45SAIL MAGAZINEsail from the mast. After that tactic failed, we
scampered around on deck in our life jackets
and harnesses. The danger of losing fingers or
being thrown overboard by the whipping sail
was very real. We had to stop and think before
we did anything. In the end we freed the sheets
and guys and let them trail in the water (en-
gine off, of course) after which we released the
halyard and let the sail fall into the sea beside
the boat. Then came the job of lifting the now
very heavy sail on to the deck and stuffing it
into the V-berth. (We’re still trying to dry the
cushions!) Fortunately, the sail sustained only
minor damage, although a few days later, we
weren’t so lucky, and the sail was badly dam-
aged in another broach. Rats!
We reached the halfway mark on Thanks-
giving day. Mimosas with breakfast! It’s funny
how being exactly in the middle of the At-
lantic on a family-oriented holiday can make
you a bit forlorn. We missed our kids and our
grandson—the whole clan. To celebrate the
holiday, Brenda made a magnificent roast tur-
key dinner complete with dressing, potatoes
and pumpkin pie.
We still had nearly 500 miles to go when the
faster boats in the fleet began arriving in St.
Lucia. Mixed feelings about that! My competi-
tive spirit came out again, but while we had
positioned ourselves 60 miles south of the fleet
to take advantage of an anticipated northeast
wind shift, the shift never came, and with our
Parasailor out of action, we were resigned to
crossing the finish line with a poled-out jib—
kind of like losing your star running back just
before halftime. Asylum had been making 150
to 160 miles per day with the Parasailor up,
but now we were lucky to make 120 miles.
Still, we did a good job of keeping things
in perspective. “Wait a minute,” I told myself.
“You’ve been waiting to do this trip for years.
Don’t make it a long cross-country drive where
you are merely counting down miles rather
than enjoying the view.” This was especially
true because the view was nothing less than
spectacular, albeit very similar to what we’d
seen the previous dozen days.
Throughout our passage there were many
moments to be treasured: sitting on the bow in
the late afternoon sun with my wife and a rum
and Coke; watching the clouds and waves. It
truly doesn’t get any better than that. On my
midnight watches, the moon illuminated the
path before me. I’d known we’d be sailing into
the sunset every day, but sailing into the setting
moon was a real treat. We started in the Cape
Verdes with a new moon, and each day it set an
hour later and a day fuller. After moonset, the
stars were magical. I didn’t want it to end.
Of course, it did, and we crossed the finish
line at 0926 local time, completing the course
in just over 16 days. Now, lying in the ma-
rina in Rodney Bay, we realize we have been
changed, not because we are better sailors or
can brag about having crossed an ocean, but
because of the many like-minded people we’ve
met along the way.
Last night Brenda and I threw another partyon our little boat. Twenty-nine of our new
friends came and traded stories of adventure
and of lazy days at sea. Sailing in the ARC
brings a true sense of belonging, a true sense
of camaraderie, a bit of competition, and a
shared love for the adventure of sailing. In the
end, it’s all about the friendships. sThane and Brenda Paulsen live and work in Sioux
Falls, South Dakota. They are part-time cruisers
who enjoy Caribbean sailing and have now added
“crossed the Atlantic” to their sailing resume.Brenda checks out the fresh tuna at
a local market in Cape VerdeA local youth drum corps bids
farewell to the ARC+ sailors in
São Vincente, Cape Verde