Position: 50° 55.46 N, 17° 43.78 W
Health: All well
Weather: Still poor with a north easterly wind
Distance: Not many miles!
Blog from onboard Fleur: Things still haven’t improved with the weather and although we’re all fine we’re really hoping for some better weather tomorrow! It has been quite choppy at sea but Fleur remains in good shape. Raoul is having a caffeine withdrawal from lack of coffee but otherwise we’re all fine! Experiencing some email problems but we’re managing to speak to Jess at base via the sat phone.
Greenland 2009 Blog
Position: 52° 07.900 N, 16° 22.520 W
Health: All fine
Weather: Poor
Distance: Not many miles!
Blog from onboard Fleur: The wind is persisting in blowing in the wrong direction for us. At 6am this morning the weather was fair and we were sailing along at 5 knots but by the evening is had worsened and we’re now only going 3 knots! We’re still struggling to head in the right direction and it is extremely frustrating. We’re all starting to feel really down in the dumps about now and have crossed our fingers and toes for better weather tomorrow!
Greenland 2009 Blog
Position: 51° 31.300 N, 14° 54.720 W
Health: All fine
Weather: Good winds
Distance: 500 nautical miles covered so far
Blog from Jess, UK base: I got a message on my phone today from the team onboard Fleur. Amazing how during the one minute I leave my phone to go and do something in another room they call me. I must remember to keep it in my pocket at all times! They have been calling me every third day with the blog and sending it to me via email on the other days but it seems there is a technical hitch and the email is no longer sending through the sat phone. Hopefully that problem can be resolved soon. Consequently I received a very broken up message and couldn’t hear much of what was being said. I did catch that they had an awful night’s sleep and that they’re trying to get further north but that Fleur won’t point into the wind so they have been struggling along at 4 knots. It is not very pleasant onboard. I’m hoping things will improve for them tomorrow.
Greenland 2009 Blog
Position: 51° 46.860 N, 12° 12.700 W
Health: Good but spirits moderate!
Weather: Persisting north easterly winds
Distance: ??
Blog from onboard Fleur: We’re currently 60 to 70 miles off the west coast of Ireland. It has been a poor day weather wise with north easterly winds persisting and pushing us off course. This means we have had the worst day distance wise which is extremely frustrating. However there has been some sunshine and we have been able to dry off some kit and spend sometime chatting together on the deck.
Last night was eventful with bizarre winds swinging from north to south every 10 minutes or so. Some persisting heeling tested the lea cloth management! Rich fell out of his cot banging his back. The cot has now been repaired and we’re all back to normal!
We’re hoping for a better day tomorrow weather wise. We need some wind from the South so we can gain some speed. This will no doubt help to lift our spirits.
Greenland 2009 Blog
Position: 50° 09.265 N, 005° 03.953 W
Health: All fine
Weather: Wind and rain
Distance: ??
Blog from onboard Fleur: Squalls, poor mileage. Woke to the sound of several seabirds which stayed with the boat for an hour or so. We were down to 3knots later which was torture as we are making little headway. All are a little unsettled with the constant slow roll of fleur in light winds. Relief this afternoon on Richard and Raoul’s watch as the weather changed and heavy squalks set in. We were flying along at 7knots for an hour but soon lost the wind but not the heavy rain. Made a few sail changes to aide our progress. Press ups and sit ups today to try and maintain fitness. Ben cooked a great spag boll later. Thanks Maggie for the wonderful cake, still a bit left.
Greenland 2009 Blog
NOTE FROM CNE ADMIN – SORRY FOR LACK OF BLOGS THE LAST FEW DAYS. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A FEW TECHNICAL ISSUES WHICH HAVE NOW BEEN RESOLVED.
Position: 50° 23.095 N, 007° 58.006 W
Health: All fine
Weather: Fair
Distance: 152 nautical miles
Blog from onboard Fleur: We’re all doing well. Cruising along nicely at 6 knots and with a southerly wind heading straight to Greenland. However the seas are roughening and we’re starting to feel queasy! Should be passing Southern Ireland early tomorrow morning. A group of porpoises visited Fleur - an amazing sight. We have been trying to keep up the exercise onboard with press-ups and sit-ups but with the boat pitching around on the waves it is proving challenging!
Greenland 2009 Blog
Position: 49° 56.6243 N, 006° 47.3713 W (8:05am 22nd April)
Health: All well
Weather: Fine weather.
Distance: ??
Blog from onboard Fleur ”Had been waiting for the water impeller, a vital part of our natural energy source. Were able to set sail at 1130 this morning with half a dozen soggy pasties. Relishing the last few normal meals. Thanks again to Andy and Charles from Sigvaris for some wonderful hosting. As the day has progressed winds have slowly picked up as we rounded Lizard Point. We aim to reach Ireland by Thursday. Health wise all good. Have been able to start some circuit training on deck, it’s like a giant bosu board! Last of the beef stew tonight then it’s getting down to regular four hour watches. Raoul and Rich 2200-0200 hours and Ben 0200-0600 etc. All getting into the expedition routine.”
Greenland 2009 Blog
Position: N50 09 2650 W05 03 9530
Health: All fine
Weather: Good light breeze
Distance: 5 nautical miles
The team arrived in Falmouth at 730 this morning after a long night of sailing, with the wind dropping down to half a knot at times. Noah did a sterling job on board Fleur and the team was extremely glad of his help and company.
Teething problems have arisen and the generator needs a new part which will be delivered tomorrow morning. The day was spent filming with Sigvaris, the main sponsor of the expedition. It was also a great opportunity to further tweak kit and modify the comms.
Greenland 2009 Blog
Position: N 50124480 W 00418716
Health: All well.
Weather: Fine clear sky
Distance: 11.94miles
Blog from onboard Fleur: ”Well what a day. An amazing send off. Light head winds. Speed picked up now and thanks to Sally’s stew spirits high. Falmouth early hours of the morning.”
CNE would like to thank all their family, friends and supporters for joining them today for a wonderful send off from Plymouth. The Team were very excited to welcome Noah Williams, aged 11, from Leintwardine Primary School, onboard Fleur for the first leg of their journey down to Falmouth.
Greenland 2009 Blog
Just when we thought it couldn’t get any more chaotic. The nature of these things apparently!
A huge thank you to Industrial Computers, and particularly Gareth. They have supplied us with a rugged PDA, able to withstand the toughest conditions on earth. We’ll certainly aim to put in to the test on ice and sea. After a day of tech stuff aided hugely by my house mate Hudson we were able to send our first email from the sat phone (Tricky business if not using a laptop) So all relieved….anyway back to Industrial Computers….With their help we can now keep in better touch with the schools as well as regularly update this very blog.
The house has been a hive of activity, expedition HQ. I really am experiencing the full glorious force of community living. Had Tina sowing on a ruff, Ben begging aviation fuel (all the better to cook with, measured and offset of course) and Felix spending all day packaging food in day rations, not an easy task. Would have struggled to keep a float without- Thanks.
Just about fitted in a further interview with Graham Torrington of BBC radio Bristol
They will be doing a regular bi-weekly feature. For those keen on following the next one will be on April 30th 1040 GMT for a live North Atlantic link up. Use the above link to listen.
Other ways to keep in touch, you will see our sat phone details have been added to the contact us page. A free service via the web to send text messages to us on the ice.
Thats it for now. There is more packing and tech stuff to sort.
Don’t forget launch at Mountbatten Marina, Plymouth 1200 this Sun.
Greenland 2009 Blog
