Crew member on NOR149 Hydra

Team Hydra reporting in with just over 750 miles to run to the south of Grenada. Since leaving the cape verdes its been starboard gybe all of the way and an absolute pleasure to see the miles counting down as we rush towards the west. We all have very well developed left arms from helming on one side only and the mainsail will doubtless need a couple of patches from rubbing against the rig on the port side.

Every night the moon has appeared later and weaker until last night when it didn’t bother to turn up at all. We’ve naturally adjusted to this lunar cycle with more frequent changes to the helm as the concentration required to drive in the grainy light can make the eyes and brain tired after not too long.

Its amazing how the sea state seems to change every day with only the slightest variation in wind, sometimes Hydra is obedient, bow up and bouncing between crests, at other times it feels like a wilful toddler, struggling to break free of our control and just go its own way. At these times we must take back control with reefs, eased sheets, moved weight.

Food supplies are at a premium and there is a lot of trading going on. We have more than enough to last as no one has quite the appetite for three meals a day in this heat; but meals chosen from a land based lap top some three months ago aren’t necessarily the meals one craves in the middle of the ocean. Clean eater Tristan is constantly eyeing what everyone else has and even resorted to eating one of Paul’s ‘dirty’ pot noodles just for some variety. Mr Peggs himself, an aficionado of the Atlantic ordered spaghetti Bolognese for every dinner for every day and is serenely content. There is no substitute for experience.

This morning we gybed. Time for a work out of the right arms. Already we are dreaming of first meals and the welcome in Greneda.



Pure Grenada
Calero Marinas
Port Louis Marina