STRONG winds have brought further delays for a four-woman crew from Jersey battling to complete a 3,000-mile journey across the Atlantic.
Julie Brady, Helene Monpetit, Rosemary Satchwell and Alison Smithurst have faced an arduous spell of unfavourable winds and were forced to use their “para-anchor” yesterday to avoid being blown off course.
Having achieved daily distances exceeding 70 nautical miles earlier in their seven weeks’ racing in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, the Intrepid 232 crew has slowed to a virtual standstill, with around 120 nautical miles remaining to the finish line in Antigua.
The latest bulletins from the Caribbean have brought frustration and anxiety to family members and friends of the crew who are waiting to greet their arrival.
Guy Hinks, Ms Smithurst’s husband, is among the waiting group. He is with the couple’s children, Cameron and Lily.
He said: “They are pretty hacked off as they are working really hard but just not getting anywhere. They’re tired and sore and they want to finish, but this last section has been a real struggle.”
Latest projections yesterday showed that the Intrepid crew, whose members are raising money for the Grace Crocker and Blue Marine charities, is likely to spend the entire weekend at sea before making landfall on Monday morning.
