Nearly there.....160Nm to Block Island

Nearly there..... motoring gently today - no wind at the moment - though looking like plenty of wind from the north in time for our arrival - Situation normal for a delivery... Position at 1500UT is 38d 25N070d 32W for a day run of 114Nm. Approx 160Nm to Block Island. Regards Damian

270 mile to Block Island

All is well. A little weather last night and this morning - heavy rain, thunder and lightning, so a little lively. Position at 1800UT 36d 41N070d 46W for a day run 135. Distance to go approx 270 ( to Block Island) Regards Damian

Approx 420Nm to go

All good. Position at 1500UT34d 14N069d 33W. The winds are SW 7- 21 knots with seas moderate. Day run 135Nm (to destination with current) 146Nm Approx 420Nm to go Regards Damian

560Nm to go

All good - Position at 1500UT is 32d 00N068d 09W with wind SW 7-16 Knots with smooth seas. Day run is 130Nm and (143Nm to destination) approx 560Nm to go. Regards Damian

Approximately 700nm to go

All is good here. Definately getting on the home straight. Position at 1500Ut is 29d 44N067d 15W with wind SSE 8-24 knots and a day run of 127nm, but to destination is 146Nm with current approx 700nm to go. Regards Damian

Yep, we seem to be making out okay... As per usual - after sending the email - the wind died a little - but we're still doing okay. Your plan for our arrival sounds fine, and of course we will be happy to show you her systems. Furuno ( and windows of course) aside, everything is operating fine, and we have had very little problems. Position today is 27d 31N065d 56W with wind ESE - SE 4-16 knots and sea's are calm. Day run of 137Nm from the log, but 149 to Newport with current .regardsDamian

Hope to arrive in Newport in 6 days

All sounds good. We hope to arrive in 6 days - not quite sure of the time at the moment - though the wind is being favourable. We will work around you as best we can. Ideally we will arrive first thing in the morning, clear customs by lunch time, and can make a good stab at packing etc. in the afternoon, stay on board the night, then complete everything else the following day; unpacking and fitting stowed gear, removing remaining protection and cleaning.
Todays position;25d 06.08N065d 39.87Wwinds ENE 8 - 24 knots, seas calm Day run; 156Nm have coverd 164Nm over the ground - this push from the current should improve as we close on the coast. Regards Damian

All is good. Making reasonable progress our Position at 1500UT 22d 33N064d 46W with Wind ENE 8-18 occ 21 knots sea's calm. day run of136nm Regards Damian

Leaving St. Martin

You will be glad to hear we are under way, so will be returning to the sat phone email. Weather is generally lookin okay. There is a small, but possibly intense low developing in our path, so we are going to head out slowly to let it pass ahead of us. I will update you with our position on Friday,and then daily from there. I'm aiming at 10 days, with a little luck we may be a bit quicker. regadsDamian

Auto pilot has been replaced

The Auto pilot has been replaced - and now should be fine - we have to do the on water set up still, but should all be fine. There was a problem with the unit that dealt with the wind data translation to form usuable information by the computer. The rest was replaced to ensure all was sorted. Damian

Furuno is fixing the electronics

Necol Technical Services (Furuno) guy is on board and busy. I will update you as to there progress Damian

We are in Simpson Bay in St. Martin

All is good. We are in Simpson Bay in St Martin. Fortunatey, right next door to Necol Technical Services (Furuno). They are coming to the boat shortly - and have all the kits to fully replace the electronics that let the wind instrument talk to the autopilot if neccesary. Will update you as I know more. Regards Damian

130 miles to Simpson Bay, St. Martin

All is good. Sea's died down rapidly last night and made a good heading through the night. I am aiming to make the Thursday 11:00am bridge opening in Simpson Bay St. Martin. It is looking good at the moment. We are currently approx 130Nm from Simpson Bay. I will contact Furuno et al once we are tied up, and yourself of course. Regards Damian

Thanks for the info on all counts. The bakery location could be the decider on where to stop...Much will depend on our arrival time and that bridge that opens only three times a day. I was hoping there would be a marina before the bridge - ah well no worries. Does look like Simpsons Bay would be the better. Still hoping on Thursday. Just waiting on a weather forecast. Its a little lumpy at the moment. Position 1600 UT 17d 11N58d 37W with wind E 17 to 27 with occasional 33 knots. Sea's are a little messy. Day run 143nm with approx 250nm to go, but not able to go direct - depending on how sea develops, may well be motoring direct this evening or at worst and ironically, if we really need shelter the closest port is Guadaloupe. I am not expecting this to be the case. I will contact Necol services (Furuno) on arrival. Regards Damian

Should make landfall in St Martin, Great Bay on Thursday

From the look of the chart there are 2 marinas on the eastern side of the bay - At present I will aim to head to the more southerly of the two. If you could check their names and phone numbers / VHF channels for me that would be great. Otherwise all is fine. Position at 1600UT today is18d 12N56d 33W with wind E - ENE 16 to 27 with Occasional 33 knots, so we are a little slow as we are having to keep reefed as the wind is so up and down. Day run 138nm. We are hoping for Thursday - we are a little directionally challenged -but we should be able to pencil in Furuno for Friday - Does Furuno have an idea of a worst case scenario time scale? Oh probably not a bad idea for directions to a decent birthday cake -good thinking ; ) Regards Damian

Hopefully, Necol Technical Services (Furuno) can straighten our our autopilot

If there is a marina in Simpsons bay we will head there - Otherwise we will go to Great Bay, as I know there are marinas there. I do not know the names as of yet. Both bays are within a few miles of each other. Maybe Necol Technical Services could advise. By the way - I keep forgetting to mention - the sat phone txt is restricted to 90 characters, so messages get cut short. Sorry should have mentioned earlier. As to progress. Our Position at 1600ut today is 19d 25N54d 31W with winds E to ENE 11-21 knots and cloudy but dry. Day run 149nm, Damian

Change of plans Heading to St. Martin to meet with Furuno

All is well. Making steady progress to St Martin. Looking to be there around Wednesday - may have to wait offshore until daylight Any news on the Furuno guy? Position at 1600ut 18d 45N52d 25W Day run 148nm cloudy skies and ENE 16 with gusts to 27 knots. Regards Damian

Morgane sends her thanks for the good birthday wishes - we had to pass on the candles - saves all those dangerous jokes about not being able to see the cake etc. As to progress, all is good, winds are easy - ENE 11-16 knots dropped from 21 knots with occasional 27 knot gusts. Just waiting for a lttle further drop, and sea to settle to shake out the reef. All blue skies and sunburn...Our position at 1600ut 20D 28N048D 30W for a day run of 154 miles. You asked about our arrival port - we had planned on St Francois,Guadaloupe, but my have to go to the marina at Pointe-a-pitre, for clearance, as the clearance possibilities in St Francois may have changed. We are waiting confimation. Furuno have not contacted. We have since had a 'abnormal heading data' message. The alarm sounds,the course being steered alters on the screeen, after briefly putting on standby it operates normally, but the heading is incorrect. Shortly after wards the alarm goes again and then resumes normal course heading. So again doesn't overly affect us, and would say it is a connection issue. I assume it loses GPS input briefly, or it gets distorted. The GPS unit is fine and its postion data is good during these periods. I have a backup running at all times. Regards Damian

Welcome to the middle of the week. All good on our end. The wind has returned, ENE to NE 4

(11-16 knots) Generally making a good course, and comfortable coonditions. Position 1600ut 20D 43N45D 48W Day run was 139nm. No news from Furuno. I think it would be best to wait until we arrive it doesn't overly affect us, and it will stop any chance of delay. Damian

A question was asked as to what the keel looks like under the boat, So Bob here is your answer :)

As we are on the subject. I will explain how Catatude was moved from the French country side about 15 miles inland down to the shore for launch. This truck has 3d movement, so it tilts over guard rails and other cars on the side of the road.

Busy day - We have crossed the 1000 nm to go point, and my other halfs birthday - so break out the tinned fruit... It's usually better than it sounds - depending on how supplies are going... Anyway. Still no wind, making gentle headway, day run 115nm on log, but an extra 14nm from the current. Our position at 1600UT is 20d 56N43d 30W. All is well. Regards Damian

Hope your weekend was pleasant. We are currently motoring again - wind all last night, and died this morning, So motoring gently in the right direction. All is well and running smoothly. Position today at 1600UT - ( have changed the ships clock - hence the time change) 21d 40W41d 17W. Todays run 129nm. Regards Damian

Today is the half way point in the crossing

All is OK. Position is 21D44N 38D51W. Little wind. Sails are down and the motor is on.
Todays run is 140 nm. Regards Damian

1641 miles to Antigua

All is well. Wind is dropping - and truing E; ENE 3-4bu (7-16 knots) fine weather and scattered cloud.
Position today: at 13:00UT 22d 57N37d 18W for a Day run of 153 nm. No mail from Furuno. Regards Damian

Had a couple of minor problems to deal with. First the outhaul on the main slipped - the line is a little small for the in boom jammer - though perfectly satisfactory for its purpose. Secondly the grub screws on the furling gear came out - causing the foil to drop down the the forestay, making the furling hard - as the foil was catching. I have made a temporary repair and will try to improve on it, or obtain new grub screws at next stop. Wind is NE 4 -5bu (11 to 21 knots) with occasional 6bu (27 knot gusts). Weather is pleasant - simpsons clouds - i.e., trade wind cloud formations; small cumulus, in rows ( cloud streets) spreading out around us. Day run yesterday was 140nm, I am expecting similiar or a little higher today; winds overnight were up and down.

I had asked Damian a few days ago what he though I could improve on Catatude and this was his reply below.

I did have a few suggestions I was going to make to you. The addition of a few jammers for the genoa sheets and a small winch at the mast and possibly a cleat could make life easier. The reefing lines are also a little small for the boom jammers - and need a winch to remove. We are generally sailing with the first reef in place. This causes less rounding up due to surfing, though it is slightly slower the autopilot is working much less. Another factor is that we have a little more scope on the mainsheet - I keep it off the stays, which means it is slightly over sheeted, but again cuts down wear and tear. Though I stick to the reefing plan with the boat, in part due to the added influence of swell. We could carry more sail safely, but as I mentioned before, this would all add to general fatigue. A primary addition for a speed increase would be the addition of a gennaker. After that, as you must have found with Rummy Cat, she is quite lively and making good speed 8-9knots in a stiff breeze and flat seas will not be difficult. Other than that, possibly experimenting with barber hauls - I haven't as of yet, but often do use them on cats, and a genoa track would probably enhance performance. Regarding Furuno meeting us in Antigua. Nothing from them as of today - I will update you as soon as they have been in touch. I guess you must have pushed the right button, when you spoke to them. I hope that is of some help. Have a pleasant weekend. Ourseleves, we are hoping to make it to the Mid Atlantic Restaurant tomorrow (-35W)regards Damian