good morning!
this is herbert, aboard the MILANTO on her cruise from LasPalmas to St.Lucia. after two days of seasickness I am back to life again - and I can tell you, you cant imagine how happy I am about that. here we are - in the middle of nowhere, no better place to be. to be a little more accurate: 25.10.07N,23.16.09, bearing 257 at approximatly 8kts.
Due to my not well being, I missed the first blog, so please excuse any repititions, as well please excuse my poor english (I am not improving much on that with so many Italians on board). Furthermore I have to fight this keyboard, where the numbers are stuck and the keys are mixed in the britain order.
well, there is a lot to tell. short after the start Valerio got us to see dolphines, turtles and flying fish. This was much more than to be expected - so what more has he got in mind for us for all the days to come? I am curious and looking forward to it. Josef, our master of competitionfishing is chainging the bait every hour - the three of us have a bet runnig, who's lure will bring the biggest fish. in sunny weather with a nice wind of 18kts we are enjoying the calm sea. whoever want's to learn about a love between a ship and a man should come here and watch Valerio and his "Lady" MILANTO. She calms down whenever he touches her, he motivates her to encrease speed by doing some small turns at the winch, and smooth she dives into the waves due to a small change of direction. he is taking care of her and she cares about him. The old lady may have some tweaks, but Valerio also is not a teen anymore. They grew up together obviously. it's almost a hidden vocabulary they share. she gives a small clank with the beam or shows her knickers by flapping the genua and he is up and on board to her attention. and while he sleeps (mainly at the small cot in the navigationcorner), she is cruising on her own and protecting captain and crew, under this wonderful starfilled sky. I love to watch him, when he intends any manoever. than he is standing on the stairs, fitting his hairband, looking up into the sails - in silence - and holding a nonverbal communication with his "Lady". shall we shake out the reef my dear? What do you think about rolling out the Genua myLADY, would this be fine for you? may I help you out with a second sail in front,sweetheart? And whatever the answer is, it will be just between the two of them. then he climbs on deck, moves there like a cat, almost as if the movement of the ship supports his forthcoming. he raises his foot - and up comes the deck to support his step; he stretches out his hand - and a small shuggle of the boat puts the vant in his hand. lines get rigged, tightened and reefed, sails moved, set, gibbed and back he is again at the stairs, looking up again, with the nonespoken question: are you fine now my best? as an answer we only get a small spray from the next wave, but I am sure, Valerio can hear her say: I am grateful for your understanding and forward looking my captain - and on she goes, never tired. If you need something to laugh about, you should watch me - moving around on deck. compared to me, a turtle looks like a ballettdancer on toetips.
my greatest thanks go to Carla and Josef, who took care of me in the hours of dying. "herbert, you have to eat this rice!" Carla said and confronted me with a big bowl of cooked rice. I couldn't even look at it first. but ricecorn by ricecorn, spoon by spoon I tried to fullfill her demand. once I finished the bowl and recovered some sleep I returned to the living. Carla is at the moment our chef de cuisine, but I am looking forward to help out once I am in form again. Carla, as a professional skipper, gives Valerio all the helping hand he needs. even Josef is on deck to shake out the reef or to shuffle with the lines - up to now I am just luggage to be worried about. So Valerio put me here to write the blog - hopefull that I will not damage anything.
FISH, FISH, FISH, what an upraor on deck! camera out, jumping up the stairs - and a very disappointed Josef gives me a "fuck-lost". So it's probably going to be lasagne this evening and not sushi.
so far so good!
all the best till soon
ahoi
herbert
ARC Rally Racing Division - Milanto gets a mention!
The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) has always been about the challenge of an Atlantic crossing, whether for first timers in a family cruising boat, or experienced sailors pushing for a personal best crossing time on a racing yacht.
Although originally solely a fun rally for cruising boats, within a few years of the first ARC in 1986, it became apparent that many crews wanted to compete rather than simply cruise across the ocean. In 1989, a racing division was introduced to the ARC to enable anyone wishing to race to pit their skills against likeminded sailors. Since then, racers have made up around 15% of the fleet, competing using the IRC rating system.
ARC 15/11/13
"Holding true to the spirit of the ARC, the racing division is very much a Corinthian event, offering club level racing on a transatlantic course and as such attracts a broad range of boats and crews. Crews of charter guests on a 'bucket list' race experience, get the chance to sail against professional crews, including veterans of the Volvo Ocean Race, and Olympic sailors, on this downwind ocean course.
Solid, ocean-going classic Swans such as the '51 Northern Child and the '46 MILANTO, are typical of the traditional style of boat in the racing fleet, whilst at the more extreme end of the range are downwind flyers from Pogo Structures, including two 40's and 12.50 and an 8.50, sailed by double handers Antoine Gloanec and Chloe Gautier from France.
Gianfelice Rocca's Rainbow represent's the classic part of the fleet; the C&C 61 was launched in 1972 and is still going well.
Pushing for the course record will be the Volvo 70, Monster Project, although with good conditions and tactics, the Pogo 40's are certainly capable to beating 11 days five hours as the all Austrian crew of Vaquita showed, coming in just a few hours off the record.
Another slippery new-comer is Max Klink's Caro, a Knierim 65 launched this year and described as a performance racer-cruiser, designed to minimizing weight without sacrificing comfort and still be raced by a crew of just six.
Around 35 boats are expected to start in the racing division on 24 November for the 2,670nm course to Saint Lucia. With a 24 year pedigree, the ARC racer's are very much a part of the ARC and registration is already open for the 2014 event. "
By World Cruising Club