Farrs Departure from Bermuda

So we had an eventful but fun time in Bermuda. The Farrs finally departed Bermuda on Monday 30th, following some prep work that was required. They are now on route to the Azores, full steam ahead, to try and make up the time delay that was incurred in Bermuda. Moods onboard are high and the teams have bonded quickly.

Blogs will be coming through intermittently throughout the trip to keep you updated on life onboard and I will keep you posted on arrival times in Azores etc.

Please keep messages coming in for the guys to keep them going!!

Take care,

Lorna x

Charleston 2 Bermuda 2011 ends – Bermuda Challenge starts

Hi everyone,

So the last couple of day have been busy busy busy here in Bermuda. All the shore team arrived at least 4 days before the first boat arrived and could do nothing but final prep and watch the yellow brick website. The weather was frustrating for our crews and it is the one thing within the industry that we, the shore team, cannot control. Unfortunately some boats retired from the event, but whether they motored over the finish line or sailed over, every boat arrived on the dock tired, but exhilarated. I have no doubt that the complimentary “Dark n Stormies” we handed them added to the smiles on their faces.

For most boats arriving, Bermuda has brought a little bit of down time before getting back to the “day job”, however, for our hard working crew on the farrs Bermuda brings a couple of days of hard work to turn the boats around, greeting of our new clients and then a departure to the Azores. The crew have been brilliant.

Yesterday saw the arrival of our new clients (sailing from Bermuda to Azores and/or UK) and the C2B Welcome Party. The Fairmount hosted us and it was a brilliant opportunity to relax, mingle and either look back on what has been achieved or for our new guys, look forward to what they hope to achieve.

Pictures for the end of the C2B Race and Welcome Party should be up on the website shortly, crewlists for the next leg will appear too.

From here on in positions, blogs, pictures and the link to send messages to the boats will all be on the original Ondeck website. The messages that come from home really do help keep morale up and keep them pushing for home so please keep them coming.

As always I will keep you updated.

Take Care,

Lorna xx

The Official Start to the Charleston to Bermuda Race 2011

So our time in Charleston is drawing to a close and after a very busy week of boat prep and race training the Charleston Bermuda Race 2011 have officially started.

The build up began with a brilliant Bon Voyage party hosted by Ondeck Charleston on Thursday night. As there are 11 boats taking part in the event and not just the 4 Ondeck boats there were many people in attendance. Dark ‘n’ Stormies (Goslings Dark Rum and Ginger Beer) were flowing from the bar and the live band was brilliant. The chat revolved around the up coming race and you could feel the
anticipation. There was one formality of the night and that was an award in honour of John B. Bonds, Sr., a local avid sailor and strong safety advocate who recently passed away. The award winner was selected by race safety inspectors and presented to Noel Sterrett for the preparedness of his J130 “Solarus”.

Friday was spent training and then final boat prep. Saturday was the start of Race Day. In the baking heat, without a breath of wind, the crews joined the Ondeck boats and with friends, family and press gathered to wish all the sailors well on their race, spirits were high. Despite the weeks of preparation that this event has taken, one of our skippers being taken to hospital to be treated for a collapse lung caught all the crew off guard. The team pulled together to switch crew roles around and fill the void left by Rory Faulkner, the skipper of the Spirit of Juno. Tim Scarisbrick has taken on skippering Spirit of Juno for Team Audi and Mark Schultz stepped up to replace Tim as the skipper of Spirit of Minerva for Team Southern Tide. Although it was sad not having him leave with the boats he wished them all well and in return we wish him a speedy recovery.

The race start was brilliant to watch. Our 4 boats crossed the start in a perfect line lead by Tucana (Team Hofford), then Spirit of Minerva (Team southern Tide), then Yanosha (our individuals boat), all followed closely by Spirit of Juno (Team Audi). we followed them out past the first few channel markers and the order of boats varied so much we are expecting to see and interesting race unfold.

If you wish to follow the race please log into
www.charlestonbermudarace.com where you can track the boats live.

There will be blogs appearing on this website throughout the event but keep an eye on the race website for daily race updates from the whole fleet.

I am now departing Charleston too and fly onto Bermuda where I will meet the boats in and continue to update you on the happenings inshore. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in Charleston for their help and support in getting this brilliant event up and running ready for today.

Take care,

Lorna xxx

Juno and Minerva Arrive Safely in Charleston

Hi all,

So after a long 8-9 days sailing Juno and Minerva finally joined me here is Sunny Charleston. Juno arrived at 1800 (local time) on Friday evening and Minerva joined us at 0500 Saturday morning.

Myself and members of Ondeck Charleston were on the dock to greet them in with cooled drinks and helping hands with lines etc. There were some very tired faces but overall the mood was high as they were finally here.

Today has been spent relaxing, catching up on sleep and exploring Charleston, for them, and the work begins tomorrow, turning these boats around for the upcoming Charleston to Bermuda Race that commences on the 21st May.

There are a series of upcoming events over the next few days so it’s not all work work work – and I will be writing the blogs with news of what we have all been up to out here.

Take care,

Lorna x

Welcome to the start of the Atlantic Challenges 2011

Hello Everyone and welcome to the start of the two Ondeck Transatlantic Challenges 2011.

It has been a busy last few days, following Antigua Sailing Week, to get the boats ready for an Atlantic crossing. But with everyone pitching in and helping out the job got done!! At 13:30, local time, the 4 boats crossed the start line just out side Nelson’s Dockyard, here, in what unfortunately was, a rather rainy Antigua. The rain did not dampen peoples spirits though and as the boats left there were many smiling faces.

So Juno and Minerva travel up to Charleston now to join the Charleston to Bermuda Race and I will follow them as their shore support for the event. Whereas, Diana and Isis travel across to the Azores and Kylea will be their shore support.

I hope you keep following us as the challenge continues. The boats will keep you up to speed with their adventures whilst at sea and Kylea and I will keep you posted when the boats are in Port.

First pictures are online too so have a look in the gallery and crew sections to see who is joining us this year.

Take Care,

Lorna x