Author: Kim Graven Nielsen

Yesterday was another slow day in paradise, crew enjoying the routines and eah other. That was until around 1630 were the fishing wheels started to whine loudly. We did not have any expectations as we have only catched weed and small dorados – but looking at the fishing rod, we realized this was different. We had to stop the boat and it took Eriks and mine collective strenght to wheel the fish in. All we realized was that it was putting up a tremendous fight and it was big. After a while it surfaced near the boat and it was beautiful multi-coloured swordfish at around 2.5 m. Fortunately we lost it a little later. If we actually had managed to get it on deck it would have been risky to try to kill it. But the important lesson for the crew and our Chief Fishing officer was that their is fish in the sea!
We are trotting along at 5 knot – very comfortable. Now we have gone further south to 13¤ 55N and 39¤30 W to avoid getting completely becalmed further north. Wind is 8-12 knots and cog is 290¤ taking us directly towards St. Lucia for the first time. We have 1259 nm to go.
Greetings from the North Star crew.

Yesterday we thought we were in the doldrums near equator, where the wind is non existence. Imagen the Atlantic ocean as a swimming pool, totally flat. Yes correct, we have very little wind for the moment and yesterday we motored for a few hours in bare frustration. But I am sure the wind will come and then more. The grib files (weather forecasting) says Friday. We have sailed 672 nm since the start and today we will pass our 1/3 mark. The crew is in for a celebration – showers, dessrt and probably and sundowner as the exception to the non alcoholic rule. The mood is fine but the slow progress is not adding to the good spirit.
Our position is 14¤ 51 N and 37¤ 23 W, sog is 3,5 and cog is 310. It is blue sky and sunshine with 32¤.
Greetings from the crew of North Star

Yesterday was just another beautiful day at sea 700 nm out in the Atlantic Ocean. We did not catch any fish and we tried to figure out who would go to the top of the mast and fix the genakker fastener which broke – but until now, no volunteers. We have now sailed 570 nm and our average is going up a little to 5.3 pr. hour so we have gotten a little more wind. Simon, our weather router is still asking us to go further south, which we will continue to do to find the wind. He says that end of week it will get better…This night I calculated that we have about 1500 nm left to St Lucia, so we are getting here. The Crew starts to dream about a boat which is still in the water, coconut drinks with rum and swimming around the boat.
By the way, we broke open a water melon yesterday and enjoyed,
Position is 15 deg 01 – 035 deg 26, sog 5 and cog 290 deg. Wind is 10-12 from E.
All the best from the North Star Crew

Yesterday the 18th, just before dark, our fastener for the genakker on top of the mast broke off and the genakker went flying loose. We managed to get it down and under deck, where it is resting and we are trying to find a way to make a repair on top of our 22 meter mast in rolling seas. This is not a catastrophe, as we have other sails we can use, but as the weather is still very calm it makes us sail slower and the crossing time will be longer. We are now moving with 4+ knots and waiting for wind to arrive later in the coming week.
On the fishing side of things, we have been catching smaller Dorades lately, however, this morning we received proof that there are larger fish in this ocean, as a bigger one bit on to our lure, ran with it and snapped the line.
Life on board is good and we are taking good care of each other (hereunder serving pancakes for breakfast and homemade apple pie for afternoon tea yesterday).
We have now sailed 460 nm since Wednesday at 1300 and our position is 15 deg 18 N and 033 deg 33 W. Sog is 4.5 and cog is 253.
All the best from the North Star Crew

The 17th was a good day on the Atlantic Ocean, with fine weather and great food. Alex caught our third Dorade. So thre friendly competition is 2-1 to Michaela.
We have now sailed 332 nm with an average of 4.8 nm an hour. Still a slow passage. But if this continues the passage will take about 17 days, which is two days longer than we calculated. And when you are out here the difference becomes irrelevant as time looses its meaning. 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness – one or two watches of four hours, radio services, preparation of food and sleep. And then it starts again – a simple life!
If you follow our position on our website map or the ARC website you will see that we are going south towards 15 N 37 W in order to avoid to be becalmed further North. It is a longer route, but it will enable us to continue sailing.
Pos 15 deg 42 N 031 deg 17. 9 W, cog 244 and sog 5 kn.
“Not all those who wander are lost”, JRR Tolkien

Yesterday was a beautiful day with sun and a nice easterly brease from NE. Mid afternoon a loud shout from Micki: Fish… and a little later she had caught a small Dorade, which was a little to small to eat, but she continues her effort.
We are settling into the routines on board and everybody can now stand a full night watch alone. This means that life on board is relaxed and we are getting plenty of rest and time to read and reflex over life. Currently we are running generator and water maker. We are starting the day with a new person who goes on watch after the night watch from 0400-0800 is turning in, for a few hours of sleep.
We are completely cut of from the rest of the world. No news buzz or facebook can enter our small world. We have a library of movies and a lot of books, and now is the time they become handy.
Our position can be found on our website map and on the wwc.com you can find the status of the whole fleet. The last 24 hours we sailed 128 nm and our current position is 16 deg 21 N and 29 deg 09 W. Speed is 5 kn and cog is 298 deg.
Greetings from the Crew of North Star

Departure at 1300 from Cape Verde in splendid sunshine. 74 boats crossing the starting line in the bay and of we were. The first 7 hours, all boats were within sight and fewer and fewer was visible on the Ais during the night. The night was very quiet and we did decide to motor for 8 hours to find the find this morning around six o’clock. Now we are flying the genakker and the crew is finding its sea leg in slightly confused seas.
Position is 16 deg 40 N 27 deg 00 W and cog is 281 and sog is 4 kn.
Life is good now we are back at sea.
Greetings from the North Star crew

Right now we have 30 nm left to Mendelo at Cape Verde and expect arrival early evening. The weather is behaving very nicely and may all passing be like this. It has been a little slow at times, but 5 knots and flapping sails and 2 m waves, is much to prefer to 30 knots and four meter of waves.
Listening into the SSB rapport from the ARC rally at noon today, we have also been lucky with the boat. Other boats have bigger maintenance jobs to do, than we upon arrival. On North Star we have a switch which need repair, a shower pump which stopped working and some provisioning. So really not very much.
This morning was fantastic. We have been talking about whales and dolphins, since we took off. Today was the day. First, Dolphins was playing around the boat and jumping meters out of the water, just to show off for our cameras. Then suddenly, the notice came – whales on starboard. And correctly several humpback whales were in water around the boat, and showed their exhaust and big bodies to us. It is a very beautiful sight to see this big mammals, in their original element
Our crew plan and watch plan have been working really well. We started out with four hour watches day and night for the first few days and then moved into two at night and one during day hours. The last two days, we have settled into one on watch day and during night one in the cockpit and a backup sleeping, but on call. The crew have clearly learned a lot in a short time and runs tne boat very efficiently – and ready for the crossing to St. Lucia of 2100 nm.
Tonight we are looking forward to beers, showers and to compare our boat performance with other boats – but so far the reports we have received from people with internet access promise that North Star have sailed really well. It goes without saying that this is just a crusing rally, so we are not competing….
Position is 17 deg 08 N and 24 deg 32 W, sog 6.6 kn and cog is 220 deg. Wind is 14 kn from NNE.
Have a great weekend, greeting from the Crew

Today we had our first close encounter with a fish. But it is not what you may think… A flying fish landed on the boat. It was evident from the scales on the deck that the poor flying fish had fought a brave fight for its life. But unfortunately, fate had something else in store for the poor flying fish. In the burning sun, the flying fish had dried up all stiff. The captain and his crew had a moment of silence before a proper goodbye was said to the flying fish and it was sent off to rest in peace in the great blue.
We also enjoyed that we have restored all system status to green and a fantastic sailing day, downwind at 160 deg to the wind. Still very weak winds, but much better than the alternative. Erik made dinner, a superb chicken and nudles served in bowl, as the wave started to become confused.
So position is 18 deg 57 N and 22 deg 57 W, sog is 6 and cog is 255 deg.
Greetings from the crew,

Today has been a slow day. After almost 13 hours by motor from yesterday and through the night, the wind returned slightly with 10 knots allowing North Star to sail 4-5 knots. Unfortunately, this didn’t continue and we have been bopping along with 3-4 knots from late afternoon till evening. One quickly realizes how patience is a virtue in these situations. Instead we passed time with some more failed fishing attempts (we are determined to catch at least one tuna/mahi mahi!) – and once again a school of dolphins joined our sail. We have yet to spot whales, but hear on the radio that others have, so we are hopeful!
This afternoon we also uncovered an unpleasant surprise…our batteries…Batteries on a sailboat are quite essential for running the ship. Our ability to produce water, autopilot and every other system run on electricity. We got an error – batteries overheating. Then we spent six hours finding the error. We maybe identified the error but did not fix it. And then later just before midnight the ship became dark and then light and the “thing” had reset itself and now it seems all is back to normal. Yes that is also life on board, not always gin and tonic on the aft deck!
Unfortunately, according to the forecast the lack of wind will continue for the next 24 hours at least – so as we speak, we are discussing whether to turn on the motor. Waiting for the captain to wake up to decide…he sleeps after his battle with the batteries…
Position is 19 deg 58 N and 021 deg 52 W, cog is 213 deg and sog is 3-4 kn
Greeting from the Crew