Richard Hewson

> Today we arrive in Bequae! It has been an amazing adventure sailing across the Atlantic ocean with a family of four. Everybody has enjoyed the voyage, and grown in many ways. >
> When Emilie and I decided to go off cruising with the family we were apprehensive about how hard it may be on our relationship and our relationship with the children. We gave ourselves a minimum of two years of cruising because we thought the first year would be really tough. Whilst both Emilie and I already have a vast number of sea miles under our keels, sailing with family is a different dimention. At sea you must resolve any differences quickly, and sort any problems out as they occur. >
> We departed Hinderloopen in the Netherlands in late October last year and I am happy to say that our first year of cruising has been amazing. Everybody is well and truely settled into boat life. We all have a great routine that manages our rest appropriatly and maximises our time as a family. The kids schooling is going well, everybody feels at home, and the boat is amazing. >
> Our voyage across the Atlantic is the cream on the cake for our fist year of cruising, proving our ability to work togeather as a family and as a team. >
> A few stats for our voyage so far:
> Distance sailed since leaving NL: 8000nm (approx as difficult to calculate distance in canals > Distance sailed at sea since departing french canals: 7000nm > Distance sailed this voyage: 2187nm
> Distance motored: 800nm
> Sail changes; 10
> Gybes: 12
> Tacks: 2
> Max wind: 28kts
> Min wind: 0kts
> Max temp: 33*
> Min temp: 25*
> Yachts seen: 6
> Fishing boats seen: 14
> Aeroplanes seen: 15
> Diesel Consumed (battery charging): 400L
> Bags of rubbish: 2.5 (still not full)
> Fish caught: 8
> Pods of Dolphins: 4
> Whales: 0
> Sea Birds: 20
> Land Birds: 2
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> The weather patterns for the voyage were quite standard at the beginning, but then the intense low pressure systems in the North Atlantic before our voyage and in the last half of our voyage confused the trade winds that have been reliable since humans have been keeping records. The weather in the north Atlantic has a massive effect on the climate and winds towards the equator. Consiquently we have had very little wind for the past week, so have had to motor a lot more than we hoped. On a positve side I guess our carbon footprint crossing the Atlantic by boat has been a lot less than the four of us flying. >
> We were expecting to see a lot more sea life during this voyage and catch a lot more fish. The amount of sea life and sea birds has definatly decreased since my last Atlantic crossing in 2011 and Mini Transat 2013. This is disappointing, as one of us was always on deck keeeping watch and we made a point of searching for sea life to show the children. >
> Max has been facinated with a documentary about sperm whales in Bequae. Bequae is also famous for its turtles, so we hope we have a lot of marine life to enjoy in the months to come. We are all desperatly keen to get in the water snorkle the reefs, and tomorrow all the toys will start coming out so we can row, sail, sup and snorkle our way around the reefs. >
> We will be anchored at approximalty 4pm today. We have had the day to clean the boat inside and out so she looks (and smells) like she has just crossed the bay, not sailed across the Atlantic ocean. Once the anchor is in position, Sunday Island can relax while we go ashore to clear customs and begin to discover new lands and seas. >
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