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As of 1800 we are still in a status red alert. Potentially looking at another 4 or 5 days before we can get a start! The good news is that they are hopeful that the Azores High will break and start to climb to hold off all of these nasty low depressions for us. Fingers crossed!
Diane
October 16, 2013
In the meantime we’re preparing for a few days here in Douarnenez. A walk to the market this morning found these amazing lobsters!
They definitely exceed our “mini budget”, but they don’t exceed my camera! Then it was a run to the grocery store. Next up we have to move the boats back inside of the locked in harbour while we wait for our weather window. Things are feeling very quiet. Paul and Sheila have gone home, the banners have been taken down and the race village packed up. Hope we go soon!!! I’m rooting for movie night in the crew house tonight!! Hansel and Gretel or Argo????? What’s your vote?
Diane
October 15, 2010
Status Red, status Orange or status Green. This is our new alert system to know when we are going to get a start. The long range forecast is for a potential start in 5 to 7 days!!! If they post a status red then we are “no start in the next 36 hours”. If it’s status orange then it’s a possibility of leaving in the next 36 hours. If it’s green then it’s a possibility of going in the next 24 hours. Today we’re status red…..it is what it is!
Anyone know anything fun and exciting to do in Douarnenez that doesn’t cost anything???
October 15, 2013
Ok, new waypoints for Spain have been developed and entered for our potential third leg. That should pretty much guarantee now that we’re not going to Spain! Stay tuned for the 1800 briefing tonight (1200 Toronto time) to see where and when we are taking off!
Diane
We’re off to our evening briefing to find out if we’re on our way or not. The grib files are looking good for a small window of opportunity to get around Cape Finisterre if we leave Wednesday! 30 minutes to the briefing!!!! Cross your fingers!!!
Diane
October 12, 2013
It’s official! We’re on a day by day alert for a weather window to open up for the start of the 2013 Mini Transat Race. As of Monday at 1800 they will do a daily post on the official notice board of the weather status off of Cape Finisterre and our new start date and time. As soon as the briefing was over it was a mad dash to the boats. Minimum two more days for people to work on their boats!!! Instantly the drills came out, hacksaws started swinging and hammers started banging. I decided to sort through my Pharmacy kit a little and then to do a splice. One of the items we’re required to have in the Pharmacy kit is suntan lotion. I have a bottle of my favourite Sunscreen not only in my boat, but also in my toilet case AND in my Pharmacy kit…just incase!
In the meantime, we’re ready and raring to go!
Diane
October 10, 2013
Postponement! The big announcement in today’s race briefing was as follows.
Due to a massive low connecting in with another low over the Bay of Biscay and a large section of the Atlantic Ocean, we are officially postponed until at least Wednesday most likely. This low that is spinning up is looking like it will produce 30 – 40 knots of wind on the nose (SW) coming around Cap Finisterre. The Cap is a particularly tricky area of navigation. Cliffs, high winds and a massive Traffic Separation Scheme that must be avoided, have all added up to an official postponement.
Three days left to the start of the Mini Transat race! We’re ready to go…inspections are complete and charts are being worked up against the weather grib files. Busy days but VERY VERY EXCITING!!! Four years of hard work about to pay off. Follow the race!
🙂
Diane
October 8, 2013
Navigation lights test! During this intense week of inspections, one of the tests is the nav lights test. Everyone has to turn their lights on so the inspectors can see that they are working!
October 7, 2013
It’s a tradition with the Mini Transat race that each competitor gets connected with a classroom of school children. I have an exciting group of 16 children who have become part of my inspiration. Today I had the great fortune to meet them in person at the boat in the race village.
They have been using the race and the boat in their studies and came armed with a mountain of well thought out questions. “What do you eat? Where do you sleep? How can you get help if you need it? Do you swim in the water? Have you ever hit anything in the water? And many many more questions.
They also came armed with t-shirts they created. Mini #655 has been permanently immortalized in a t-shirt like no other!
The final piece of icing on the cake was a wonderful gift from them. It’s a model of One Girl’s Ocean Challenge that has sturdily been reinforced with wire, tape, brilliant blue marker and some Canadian flags of pride. I have taken a picture of the new craft and will place it in the boat for the race across!
We finished up with a “grand tour” of the inside of the boat, more questions and a heartfelt “bon vent”. They also created a massive drawing that has been laminated to my mainsail. When things get rough out there I will look up at my main sail, see their drawing on it and all their warm faces smiling back at me and I will be inspired to push harder and smile through it all!
Diane
