The crew of Jason, Brendt, Paula, Matt, Jack, and Ken left Horta in a nice breeze heading north, day four saw the forestay let loose, foresail a-flapping, but mast still standing. Quick use of the spin halyards to hold up the mast, plus some cagey sail rigging by Matt and Jack, and the Grateful Red wove through the boats in the Straits of Dover to Ijmuiden, Netherlands.
The long leg started with a drifter, followed by the gooseneck screws backing out of the mast as we bobbed, so the crew of Jack, Curtis, and Ken motored north to catch the trade winds. Eight days of 30 plus winds and rain, drizzle, and wetness, but great sailing and terrific crew. 2,000 miles and 15 days later the Grateful Red was in Horta and the crew at Pete’s Sailors Bar telling stories.
First leg of the ocean crossing was the Charleston to Bermuda regatta, only nine boats in the regatta and three days of low (I did mention low) winds. The crew of Bridgette, Mark, Jack, Curtis, and Ken did a little sailing and did a little swimming but finally arrived at the Royal Bermuda yacht club with a third place finish and land crew of Cissy and Kristine.
See you on the Water
