Executive Crew Crosses Atlantic

The ocean teaches us a lot about ourselves, teams and leadership.

Canadian Ocean Racing is proud to launch its Executive Crew program with 4 talented professionals from different backgrounds — all joining the Canadian Ocean Racing team for the challenge of a lifetime.

So a lawyer, a doctor, an investor and a CEO walk onto a boat… This isn’t the start of a cheesy joke, this was how 4 Canadian executives started a work week like no other.

On October 6, Christopher Jones (Blakes), Martin Krestow (MD), Blake Cassidy (Romspen), and Colin Brown (eBridge Connections) sent their last emails, turned off their cell phones, left their suits at home and traded them in for some wet weather gear. They needed it, as the 4 executives and avid sailors were about to embark on a wet and wild Atlantic Crossing.

The Executive Crew members joined the Canadian Ocean Racing team for an opportunity of a lifetime — sailing across the Atlantic with an offshore racing team onboard Canada’s IMOCA 60.  And while these Executive Crew members have overcome many challenges to build their careers, this may be their biggest challenge of all.  They aim to not only broaden their sailing experience, but learn what the sea will teach us about ourselves, leadership and teamwork.

The goal for the Executive Crew program is to allow leaders in the corporate world to experience the peace and clarity of offshore sailing, all while challenging themselves and inspiring their organizations to do the same.

If you are interested in applying for the Executive Crew program, or nominate someone you know, please email Meg Reilly at mreilly@canadianoceanracing.com

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Check out Martin Krestow’s candid reflections on his experience thus far in COR’s first Executive Crew haiku logbook:

Day 1 – First Night Watch 2100-0000h

Near midnight.
3 hour shift 2100-0000h
Sitting on deck.
Warmish evening.
Just fleece jacket.
Light winds.
Full main and genoa up.
Music playing in the cockpit.
Nice playlist.
Feels great to have finally set sail.
Tue most unbelievable night sky.
The Milky Way is glowing like a giant band of stardust.
Stretching horizon to horizon.
Several long shooting stars.

Day 2 – Second Day Watch 0300-0600h

Beautiful sunrise.
The sun has risen over eastern sky.
Oranges then turned yellow.
Warm outside.
No gloves needed.
Wind picked up after 0400h.
Huge foresail and full main.
Faster than I have ever been in a sail boat.
Sustained long runs.
Waves about 9 ft.
Long very spaced out ocean swells.
Feels like the ground is undulating via some giant animal.
I made breakfast of fresh fruit and hemp and chia seeds.
Two hard boiled eggs and water to drink.
My stomach feels good.
No motion sickness despite all the movement.
Ok. 4 hours to sleep now. 🙂

Day 2 – First Day Watch 1000-1400h

Woodpecker came to rest on boat this morning.
Tired and hungry.
Blown offshore by the hurricane.
Attempting to find insects in the woven cover of the carbon rigging.
A pretty little green song bird arrived yesterday.
He was no bigger than a ping pong ball.
The woodpecker is still looking for food.
Green fuzz ball is unfortunately fish food by now.
Speaking of fish food.
The tuna lures are trailing 20-50m behind
One tied to each corner of the stern.
Seaweed is all we have caught so far.
A triplet of dolphins visited while I was in my bunk.
They ignored the lures.
So birds and mammals visiting.
Wind still elusive.
We have the biggest sails up now.
Chasing the hurricane that has sucked all the weather energy with it.
Won’t stay like this though.
Wind predicted to pick up soon.
If you have a seasickness tendency…
You would not be happy out here.
If I’m down below cooking or navigating I get a bit nauseous.
But so far so good.

Breakfast of oranges and eggs have stayed down.
I could be like Anne Frank…
Diary of Martin AF Krestow.
I’ll just stitch all the emails together to get an trip log.
I have to describe the scenes.
I can’t send photos or video.
The power in this boat is very high.
The noise of ropes and sheets settling tight on the winches is sharp like a trumpet
The rudder and keel hums like a harmonica.
The water moving past the hull in my bunk sounds like heavy Vancouver rain on my bedroom window.
The waves are moderate 6 ft.
But widely spaced ocean swells.
More like gentle knolls in a grey lawn.

Day 2 – First Night Watch 1800-2100h

Sitting on deck.
In a beanbag chair.
Boat moving well.
Typing on my phone.
Music playing in the background.
Kite is out.
Big sails running.
Top speed of trip 14.1 knots so far.
Feels good to have boat faster.
Almost effortless.
Boat moves so well.
Warm evening.
Shorts and tee shirt early.
Light wind jacket later.
Water temp 20 degrees.
180 nautical miles south south-east of southern Nova Scotia.
Many dolphin visited today.
Maybe 50 or 60.
Often in small groups.
Play with the bow waves for a while and then move on.
After dark dolphin leaping clear of the water next to the helming position.
You can hear them breathing next to you.
The sea is alive.
Sea birds skim the water.
Riding long slender gliding wings.
They barely seem to flap.
Just glide off the waves and ride the invisible air currents.
Like what we are attempting to do.
Their grace is lovely.
Ours is improving.
We deployed some fish lures purchased in Steveston BC
Simple barbless hooks that look like skinny stainless steel hooked witches fingers.
Just tied to the stern lineline pushpits.
One starboard and one stern.
Conveniently just prior to dinner two small tuna were hauled aboard.
Wild fresh fish curry served to all aboard.
Cooked up by Master Viandes Chef Dan and Saucier Morgen.
All happy.
Small green bird back.
Must have been hiding aboard somewhere.
Landed on my head.
Tiny claws scratching my head.
Glad to see him alive.
Ok bed time.
Going to bunk for few hours rest.

Day 3 First Day Watch 0600-1000h

The wind has picked up.
Smaller sails up.
The keel is canted out as far to side as possible.
Helping bring the boat upright.
It is visible from the side deck.
Painted bright orange.
Rudders also safety orange.
Makes it easier for a plane to spot if we flip over :-/
Breakfast of bran, raisins, almonds and powdered milk.
The some other crew feeling a bit suboptimal.
The rest of crew sleeping bellow
Sunny and warm.
White cotton ball clouds.
The white foam streaming out the stern.
Spray landing on the foredeck.
Streaming back on side decks.
Occasional side spray landing on the helm.
The ocean is blue.
Navy blue.
Clear navy blue.
Capped with whitecaps.
Whitecaps everywhere.
Startled school of silver flying fish.
Slender fast fish.
Jumping clear of the water.
Flying ahead of the boat hull
Soaring on beautiful glass wings.

Day 3 – Second Day Watch – 1400-1800h

Oct 8, 2015

Sunny afternoon.
Warm.
I would have worn my underwear and tee shirt on deck.
If not for the spray.
Water temperature 23 degrees.
Feels like a pool.
Colour of a deep blue pool too.
Tempted to pull out the men’s speedo.
We are heading to France after all 😉
Stand on deck with soap.
Free shower.
The wind and waves are building.
Regularly surfing down the waves.
Bow waves hitting the deck.
Friendly competition between the two watches for speed.
18.0 knots is the current lead.
One rule. Needs to be on course toward France.
No hunting for speed while heading for Newfoundland or Morocco.
Ohh, the possibilities are endless.
This boat is so balanced and easy to drive.
Sit at the helm.
15 knots wind.
14 knots boat speed.
10 story mainsail.
Huge asymmetric kite.
Fully canted keel out lateral.
60 long extra wide white deck.
All in front of you…
All controllable with 2 fingers on the tiller.
We could go anywhere.
Wherever the wind blows us.
Sometimes we head for Greenland.
Ireland. France. Spain. Morocco.
Senegal. Cape Town. Mombasa
Hmmm.
The Bhutanese prayer flags.
Given as a gift for a good luck
and a safe passage.
Are tied onto the shrouds.
Fluttering their prayers into the wind.
As they are meant to do.
Usually tied to slender pine poles.
In the highest mountains in world. Contained within peaceful Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan.
Likely their first use in a IMOCA 60 race boat.
Spreading their good thoughts in wind as they disintegrate.
Strangely appropriate.
Ok back to reality.
Trim the main.
Play the traveller.
Trim the J2.
Make the gnocchi.
With chicken and chilli.
Marinara sauce.
Parmesan and Sriracha hot chilli sauce.
Delicious.
Though I’d probably like my flip flop cooked up too.
Hungry work.
Ok.
Full belly.
Lying on the beanbag chair.
In the protection of the doghouse.
Sleep.
Dream.
Tiger?
No just kidding Pi…
Though lots of time to think aboard.
I have learnt that…
Nothing is permanent in the world.
The world is constantly changing.
This boat included.

Day 3 – First Night Watch – 2100-0000h

Oct 8, 2015

Frustrating.
Winds have dropped.
Velocity variable.
Shifty.
Cloudy now
Hence dark.
Not the best sailing.
Hunting around in the dark.
Looking for wind.
Play with the sails.
Adjust the keel.
Watch the tiny glowing red instrument panel.
Again not the most fun sailing.
Still warm on deck.
I’m wearing shorts and thin long sleeve shirt.
Thin foulies over top.
No hat. No gloves.
Heavy inflatable life jacket over top of all.
Life jacket a good one.
Brand name is Spinlock.
Thickish neck vest; the width of an orange.
Centre back strap that connects to webbing belt.
Two webbing loops come under the legs.
Similar to full body mountain climbing harness.
Large inflatable neck collar.
Bright green hood over head.
Auto inflates when submerged in sea water.
Via CO2 mini canister.
So if you fall overboard while unconscious…
:-/
Manual switch over-ride on CO2 if needed.
Also blow tube if really needed.
Strobe light available.
Personal Locator Beacon satellite and
Personal Automatic Identification System short range GPS transmitter tethered into pockets.
Short tether and long tether.
To clip onto the cockpit and deck jack lines.
Able to go anywhere on top of the boat clipped in.
Still don’t fall off the boat.
People have drowned attached to their boat.
Water pressure is immense.
Bones and I sat on the foredeck earlier today.
Clipped in 🙂
Warm, warm 23C water cascading over us.
It was not like the movie scene in Titanic.
Though we were laughing.
Bones’ son Oliver pointed out…
You guys are near the location of Titanic sinking.
Icebergs would melt fast in this warm water.
No icebergs on the satellite report.
Team still looking 🙂
Speaking of the team…
The team is coming along nicely.
Many of us meeting for the first time.
Gentle ribbing is as far as it has got.
Friendly competitions.
Crew entirely males after all.
Travelling with an old university friend and swilling, err sailing buddy.
Bones and I.
We haven’t spoken for a few years.
(He sent the email that led me to this deck beanbag)
Anyways…
Busy with families, friends and work.
We are now talking away.
Blah blah blah.
It is as if we are back in Uni again.
It is funny how relationships can go that way.
Once you develop a good deep rapport with a person.
It is easy to restart relationship again.
It is as if the time gap never existed.
And there is lots to talk about.
Chatting away in the dark.
Sailing a boat as in past times.
Only this time.
We don’t have beer cans in our pockets 🙂
Foolish you men.
Now just a bit older.
Ok. The watch shift went by quickly.
Time to complete the hourly ships log and go to bed.

Day 4 – Second Night Watch – 0300-0600h

Oct 9, 2015

Still warm.
Shorts and thin top.
Foulies and life jacket.
Sliver of a moon.
Venus bright in the eastern sky.
Heading east using the celestial bodies to steer by.
Old school.
Nicer than instrument sailing.
Google.
Need an instrument package and algorithm software.
To steer boat like a human.
Self driving boat.
I’d love it.
Why…
Ghost Dolphins.
Dolphins swimming past in the dark.
Phosphorescence streaming off their bodies.
Turbulent eddie vortex lines glowing brightly.
Streaming off their pectoral wings.
Barrel rolling as curiosity guides them close.
Playing in a three dimensional space.
Magical to watch.
First light at 0500h
Nautical twilight.
Earlier than all.
Pale yellow like fresh corn.
Transition to tangerine orange.
Glowing ball.
Coal burning.
Fire ball rising.
Yellow Canary.
White.
Brighter.
Brighter.
Sunrise.
Bed time.

Day 4 – First Day Watch – 0100-1400h

Oct 9, 2015

Sunny and warm today.
On deck all day.
Shorts and a T-shirt
Barefoot.
Teasing Eric the skipper.
Heading secretly to Antigua.
Light winds.
Blue clear water.
Tempting to go for a swim.
Absurdity
1000 ft deep pool.
Floating so high above the bottom.
I stayed on the boat.
Jaws left a mark on my childhood brain.
Started macrame.
Ancient art of knots.
Sailor’s pastime.
Two zipper pulls.
Tarred twine from Newfoundland.
Dan the old skills rigger as teacher.
Nicest guy. Though appearance…
Bad ass with beard and shaved head.
No animals.
No birds.
No animals.
Pink ballon floated past.
First cargo ship in two days.
Blue calming ocean.
Hurricane leaving us behind.
Lunch.
Lettuce, tomato and salmon. Canned salmon alas.
Wrapped in whole wheat flat bread.
Black coffee.

Day 4 – First Night Watch – 1800-2100h

Steady winds.
From the south.
Again warm.
Lightly dressed.
Cloudy.
Steering by feel of wind on face.
Angle of boat heel.
Sound of water running past hull.
Check instruments occasionally.
Like running blind across a dry salt pan.
Hope no whales in the way.
AIS is international system.
All big cargo boats have it.
Transmit and receive basic boat info.
Sends signal to other boats.
Size.
Direction.
Heading.
Speed.
Point of closest contact.
Our boat has it continuously on.
Alarms ring.
Life jackets have it on person and activates if you fall overboard.
AIS is a good idea.
The ocean is very big here.
The clouds and their patterns Storms and cloud banks.
Attract attention.
The rest is undulating blue pool.
We are a toy boat.
Toy sail boat slowly crossing.
The big pool.

Day 5 – First Day Watch – 0600-1000h

Not much sleep after last watch.
Windy, windy, windy.
R4. Fourth main reef out in.
Waterfalls over us and the boat.
Strip off dry suit and boots.
Into pipe berth.
Angle it so I don’t roll out.
4 inches between my nose and
Carbon fibre shelf over my head.
Bounced clear off my bunk at times.
Do I need a seat belt?
Or sausage wrap?
The guys working out on deck.
In the dark and storm.
Tired.
Sleep comes quickly.
3 h gone.
Awake to bearded Dan.
“It’s nicer out there”
Awaken to sunshine.
Happiness.
Storm behind us passing to the north.
Full double rainbow.
Horizon to horizon.
Beautiful.
Sunscreen.
Confused seas.
Hard to steer a straight course.
Hot.
Over dressed.
Grind out the reefs.
500 lb mainsail to be hosted 80 ft.
Sweaty.
Grinding winches with Bones.
He’s calling me Richard Simons of the Sea.
Time for lunch.

Day 5 – Second Day Watch – 01400-1800h

Wind steadier.
Confused seas.
A lot of banging.
Bow lifts and falls vertically on the next wave.
Navigation table and bench falls away.
Leaving you in the air to follow.
Fatiguing.
Dinner was fun. Not.
I get the job as my nausea is absent.
Lighter won’t start. Wet.
Stove is flaring. Big flames.
If I have no eyebrows upon return.
You know why.
Hehehe.
Boat vertical slamming so much.
Water jumping out of the pot.
Dousing the stove.
Relight with temperamental lighter.
Sigh.
Kitchen hot like a Finnish sauna.
Cooking in my underwear.
Don’t tell the crew.
Trying not to drop tuna water into my sea boots.
But might make them smell better.
Sigh.
Pasta
Seafood chowder
Tuna, salmon and clams.
Potatoes and mushrooms.
Sooo good.
Belly full.
Nap time.

Day 5 – First Night Watch – 1800-0000h

Dark.
Line squall.
3 reefs in main.
Lost our masthead wind instrument cluster.
Hanging by a wire.
Dan the monkey man.
Goes up the almost 100 ft mast.
In the middle of the ocean.
Boat still swinging.
Retrieved instruments before damage.
Completed safely.
Another line squall More reeling and followed by shaking out.
Gets the blood flowing in the upper arms and trunk.
Good workout.
Headed toward the North Pole at one point.
Santa?
Wind now from north west now.
Pushing us almost due east.
Toward France.
Surfing down waves.
Faster.
Boat humming.
Gentler.
Good sleep coming.

Day 5 – Second Night Watch – 0000-0300h

Difficult to type.
36-48 knots of wind.
Blowing heavy spray all over the deck.
Like the IMOCA 60 YouTube vids. 🙂
Waves breaking now over boat.
Autopilot driving.
Three reefs in the main.
Small J3 head sail.
Warm.
Water still warm
23 degrees.
Being on deck.
Kind of like water park.
In the dark.
Standing on a roller coaster.
While trying to stand up.
With fireman hosing you at times.
And trying to sail the boat.
Wearing a full dry suit.
Shorts and T-shirt. No gloves.
Ski goggles essential.
😎
Spirits good on deck.
My friend Bones lost his cookies.
Wrestling match might start.
Over use of the deck beanbag.
All good.

Day 6 – Second Night Watch – 0300-0600h

Ripped the J2 on last watch.
J2 = medium fib foresail
Eric, Dan, Joel and Colin on deck.
Boat moving fast.
20+ knots boat speed.
Water all over deck.
Wind building.
They decided to switch to smaller foresail.
Furling the J2.
Roller furling.
Something wrong with upper appearance.
Decide to unfurl.
Then refurl.
In process it rips
Horizontally 40 ft above deck.
Partially unrolled.
Unable to pull it in to furl it.
Unable to let it out and drop it.
Stuck.
Flagging in the wind.
We turned down wind.
Put four reefs in the main.
Protected the job behind the shorten main.
Sailed south toward Senegal.
At least it’s warm there.
Slow night.
Wait until daylight
Assess and act then.

Day 6 – First Day Watch – 1000-1400h

Grey sky.
Blowing wind.
20+ knots.
10 ft breaking seas.
Torn and wrapped foresail.
What to do?
Send helmeted Dan 95 ft up the mast.
Eric and I manned the winch to get him up there.
Attached to spare halyard.
Cut the halyard to sail lashings.
Jib halyard runs internal in the mast.
Cut it lower and it is gone forever.
Joel and Morgan pulled the sail by hand down the jib stay onto the deck. Lowered Dan from the generously swinging mast.
Then DMJ & I flaked and rolled the torn foresail.
Stuffed it in the hatch.
Colin steered a steady course.
1.5h work.
Smaller J3 jib placed into service.
Moving again.
Lumpy cross sea.
Lots of banging.
Hard to rest.
Just off tip of Grand Banks.
Getting colder on deck.
Really happy to disappear into my dry winter camping sleeping bag.
That is from where I type this update.
I love wireless email to the iridium satellite phone.
🙂

Day 7 – First Day Watch – 0600-1000h

Dolphins are back.
Gracefully weaving at the bow.
Spent time alone holding the forestay.
Boat moving easily underfoot.
Swaying with the motion of the waves.
Bow parting the navy blue crystal clear water
Sunlight glinting off water.
Innumerable sea diamonds.
Dolphins under foot.
Storm petrels gliding at eye level.
Mesmerizing.
Perhaps better than a campfire.
This one goes on forever.
No poking with a stick.
Storm Petrels.
Grey midsize slender birds.
Long long very slender wings.
Sword like.
Use the waves and wind deflection to stay aloft.
Watched them for hours.
Nary a wing flap seen.
Spend all their lives out here.
Mid ocean.
Island life for breeding.
Eggs would float away.
😉

Day 7 – Second Night Watch – 2100-0000h

Warmer evening.
Gentler seas
Very dark.
Milky Way looks sooo bright.
Steering toward the Big Dipper.
I don’t think we’ll make it.
The high pressure cell
Over the UK, eased it has.
We are heading north.
Way north.
Iceland. No.
That’s not even funny.
Northern Ireland north.
Big surfs promised.
I like surfing.
Wind should track to the west.
Build to 30+ knots.
Combined with 25 ft following ocean swells.
Equals.
Beach Boys…
Surfing Safari.
Kwaheri.
Swahili for Welcome!

Day 7 – Second Day Watch – 1400-1800h

Crossed another time zone today.
Moving east slowly.
1 h less watch.
Watch consists of:
Lookout for ships and ocean debris.
Helming by hand your course.
Sail trimming and sail changes.
Cooking and cleaning.
General boat housekeeping.
Power washing the deck not required.
Turtle.
Flippering his way north.
Small.
Size of a very large dinner plate.
Brownish colour.
Turned his head to watch is pass.
Racing.
I was helming.
Huge container ship came up from behind.
Going one knot faster per hour.
Almost parallel courses.
We crossed her bow about 3nm ahead.
I felt like racing.
Tried surfing down waves.
Lifting the traveller.
Play the tell tales.
But lost out to the relentless power of the 20 cylinder engine.
Commercial sea men.
Funny guys.
Refer to us as…
WAFI’s
Wind
Assisted
Friggin (sp)
Idiots.

At least we were happy WAFI’s.
Sunshine.
Warm winds
25 ft gentle swells.
Blue ocean.
Turtles and petrels
Dinner coming.
🙂

Day 8 – First Night Watch – 0300-0600

Sitting on the foredeck
Facing east.
Back cold from lying on folded sail J3.
Watching stars.
Some shooting.
Waiting.
Waiting for the sun.
Dark undulating sea.
Sharp line
Horizontal
Horizon
Clear.
Pale yellow.
Orange creeping in
Stars gone
Grey clouds hanging above.
Bottom of clouds turning
Brighter orange.
Spreading laterally along the horizon.
Pink lighting lower edge of cloud bank.
Salmon spreading across clouds
Brighter salmon.
Swirls appearing in cloud light show.
Happening quickly.
Changing by the minute.
Orange now.
Horizon now very bright orange.
Hot spot forming.
Looks like tine dancing flames
Waiting. Waiting.
Orange glow ball.
Rising.
Quickly.
All turning yellow.
Brighter
Fading to white.
Wow. Light winds.
Eric skipper navigated us here.
Only calm patch in North Atlantic.
Sent monkey man Dan up mast again
Set a limit.
Three times in 23h
After that he climbs himself.
Hoisted the racing J2.
Replacing the torn one from earlier.
Bigger foresail.
Better sail balance.
Big mainsail and smaller jib J3
Causing weather helm.
Needed to lash it at masthead.
It never comes down.
Lives on a roller furling.
Pull in and out as needed.
Needed calm to permanently fix.
And to hoist it unfurled
And not shred in 20+ knots of wind on the way up.
Happy.
Wind expected to build
25-30 knots by lunch.
From behind. Fast.
Hopefully very fast.
Crew excited.
Ok. Oatmeal and a grapefruit.
Bed 🙂

Day 8 – First Day Watch – 1000-1400h

Heading north.
North north-east.
Greenland
Hmmm
I’ve never been there.
Iceland next.
Never…
Oh, never mind
Azores two days ago.
Canaries Isles before that.
Fantasy destinations.
Dancing in the heads of the helmsmen?
No. Reality.
Hurricane Joaquin.
Caused a oceanic sized influence.
Powerful storm.
Missed the USA
Energy went back into atmosphere and ocean.
Recycled.
After passing over France.
Caused a high pressure cell to remain over UK.
Spain is the normal recipient of its sunny skies.
In October’s of past.
Sitting upon the former maritime powerhouse.
This high pushed successive low pressure storms south.
Beaches of Lisbon wet and windy.
No bikinis or hammocks 😉
The end result was very strong easterly winds.
Blowing over the entire Northern Atlantic.
Strong headwinds.
Headwinds for 2500 nm.
Sigh.
So being intelligent primates.
Combined with:
One meteorologist
Good weather software
One slow internet connection.
Wind GRIB files of data.
Two continental weather sources
NOAA in USA and EU modelling.
We can determine an optimal course to:
Chocolate croissants
Fine food
Strong red wines
Boulangeries
Patisseries
Parisiennes
Hmmm
France
The optimal courses change daily.
Based on current models.
Red trails depart current location.
On computer screen.
Beaconing us forward.
Trails made by winds forecast and known speed velocity and direction polars for our boat.
Offering preferences selected by us WAFIs.
For a while best course led us south.
Past the Azores.
Then as the European weather picture switched.
We followed.
For a while we sat on the fence.
Now committed to Northern route.
Promising but colder.
Big down wind surfs starting today.
Approaching Ireland
Winds shift forward
Sail past Land’s End.
Beating hard upwind into La Havre.
That’s the big picture.
Little picture…
We dodge storms.
Avoid cargo freighters
And best reason yet.
We searched out a predicted calm area
To switch out the torn job J2
Worked like magic.
So.
We are trying to get there ASAP and
It’s complicated.

Day 8 – Second Night Watch – 1800-2100h

Motor boat with a mast.
Wind died again.
We motored to find wind.
Sad but true.
Mid North Atlantic in Fall
“Not to be treated lightly”
As Monty Python would say
Well…
The wind died.
Dan now holds two speed records
22.0 knots/h faster
He is one of the better drivers
-1.8 knots/h slowest
No.
That is is not a typo.
Minus
Rounded up into irons.
Then backed it down.
Doughnut.
Then off again.
Later.
No.
Wind.
Blake sculled the bow around.
To find the wind
60 ft row boat.
Watched Venus rising over the south east sky.
Blanket of stars above.
Quiet evening.

Day 9 – First Night Watch – 0000-0300h

Slow night.
Light wind
Slow sailing our way to wind.
Promises to start the sleigh ride tomorrow.
Lots of stars overhead.
Phosphorescence in the bow wake.
Stars under water.
Black above and below.
Stars everywhere.
Boat lights off.
Gliding on leading edge of star filled wedge.
Like a star ship
Silent
Memorable.
Lovely.
Dolphins.
Accelerating from 100m behind.
Now at our stern.
Three. No. Four.
Lines of colour streaming of their fins
Graceful
Powerful
Glowing
I want to swim.
With them.
Like them.
But I can’t.
I’m a primate
Sigh.

Day 9 – First Day Watch – 0600-1000h

Wind.
Growing.
15-20 knots.
The seas confused.
Transition new wind direction
Sunrise over the ocean
Unobstructed
No work
Rush is missing
Watch and enjoy.
Living in the moment.
Visitors
Pilot whales
Pod of 10
Moving north
Paths almost crossed
We passed slightly ahead
Smooth.
Rhythmic
In a silver reflecting sea
Dolphins.
One.
Hundred.
Leaping to the north.
Passed 100 m away
Parallel course.
Shearwaters
Flying 10cm above water.
Excellent gliders.
Plumper.
Storm petrels.
Atlantic petrels
Joined the gliding party
Swoop close for a look
I want to fly…
Ohh forget it
You have opposable thumbs
Type on.
:-/
Whale
Big
40ft?
Black
Rolled
Flipper
In air
Passed into our stern wake

Day 9 – Second Day Watch – 1400-1800h

Wind building
The sleigh ride is starting.
Great arc to Ireland.
25-30 knots
Struck the large Code 5 headsail
Two up J2 and J3
Slot effect
Full main
Water ballast aft starboard
Keep bow up and stern hip down
Keel out 38 degrees to windward
Like having 20 gorillas sitting on the windward rail.
Visible from the shrouds.
Just look down
Orange torpedo in navy blue sea.
Waves buildIng
From stern quarter
15 ft high swells
With 3-5 wind waves on top
Surfing.
It’s starting.
Boat lifts and accelerates.
Big 60ft boat
Lifts out of water
Takes off
Speed almost doubles
22.3 knots
More expected
Waves flying off the bows
Sweeping small arcs across the wave trains
Humming
The boat sings like a violin
Different notes for different high speeds
Sings loudly.
The music playing.
The boat is flying

Day 9 – Second Night Watch – 2100-0000h

Ok.
We are moving.
Fast.
Wind on starboard stern quarter.
Waves building.
Faster.
Amazing phosphorescence.
Best yet.
Flying pizza wedge.
Blue light curtain.
Stern wake superman cape.
Blue stretching 50 m.
Sky and sea indistinguishable
Dark black.
Blue phosphorescence.
Only thing to watch.
Mesmerizing.
Breaking waves beside us
Villages from airplane at night
We are flying.
Noise below incredible.
Humming.
Rudders.
Keel.
Rigging.
Groans.
Sheets.
Waves.
Breaking.
Hiss.
Turbulence against hull.
Sandpaper on wood.
Loud like airplane.
Everything moving.
Rocking. Swaying.
Bouncing.
Jolting. Rolling.
Yawing
Pitching.
Hold on.

Day 10 – First Night Watch – 0300-0600h

Cold.
Very windy.
North Atlantic.
Reputation intact.
Long surfing sessions.
Down wind driven waves.
Dark.
Cloudy.
No moon.
No stars.
Black world.
Cold.
Creeping
Fingers.
Toes.
Torso.
Layer up.
Warm.
Returning
Centre first.
Toes.
Fingers.
Happy.
Swaying.
Waves.
Micro sleep.
Shit wake up
Falling over
Face plant into cockpit
Avoided.
Fatigue.
Warm sleeping
Bag.
Cocoon
Cacophony
Senses
Movement
Sounds
Tastes
Smells
Sights
Lifetime
Memories
One trip.
So many
Possibilities.

Day 10 – First Day Watch – 1000-1400h

Surf
Down waves
Endless
Fall
Grey field
Whitecaps
Far
Eye
See
Sea
Grey
Forever
20
22
23
23.8
Knots
Dan
Gold star
Master driver
Speed
Humming
Everything
Vibrating.
Boat.
Surfin
Safari
Swahili
For trip
Safari to France
Surfing Safari
Weeeee!

Day 11 – Second Day Watch – 1400-1800h

Wind
Less
Waves
Less
Still
Surfing
But not
Same
Afraid
Afraid
This boat
Changed
My expectations
Of sailing
Formula 1
of sailing
Back to my
Ordinary car
Sigh.
Colder
Able to see
Breath
Rotate positions
More coffee
More hot chocolate
Mocha?
Yes please

Day 11 – First Day Watch – 0600-1000h

Sunny.
Yes
Sunny
Bright reflections
Sea diamonds
Birds
Many
Usually one or two
One hundred
Swooping
Playing
Inquisitive
Dolphin
One
First
Three days
Helming
Jumped beside me
If I reached out
Touched
One jump
Look
Gone
Later
More dolphins
Sea
Fish
Why?
Looks same
To us WAFI primates.
Surfing
As promised
Best day yet.
Helming
Wind
30 knots
Following
25′
Swells
Feel
Stern rise
Higher
Higher
Good one
This is…
Higher.
Steer left
Right second
Bow tips down
60′ boat
About to slide
Surf
Down big swell
Ride the wave diagonally
Falling
Gravity
Pick up speed
Faster
Faster
Water
Water on deck
Water hits you
Hard.
Hold on
Faster
Faster
Spray
Everywhere
Hard to see
Steer
Feeling
Falling
Really fast
22.5
New speed record
Bow buries
Into next wave
Slows
Turns right
Slowly pick up speed
Again
Stern
Rises
Smiles
Big smiles.
=-)

Day 11 – First Night Watch – 0000-0300h

Shoulder
Nudge
Dark
Red headlamp
Nearby
“Cold,
Wet,
on deck;
Wind
35
Knots;
Goggles
Needed”
Ahhhh…
So nice.
Winter sleeping bag.
Warm
Dry
Sit up
Wool socks
Fleece pants
Gortex pants
Fleece jacket
Wool jacket.
Dry suit.
Waterproof fisherman’s gloves
For frozen fish
Heavy sea boots
Life jacket
Strobe
PLB
AIS
Six point harness
All done?
Yes
Dry suit full closed
Pee?
Yes
Goggles on
Hood on
Face protection on
Yes
Hatchway
Double check life jacket harness points
Double check tether clipped
To safety jack lines
Yes
Emerge on deck.
Wave hits
Like small child.
Hugging you.
From behind
Off balance
Catch yourself
Recover
Stagger forward to helm
Looking like drunken sailor
Only seawater on the lips
Sit
Briefing for watch
Course instructions
Helming
Pushy rollers
Off course
Work arms and back
Spray
Wind
Hard to see
Hard to converse
Recover course
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat…
Half hour
Fingers
Pain
Cold
Rotate
Into cabin
Hot chocolate.
Warm up
Half hour
Out again
Winches
Reefing
Main sheet
Emergency release
If boat overpowered
Half hour
Helm
Again
Repeat
Three
Hours
Off
Bed
Fatigue
Baby powder
Like bird dust bath
Dry
Sleeping bag
Sleep
|-)

Day 11 – Second Night Watch – 2100-0000h

Stars
Steering stars
Easy
Old
Cold
Fingers toes
Breath
Seen
Waves
Relentless movement
North
Wind
Grey
Overcast horizon
Indistinct
Blind
Instruments
Navigation guidance
Red
Tiny

Day 12 – First Night Watch – 0300-0600h

Confused
Awoken
Warm
Cold
Swing legs
Pull on damp pants
New dry thick wool socks
Fleece jacket
Unwrap pillow
Put on
Dry suit
Clammy on inside
Sea boots
Heavy inflatable 6 point life jacket
Tired
Guys on deck
Cold want to come in
Clip in
Get on deck
Take helm
Waves big
Bury bow
Heavy water on deck
Pushed back
Wiggle forward.
Huh
Cold
Wet
Going down my leg
Cold foot
Damn
“What are you doing”
“Closing my dry suit”
Sigh
Sunrise
Early
Moving
East
Time
Change
Coming soon
Dolphins
Two
Standing by the shrouds
I’m watching
Rhythmic
See them clearly
Green water
Swim down by keel
Come back
Up to breathe
Hear them breathing
Leaping
Regularly
Fast
Watching us
Grey brown/green
Painted
Gone

Day 12 – First Night Watch – 1800-2100h

Warmer
Outside temp 10C
Seas are almost calm
Steady winds from South.Spain?
Warm
Boat heels
More more.
I’m alone on helm
Wind picks up
More more
Start to pinch
Spill some wind
Release the main sheet
Release main traveller
Reef Main?
Others on deck
Wind dies
Steady
Again wind picks up
More, more, more
More than triple in less that 15 seconds
25 knots
Heel boat more…
Ok, reef
R1 Main
Another?
Wind steadies
Flat sea
Boat rockets ahead
Steering with my knee
Look ma no hands
2 minutes
5, 10, 20
Hands behind my head
Boat perfectly balanced
Slightest knee touch.
Beautiful balanced wind machine

Day 13 – First Night Watch – 0000-0300h

Wake up
Already
Sooo warm
What time!
Late for my watch
Others out waiting in wind
Check watch
1h more
Ohhh
Pull thick sleeping bag
Around neck
Mmmm
Overcast
Gusty winds
Trimming main
Keeps one active
Warm and awake
Weather helm
Pulling with arms, shoulders and back
Dolphins
Streaking
Phosphorescence
Light tails
Long tiny eddie lines
Off their fin tips
Glowing bodies
Ethereal
Nearing Ireland
Tempting to head into Galway
Get an Arran oiled wool sweater
Lamb and potato stew
Guinness
Mmmm
750 nautical miles to
Northern France
Leaving
Greenland
Savings
Time soon
Never been
On that time before
South west tip Ireland
Half way from here

Day 13 – Second Day Watch – 1400-1800h

High pressure
Ridge
Moving with us
Maintaining Sunny
Skies
Light winds
Slow progress

All up on deck
All the characters
Joel
Jovial
Morgan
Considerate
Dan
Monkey
Eric
Unfazed
Chris
Perspective
Blake
Deals
Martin
Entertainment
Colin
Affable

Tunes still playing
Amiable boat
Amiable conditions
180 nm off the Irish coast

Bird
Shore bird
European shore bird
Landed on Colin’s
Wool toque

Fish
None yet
Dolphins came to visit again
Curious
Visit the fish lures too
No worries
They are smarter than that
Tuna not so much
Pays not to be greedy

Sunset
Building
Banana
Cantaloupe
Orange
Mango
Paupau
Salmon

Day 13 – Second Night Watch – 2100-0000h

Quiet
Sailing smoothly
Steady conditions
Light winds
Calm seas
Everything
Shipshape

What to do?
Movie night
On deck
Beanbag chairs
Speaker system
Laptop computer
Placed on cooler
Comedy
Outdoors
Stars overhead
Outdoor movie night

Bed

Day 14 – First Night Watch – 0300-0600h

Dark
No stars
Moon set
Really dark
Calm seas
Slight undulation
Steady south wind
10 knots
Warm
Boat sailing quietly
9 knots
Sitting on bow
Alone
Rising and falling
Gently
Regularly
Like
Breathing

Phosphorescence
Best of trip
So bright
Blue
Milky
Smallest wavelets
Create tiny light crescents
Wake glows for 100+m
Slightest disturbance
Highlighted
Great light reaction

Darkness
Pierced
Light
Streaks
Coming
Starboard bow quarter
Irregular
Course
Bending
Curving
Around
Under
Bow
Weaving
Braiding
Interlacing
Trails
Blue light

Look
Down
Clear water
Ten
Bodies
Illuminated
Clear
Crystal
Eyes
Lines

Fast
Complicated
Random
Weaving
Tails moving
Flying
Fins
Curving
Phosphorescence
Trails
Undulating
Synced
Tail

Umbra
Cocoon
Energy field
Surrounding
Each
10 cm
Glowing halo

Trails
Interlaced
Irregular
Random
Showing
Time
Tracing
Three dimensional
Paths
Surfing
Bow wake

Only
Breathing
Sounds
Same
As
Us

Fast
Gliding
Rocket ahead
Curve
Out
Return
Pairs
Triplets
Mother
With
Baby
Tucked
In
Hip
Slip
Stream

Magic

Mesmerizing

Mystic
Day 14 – First Day Watch – 1000-1400h

Sunny
Warm
Calm seas
Very slight long swell
Slight wind ripples on surface
Darkest blue water

Fishing lures out
No fish
New birds
Smaller very very slender
Trying to catch lures
Lures in
No anorexic drumsticks for dinner

Mast head
Instruments
Damaged
Line squall
Mid Atlantic

Mast head
Inspection
Volunteer
Climbing harness
Mast head halyard
Smooth red mast
Hook fingers
Mast and mainsail
Up, up ,up
Spreaders
Three times
Bare mast
Top
Lights
Mainsail top
Sea
Waves
Dolphins
Ireland?
Ireland to the east

Calm
Warm
100 ft
Swaying
Out over the ocean
Back again
Gentle
Swaying
Swing like
Hook feet into shrouds
Both hands free
Great view
Boat looks small
Sea large
Endless
Waves
Swells
Limitless to the west
Sun setting
Warm
20 minutes
Crows nest

Video
Masthead
Instrument cluster
Fractured attachment
Knowledge
Plan repair

Lower
Quick
Easy
Unscathed
Deck

Dolphins
Playing
Bow wake
Harnessed
Out over the side
Trapeze
Dinghy sailing
IMOCA 60 dinghy
Bare foot
Bounce forward
Along hull
Near now
Tied off to bow
And masthead

Dolphins
Touching
Range
Centimetres
Flying over the waves
Bird like
Dolphins
Below
Gliding
Flying
Water interface
Cross
Occasionally
Cold water
Warm sun

Dolphins
Veer off
20 minutes
Bounce back
Shrouds
Hoist aboard
Pickup shoes
And socks
All good

Friggin awesome
Great day

Day 14 – Second Night Watch – 1000-1400h

Pleasant evening
Nice sunset
Group dinner
Warm
Light
Clothing
Fleece
Running shoes

Irish brogue
On the marine radio
We are not in America any more

Fishing
Fishing boat
Party
Off starboard
Side
Six boats
Motoring in doughnuts
Party lights

Green hills
Of Ireland
Off port side
Running down the Irish coast
Marine forecast
Very pleasant
Very polite
Nice

Day 15 – First Night Watch – 0000-0300h

Calm seas
Warm air
Calm wind
Ghosting down the coast
Lighthouses
Irish
Off port side

Typing
On deck
Sitting
Beanbag
Mr Noodles
Sriracha
Snack
Light
Starlight
Shooting
Stars
Best living
Room
With
A
View

Dolphins
Hear
Breathing
Beside boat
Every 20-30 min
New group

Walk to bow
Weaving
Escorts
Never
Straight
Curving
Sharp turns
Arcs
Up
Down
Right
Left
Roll
Twist
Always
Moving

Talking
Squeeking
Communicating
Hear it
On the bow
Hear it
Through the hull

Phosphorescence
Stars only
Dolphins
Covered
Sparkles
Trails
Sparkles

Trail
Off
Into the darkness
Return
High speed