The Voyage - Third Leg: The Atlantic crossing to Barbados

Master: Paul Compton

First Mate: Erik Ulvas
Second Mate: Dag Jonasson
Third Mate: Jonathan Clarke

Engineer: Ron Devereux
Bosun: Lesley Sale
Purser: Helen Devereux

    We sailed from Las Palmas around 1600 on Monday 21st. November 2005. Our 16^th crew member, Fred Ingham was on his way from U.K. and did not arrive in until around 1400. We were prepared, ready and waiting and as soon as he stepped on board, lines were released and away we went around 1600. We voyaged south so that we could pick up the north east trade winds and as Hurrican Delta was doing it's mischief to the north, our much awaited north east trade winds did not eventuate.
    On Wednesday 23^rd. We set up the Clay pidgeon shooting equipment with a competition to see who would be champion. Fred Ingham our 16^th crew member had experience with guns at a local gun club and made sure we were all safe and in position before taking aim. "Faster than the speed of Light" my eyes and mind said. I could not pick up the target until I heard it fall into the water. I did not feel so bad though as no-one else other than the winner Lesley Sale, came anywhere near the flying target. Lesley took the prize of a bottle of fine red and a certificate stating she was No. 1, the winner, "Bullseye" Great fun and the sea was like a mill pond perfect for the occasion
    Sailing south westerly until Monday December 5^th around noon, we "turned right" at latitude 15.10 N and longitude 34.18W. Still the Trades remained a soft 4 to 5 knots. It was decided we must use the main engine to keep up a reasonable speed of around 7 knots if we were to reach Barbados before Christmas !!! The new sailing plan was set in motion. Engine on with foresail, mainsail, stay foresail and inner and outer jib from around 7am in the morning until 11 at night (16 hours) and overnight 11pm to 7am (8 hours) the main engine turned off achieving around 2.5 to 2.7 knots.

    Crew Members Dave McCarthy and Andy
         Dorado McLaughlin have caught an excellent catch of Dorado fish for dinner on three occasions. The fish were caught whilst we were on our southwest course but since we have turned due west there have not been any more fish taking the bait.

    Wednesday 7^th a great shout went out across the wheelhouse, " whales starboard" Sure enough three of them were diving, surfacing and sending up water spouts. They were headed east probably towards the Cape Verde Islands. It has been quite hot and humid these past days but the crew have rallied around the jobs which had to be done. More baggy wrinkles. Our topsails need protection from the shrouds and a number are also needed for the chaffing which will occur on the stay-foresail.

    Fred Ingham our sixteenth crew member is also an experienced sail maker and helped design our white awnings for the deck areas. Hundreds of metres of sewing has been done but there would be a couple of kilometres to go !! With Fred's help and guidance Andy Mclaughlin has learned to use the industrial sewing machine and has produced eight hammocks to date. Very classy, in the bottle green canvas to match our sale covers and I am told they are very comfortable on the hot sultry evenings on deck. At present Fred is lending his sail making skills to the alteration of a forward jib sail. The sail was the second one purchased from Sea Cloud in Las Palmas, but with a few alterations will really pull the wind at "Jaguar's" bow.

    On watch duty around 11pm on the 7^th it was noticed we had a large rain image on the radar and it was steadily moving towards the ship. As it came closer very fine misty rain blew across the decks. Without further warning sheets of rain, squally winds and a complete change around of wind took place. The rain hammered down in an almost solid curtain. Eddies of wind flicked the sails in and out, while the deck crew pulled and hauled to gain control and bring the sails all on to centre line at the same time lowering the jibs. It was not cold and the rain was actually warm, excellent for washing the clothes you were standing up in! About an hour later the rain eased but the wind had changed direction from north-east to north - west. No weather comment or warnings came through either that night or the following day. It was just an isolated convergence of heavy moisture laden air and warm winds. There could have been a water spout hidden in the storm but we were fortunate there was not. The Atlantic had a hurrican to the north, a tropical depression heading for Las Palmas, Gibraltar and Portugal. These influences from many miles away had set the scene for our unusual localised weather pattern.

    I had calculated we should be into Barbados by the 14^th December but with the north-east trades disturbed and held back by the hurricane Delta we were not catching any wind. Our speed hardly reached two knots. We sailed on for a further three days taking great interest in the weather forecasts. Still no wind. Three of our crew had purchased return tickets based on around 17^th December. There was no option but to motor-sail. We made an average of 5 to 6 knots over the next few days and finally picked up the steady trades. Now we were achieving around 7.5 during the day (with motor and sail) and just sailing overnight. Arrival time around the 17th became a possibility. The night of the 15th the main engine was kept running all night and we came up into the anchoring area outside Bridgetown in Barbados around six am.

    By 11am we had docked in Breakwater harbour and the Customs and Excise officials came on board. We were fully prepared with our paperwork but they wanted more. More photocopies. Inspection of our bond store, and safety equipment, checked out the money I was carrying in our safe. I think they just wanted to establish that I was not concealing anything else in the safe. The fellow in charge looked like Idi Amin, larger than life. Do this please, move that please, show me that please. I was soaked in persperation and my "whites" had a number of dirty greasy marks on them. At last - all clear. Our friends Joan and Ernest were down at the entrance to the dock waiting for us. They were not allowed to proceed until we had full Immigration and Customs clearance. As soon as I was in the clear I changed clothes and started walking off down the dock to meet them.. A small bus pulled up alongside and sitting there as large as life were four of the crew. The bus was free. In only a matter of minutes we had reached where our friends were standing. Big hugs, teary eyes - it seemed unbelievable that here they were and here we were in "Jaguar" so far from Grimsby. Joan and Ernest came back to the ship as Ron had stayed on board. I still have to give myself a pinch to feel the reality of the situation. Standing on the dock in Bridgetown and looking out at "Jaguar" now anchored in Carlisle Bay. Our R.I.B. bouncing through the waves boatman at the helm with our specially designed helmet with a port and starboard light, heading towards the river mouth. Sitting out on deck, drink in hand, warm evening breeze, light bright chatter with our crew, this was what we had planned for and now here we are.
Helen

• 1. Life-saving, Safety and Fire-fighting equipment carried on the vessel conform with statutory requirements.
• 2. Each crew member will have a fully equipped berth in a cabin with no more than two persons. Deck officers will be accommodated in single cabins.
• 3. Each member of the crew will participate in running of the ship, including taking part in the watch.
• 4. Three full hearty meals will be provided each day as well as snacks.
• 5. Alcoholic drinks will be available to purchase from the ship's stores, or in the aft saloon. Crew may take their own drinks on board but must be prepared to surrender alcoholic drinks to the locked bond store when in a foreign port.
• 6. Unless other arrangements are made with the owners, crew will make their way at their own expense to the embarkation set out below.
• 7. Crew Members will be expected to carryout the duties assigned to them by the Master or Owner or Officers.
• 8. The Crew Member undertakes not to hold the vessel's master, Officers or the Owners legally responsible for any accident or misadventure that may occur during or as a result of the voyage, or for the vessel not fulfilling the programme due to weather or breakdown.
• 9. A current passport is required. The Country of Origin must be one acceptable for Visas at visiting ports of call
• 10. A Crew Agreement will cover one leg of the voyage. Details of which are set out below.
• 11. Selected Crew will be required to produce a Medical Certificate as to their state of health.
• 12. The Owners of the vessel "Jaguar" reserve the right to refuse any application considered unsuitable without giving any explanation. Age and Gender is no barrier to selection.
• 13. The voyage proposed in this agreement is From:
  Date (approximate, will be confirmed) .............day of ...........................
  
  To:  ...............................
  Duration of Voyage - approximately:  .............Days duration
  Embarkation time:  No later than 10am on the proposed date of sailing
• 14. A Voyage Application Form follows:
  I agree to the conditions -
           set out above in the crew agreement..............................................
  Please print name below signature:
  
  For and on behalf of the Owners:  ........................................................
  Please print name below signature:
  
  Dated this          day of

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      For an example of general conditions of contract applicable to participation by a crew member on an S.Y. "Jaguar" sailing voyage conducted by SELICA TALL SHIPS SERVICES LIMITED.   CLICK HERE to download a form (a pdf file)

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• INTERESTED?   CLICK HERE   To register expressions of interest and request application form.
• OR  Write to:
  SELICA TALL SHIPS SERVICES LIMITED
  12 Whitecross Street
  BARTON-ON-HUMBER
  North Lincolnshire
  DN18 5EU