Objective
To
safely deliver Windleblo and her crew from Gibraltar to Rodney
Bay, St. Lucia, a voyage of 3,400 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean.
This
plan covers two passages, a 700 nautical mile passage from Gibraltar to Las
Palmas, Gran Canaria, called the “pre-ARC” passage, and a 2,700 nautical mile
Atlantic Ocean crossing as part of the World Cruising Club’s Atlantic Rally for
Cruisers, or ARC.
Constraints
Weather
For
the pre-ARC voyage from Gibraltar to Las Palmas, inclement weather, and more
specifically high winds or unpleasant seas, presents the biggest weather constraints.
Every effort will be made to select an optimal weather window prior to
departure.
Careful
attention will be paid to weather forecasts in the days leading up to the pre-ARC
passage. During this time, Windleblo
will be berthed at Ocean Village Marina, which provides wifi Internet access.
Information on weather conditions and sea state will be obtained primarily
through the Internet from www.windguru.com,
www.passageweather.com,
and GRIB files through grib.us.
For
the period leading up to the ARC, the Canaries are covered by
Weatherfax transmissions from several sources. There are also a number of
excellent web sites some of which are listed below.
The
last site listed is probably the only met site constructed for other yachtsmen
by a yachtsman and former senior forecaster with the UK met office. When within
VHF range of Tenerife, a four hourly weather bulletin is broadcast on Channel
74 in Spanish and English.
In
addition, we will have the benefit of weather information provided by ARC
organizers. These include regular weather updates prior to the start of the
rally and daily weather reports during the rally delivered via a scheduled SSB
radio net. Once south of about 30 degrees north latitude, northeast trade winds
will dominate the weather pattern, with generally consistent wind strength and
direction. Cruising at this latitude requires vigilance for the possibility of
squalls, with quick action potentially necessary to adjust sails accordingly.
While
at sea, weather information will be obtained daily using the onboard SSB radio.
During the pre-ARC passage, GRIB file data will be requested and delivered as
email attachments via Windleblo’s
Sailmail email account. Once accessed, the files will be downloaded to the
onboard Lenovo laptop for display using Airmail software. In addition to this
method, weather information will be received during the daily SSB radio net
during the ARC. As backup, Weatherfax information will be obtained via SSB by
tuning into Northwood, UK, broadcasts in accordance with the National Weather
Service Worldwide Marine Radiofacsimile Broadcast Schedules and displaying
resulting Weatherfax transmissions using the iPad HF FAX app.
Passage Duration
The
duration of the pre-ARC passage is expected not to exceed 140 hours, or nearly
six days. This assumes an average speed over ground of five knots. Actual
passage duration will depend on whether stops are taken at ports near the
passage route. Depending on weather and crew interest, the passage track may
deviate to Madeira and/or Lanzarote. While Moroccan ports offer refuge in the
event of an emergency, no stops in Morocco are planned.
The
Atlantic crossing from the Canaries to St. Lucia is estimated to take between
18 and 21 days. Conservatively assuming an average speed over ground of six
knots, the passage will take 18 days, 18 hours to complete.
Departure
& Arrival Times
For the pre-ARC voyage, the crew will assemble in Gibraltar
on October 30th, making October 31st the first possible
date for departure. Departure from Gibraltar
will be dictated by the timing of the weather window selected for the voyage.
Although not mandatory given the straightforward pilotage from Gibraltar,
departure ideally would occur in daylight. More preferably, though, departure
would occur early in the day after the crew has had a good night’s rest.
Arrival at Las Palmas will occur in daylight. Should Windleblo approach Las Palmas at night, boat speed will be adjusted
to ensure arrival after dawn.
Departure from Las Palmas will be determined by
rally organizers. The rally start is scheduled on November 25th.
Arrival into Rodney Bay Marina, St. Lucia, will occur in daylight. Should Windleblo approach St. Lucia at night,
boat speed will be adjusted to ensure arrival after dawn.
Tides
& Currents
Because
evapotranspiration is greater than surface water recharge in the Mediterranean
Basin, the level of the Mediterranean Sea is slightly lower than the Atlantic
Ocean. This results in a constant one-half to one knot current from west to
east through the Straits of Gibraltar. Consequently, boat speed will be reduced
for the first leg of the pre-ARC voyage. Once clear of the Straits, the Canary
Current will assist us. This wind driven current runs northeast to southwest
off the Moroccan Atlantic coast as part of the North Atlantic Gyre. Current drift
typically does not exceed one-half knot. Currents during the ARC crossing are
typically less than one-half knot and follow prevailing northeasterly winds.
Tidal
ranges are negligible at Gibraltar, one meter at Las Palmas, and two meters at
Rodney Bay. However, tidal streams are slight at both Las Palmas and Rodney Bay
and are not expected to influence the passages.
Overall, tides and currents do not present a significant
constraint for this passage.
Hazards
Once
clear of near shore hazards, equipment failure and an unanticipated excessive
increase in wind speed or sea state present the primary hazards that might be
encountered en route. Commercial shipping and fishing traffic also present
potential hazards. Finally, although rare, fog may present a hazard.
To
ensure safe passage while in confined waters, pilotage sketches will be prepared
or obtained for Gibraltar, Las Palmas, and Rodney Bay. They will include the
position and nature of hazards and ATONs and show clearing bearings, danger
bearings, and other key information to guide navigation. ATONs and charted land
based features will be employed to ensure accurate position fixing and safe
passage.
Particular
care will be taken as Windleblo
navigates through the Canary Islands upon arrival into and departure from Las
Palmas. Wind acceleration zones are well documented in this area, where wind
speeds can increase rapidly and significantly without warning. Crew will be
alert to the potential need to shorten sail quickly in these waters.
Given
the duration of the pre-ARC voyage, the weather forecast should be reliable.
Although favorable wind direction and speed will be primary considerations in
selecting a weather window for this passage, the possibility of a change in
either must be considered. Should the wind change direction or intensity, we
will simply trim and/or reef sails and adopt a new point of sail. If winds end
up on the nose, we will fire up the iron sail and carry on to Las Palmas.
For
the ARC, wind direction and speed are expected to be consistent. Once in the
trades, the only logical sailing direction is downwind.
Equipment
failure presents a potential significant hazard on any lengthy crossing. Windleblo carries
a significant inventory of spare parts, supplies, and safety equipment on board
as a precaution against adversity. A 406 EPIRB, six-person AVON canister life
raft, and fully stocked ditch bag are readily available should abandoning ship
become necessary. Ditch bag supplies include portable water maker, handheld
GPS, handheld VHF radio, food and water. Similar emergency equipment and
supplies are included in the life raft.
A
watch will be maintained at all times during both crossings. Applicable COLREGS
rules will be followed whenever commercial or fishing traffic is encountered.
If in doubt, early avoidance action will be taken and any vessels encountered
will be given a wide berth.
The
Skipper will be on deck for departure from and/or arrival into Gibraltar, Las
Palmas, and Rodney Bay. The watch schedule will be determined by the crew prior
to departure. For discussion purposes, two hour solo watches are proposed. Greenwich
Mean Time will be used to maintain the watch schedule throughout the voyage. This
will vary each crew member’s watch schedule relative to solar cycles. Relief
should arrive at least five minutes before the start of their assigned watch
for a hand over briefing.
Seasickness
presents an additional potential hazard to planned functioning of the vessel.
On the ARC, the voyage will continue with reduced crew strength should
debilitating seasickness strike one of the crew. On the pre-ARC voyage, a
decision will be reached as to whether refuge should be sought if multiple crew
members become sick. Seasickness medication will be available to any crew
desiring it.
In
the unlikely event that fog is encountered, speed will be reduced, sound signals
will be employed, and electronic navigation will be used to confirm ongoing
position fixing.
Windleblo will
start the crossing with full diesel fuel tanks, giving the boat a 600+ nautical
mile cruising range under engine power alone.
Should
outside assistance become necessary, it will be requested using VHF Channel 16.
In near shore waters, this channel is monitored by both the Spanish and
Moroccan authorities, which can deploy Search and Rescue resources. The SSB
radio and satellite phones will be used to contact rally and SAR authorities as
warranted. Contact numbers are as follows: NEED TO RESEARCH APPROPRIATE
NUMBERS.
Crew
A
three person crew has volunteered for the pre-ARC voyage. Jack Hoopes, co-owner
of Windleblo, will skipper. Martin Neumayer and John O’Riordan will
serve as crew. John Hoopes will join the crew in Las Palmas for the ARC. Two of
the four members of this crew are credentialed RYA Yachtmasters and all four
have strong sailing skills and experience. All members of the crew have prior extensive
sailing experience aboard Windleblo
and are familiar with a Hallberg-Rassy 40.
While
crew will share most duties aboard the Windleblo,
several key roles will be assigned, as follows:
Jack Hoopes
Skipper
– Has overall responsibility for boat and crew.
Weather
Person/Chief Communication Officer -- Monitors radio traffic; obtains and
interprets weather information; posts blog entries; keeps communications
equipment in working order.
Chief
Medical Officer – Assesses crew health and well-being; administers medication
and first aid as needed.
Assistant
Steward – Takes turn preparing and cleaning up daily crew meal.
John O’Riordan
Executive
Officer – John will assume command should the Skipper become incapacitated.
Lead
Rig and Sail Trimmer – Works to optimize sail plan and performance.
Chief
Waste Manager – John will ensure all refuse is disposed of or compacted and
stowed properly.
Assistant
Fisherdude – Works with the Lead Fisherdude to supplement the crew’s diet.
Martin Neumayer
Quartermaster
– Responsible for the boat’s navigation; maintains constant knowledge of the
boat’s position; regularly plots Windleblo’s
position and course on paper chart.
Tactician
– Determines sail plan, points of sail, and tacking/gybing sequence to optimize
boat speed, balance, and performance.
Assistant
Steward – Takes turn preparing and cleaning up daily crew meal.
John
Hoopes
Chief
Steward – In collaboration with Skipper and Crew, conducts voyage menu planning
and food and beverage provisioning; takes turn preparing and cleaning up daily
crew meal.
Voyage
photographer – Photodocuments the voyage.
Lead
Fisherdude – Works with the Assistant Fisherdude to supplement the crew’s diet.
Jocelyn
Hoopes, co-owner of Windleblo, is the designated responsible party
on shore with information about the planned passages. She can be reached at
+1-303-810-7513. As a backup, Roni Teitelbaum is Windleblo’s ongoing
Shoreside Coordinator. Her mobile number is +1-303-549-5881.
This
passage is within the limits of the skipper, the crew, and the boat.
Route and Navigation
Imray
Charts E2, Canary Islands, B1 St. Lucia, and 100, Atlantic Routing Chart are
the paper charts that have been acquired for these passages. In addition,
digital charts for both passages are loaded onto a Furuno MFD8 NavNet 3D
chartplotter, a MaxSea Time Zero software program on the onboard Lenovo T530
laptop, and the iNavX iPad app.
For
the pre-ARC voyage, the planned route once clear of the Straits of Gibraltar is
essentially a rhumb line of 228 degrees M originating at N035 47.6, E005 57.0
for 665 nm. This intended track will be plotted on a paper chart prior to
departure.
For
the ARC, the intended track typically follows a southwesterly route once clear
of the Canary Islands until 30 degrees North latitude is crossed, and then a
more westerly course is steered.
Throughout,
the boat’s position will be monitored using a Furuno MFD8 NavNet onboard
electronic navigation system. As backup, position fixes are available through
redundant electronic vector charts carried on both laptop-based MaxSea Time
Zero navigation software and an iPad-based iNavX chart plotter. Finally, should
it become necessary and weather permitting, celestial sightings will be reduced
to determine position using a Davis sextant kept in the onboard ditch bag.
The
boat’s position will be plotted regularly on paper charts during both the
pre-ARC and ARC voyages.
The
intended pre-ARC route offers several suitable places of refuge should weather conditions
deteriorate. The boat could deviate west to Madeira or east to one of several
Moroccan ports for bolt holes during the voyage. On the ARC, once beyond several
hundred miles downwind of the Canaries, the most sensible alternative is to
continue westward rather than try to fight back upwind.
Provisions
Well
prior to departure, the crew will collaborate on menu planning for the crossing.
Meals will be cooked in advance and kept under refrigeration to ease
preparation while under way. A hearty supper will be served on the evening prior
to departure. Ongoing hydration through consumption of water and/or water
spiked with Emergen-C vitamin powder will be encouraged.
Windleblo will depart Gibraltar and Las Palmas with fresh water tanks full.
Windleblo’s fresh water tank capacity
is 460 liters (122 gallons), which will more than meet crew needs for fresh
water for the pre-ARC passage (see calculation below). None-the-less, bottled
drinking water will be purchased in Gibraltar and Las Palmas and stored on
board. For the ARC, in addition to including bottled drinking water among our
provisions, water will be made with Windleblo’s
on board watermaker.
Water management plan – pre-ARC voyage:
Drinking water: two liters minimum per person per day 36
liters
Fresh water shower: est.
eight liters per shower x two per person 64
liters
Fresh water washing for
people & dishes, est. 15 liters per person 45
liters
Total estimated water
consumption 145
liters
Add safety factor of 10% 15
liters
Total water requirement 160
liters
Water management plan – ARC:
Drinking water: two liters minimum per person per day 144
liters
Fresh water shower: est.
eight liters per shower x six per person 192
liters
Fresh water washing for
people & dishes, est. 45 liters per person 180
liters
Total estimated water
consumption 516
liters
Add safety factor of 10%
52 liters
Total water requirement 586
liters
Customs and Immigration
Prior to departure from
Las Palmas, crew members will obtain an EU exit stamp on their passports. On
approach to St. Lucia, a St. Lucian courtesy flag and a Q flag will be raised. Rodney
Bay is a port of entry for St. Lucia. Upon arrival, the captain will proceed ashore
and clear customs and immigration. Assistance will be sought from rally
organizers, if needed.
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