We arrived in Gran Canaria early on the 7th of November with only a day to spare before the deadline for participation in the Atlantic crossing regatta that would cement Rose-Marie’s name and that of her crew in the annals of regatta history forever… Or at least that would be our hope. On time and on budget as usual, we spent the next week preparing for the crossing and socializing with our competitors. We met some great people and received welcome visitors from Norway including a new crew member who would join us for the first leg of the crossing to Cape Verde. After a welcome break and a few nights in a lovely hotel I rejoined the crew and shared in ritual morning swims in the sea and took part in ARC lectures on weather, first aid and even the use of sextants (nothing to do with camping, as it happens). Amongst the highlights were sun-downer drinks and socializing with our fellow sailors and ARC ‘yellow shirts’, amongst whom we were happy to find a local Randabergian from my home town in Norway and got to know the a Blue Infinity ‘gang’ amongst others. Some truly fab people who we would spend some great nights out with and duel across the seas of the mighty Atlantic against!
