Natsha Lambert

Disabled sailor and adventurer

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Archives for 2020

Two weeks at sea and nearly there…

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It’s a beautiful Sunday morning on board Blown Away today, we’ve been paddling our feet off the back and enjoying the tropical sun. the weather has been very calm the last couple of days in fact too calm, We’ve had very light winds and have been struggling to move at all in the fluctuating whisp of a breeze, but hopefully we will get a few more knots as the sun rises further.

Though the wind has been light we have made good progress with our spinnaker flying. We passed our 2000mile mark and we now only have 661 nautical miles left to go! Our ships time has altered by another hour back, so we are now 3 hours behind U.K. time.


As Natasha went on the helm yesterday a whale breached behind her in the distance, an incredible sight, and we watched it for 20 minutes or more as it seemed to be playing on the surface with its large fin appearing and splashing the water.


We spoke to a French boat over the radio a few hours ago, Who is bound for Martinique they passed six miles to our stern and Being the first sighting of any vessel on our plotter since the first week, it was very exciting!


Rachel.

Image from Blown Away, sailing toward a setting sun on calms seas in the Atlantic Ocean.
Sailing toward the sunset, calm seas ahead…

Atlantic Storms!

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Oh, my word!!! Thursday Was just the longest day! At around 3 am The beginning of my second watch of the night when we noticed a flash in the distance. At first, we thought not much of it but as we continued to watch it, it started to get closer and the flashes more regular. We had been in the “rinse cycle” of the dark washing machine that was the now a building sea for about an hour when we decided the storm was getting a little too close. So, in an attempt to slow the boat down and let the storm pass ahead, we put a reef in. This seemed to work however the lightning was still visible several miles away and The wind still strong!

Nobody got much sleep over the next few hours, as we spent the night monitoring the angry red shapes drifting across our radar, and as the day progressed the clouds around us darkened once again and several squalls full of heavy rain Began to build into more storms. During this the winds would Shift and alter direction, the swells between 4-6 m with wind speeds varying from 4-30 knots And by around 4 pm the skies now black And the radar showing the ominous activity surrounding us We turned all our electrics off and Mike steered a 275-degree course for St Lucia.

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Torrential rain, persistent lightning and visibility down so low we couldn’t see much beyond the bows except the murky greys of the sky and sea, we waited. This lasted for around 2 hours before the skies started to lighten as dusk fell. The winds and sea state calmed but the lightning continued until about 1-2 am this morning.

As the sun rose behind the last remaining clouds There was a sigh of relief from everyone, the storms had gone and we had sustained no damage!

Rachel.

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Half Way There!!

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Yesterday we reached the mid-Atlantic! Had a perfect day’s sailing, spinnaker up and we were flying! Christmas decorations, advent calendars, a large bar of chocolate and an amazing full moon, making night watch’s lovely.


During the night there was a weather system of low pressure moving south, we had lines of squalls and wind shifts, down to 1 reef in main and just the jib and we were broad reaching for the rest of the day… Back to quite a bumpy day on the ocean, and it’s interesting going up and down the stairs for me.

Tash.

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Hello from the middle of the Atlantic!

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We are a tiny speck on the ocean, only seen a couple of seabirds and flying fish in the last two days. No boats have been seen for over 2 days. Rachel and Neil Tried fishing yesterday, just as well we had already organised tea as nothing caught but a fun afternoon trying!

Neil.


We put our boat clock back an hour yesterday so we are now 2 hrs behind UK time.


Our other news is that we gybed, have been waiting for the wind to change and it has, although not as strong as forecast it was quite a bit lighter than predicted.


And as today is the start of advent, the Christmas songs are playing…..
Love to all our family and friends… And many thanks to all of you who have sponsored me and the team here on Blown Away

Natasha.

It’s not all about the food – Time for some great sailing!

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*UPDATE – 29/11/20 – 13:00 – Day 8.*

Hello!! Having an awesome sail, it’s absolutely incredible! Is there anybody out there??? We don’t hear anyone on the radio now and haven’t seen another boat for over 24 hours.

Big seas in the Atlantic.

Watching the ocean and the weather… Lots of clouds and some showers, wind between 15 and 28 knots. Have only seen more flying fish last few hours. The waves tower behind the boat and slap between the hulls. The full moon and moonlight is fantastic. We might gybe today or maybe tomorrow…

Rachel made us special bread rolls yesterday with initials on and Angela made a lemon drizzle cake and as it’s the weekend, we had eggs and bacon for breakfast (but it’s not all about the food) It’s really difficult getting around the boat for me when the wind is strong, but it is funny too, lots of laughter it takes three people to go up and down the stairs with me using a hoist, think everyone has bruises now!

Anyway, it’s great and I am loving it all Natasha xxx”

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