The crew changes for the crossing.

 After the 5 girls: Chloe, Carrie, Cate, Hannah and Emma got Moonflower 3 safely to Gran Canaria there were some changes to be made to the crew.

Hannah had always planned to head home after the delivery, as she didn't personally feel ready to cross the Atlantic Ocean yet.

The 4 remaining girls could have happily handled the challenge, however Chloe had something else in mind...

After having worked a few seasons with Jake Usman, and seeing his recent youtube adventure travel series he started with a couple of his mates @thejamalonseries she invited Jake and a couple of his documentary making pals along for the ultimate travel adventure!

After a week in Gran Canaria to chill, Emma and Cate were completing their STCW with Carrie doing a refresher. We did some shopping and it was time to do some maintenance and prepare a few things for the boat and the crossing. Hannah departed and the boys arrived in the same day. We hoped the boys would be ready to get stuck into the action, however immediately cameras were in our faces, interviews were happening, and not much boat work was getting done.

Jake, James and Alex brought all the laughs. From the moment they stepped on board we knew we would never have a dull moment, never a moment missed off the camera and plenty of banter.

After safety checks from ARC officials, check-ins and welcomes it was time to get down to business; getting a 3rd reef put into the main and getting the new autopilot fitted. We also had to do some basic boat lessons for the boys - even down to how to flush a toilet. We planned and provisioned for our meals, drinks, cleaning and emergency supplies for the passage - a job requiring military precision. We also spent some time getting know other boats and crews which was fun (within COVID requirements of course).

The boys were keen to learn and be part of the crew, however they also had a huge list of things they wanted to film before we departed, which often left us girls to do all the boat jobs. Carrie and Cate rewired new navigation lights, Emma and Chloe sourced many spare parts, returning to the chandlery daily and installed a new bilge pump and we worked together to install our new third reefing line through the boom. Chloe gave the boys a full day of safety briefing, including dismantling their lifejackets to install lights and AIS beacons, practising walking around the boat whilst being clipped on and learning parts of the yacht. The first day they couldn't identify between the starboard or port side and they had no idea what the chart table was. By the time we left, they knew the basics and more. 











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