The Odyssey goes from strength to strength
by Cornell Sailing on 2 Dec 2014
Nyenergi - 2014 Atlantic Odyssey start Cornell Sailing Events
2014 has truly been an Odyssey year, as our boats have criss-crossed the Atlantic on epic journeys, starting in January when the Atlantic Odyssey II yachts sailed from La Palma to Grenada, and followed by the summer adventure of the Blue Planet Odyssey yachts up in the High Arctic attempting the transit of the North West Passage. In more temperate waters, through July and August the first European Odyssey yachts sailed down from Northern Europe towards the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands.
Now, as I write this, the yachts sailing from Lanzarote to Martinique in Atlantic Odyssey I are just days away from their first Caribbean landfall, experiencing the ups and downs of a transatlantic crossing: flying fish and blue whales, breakages and baking at sea, downwind sailing and sudden squalls. Many of the sailors have diligently kept up their blogs while at sea, enabling those of us left at home, following the small dots on the website tracking map, to feel like we too are taking part.
'Another good day with the spinnaker in the trade winds. But the night… has not been that much fun! Before dark, huge dark clouds. Down comes the Parasailor and we wait… We did play hide and seek with squalls all night!!! During the day we have learned to have always one person on deck with the radar on, spying for squalls. At the moment we experience squalls that remind me a lot of the All Blacks and Springboks Props: big but fast to move about. So those our squalls appear out of nothing and tackle us pretty quickly and the person on deck has to be quick in calling all hands on deck.' Antonio, Om.
'The sea is endless. It takes some time to realize that. It goes on forever. The roller-coaster cannot be paused. Some people believe that sailing on open seas must be the most wonderful, tranquil experience. The best place to be for relaxation. I used to be one of them. But after a while you realize the waves will never stop coming and there will never be a complete silence until you reach land. Still, you also get this calm over you. You realize how little time and space matters. The sailor zen.' Ester, Kristine.
Almost exactly two years ago Jimmy and I launched the Blue Planet Odyssey, and I can hardly believe that the Southern route has already begun, leaving Lanzarote in November, and with further starts from Key West in Florida and Martinique in January 2015. Looking back over these busy two years, I can say one thing with confidence: the Odyssey concept of a sailing rally has come into its own.
2014 showed how our mix of small, friendly events, with the added purpose of our science programs, could really add something of value to the cruising community. 2015 will only serve to make this better, as we step out of the Atlantic and into the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
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