Commodore
January 28, 2022

We made it!!

Congrats to Peter Fanning who got the closest time as they arrived at 9:15 (Local time) Video incoming

January 28 Day 19

Morning cups of tea in bed and birthday hugs from Rowan and the kids, feels like a very special day already, especially as I had no shift to do.

The breakfast table was a riot of colour and birthday wishes that Han and Luke had created. A slap up cooked breakfast, down to the last couple of our 120 eggs! We still have plenty of tomatoes and bacon left, and have discovered how remarkably good and tasty tinned mushrooms are. We opened a new pack of our frozen Pact coffee, which was delicious with our morning ritual of marmalade toast.

It was an overcast morning with squalls looming in the distance and very little wind. As one particularly big squall got closer the wind speed picked up a bit and we were all excited with our increased speed, but the next minute there was a loud snapping noise. Our temporary halyard (the Topping line to keep the boom up) had snapped, we only had one reef in, and the wind force was obviously too much. With the constant annoying sound of the alarm alerting us to the fact that both fuel tanks were on reserve, we had Sporty the Code sail up hobbling along, with about 50 miles to go, and no way of getting our main sail back up. Rowan’s put some markers on the fuel tank that we can’t drop below, we just had to cross fingers for the best. The wind died below 10 knots so Sporty the Code sail was not doing a lot. We had all sorts of scenarios thought out……anchoring in the bay, going in the dingy to get more fuel, getting Phoebs to get someone out to us etc etc.

I had endless messages sent through from Phoebs, with loads of happy wishes from dear friends, blog followers and other Arc Boats. Thank you to all! Even a song from the Dutch guys on Brainstorm, which they hope to sing to me on Sunday when they get in on the French boat Rhapsody. They sent the lyrics and all I could understand was Gormley and wijn! Thanks everyone for the kind messages! We love the fact that Phoebs has got everyone to bet on our arrival time. Moderately offended that the Grandparents and Marshalls thought we would not make it until the 29th.

Old Eagle Eyes spotted land, about 25 miles out just as the sun set behind the island of St Lucia which was mainly covered in dramatic dark rain clouds. The mood changed as we could all sense the end. With the wind completely gone, we didn’t miss our main sail as it would have been no use anyway, we had the engines purring on low revs eking out the last of our fuel.

At 9pm, at two miles out we had to contact the Arc Rally coordinators, who told us we would be met by a the photographer in a rib in Rodney bay, taking photos of us crossing the finishing line, we were told to expect a lot of flashing lights. Suddenly we were in the bay in pouring rain and pitch dark. With rain coats and life jackets on, the visibility was horrendous for poor Rowan. The photographer arrived and circled us a few times taking loads of pics with flashing lights that did not help Rowan’s navigating of the boats anchored out in the bay.

Finally we were near the entrance to the marina, with one rather dramatic reversing of the engines as we suddenly found ourselves aiming directly into one of the entrance buoys. It certainly helped that we had been here before and knew the layout. There is a narrow passage and then it opens out to the marina. Suddenly in the pouring rain we heard whoops and shouting from the pontoon, it was Phoebe and Tom’s family cheering us in. Suddenly the tension gone we were safely in, and it was not long before we had loads of help guiding us into our berth. We had boat horns blaring through the rain and other arc boats welcoming us in. The coordinators presented us with a basket of local produce, rum punches and beers. What a wonderful welcome, fantastic to have Phoebs our very efficient and vital land coordinator back on the boat. Strictly it was after curfew but we managed to get family on board and by 10:30 pm we were cracking open the champagne, kicking back and relaxing. We had made it! Even if it was with only a dribble of fuel left and no main sail.

Nearing midnight Tom’s family left for their apartment, and I was showered with wonderful gifts from the family. We all crashed into bed absolutely shattered, so pleased to have Phoebs on board completing the end of the journey.