Andy's Crazy Sailing Challenge

Andy's Dream

To sail non-stop solo around the world in honour of the 9 people who first attempted it 50 years ago with the Golden Globe race, and to raise awareness of these people and hopefully inspire others to chase their own dreams.

You can help Andy by visiting https://fundly.com/crazy-sailing-challenge

News ...

17th August 2018

Following no contact from Andy for 72hrs and trying every method Shore Crew had to contact him with no joy and being completely unaware of his situation the decision was taken to contact the Coastguard at Milford Haven. Following a 1 hour telephone call the situation was escalated to international level and Spanish, Portugese and the Azores Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centres were informed. The Azores MRCC made numerous attempts to contact Andy via VHF and his satellite telephone and eventually managed to make contact with him at approximately 2351UTC, 22 minutes after Shore Crew receieved an update from him. So he is safe which is the most important thing, now SC can have a go at him for all the stress and near heart failure caused.

So what was the issue, his satellite phone didn't want to get a signal so could neither send nor receive any information, emails or calls. Not sure at this point whether it was finger trouble or a fault with his phone, there were no reported issues with the network.

He did however have other issues to contend with during this time, on Monday he discovered that the stern cabin floor was 2inches (5cm) under water and slowly deepening, He set to bailing out and investigating the source. Tuesday he had to bail out another 10gallons (50l) but was now certain it is the rudder post leaking. He has done what he can and is monitoring, very closely, but this new problem has forced his hand and a stop at the Azores is a definite, Porta Delgada to be precise. The Azores MRCC are keeping an eye on him and monitoring his progress as well as talking to him every 24hours, so he is in safe hands from that side. Please send him good wishes and kind winds.

So where has he been

13th August - 39 18.05n 22 13.11w

14th August - 39 18.05n 22 13.11w

15th August - 39 18.20n 21 59.37w

Yesterday found our man at 38 39.49n 23 14.83w and today as of 16.46UTC he was 38 09.29n 23 55.72w approximately 80Nm from Porta Delgada so sometime tomorrow he will be in harbour and starting to affect repairs.

Keep watching and keep sending Andy your best thoughts.

Very, very relieved Shore Crew Out.

 

15th August 2018

No contact from Andy

 

14th August 2018

No contact from Andy

 

13th August 2018

No contact from Andy.

 

12th August 2018

Current Position - 38 35.43n 20 21.29w

Friday, the 10th, saw our intrepid Andy heading almost due south definately not the direction he wants to be going in. Although spirits quite high and the irksome batteries at 65% he was covering some ground. To help his battery situation he decided, against the advise of the SC to turn his AIS and VHF off when he was up and about, OK he thought as he hadn't seen a soul in over a week...Then follows a close call with a cargo vessel (too close for comfort), he didn't see it till it had passed his bow. AIS now on all the time.

So the weekend brings a bit more wind slowly coming round to the north and pushing Andy towards the Azores at last and with some speed. Covering almost 200Nm in a couple of days is a huge improvement on some we could mention. Although tired his spirits are still good definately helped by a good days sail. He saw another ship on Saturday, on the AIS first, not close at all, the system works. Sunday with a NNW force 5 wind blowing Andy is making a due west course at a steady 4kn+, go Andy go. Batteries at 60%.

 

9th August 2018

Current Position - 42 30.69n 19 20.74w

Becalmed again...Yes I know Andy is not having the best of luck wind wise, please everyone send the weather gods a note/email/sms and see what we can do for him. It is also Andy's birthday in a couple of weeks so please send him an email birthday wish, we will pass them on the evening before so he gets a great birthday surprise, usual email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). As always thank you all for your support. So no wind means no wind power generation although the solar is working overtime the battery issue still remains, currently 65%. Also no wind no hydravane to steer so not much rest but eating well. KR Shore Crew

 

 

7th August 2018

Current Position - 43 23.18n 18 36.35w

Andys spirits holding steady as is his course as he heads towards the Azores. It looks like he may have to stop to make some alterations as his batteries are not charging enough on the wind generators. A good bit of wind has kept him on a steady 200T course for most of today but his batteries are only at 55% not good enough especially when he does reach the doldrums.

 

5th August 2018

Current Position - 44 36.73n 17 59.59w

Spirits down a bit as his 3rd reef is chewing up its reefing line and we can't figure out what is causing it. Add to that the generators not producing what he had hoped (batteries at 45%) and he can't get the nose through the wind when he is reefed it turns out its not all plain sailing. Also one more issue the electric bilge pump has ceased to operate, yet another item on his list. Best wishes please for Andy.

 

3rd August 2018

Current Position - 44 47.14n 14 56.49w

Thursday night saw the winds pick, finally, and Andy has been doing a steady 3-4 knots since then although his course was more westerly than he'd hoped. Since then the winds has picked up as have the seas he is still very tired but his spirits are up. All in all a good 48hrs for our intrepid sailor.

 

1st August 2018

Current Position - 44 37.25n 11 10.34w

From too much too nothing Andy is becalmed again and waiting for a change in the weather, the wind died about 02.00UTC and nothing since. Although no real sailing today he is happy with his lot. Fingers crossed for a nice breeze to help him on his way.

Shore Crew out.

 

30th July 2018

Current Position - 45 23.74n 10 44.64w

Over the past 48hours Andy has had it a bit rough as the Bay of Biscay lived up to its name. He had WSW winds at a steady force 8 gusting to 9, along with big breaking seas all gave him a very rough night. He was cold wet and tired and spirits took a hit especially as he couldn't check the weather so didn't know how long the storm would last. He battened down the hatches ate some hot food and cat napped hoping for the wind to abate. Today brought some much needed respite with the wind dropping to a force 3 and a chance to repair a couple of items following the abuse of the previous night. More food and sleep alongwith the weather report have buoyed his spirits and he his looking forward to the Atlantic proper.

 

28th July 2018

Current Position - 44 22.31n 9 26.08w

Today found Andy about 75NM NW of Coruna  Spain with his heading going from South in the morning through a tack he is now making only a couple of knots on a SW course. A small issue with his GPS during the night, nothing serious as he has multiple backup systems. Although tired Andy is getting more sleep now and is in a lot better spirits.

 

26th July 2018

Current Position - 45 34.34n 9 15.55w

Wind!!! Andy has wind, the direction could have been kinder but don't complain. The wind generators are working and the batteries are coming up. Progress is being made and his spirits are lifting. The hydravane is doing its job as well so Andy can catch up on rest and little jobs. Don't forget if you want to email Andy you can, no videos or pictures please, email the shore crew at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and they wwill pass on your message. Till next timeShore Crew out.

 

25th July 2018

Current Position - 46 11.91n 10 2.80w

Today finds Andys spirits down a bit as he is very tired from steering continuously as there is no wind for the hydravane to helm by. Having to helm all the time means that his aches are not fading as quickly as we'd hoped but they are fading. Also the jobs he wants to get on and do can't be done while he is on the wheel. We are hoping for an improvement in the weather but it is slow in coming the synopsis looks better for Friday, so fingers crossed everyone. On the bright side he has seen lots more whales yesterday so that has helped lift his mood. More in a day or two. Regards Shore Crew.

 

22nd July 2018

Current Position - N47° 08.46  W8° 51.97

Today finds Andy out of Sole into Fitzroy and rapidly leaving British shipping forecast areas behind. Although spirits down slightly this is due topower generation which continues to be an issue. Batteries currenly at 55% so not desperate by any means but still a niggle. Heading 200T but at only 2Kn and the wind from NNW he is still progressing albeit slowly at the moment. Thats all from Shore Crew over to Andy: -

 

Andy Press & Greenfingers

Weekly Report No. 1

What an ... interesting start, struggling to get the nose through the wind when coming off the pontoon, then sliding down the river sideways a fair bit before finally getting her turned around and going in the right direction. Then out in the bay had a few problems getting the self-steering gear working, and ended with the control rope back to the cockpit snapping, so now I'm heading to the stern when I need to change course. Not too difficult to fix it's not a great deal and higher priorities. Had a good breeze out of the bay, on the second reef, shot over to the holms, then proceeded to tack my way down the center of the Bristol Channel. Got to Porlock in the early hours of the next day just before the tide turned then no wind. A few hours later I'm drifting back to Weston at about 3 knots. After looking at the weather reports, the situation isn't likely to improve any time soon, and I'd likely be drifting up and down the channel for the next couple of days. However I see wind the other side of Swansea, so I slowly head over to Swansea. Once I get to Swansea the wind had moved on to Milford Haven. I start to drift waiting for the winds to arrive, but at least I'm away from the worst of the tide. By now I'm pretty shattered, having not had a chance to sleep, or eat particularly well. That night I manage to get a few 20min cat naps in, and force a bit of food inside me. When the winds finally turn up I head towards Cornwall, only for the winds to desert me again, more waiting, then a bit of breeze and I'm off across the shipping lanes, very slowly, once across the winds desert again and I'm back to drifting, seeing a trend here? Winds come back and I finally make it to the Isles of Scilly. Had to come in quite close to get mobile signal, winds of course go again. Spent Thursday drifting off the Scillies and touching base with friends on the mobile. Get a good bit of wind in the evening and I'm shooting out of the UK at 7 knots. Last year it took me 30 hours to get to the Scillies, this year I'm not sure I want to count the days.

Now out in the Atlantic heading towards the Azores, starting to get a routine together. Had some nice force 6's, some force 4's and now becalmed yet again. The worst thing though is the swell that turned up yesterday afternoon, the morning was as perfect as could be, force 4, gentle swell and sun, the afternoon however no wind, and a horrible swell, tried to alter course to try and ride it better, but no matter what course was steered the swell would find me. Last night as I lay trying to sleep, I start to hear the occasional pop as one by one the champagne bottles I'd brought to make offerings to Neptune for safe passage decided they'd had enough.

Power generation has been on my mind most days, as the wind generators aren't working as well as expected. The backup solar panel is currently working overtime to try and supply enough power to run the essentials.

Seen load of porpoises, the first pod turned up as I went between the holms, and on average noticed 3 separate visits each day while in UK waters, I sure I heard one of them laugh and say "You're still here!?". Yesterday saw a couple of whales at a distance, and a couple more porpoises, although they didn't stop by to say hi.

When I left, I was still very much in preparation mode, and not at all in sailing mode. On the way to the Holms I even found myself thinking, "Why am I doing this?", over the days I've remembered why, and day by day I've been getting my sea legs back and settling in to life on board. There really is nothing better than being on a sailboat out at sea.

Will next check emails on Wednesday, so replies to emails I receive today won't go out till then.

All the best, Andy.

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20th July 2018

Current Position - N48.5461  W7.272

Today finds Andy out of Lundy and into Sole shipping area past the Scillies and on towards The Azores. Did you all spot his second secret letter? (Or maybe a ancient Rune)(will there be more (watch this space)). Andy came in close to both Cornwall and The Scillies to contact shore crew to discuss and resolve some issues. Battery charging has been a problem with the light winds but we have reconfigured a few things and fingers crossed he can continue as before without any power saving modes. He is eating and sleeping well and I feel is getting into his rhythm now and looking forward to his next step on his journey. Apart from mentally adjusting to this stop/start/stop life his body has to adjust to living at an angle all the time and so he is suffering from a few aches, but again adjusting brilliantly. He is off at 4+Kn on 200T and his next possible sighting of land will be the Azores in 8-12 days. Go Andy go.

18th July 2018

Current Position - N50.57599  W6.00634

Today finds Andy about 30NM NNW of Lands End following a close passage to shore to contact shore base for some advice. Since then his track looks like he has been trying to write something (I think it's WBYC but I am biased). Winds from the South West are hampering his progress but with the winds staying in the SW-W corner he will continue to struggle. Shore base had a good long chat with him and between us we managed to sort his problems and come up with some solutions to little niggles. The next time we will be able to talk will be if he is close enough to the Scilly Isles. Good progress and spirits high he is sleeping well and eating better. Talk soon Andy.

17th July 2018

Current  Position - N50.53645  W5.78085

This morning finds Andy 25miles north of Lands End progress has been slow due too very light winds but ground has been covered since yesterday. He was a bit down yesterday morning due to lack of sleep and food (no time to cook something decent) he slept a bit in the afternoon and some simple food, spirits lifting. AIS was down for most of yesterday and shore base was unable to contact him but AIS back up and running. Forecast for the next 24hrs West backing southwest 4 or 5. Slight or moderate sea fair weather and good visibility.

 

16th July 2018

Current Position - N51.10  W5 21 - level with Ilfracombe (East West) and Milford Haven (North South)

He's off... Saturday 14th July 2018 at 2036 Andy started his epic voyage. With a good breeze and the ebb tide to help him set off down the Bristol Channel only for the wind to abandon him in the early

hours. No wind means no hydravane to steer for him so Andy spent all night keeping a very watchful eye out in a very busy shipping area. The wind was fickle again all day Sunday and following a telephone call to base he is in good spirits and looking forward to his adventure. Monday morning found him mid-point between Lundy and the Welsh coast with, yet again no wind but an improving forecast.

So the big day has arrived. Andy postponed the start to get a few niggles sorted out - and the big news is that it's looking good for a departure on Saturday 14th July. We are going down to the Weston Bay Yacht Club to see him off from about 5:30, and he'll be leaving the bay around 8:30 all being well.

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Navigators of Faith

Wandering Monks & Travelling Heroes

Two friends, one a Rev and the other a poet are leaving Weston for Bristol, then sailing around the U.K asking a question and seeking answers from both todays communities and the lessons of history.

Visit their web site: http://www.navigatorsoffaith.com for more.

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