Northern Child Passage Log

Northern Child - Antigua Azores UK - Daily Log # 12 - 23nd May 2012

Position: 37'11.2"N 038'23.7"W
Distance Run from Start: 2006NM
Distance Made Good: 1557NM    
Last 24 Hour Run: 164NM
Wind: NNW 28 Knots

A very good evening to you all from the washing machine that is Northern  Child! A very bumpy day it's been indeed with the same big swell which started yesterday as well as a reasonably stiff breeze! The sailing has been fantastic though and we are bombing along at 9 knots on a beam reach pointing straight at the Azores.

The rest of last night was a very damp night with spray coming over the deck and a few patches of rain. The sunrise was definitely a welcome sight with the prospect of warming up and being able to see the waves as they came at us which always helps when trying to steer as straight a course as the helmsman is able! 
Throughout the morning most of the guys were getting some rest as the sun wasn't out in all its splendour as with previous days. Though the smell of the burgers which Tom was cooking for lunch soon roused us all out of bed and we all tucked in heartily to a nice big cheese burger with onions. Crisis was averted once the elusive bottle of brown sauce had been located much to skippers relief!
The afternoon was much the same though the sun did manage to break through the cloud layer which pleased everybody to no end, though we couldn't make the most of it as today oilies were being worn all day as it is so cold now! 

For dinner Vladimir and Anthony made us a nice meal of pie and chips with some peas, though disaster struck as one of the pies was put on the side and managed to slide off the gimballed cooker all over the floor which took some clearing up, especially as the boat was bucking and pitching all over the place. Things were soon back under control though and though the portion was slightly smaller than originally intended, it was very nice just the same!

The evening brought with it a steadily increasing wind and a slightly larger swell, as well as a thick layer of cloud which coupled with an almost new moon, has made the visibility extremely poor, almost to the
extent of not being able to tell up from down and we can barely see the water over the side of the boat! Makes for some interesting steering, so unfortunately I have a long night ahead of me, more to be present for moral support than anything else! It can be pretty nerve wracking as you can well imagine, especially when one of the larger waves sweeps the boat up. Just before I came down to write to you we had a sustained gust of 35 knots which was interesting. Interesting for Tom in any event as he got spray all over his glasses and couldn't see a jot! He was happy to relinquish the helm at that stage, which I was very pleased about as it looked fun!

For the rest of the evening and tomorrow the weather looks much the same until tomorrow night where the wind is supposed to die down considerably, perhaps we'll get a chance to go motor boating for the first time this trip! Will give us a chance to start on the ever increasing pre-Horta jobs list anyway!

Speak to you tomorrow,
All our love, Matt, Chris, Tom, Anthony, Vladimir and Dimitrii 

Caribbean Cruising

Northern Child is a superbly equipped Swan 51. She is a safe and comfortable yacht ideal for cruising the Caribbean and is maintained to the very highest standard. Northern Child has an array of equipment aboard to make your holiday safe & enjoyable. She is fully MCA coded to the highest class for private charter yachts. In addition, she has a generator and water-maker, making her self-sufficient and capable of cruising the most beautiful and remote parts of the Caribbean. We can either tailor cruising holidays to your requirements or recommend Islands, beaches, anchorages and restaurants for you if you are not familiar with the Caribbean. There are many beautiful beaches and picturesque ports to visit and the holiday can be as active and instructive as you like with everyone taking part in sailing, or you can lie back and let the professional crew take care of you. After breakfast in the aft cockpit, we generally set sail in the warm trade winds to our next destination. Typically a short day sail will see us arrive in time for a sunset drink before dinner, whether on-board or ashore. Most of our guests enjoy spending the following day exploring an Island before moving on again, so we combine a relaxed pace with a chance to visit a number of Islands. A constant warm wind on the beam makes the sailing in the Caribbean very exciting, giving you the perfect opportunity to explore exotic islands, deserted shores and beaches and see places which are difficult to access other than by yacht. There are three main charter cruising areas; the Grenadines between St. Vincent and Grenada, the Leeward Islands from Antigua to St. Martin and the Virgin Islands. Northern Child is professionally run by an experienced skipper and 1st mate/hostess. If you want a little more to keep you busy while you holiday aboard, we have snorkeling equipment and a kayak, together with an LCD TV and DVD collection to cater for kids whether big or small. New this year, our 3.2m RIB with 18HP outboard will get you to shore or snorkeling site safely and quickly. Northern Child is £5000 per week including all food and soft drinks onboard for up to 6 guests. For more information please look at our website: www.northernchild.com or contact Christian and Lucy on +44(0)7795 955702 or via email christian@northernchild.com. Northern Child is also available for Racing Charter for groups and individuals in the Caribbean, UK and Mediterranean for more information please contact us.