Tag Archives: sail training
A Triumph for the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge
Posted on 19. Aug, 2009 by admin.
An estimated 800,000 people visited the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge when they visited Belfast last week. That was double the city’s estimate of 400,000 people and equated to half the population of Northern Ireland. Some 250,000 people thronged along the quaysides and lined the lough on Sunday to witness the parade of sail.
As the ships [...]
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Belfast – A Bittersweet Conclusion
Posted on 14. Aug, 2009 by admin.
ASTA intern Matthew Maples, who has been sailing on board Europa and keeping us all entertained with his blog entries, has filed his final report:
“Here we are, Belfast. The relative quiet of the deckhouse on Europa barely conceals the roiling festivities of the opening day of the Belfast Maritime Festival. A short glance to my [...]
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Calm Before the Storm
Posted on 02. Aug, 2009 by admin.
Here is the latest update from Jolie Brise, who have been experiencing some strong winds and high seas up until today:
“Today began with us being becalmed yet again, this was followed by sunshine and a slight breeze. This weather was not exploited to its fullest potential as we have been avidly preparing for the storm [...]
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Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge Update: Race 5 – Day 11
Posted on 31. Jul, 2009 by admin.
Cisne Branco, the Class A ship from Brazil, remains in the lead overall on corrected time, as well as in Class. Behind her overall and in Class A on corrected time is Capitan Miranda, from Uruguay, with Tecla, the Class B from the Netherlands in third overall and in the lead in Class B on [...]
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A Tale of Two Chases
Posted on 29. Jul, 2009 by admin.
Matthew Maples, an ASTA intern sailing on board Europa, has sent back the following report:
“A chill in the wind announces our change in direction, a faint feeling of frost – we are heading north, leaving the warm, Sargasso-laden weed waters of the Gulf Stream in our wake. Of all the racing ships, we have spent [...]
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Life On Board
Posted on 28. Jul, 2009 by admin.
Living aboard a ship on a long voyage tends to become one long round of watches, driving the ship, meals and trying to recover your energy by resting. An anonymous sailor with too much time on their hands, has sent the following to summarise life on board and give a graphic picture of what the crews are [...]
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Belfast Trainees
Posted on 27. Jul, 2009 by admin.
Matthew Maples, an ASTA intern sailing with Europa across the Atlantic, reports from on board:
“When I woke up Port Watch today at 0730, I did so telling them that the weather on deck was “the usual lovely”. The usual lovely! Our ocean crossing thus far is still all sunshine, blue skies and azure water; I [...]
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Sail Handling
Posted on 25. Jul, 2009 by admin.
The crew of Tecla have enjoyed plenty of experience in handling the sails over the past 24 hours. Jet Sluik explains:
“Last night the wind picked up, there where a lot of showers around and waves where building up. At the end of the watch we decided to take away the topsails with two watches. Topsails [...]
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Fickle Winds and a Garden Hose
Posted on 23. Jul, 2009 by admin.
ASTA intern Matthew Maples has sent in the following report of life on board Europa:
“I want rough seas and screaming trainees! I want them puking their gutsout” said Daniel “The Dane” Hansen as he imitates a whip with his arms. “Pull you maggots, pull!” Looking around him on the quarterdeck he says in an annoyed [...]
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Fog and Whales
Posted on 23. Jul, 2009 by admin.
Fog seems to be lifting for most of the fleet now, for which everyone is thankful. The Sluik family on board Tecla have sent the following update of life onboard:
“Second day at sea and finally, after 24 hours, the fog lifted. The sailing today has been great, we got a nice speed going on and [...]
