About Me
BLOGS
On the evening of November 18th last year I arrived in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, a Spanish island off the coast of West Africa. I had traveled from California to Boston, where I met a friend I have known since grade school, Ron, and the two of us boarded a flight to Las Palmas with a layover in Madrid. The purpose of our trip was to meet up with another grade school friend, Blake, and his brother Tony aboard his 83 foot yacht in order to serve as crew during the 2011 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC). The ARC has been running annually for over 20 years from Las Palmas to Rodney Bay, St. Lucia and has proven very popular, as such events go. There were over 210 entries this year. As with most sail races there are classes for each general type of vessel. Our ship, Mustang, fit into the open category. At 65 tons and 83 feet we were by no means the largest and fastest boat in the open class and Mustang's only previous attempt, in 2006 (different owner and crew) resulted in her dismasting half way across. Despite some very stiff competition we prepared to make the best showing possible while enjoying a true gentleman's race, which is sailed entirely with the wind.
I will spare you the minutiae and post pictures with little descriptions of what is pictured, if needed. Otherwise, enjoy.
*spoilers*
Me, Ron and Richard in Mustang's cockpit, 11/19.
*spoilers*
Mustang from across the marina.
*spoilers*
Our neighbor in Las Palmas to port.
*spoilers*
The Captain had a local artist paint this on the wall aft at the Marina.
Under way...
*spoilers*
Me getting the ships cannon ready for firing as we cross the line.
*spoilers*
*spoilers*
*spoilers*
*spoilers*Dolphins, and these are little ones. About mid way across during a watch on an overcast night we heard a splash and whoosh to port and knew that it was dolphins coming up for a breath and a look at us. Intensely curious, dolphins are always checking out boats. This night we were treated to a...
I will spare you the minutiae and post pictures with little descriptions of what is pictured, if needed. Otherwise, enjoy.
*spoilers*
Me, Ron and Richard in Mustang's cockpit, 11/19.
*spoilers*
Mustang from across the marina.
*spoilers*
Our neighbor in Las Palmas to port.
*spoilers*
The Captain had a local artist paint this on the wall aft at the Marina.
Under way...
*spoilers*
Me getting the ships cannon ready for firing as we cross the line.
*spoilers*
*spoilers*
*spoilers*
*spoilers*Dolphins, and these are little ones. About mid way across during a watch on an overcast night we heard a splash and whoosh to port and knew that it was dolphins coming up for a breath and a look at us. Intensely curious, dolphins are always checking out boats. This night we were treated to a...
FEBRUARY 2012
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