Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009
Dauntsey's is delighted to report that Jolie Brise's sailing adventure has begun.
The Tall Ships Challenge 2009, a 7000 nautical mile odyssey around the North Atlantic, started on Sunday 3rd May. Dauntsey's 56' gaff cutter, Jolie Brise, was amongst the first of the eleven vessels taking part in the first race leg to cross the start line. She set off at 1700 hrs, across a start line just two miles off Vigo, Spain; the conditions were excellent with northerly winds of around 14 knots and clear blue skies.
The fleet of Tall Ships left Vigo earlier that morning in a beautiful Parade of Sail, out towards the east and then back past Vigo, saluting the city to thank them for their hospitality on the way. The fleet will now head on down the race course towards Tenerife. Jolie Brise is being crewed in this first race leg by trainees from around the world, and she will cover some 900 nautical miles before reaching her destination in the Canary Islands. In Tenerife a new crew, made up of recent Old Dauntseians, will take over for the next race leg to Bermuda.
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. Alternatively, her position in relation to the rest of the fleet can be found on the official race website: www.tallshipsraces.com/atlanticchallenge.
We wish all who sail on her over the coming months a Bon Voyage.