Monday 25th April 2005

Further articles have been uploaded here from Boat International, Yachting World and Náutica. 

Monday 28th March 2005

The Photographs page has been split into three areas - Leaving the Canaries, At Sea and Arrival In Antigua, where more photos of Nick's arrival are now online. 

Sunday 20th March 2005

Further articles have been uploaded here from Search (The Institute for Cancer Research newsletter), Sea & I, The Daily Observer (Antigua), Southern Daily Echo and Yachting World. 

Tuesday 1st March 2005

The registered charity number has now been received from the Charities Commission. The AquaLung Trust is registered charity number 1108352.

Tuesday 22nd February 2005

Photographs of Nick's arrival are now on the Photographs page, and the front page article from Antigua's The Daily Observer can be viewed here.

Wednesday 16th February 2005

Nick stepped on to dry land at 2pm Antiguan time, 6pm London time. Two large boats and a rescue vessel (just in case!) with family and friends came ten miles offshore to greet Nick and accompany AquaLung in to dock. An emotional and wonderful reunion followed. Hoorah!

Friday 11th February 2005

It appears the computer is now fixed, and Nick's diary will be updated again as usual...

Thursday 10th February 2005

Nick telephoned last night. He has computer failure, temporary or permanent I am unsure, but no Captain's Log has arrived this morning... 

He has made his DIY skills only fairly clear so far but visions of self-help computer repair hardly bear thinking about.

Usual remedies for equipment failure are straightforward. Throwing, stamping on, kicking and verbal abuse. Whilst this has rarely (if ever) resulted in successful repairs, it apparently relieves emotional stress. Basil Fawlty has been a fantastic role model - this does not however turn me into Sybil.

Should he fail to get back on-line I shall be able to give further details of DIY exploits - or would be this be unkind?

The wind yesterday mid Atlantic was still down, he was averaging 4.5 knots. Other than that I haven't a clue where he is but I sorely hope he is still heading for Antigua.

Karen Baker

Sunday 30th January 2005

From 30th January, Nick will hopefully update the website himself and this will be posted under Voyage Diary.

The Latest News section will now contain other information which may be of general interest and also, we will shortly be posting some photographs on the website.

Saturday 29th January 2005

The solo Atlantic crossing is now underway. After so much preparation, seemingly endless last minute repairs, technical hitches and then virtually unprecedented weather conditions, AquaLung finally slipped her ropes, during a brief respite from winds gusting up to 28 knots, at around 1300 hrs on Friday, 28th January. Sadly, after two days of waiting, the majority of the farewell party had had to depart before AquaLung in order to catch their flights back to the UK.

From the harbour wall, Nick and AquaLung could be seen making their way out to sea amidst vast ships coming into port. Once free of them AquaLung turned into the wind and put up her sails before turning south once more. Viewing her from ground level, she all too quickly became a barely visible, small mark on the horizon. Then, from atop the tower of Las Palmas Cathedral, with the advantage of height, a small and lone yacht could once again be seen on the empty surface of a grey sea.

The warm atmosphere of camaraderie, on a comfortable boat in a safe harbour with the security of land and other human beings, had completely vanished. AquaLung became so small so fast, so alone and so vulnerable amidst the vastness of the ocean that the true significance of Nick’s undertaking became overwhelmingly apparent.

When massive dark clouds blew in once more, dense heavy rain fell forming an opaque curtain, totally obscuring AquaLung from view.

Karen Baker

Thursday 27th January 2005

Michie McNish also had a few words to say (see below) and whilst Michie and Johnny clearly felt that malnutrition should be Nick’s greatest fear factor, rest assured – I deposited two large trolley loads from the supermarket onto the boat and he now has more food, with greater variety than he will possibly know what to do with, so I am hoping he might learn to while away the hours in discovering previously untapped culinary skills! 

Karen Baker

To follow up on Neil Cheston's report (21st January), I wanted to add some AquaLung news for the last few days. Together with Karen's brother Johnnie Hartwell (a true boat professional, whose skills with a radar set - and a Leatherman - are legendary) I flew out to Faro on Wednesday last to help Nick shift AquaLung from Lagos to Gran Canaria for his final departure later this week.

As Neil makes clear in his notes, we found Nick in excellent form and more ready for his trip than he is actually prepared to admit. We were the fortunate delivery crew and encountered no significant problems on our trip, except a distinct lack of wind on the route, which seems fairly normal for the time of year.

After departing on Thursday morning we were able to make final checks at sea to the newly upgraded autohelm and we had sufficient wind for around 24 hours to take us on south. Enough anyway to trouble my too-long-land bound stomach - but fortunately not Nick's or Johnnie's. 

From mid-Friday on the wind fell away and we were forced to power ourselves the rest of the way to keep progress up, subject to ongoing research into which of the various large tanks on board contained clean water, black water (don’t ask), grey water (not so bad) or, more useful, diesel oil.

After some debate it turned out that fuel supplies were much more abundant than originally calculated (why don't boats have ordinary fuel gauges you ask - good question I say) and we powered on in to Las Palmas marina right on time yesterday morning after exactly four days, promptly to take on board a full fuel load which hopefully Nick will not need as the Trade winds pick up south of the Canaries. Nick and I having returned to the UK yesterday, AquaLung now lies peacefully at moorings in Johnnie's charge until Nick and the departure party arrive back from the UK tomorrow. 

I would like also to join Neil in saying how privileged I feel having been able to do something to help (hopefully) set Nick on his way and ensure he and AquaLung are as fully prepared as possible.

I can feel nothing but the highest regard for Nick as he begins to attempt a challenge which many an experienced yachtsman would baulk at. He deserves all the support we can all possibly give him and I'm sure he will appreciate as many messages of support as possible.

The only thing he is missing now is a fuller range of recipe ideas for the three principal food ingredients on board - pasta (various shapes), Heinz Baked Beanz and Hellman's mayonnaise (very large jars). I'm sure he will not be disappointed here also.

Michael McNish

Wednesday 26th January 2005

By 1030 on Friday 21st January, the wind had dropped so far that we had to resort to the engine. The new starter motor performed well. By this time we were in "the pineapple belt" - not marked as such on the charts but clearly defined by the number of pineapples floating past us.

Good lunches, fine dinners and regular night watch changes ensued for the next three days - but no wind. On Monday morning 24th January, Gran Canaria was clearly visible ahead and we found ourselves escorted by a school of dolphins, leaping out of the water of both sides of the yacht and criss-crossing ahead of us. We entered harbour mid-morning, berthed beautifully alongside the fuel dock, and filled up with 460 litres of the finest diesel. Then on to a regular berth - not such an elegant manoeuvre...

Leaving Johnny to work complete wonders on cleaning the decks and polishing the chrome, there was just time for a quick return journey to the UK to take all the children out of school for a pub dinner on Tuesday night. Then back to Las Palmas on the first flight on Wednesday.

This time for the real departure - at least in theory. It turned out that the courier delivery from London, with a new and vital computer cable, had been held up in Madrid for a week. So here we are... departure delayed again, but probably only for one day. Support crew of wife, parents, mother-in-law and Alex Lees-Buckley of CNI Monaco are coping well with Las Palmas - unseasonably cold, heavy rain, overflowing drains...

Thursday 20th January 2005

Left Lagos, Portugal finally with a new starter motor (courtesy of Daisy Horwell of CNI London, who made a day return trip to Faro to deliver it), new exhaust box, new autopilot - and a new crew. Huge thanks to the first support/delivery crew of Neil Cheston (yachtbroker and twice times Whitbread Round the World Racer) and Chris Cecil-Wright (yachtbroker and twice times round the Isle of Wight racer). They spent a week in Lagos and eventually had to fly home to resume normal business and domestic duties. They were a great source of strength and encouragement as a series of difficulties unfolded, but they made sure morale remained high. Sadly they missed the sail to the Canaries but their contribution was invaluable.

The next crew, fresh from the UK, included brother-in-law Johnny Hartwell, whose last job was crewing on the 115 metre motor yacht of a renowned Russian businessman and football club owner - somewhat different. Michael McNish took time off from his household of four daughters to enjoy some peace and quiet in the Atlantic.

The yacht left one hour late on Thursday morning, as the new crew were dissatisfied with the contents of the larder and had to restock at the supermarket. This proved to be a wise call as the culinary standard en route was significantly better than it might otherwise have been.

Another hour was spent calibrating the autopilot - got it right first time against the odds. Then a spirited sail in a fine breeze and strong sea. Plenty of shipping to avoid headed to and from the Straits of Gibraltar, including the MV Mamuli, registered in Istanbul, and later the MV Montreal Senator. Johnny caught a fine yellow-fin tuna and prepared it beautifully for the galley.

Saturday 22nd January 2005

Take Two!  

AquaLung left Lagos at 0905 on Thursday, 20th January. She has now been at sea for 3 days. With blue skies and no wind she was averaging no more than 4½ knots under sail. In an attempt to meet dead lines for the departure from the Canaries and with the engine now repaired, AquaLung is currently motoring at around 7 knots.

Friend and colleague Neil Cheston returned yesterday from a week with Nick aboard AquaLung. Whilst she was awaiting repairs, Neil, Nick and another friend, Chris Cecil-Wright spent the time sailing off the coast of Portugal. Neil has twice taken part in the Whitbread Round the World Race and yesterday he sent the following email to friends and colleagues which he has kindly agreed to being posted here.

21st January 2005

I have just returned from a week with Nick Baker on board his yacht AquaLung, helping him to prepare for his single-handed crossing of the Atlantic. I’m happy to report that, in spite of one or two gear failures, which Nick could certainly have done without, AquaLung is now in full working order, properly equipped and prepared for the voyage.
Nick’s morale is also good. He is certainly under no illusions about this undertaking, yet he remains unwaveringly calm and upbeat and, what’s more important, he has a clear understanding of what lies ahead of him and how he is going to tackle it.

I feel privileged to have spent these few days with Nick, and proud to know such a man. The circumstances in which he finds himself are unusually cruel and forbidding, and yet he shows not an ounce of fear, or self-pity, or bitterness at the hand he has been dealt. On the contrary, he has cheerfully set himself a challenge which, it’s no exaggeration to say, will require him to personally earn every single penny raised for the AquaLung Trust. He is a true hero.

Please encourage your colleagues, clients and loved ones to show their support.

Neil Cheston

Tuesday 18th January 2005

Nick has re-discovered the effects of being below and breathing in the fumes of a defective engine whilst sailing….

24 hours after setting out, AquaLung was back at Lagos, as the engine’s starter motor was found to have failed. Unfortunately it was the weekend and spare parts were hard to come by, so the weekend was spent sailing around the coast of Portugal - and it appears the autopilot now also needs some work …. still, better to find these things out now whilst they can be repaired. 

This morning, a colleague (very loyal colleague!) took a day-return flight from London to Faro, clutching spare engine parts and these, hopefully, will be fitted tomorrow. New anticipated start date for the Canaries, Thursday morning, 20th January. 

Nick, wary of setting any firm dates for anything at the best of times, is exceptionally wary now of setting any firm anticipated departure dates from the Canaries.

Friday 14th January 2005

S.Y. AquaLung and Nick have left Portugal and they are now heading for Gran Canaria. After a stop in Las Palmas to ensure that no repairs are required, Nick will then undertake his solo crossing of the Atlantic. It is anticipated that he will leave Las Palmas for Antigua around the 25th January 2005.

The support Nick has received from friends has been enormously encouraging. It has provided the incentive and determination to fulfil the challenge and as the solo voyage is almost underway, donations are now being received in support of the four charities for which Nick and The AquaLung Trust are so keen to help in achieving their aims.

Every donation is being personally acknowledged by the trustees as quickly as possible and we apologise for any delays!