fortunately the visibility improved and soon the remaining haze was burned away leaving very pleasant sailing.
In light downwind conditions I knew I just needed to keep the boat moving. The pilot was doing a much better job than me so I trimmed the sails and the pilot drove. This also allowed me to get some rest. I hadn’t slept much during the first twenty four hours as it was busy with shipping, light winds and fog.
I have crossed the final gate on this side of the Atlantic. At lunchtime I passed the line of the Fastnet, now we head for the open ocean and all its surprises. I had a frustrated evening as I saw that I had lost miles all day. All that hard work from the start was already over. I think I lost miles because I stuck to the wrong sail plan. So now I have a lot of work to do.
Video: Me on Aviva in the Artemis Transat
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Best of luck Dee, hope the
Best of luck Dee, hope the winds are favourable all the way,
Dee Caffari on Aviva in the Artemis Transat
14 May
Tuesday was not a good day onboard Aviva. Sailing with twenty knots downwind was great but then immediately after charging my batteries a low voltage alarm and low battery alarm sounded giving me a minute before everything shut down completely. It is a strange sensation. I rushed to the helm to take over from the pilot and as I steered the boat fell into darkness. All the instruments went out, the screens went blank and any led light from a switch went out.
It was just before dawn and the sky was showing a sign of brightening soon so I was in luck but now stuck at the helm. Whilst driving I managed to furl the headsail away and then I left the helm to see where she would settle. It was quite breezy so I reduced sail further to three reefs, now I could bob about quite happily with no harm coming to the boat or sails.
I found the emergency iridium from the grab bag and called Joff, not what he needed at 4o’clock in the morning. We woke Alistair our electrician so we could get some juice back so the pilot could steer while we worked on the problem. In just three phone calls we were back in business. Manually over riding a trip by forcing the contactor apparently, but my concern was the remaining thousands of miles. I re hoisted sails and off I went again.
To eliminate the problem for the rest of the race we have bypassed a section of the circuit but that meant I had to turn the power off again, so down came the sails and an electrician I became before hoisting the rags once more and I hope we are now sailing again. Slightly fatigued and frustrated.
Dee and Aviva
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