Today was a day I’m unlikely to forget for quite some time. This shot was taken several meters up a mast of the 95-foot yacht Sorcerer II following the start of the Original Single Handed Trans-Atlantic Race (OSTAR) as it left Plymouth today. I haven’t publicised this here yet though now I have images to show everything makes more sense in explaining it! A good friend of mine has undertaken the challenge to cross the Atlantic ocean in the OSTAR and left Plymouth today enroute to Newport, on the east coast of the USA. Having secured sponsorship, a boat and the entry fee(!) Hannah White joins a group made up of around 40 sailors in total all aiming to cross the Atlantic Ocean without the help from anyone save the odd supportive message sent from friends and family. I have been given the task of managing and administering her various online presences whilst she’s away, sending mack messages as she goes, and posting them onto her blog, the official race blog and her main sponsor’s profile page. (be sure to vote on the offical race site!)

So, here’s what happened today: It was an early start for everyone this morning, it had only just gone 7am and I could already hear the rustling of waterproof clothing and closing of heavy zips as the last few items of importance were stuffed into bags. Breakfast was a brief slice of toast and a glug of juice before heading to the boat one last time for 8am. After a few short good-byes and quickly wiped away tears we left Hannah to get on with what she does best but we weren’t departing Plymouth so soon. A short walk across the harbour lay our ‘ride’ to make watching Hannah crossing the start line possible.

[now the science bit] The Sorcerer II Expedition, led by J. Craig Venter PhD founder and president of the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), is a research voyage circumnavigating the globe sampling the microdiversity in the world’s waters with the aim of gaining a greater understanding of the bacteria and viruses in ocean waters and how they fit into the ecosystem i.e. beyond just observing fish, whales etc. The Sorcerer II is a 95 foot sailing vessel that doubles as a floating lab enabling the collection of samples around the world which are then frozen and sent back to the labs in Maryland and California for DNA sequencing and analysis. Whilst the findings are scientifically important there is also the potential for discovery of new sources of biofuels, leading to a reduction in carbon emissions and climate change, possible pharmaceutical uses and also novel foodstuffs. As a scientist I can appreciate the value of this work and encourage you all to follow their work as it develops, they’re off to the Baltic, Black and Mediterranean Seas next! Please see http://www.jcvi.org/ for more info about the great work being done.
We slowly made our way out of the harbour and by sheer luck met Hannah as she left her berth and both boats cruised out together, ours dwarfing anything out there save the starting commission and Naval cruisers. With Hannah a couple of her closest hands on board the final trimmings and adjustments were made before they had to get off and leave her to it. No one could step aboard until the end of her race now. I was allowed to climb into the ‘crow’s nest’ of Sorcerer II where I discovered not only a significant height advantage but I was looking down on the entire OSTAR fleet preparing around me! Great for getting some fantastic images as they came across the line once the canon had fired.
We all raised a glass to Hannah as she crossed the start line to the sound of a cannon and watched on by HRH Prince Philip, her next stop will be Newport – some 3000 miles to the west of Plymouth. A good steady breeze pushed the Ostar fleet over the line and out beyond the breakwater. Crowds of supporters and viewers gave chase in whatever craft they could lay their hands on it seemed. Small yachts, motorboats and precarious looking craft all accompanied the fleet out of the harbour breakwater into some swell, some turned back but we carried on…and then the wind promptly died to barely a whisper. All around, sails hung expectantly but no wind came. Up in my perch above the masts it was a funny sight to see such near flat waters with so many boats just bobbing there. About 20mins passed and then the breeze returned, it started to build and soon Hannah was well under way again. Sails filled, hulls pitched and the entire fleet took off towards Land’s End.
After being side-by-side with Hannah for a little while we slowed, turned and headed in. With a few short blasts and lots of waving we left her to her voyage across the Atlantic and the adventure that lay ahead. I really can’t thank Craig and his crew enough for his kind invitation to come out as guests on board his fantastic boat, meaning we were able to follow Hannah for some way off the start of the race and I could get some simply brilliant photographs. It made all the difference in making a good day great.