Spirit of Minerva - Transatlantic Adventure Rally 2007

We're Here!!!

2007-11-21T19:18:00.001Z

I'm drunk, we're all drunk. We arrived! And what a beautiful place to
land. Barbados is a jewel rising out of the sea to greet us.

Much from us tomorrow....

Happy birthday Mum! Glad you like the chocs - I'll have a drink for you
xxxx Keri

Minerva out!

Good morning, can you smell it?

2007-11-21T11:43:00.001Z

No it’s not the crew it’s the smell of land ahoy.

Due to the requirement of signing in at customs on the NW side of island we are doing a tour of Barbados going up the east side and stopping at Port St Charles then sailing down west coast to Carlisle Bay. distance to north of island, 233.9 miles to go. we are aiming to be signed in and at the bay around midday. meanwhile we have our paddling pool set up on deck and doing 9.0kts with medium spinnaker up and on course. soon the chaos will reign as we come within mobile phone range. It’s a sad day.

lots of love Minerva. monkey

156 miles to go,and doing 9.2 knots.

2007-11-20T13:48:00.000Z

All losing weight fast, thank God for the Admiral's Brownies.
We have had Dolphins at twilight yet again, sparkling with phospheresence. Sail Repair shop is very active and orders are now being taken. Should be a nice little earner. We have become EXPERTS at kite hoisting, packing, wooling etc.,

Generator has been repaired - water supplies safe - in fact, the boat is now ready for a Transatlantic Crossing!

Toodle Pip,

LOVE AND KISSES Sion

314nm Exciting times!

2007-11-19T15:32:00.000Z

We are neck and neck with Diana having made a dramatic leap forward in the last 12 hours.

Some are saying we have overtaken her!

Phosphorescent dolphins at 4am, streaks of silver swimming alongside the boat - an amazing sight.

More spinnaker problems but going well now with staysail up too.

Sion hit in face by flying fish but he’s fine. Adrian W says happy b'day to Carla.

Best Wishes

Mary

All was happy aboard the Minerva train ...

2007-11-18T19:07:00.001Z

until we had a very special visit last night from our own personal monsoon cloud which not only drowned us but kindly shifted the wind 90 degrees suddenly resulting in a spectacular kite wrap - not that we could see it in the torrential rain in the dark!

Anna then took up her usual position on the floor bearly visible, surrounded by wet kite, needle and thread in hand, working through the pain with The Prodigy drowning out the reality of the rain and Monkey's desperation to step off the back.

After the 6th hole had been mended we discovered another where someone had kindly kicked it in the night.

Finally, exhausted, we had a very exciting moment rehoisting our precious kite to discover 3 new holes- it is a tale of woe!!

On a good note we're finally catching up with Diana with our lightweight- wahoo!!

We can almost catch them with our deadly waterbaloons!!

The race isn't over till the fat lady sings, and she's been in her bunk most of the afternoon.

Keri and Anna XX

Distance to go: 680nm

2007-11-17T15:13:00.001Z

The moon keeps appearing for longer each evening meaning we no longer have such a fantastic view of ten a v. rude comment that my sea shanties would make good fish bait.

Mary

Friday Dawns

2007-11-16T08:38:00.000Z

Having spent 5.5 hours yesterday repairing the HW so beautifully my mother would be proud. Sion finally got his wish of the lhe half way party.

Anna x

PS There is something so wrong about doing a night watch in boardies & t-shirt!

Almost Halfway

2007-11-15T16:34:00.000Z

The last 24 hours have been non-stop excitment!

Wind picked up to a fun 20knots, so been flying along and even some waves to surf down. Anna and Graham patching it up, whilst we sail with a poled-out genoa.

Just 65 miles to halfway! We have a sweepstake going for what time we cross it.

Best wishes to everyone at home - thanks for the messages.

Keri

1323 Miles to go

2007-11-14T12:07:00.000Z

Making good progress with super weather.

Great news from Minerva caught 2 fish Dorado 1 got away 1 provided delicious starter to Dinner, Compliments to Graham-fisherman; Mary-gutting; Adrian- cook; Keri-made chocolate crispy brownies.

I am in the Covent Garden suite all the fruit and veg at my feet!

Having a wonderful experience, All my love Vrea darling Love to all the family,

Looking forward to Barbados. Tony Admial,

Distance to go: 1480nm

2007-11-13T14:36:00.000Z

Sion and Tim cooked a magnificent chicken stir fry for 13 people on our camping stove.

They tell me there might be some drum and the discovery that pegs in a plastic box make a gd sound. Can someone send us the definition of buccaneer please (and spelling too).

Mary

1646 miles left..!

2007-11-12T11:46:00.001Z

Still have the medium kite up...average boat speed. Our average speed yesterday was 8-9 knots. The constantly changing winds last night made helming a bit of a challenge!

Pork casserole for dinner yesterday beautifully prepared by the boat's top chef Graham Still, however, nothing on the end of our fishing lines as yet, we must be doing something wrong!

Adrian W took a boat shower yesterday after receiving threats from concerned crew members :-) Other memorable events ....Ian changed his shorts !

Adrian J (alias Jack... !)

Hello from Minerva

2007-11-11T15:10:00.000Z

only 1818 miles to go.. after a patch of dead air yesterday for a couple of hours, we're now having 10 knots of fun in the sun.

a couple of the crew experimenting with salt water showers on deck - talk about public baths.. fishing line also out although the floating lure is attracting only sea birds at the moment..

moonless sky last night meant a vey starry night - didn't help with keeping awake as we get back into the watch system!

crew drying out nicely.. ship's clock back one hour today - westward ho!

Adrian W

Hello from Minerva

2007-11-10T14:55:00.000Z

Hooray, we're finally off. No disrespect to the Verdes, but we're glad to be underway.

Another great start by Monkey, kite is up, we're surfing the waves and in the lead! As always start was exciting, with Stokey and sending-off party buzzing us repeatedly in their stolen fishing boat.

Much waving, whooping and fog-horn blasting by all.

Had lunch, and are on course. Set to clear Santo Antao in a couple of hours, then just another 2000nm to go!

Happy birthday Harvey, love Gandad xx

Keri, David and Anna

Last words for leg 2

2007-10-29T14:54:00.001Z

Having been a great night we seem to have been beaten by the mighty juno bus.

Since midnight last night we have been aprox 5m from each other and still remains to the finish.

All looking forward to a cold beer and more cold beer. all aboard have had a fantastic time and have recieved all friends and family messages. much appreciated. we look forward to finding some shade and a cool place to swim and have a beer.

Wish you were here.

Minerva 8miles to go. xx

Not far to go

2007-10-29T07:56:00.001Z

Almost there, with 78.7m to go and juno on the horizon to our west its going to be a close finish. as we are all criusing.

Sunday Blog

2007-10-28T12:42:00.001Z

Another awesome night sailing with the kite up, with sleep deprivation being combatted on my watch with the sextant, shooting pretty much anything that moved, including each other.

This morning's entertainment has included 16kn boat speed, rivelled only by Keri's spectaular ability to fall asleep at the wheel and flying fish, which have caused shrieks of excitement- particurlarly from me.

Graham's crumble at lunch was so good he has received several marriage propossals from male crew.

The boat is now dancing merrily to ibiza anthems in the sunshine with just 265 miles to go- Wahoo! Anna x

Half way

2007-10-27T14:16:00.001+01:00

Only 473 miles to go but its still too fast for fishing so having to rely on on board stores..

Beautiful moonlit sailing last night with a little rain - the first of the trip

It's hotter today as we head south. Luiz active at the top of the mast changing the spinnaker halyard followed by an 'on deck' shower.

morale high, sun shining and nothing broken

Minerva

Minerva Blog

2007-10-26T11:48:00.001+01:00

Had a taste of cava for the birthday watching setting sun and moon come up. Sailed by the Canaries last night, mobiles pinging as a signal was obtained.
Probably went a tad close to land as now behind other boats. Beards are appearing everywhere but some washing has been done I am reliably informed.
Have been learning how to surf down waves, with kite up, 16 kn achieved last night. One gybe last night, otherwise it's trim, trim, trim (although I'm assured we're not racing!). Mary

Minerva blog

2007-10-25T12:12:00.001+01:00

There once was a girl called Mineva,
So fine no one could deserve her,
One night in the pub,
Had the ultimate snub,
When she farted and no one would serve her.

This limerick was inspired by finding out Minerva is the roman god of poetry.

Was a long night!

Happy birthday to crew member Mary.

Its great!

2007-10-24T17:31:00.001+01:00

996nm to go, course 210.

Having completed our objective of coming over the start line first we are set in a fast cruising mode. - full main and big headsail doing 10kts.

It’s great fun, let’s hope it lasts.

The winds looking like they will die off overnight, what will the night bring? songs and stars?

Tell you tomorrow,

Love Minerva.

Here Comes Leg 2!

2007-10-24T09:38:00.001+01:00

Good morning world, this is Spirit of Minerva up and ready to go having spent a fantastic time in Madeira. we will take our experience with us and look forward to coming back next year.

On this next leg we have lost two great crew members in Chris and Chris but have gained a second pair in Adrian and Steve who will be filming us on our voyage.

Start is at 12.00 and we plan to be over the line first again.

See you out there.

1036 miles to go!

Minerva

So close we can taste the beer!

2007-10-16T09:07:00.000+01:00

So close yet so far, 25m to go, wind 8kts, spd 5.0kts.

It's been a long night and will be a long morning. wind is very light
and from behind making head way slow.

At least we have all morning to prep boat for port and bar.

Everyone has been getting involved in using the sextant yesterday and
last night, though I think I will stick to using the GPS for now! the
fact that we can see Diana our main rivals and the finish not far away
requires a steady crew and concentration. only time will tell, more at
12.00 GMT.

Minerva / Diana and the finish / Bar up for grabs.

Monkey

Minerva Blog 15th Oct

2007-10-15T12:52:00.001+01:00

Well you just can't normally complain about anything when the sailing is this much fun! However, is Rod Stewart appropriate music for sunset? and German singing?

Smiles from all on board.

Minerva out.

Surfs Up!

2007-10-14T17:06:00.000+01:00

Following a disappointing forecast and poor winds to begin our Madeira bound leg, Aeolus piped up some tasty northerlies with day 2 spent spanking the medium kite.

You can't beat a sunny afternoon on a beam/broad reach...

Poseidon sent us a squid which should do for hors d'oeuvres and we're hauling in the only boat ahead of us, under the capable hands of Luiz, who is driving Minerva like he's just stolen it....

Minerva Crew Leg #1 (aka Team Sagres)

2007-10-13T14:34:00.001+01:00

We are off again, 489 miles to go and doing 6kts in the right direction.

The forcast is light winds again!! but we will not complain as it is a perfect day and we have the fishing gear this time.

The aim is to arrive on wednesday, hopefully enough time for a detox. looking forward to heaing from all again,

love Spirit of Minerva, Monkey