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

Day 10 – “Wildlife is Running Scared”!!

Posted on November 12th, 2013

flying fish

I finally seem to have broken out of the windless hole of doom that trapped me for two days! I cannot tell you how frustrating its been!! I think we went further in the rowing boat on that first day out of La Gomera than I’ve managed this time!!

Yesterday afternoon also saw another breakage. This time the bolt that holds the boom onto the gooseneck sheered off – probably as a result of the shock loading that the sloppy sea put on the rig. (For non yotties, the gooseneck is the joint between the tall upright sticky thing, and the sticky thing – the boom – that goes under the white flappy thingy at the back of the tall sticky thingy. It’s called a boom because that the noise it makes when it hits you on the head (that’s for lovers of classic nautical jokes – ha ha!)).

Anyway a search of the boat for a replacement yielded a perfect match on the outboard engine bracket!! An hour of cussing, losing several (non critical) bits over the side and we were back in business!!

I admit that I’ve been doing quite a lot of shouting over the last few days, which probably also explains why I’ve seen virtually no marine life. A dolphin did approach Haskapa yesterday, but I’m afraid I was mid rant about the injustice of wind direction & strength, and flipper thought better of coming any closer. Probably told all his mates to stay away from the loud, rude and smelly bloke on that little boat!! I did find a flying fish on the deck this morning, hopefully having died a glorious death trying to jump over the boat!

You’ll see from my blob on the website that I’m heading further west than I’d planned to originally, in an attempt to make up some ground after losing so much time with repairs, etc. This means I’ll hit the Tropic for less time too, but that’s just how this little adventure is playing out!