One Man, One Boat, 4000 Miles!!!

Tropic 4 Cancer Trans Atlantic challenge is an expedition to sail single-handed 4000 miles across the Atlantic, from the western seaboard of Africa to Antigua. The route follows a defined course along the Tropic of Cancer, which is a circle of latitude running around the Earth at approximately 23 degrees north, and which marks the most northerly position at which the sun may appear directly overhead. Find Out More

La Gomera Update 3

Posted on November 5th, 2013

Haskapa menu del diaI’ve spent today sorting out my food supplies for the rest of the voyage. I have a box which contains a week’s worth of rations stowed in a very accessible position. The remainder of the food supplies are stored in rather more inaccessible locations, but where they best help the trim and balance of the boat. As most of the time I hope to be sailing downwind, this means at the stern (blunt end!!) of the boat.

Haskapa is short and fat, with a big bottom! She is designed to behave a bit like a surf board, and her broad beam helps her to surf down waves. By placing most of the stores at the back of the boat, it helps her surf better – it’s the nautical equivalent of ‘pulling a wheelie’!! Even with this, Haskapa was still nose diving during some of the surfs last week.

Most of my food is in the form of boil in the bag army rations. This is quick and easy to prepare (I just shove the packet in the kettle!!) – and tastes ok. I have a breakfast one, washed down with a bottle of Haskapa juice. I then snack on cereal bars mid morning, before a lunch of noodles or rice and a Diet Coke! Supper is more boil in the bag (pasta/curry type thing) followed by a bag of dried Haskap berries – plus a choc bar and a cup of lemon & ginger tea!!

I also drink water through the day & night – approx 3 ltrs per day, and have a couple of vitamin tablets!!

I doubt Heston, Jamie or Gordon would be too excited by this menu, but their kitchens are probably more stable (in physical terms anyway!!!).