Tall Ships Altantic Challenge 2009
The second leg of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge is now underway, taking Jolie Brise and her crew some 2,600 nautical miles westwards across the Atlantic from Tenerife to Bermuda.
Now on board are; Toby Marris (Skipper), Fiona Taylor (1st Mate), Rob Caswell (Dauntsey's 2002), Zoe Hamersley (Dauntsey's 2008), Simon Pearson (Dauntsey's 2008), Emily Dobson (Dauntsey's 2007), Tom Milson (Dauntsey's 2008), Charles Darwall (Dauntsey's 2008), Laura Howells (Dauntsey's 2006), Louise Ruffell (Traveller) and James White (Jolie Brise's resident Kiwi).
As you will see from the pictures they have been busy provisioning and stowing all the supplies and had to find space for nearly 1000 individual meals on board. All the eggs have been smeared with Vaseline to help preserve them and all the fruit and vegetables were washed and dried before being stowed.
The race started on Sunday 17th May 1500 UTC just east of Tenerife. Conditions were perfect with north-easterly winds of around 25kts, getting the fleet off to a cracking start. Toby did think about taking the shorter route going to the North of Tenerife, but felt it would be very high risk strategy and has opted to go south and cover their rivals. At the moment the strong down wind sailing favours the square riggers, but they are hoping to come back at them further down the race track.
Thanks to the latest Global Positioning System (GPS) and satellite communications technology onboard, Jolie Brise's exact position is updated every six hours. To follow her progress, and to read the crews online journal, go to www.joliebrise.com.