TRANSATLANTIC CROSSING FOR THE WIND PONY!
The Wind Pony (Lynn & Dick Bisanz) and Captain Bill are underway for their Transatlantic crossing. We have been receiving their email log delivered by an HF private coast station in the Maritime Mobile Radio Service, operated by the SailMail Association, a non-profit association of yacht owners. For more information on this service or on the SailMail Association, please see the web site at http://www.sailmail.com.
As they embark on this amazing adventure, which includes Marlin fishing in Cape Verde, we wish them fair wind and following seas.
November 27, 2016
Hello everyone,
Bill Marceau arrived from Minneapolis/St. Paul at 1145 yesterday and we left the Marina Santa Cruz, Tenerife at 1234. What a guy to be able to jump right into it!
We had some very strong winds yesterday a short way from the marina exit. 35 knots which was a bit of a shock as very little wind was predicted. We think it was the land effect from the high hills of Tenerife. Big swells and confused seas made for a bumpy ride for several hours until we passed the end of Tenerife. Winds calmed to 15-20 after midnight and seas eased as well.
As of 1230 today, November 27 our position is 26.22N and 017.54W. Course: 216 mag. Wind 10 knots NW. 695 miles to go to Cape Verde. We're sailing with a reefed main and full jib All is well on board.
Lynn, Dick, and Bill
S/V Wind Pony
November 28, 2016
Hello everyone,
1200 Position: 24.32N 19.23 W Log 8285 COG 216M 560 nm to go Sailing with reefed main and full genoa at 3.5 - 5.0 knots and wind E at 8 kts.
Beautiful sunny day and each day is getting a little bit warmer. Still layering on night watch.
Our buddy boat, Dol'Selene, caught a 32 in. mahi yesterday! We're fishing too with two lines out but so far no luck.
Reading up on the Cape Verde. It was a huge transit area for slave traders for 300 years sending African slaves to the Americas. Colonized by Portugal after their independence from Spain.
Lynn, Dick, and Bill
S/V Wind Pony
November 29, 2016
Hello everyone,
1500 Position: 22.17 N 021.07 W
Motorsailing with very light winds and one meter swell. 391 nm to Cape Verde. Anticipating arrival Friday noon.
Passed the halfway point this morning at 0930, 3 hours short of 3 days.
Bill had a billfish on the line at 1700 yesterday but it chafed and snapped the line. At 1800 we had a huge pod of dolphins who joined us at the front of Wind Pony swimming between the hulls - at least 25 of them!
Beautiful weather. Starting to look like a Caribbean sky with big puffy clouds and the occasional squall in the distance.
Lynn, Dick, and Bill
S/V Wind Pony
November 30, 2016
Hello everyone,
1200 Position: 20.23.523 N 022.29.298 W
Sailing with full main and genoa at 5-7 knots. Wind NE 8-12 Course Over Ground: 213 M Log: 8566 Trip: 557
262 miles to go
Finally we are sailing again. We have been motoring nearly continuously since day 1 in very calm conditions.
The guys landed a mahi cow at 0930 and are excited to have blackened fish for dinner! They're much happier after yesterday's defeat.
All is well on board.
Lynn, Dick, and Bill
S/V Wind Pony
December 2, 2016
Hello everyone,
We arrived in Mindelo, Sao Vicente, Cape Verde at 0800 and immediately went to the fuel dock to fill our nearly empty tank. We had to motor so much on the way that we used nearly all the fuel in our tank.
Current Position: 16.52.980 N 024.59.673 W Log: 8807 Trip: 798 nm
Lots of boats here staging to do the Atlantic crossing. Most appear to be French and English.
We are planning to spend a few days here to wait for the next weather window to cross. We are with our buddy boats, Brian, Gail, and Gary on Dol'Selene and Paul, Glor, and Phil on Scallywag, both Kiwi boats.
We will not be sending any more of these emails until we set sail for the Caribbean.
Lynn, Dick, and Bill
S/V Wind Pony
To the Wind Pony:
"The sail, the play of its pulse so like our own lives: so thin and yet so full of life, so noiseless when it labors hardest, so noisy and impatient when least effective." -Henry David Thoreau
Ko na mauri, Kia pai tōu haerenga! For the Kiwi friends.
ALL OUR LOVE- MAKAIRA