Fri 19 Feb.  We awoke to much banging, clattering and then whooping and roaring - and that was just the skipper!  Yes, the spinnaker had finally made an appearance and there it was flying high, resplendent in all of its glory for about 2 hours.  It’s amazing how such an idyllic picture can turn to a pile of guano in a few seconds – within 30 seconds.  Yes, just 30 seconds of Blue Watch taking over, the spinnaker was wrapped around the forestay in a manner described by the skipper as the worst he has seen in his 30 years of sailing.  Nothing else for it, our intrepid Doctor Nick climbed the mast and started the long and arduous process of unwrapping the ‘kite’ and it soon became apparent that the offending article was a halyard that had been inadvertently left attached to the headsail; Blue Watch were off the hook!  Nick spent an hour and a half being battered at the top of the mast, but managed to escape relatively unscathed and had managed to free the top half.  The bottom half was, however, wrapped tighter than Lily Allen in rehab.  With half the spinnaker still flying, Jason was sent up the forestay to try to ‘snuff’ the kite – the kite ‘snuffed’ Jason at times, but he managed to tie it down and we finally managed to untangle the spinnaker after nearly 5 hours.  Remarkably, there was no damage to yacht, kite or crew - the spinnaker has now been hidden from the skipper in case he thinks about flying it again! 

Sat 20 Feb.  Surprisingly, we lost only a few miles to the Navy yesterday and we are now about 20 miles behind with 2000 miles to go to the Horn.  The sailing is fantastic with Force 5-7 winds (17-33kts) and Disco is eating up the miles in glorious sunshine today.  Early this morning the skipper had a screw loose..... on one of the mainsail track sliders and spent a couple of hours with white watch trying to wrestle the sail in high winds, straddling the boom with Alex hanging off the mast to fix it back in place; he is now walking like an Argentinean Gaucho who has just delivered the cattle into town.  Overall, Disco is in great shape – which is more than can be said for those participating in the dubious looking beard growing competition. 

Sun 21 Feb.  Again we awoke to banging and clattering, but thankfully the spinnaker was not making a re-appearance.  Our resident ‘sparks’ Alex was trying to fix the instruments that supply our wind, speed and mileage data.  The skipper and Alex spent most of the day pulling off every panel to try to identify where the wires ran and their persistence paid dividends when the offending loose connection was eventually found and our instruments restored.  Meanwhile at the helm, Mikey B, who is looking more like Lee Marvin every day and sporting a new haircut, managed a voyage record speed of 16.2kts surfing down a wave.  Doc Jo received several plaudits for the quality of her muffins and later went on to cook a delicious Thai beef and noodles; we really are eating fantastically well!  With about 1800 miles to run to the Horn and with progress like the 230 miles logged yesterday, we should round the Horn somewhere around 1-2 Mar.  We need to drop down to around 56 deg south which, from our present position, means a difference in latitude roughly the same as between Bristol and Edinburgh.  So far, the screaming 50s have been kind to us and hopefully the good weather and winds will continue.  All is well from ship and crew aboard the good yacht Disco and minds are starting to turn towards what our first run ashore will entail in Uruguay. 

Shout outs:

From Jason:  J, miss you lots, hope your new job is going well.  Don’t let Ibbo post me away!

From Wozza: Hi back home.  As ever, a big hello to the folks and Sis. Hello to Lindsey H and the NE crew, inc Trudy and Tracy, hope your all well and not causing too much havoc at VS. Hi to Jeremy, Lucy and the bambinos and a big hug to Lucy W and the family. We are still moving on at a good pace and although we have had some rough weather we all know that a beating is on the way at some point, especially as we are getting ready to head further South into the track of the Low Pressure Systems. Everybody is in good spirits knowing that we have passed the halfway mark and we are working hard to catch the Navy. Today’s thought was to set up a 24 bar when we get to Uruguay and apply the ‘system’. Worrying for me is that my beard has grey in it. No doubt a few more will be added. Missing the following: red wine, cheese, my ‘pit’ and a stable floor to stand on.  Catch you all in a few days, off to my bunk for another power nap before putting on the rubber ‘banana suit’ and getting another salty rinse on deck ttfn wx

From Gonzo: Big hugs to Laura X. Much fuss to Ali, Rory, Ben & Bess. Hello to my folks and family, sorry unable to call, will call when I can. I had a brief chat with Laura a week or so ago so call her to get the SP. Hello to Nan and Rita. Hello to all the Mathews’ and Drummonds. We’re getting there steadily, making @220 nautical miles a day averaging about 10 knots/hour. We’ve been making progress east for the last couple of weeks, we now need to head south east towards the Cape and inevitably worse weather than we’ve had so far, but we have developed the skills that will allow us to deal with it. Looking forward to seeing you all again in a couple of weeks. Love to all, Ian.

From Brian: Much love, big hugs and kisses to Pauline, Oli, Mike, Chris, Emma, Mum, and the Clifford Clan.  For the FSC team of Dom, Grahame and Phil, thank you for your hard work – hope the promotion, posting and recovery going as planned.  I’m having a great time and the sailing is exhilarating.  Looking forward to a long hot shower and shave, and of course being at home with my loved ones – honest!  Yes, I’m doing the salt and pepper beard growing thing.  It’s soft and fluffy at the moment but I’m not quite sure what it looks like because we have no proper mirrors on board.  About 9 days to go to Cape Horn, weather good as far as we can see out for next few days.  Love and miss you all xxxxx.

From Mikey B:  Hi Babes, all’s well here, had a haircut at a local shop today, not sure Lee Marvin is right, more like Steptoe!  On the evening watch now, pitch black, 30 knots wind, and spray all over the place.  NICK/CHRIS – don’t get use to my side of the bed, you’re out of there soon!  Miss you all, love you.xxx 

From Jo R:  Hello!! Guess what... we’re finally on a chart with land on!  All going well, Dad I suppose Joint Services have told you but the PUK code you sent was not accepted and so the phone is blocked still, sorry, not sure if there is anything you can do?!  Mum – no dolphins yet, the dry shampoo is great though!  Winnie hope all going well, dart board case ordered yet??!!  Kiran, fun on Magic Carpet?  With all this water have big plans for a hot hol – Yes?  Hindles – not sure if you’re reading this but getting to grips with the instruments and lots of ideas for the qualifier and beyond!! Lots of love xxx

From Alex: Hi all. Still here and getting along, things are becoming a ground hog day, but fixing the boat helps break it up!  Looking forward to a good beard trim on return, don’t know how you keep them Harry and Dad. Toni miss you lots, be good to be back for hugs and squeezes.  Thinking of you all xxx.

Blog 6 HMSTV Adventure reporting form the Southern Ocean

No ice and no penguins so far but lots of albatross here down at 51 Lat where variation is 30 degrees East (difference between magnetic  course and true  course).

RACE & SAILING SITUATION REPORT

Thursday 18th brought us constant winds and we were able to pole out the yankee (front sail), changing  up from the No 2 (mid size) to No 1(largest) Yankee at midday. Occasionally switching to a broad reach (wind from the side of the boat) to gain boat speed on the on the wind shifts and maintain our course to our next waypoint (fixed target position) figure at 51 degrees South 105 degrees West. This is when we will be permitted to head further south to start our decent to the Horn. The descent will be performed through a series of downward steps which have been preset by the Exercise Transglobe Sailing Instructions. The steps are simply lat and long positions from which we can descend. There are three steps roughly 400-500 miles apart. The first one is currently just over 1000 miles away and we should be there on about the 24^th February and from thereon we are allowed to go as far south as 54 degrees. Whether we choose to or not depends mainly on the weather but obviously the further south we go the shorter the route to the Horn will be as you are able to take advantage of the curvature of the earth.

Over the last six days we have done over 200 miles a day with the highest being 234 miles, averaging 10 knots. Disco now sit behind us by 20 miles after coming down to the same latitude  to avoid lighter winds to the north and it appears that keeping south has paid off for us, at least for the moment!:) This is the biggest lead we have had over them so far on this 2700 miles journey. ..but it’s still very close.

Friday 19TH

Today Disco sits 25 miles behind us, although we have both had our share of things to repair.  For us the second batten (semi flexible strip giving the main sail its wing like shape) lost a screw from the luff box, forcing the batten to make another appearance out the front of the sail. It was put back in the slider with the aid of Blue watch with mother (Red) assisting. Mind you, this is this is forth repair we have done to the battens/luff boxes and apart from getting annoyed at having to depower the main for repairs, we’re getting pretty slick at it! Meanwhile Disco had a spinnaker wrap (big kite sail tangled around the rigging) plus a batten problem - all of which helped maintain the status quo.

Saturday 20^th

Two weeks at sea and we are all still holding up or just about.  A few aching muscles and wrists from repeated helming has meant a slight and temporary change to watch manning to help ease the load and give some a rest. White Watch are currently at the controls up top as the sun is starting to set over a single reefed main and No2 Yankee. On goes the tri colour and the compass light. The spray and swell is rising and the wind has just picked up to 25 knots so boat speed is on the climb, White Watch have worked their magic again. This falls in line with the met forecast as we are expecting a good blow of 40 knots tonight – with the prospect of more sail changes. Tonight is chilli con carne night with bread and butter pudding (Frankie stars again!) and so Red Watch are hard at it this Saturday evening to prepare the restaurant for its 14 punters. Normally it’s a table of 7 for two sittings with portions monitored carefully by the Stazi (the Pusser).  Besides being on standby for sail changes and other sailing evolutions, the other duties of Mother Watch include cleaning the heads, showers, empty the bilges and bins and cut the non bio plastic waste up into 10L bottles.   Every cloud has a silver lining however and, subject to sail change help being required during the night, the Mother Watch will normally get the first “all night in” (in their bunks) that they’ve had for two nights.  Currently the generator is on and with the drying heaters still not working,  the door to the foulies wet locker room is opened and closed quickly to give some chance to dry of the sodden foul weather kit that hangs within.

This last day or so, crew have started to talk about what will be the first thing they will do when they get home, the four top things they are looking forward to most seem to be a big comfy bed and seeing loved ones, followed by a cold beer and a pee standing up! (stand fast Nikki, Lou, and Laura )   We currently have just over 2000 miles to go to the rounding of the magical Cape Horn. It will then be another 1500 to Montevideo (and three of the above!).

WATCH REPORTS & INDIVIDUAL SHOUT OUTS….

Mates

Nikki..  Carmen Rendell how the devil are you my sweet, how has South America been treating you? We are thinking it will be around the 13^th  all going to plan. Becky had to turn back due to mast track probs so you won’t see her but otherwise we will be there ready to see your beaming smile. We are much looking forward to seeing you 10000 miles later and catching up on all your news and of course for one of usual nights of chaos, love you loads.  Marcus and Jo if you are reading this a big hi to you guys and the cats, can’t wait to see you and catch up  and share time. The lovely words you wrote  while we were in Auz are up by my bunk. Heidi hi Shane, it doesn’t look like I’m gonna be back for the ball on the 26^th    March as I’m going to head on to Antigua and fly back from there. Andy Mieklejohn if you reading this hope your back from America safe and Sydney is good fun, keep smiling and I  will be in touch when I get to Monte ref hopefully catching up in Antigua. Zoe miss you loads, can’t wait to have a catch up on life with you. Windy see you in Monte- your gloves have been amazing thank you. With the biggest risks come the biggest achievements,   Hugs  to all xxxx

White Watch.

Dave – Hey Stinker, last time we spoke we were just setting off up the path toward the sound of drums, on the way up we couldn’t see the top because of the swirling mist but the strange sounds of steady drum beats continued to get louder.  Just as we began to think we would never reach the summit the path flattened and the mist cleared, to our surprise we found ourselves in the middle of a village, all around were huts with grass roofs and great statues of what must have been the gods of the people who lived here.  Upon further investigation it became clear that the village was deserted, all the huts were empty, the camp fires were long since out and the sound of drum beats was being created by a wind powered contraption!  It seemed as though our quest to meet new tribes would not happen here today.  Just as we thought of leaving this deserted and lonely place Tim spotted another path leading out of the back of the village, at its entrance were crossed spears decorated with bone ornaments and a pair of painted skulls, was this a warning not to follow the path?  Whatever the message we pressed on, after a short walk we came to an abrupt halt.  Facing us was a giant set of wooden doors, the biggest I have ever seen, they towered up above our heads and blocked the entrance to a small valley, beyond the gates appeared to be dense jungle and rising up from the green canopy was the gently smoking tip of a volcano.  All three of us looked at one another, and without hesitation began to unlock the great gates.....bit more next time son, love from way down here, miss you, enjoy half term, Daddy xxx

All, hope you’re all ok, everything really good here, wind strong and driving us eastward toward the cape, over half way now and leading by 25 miles.  Love you all, thinking about you and home a lot xx.  Speak soon GG, travel safely xx.

Tim – Having an extraordinary time; now at a point further from any other human that it is possible to be on the planet!  Really getting quite chilly – I’ll have to start using my thermals soon.  Hope all’s well at home and half term is enjoyable.  Lots of love to Claire, Ed and Louis.

John  RCIRO, Hello again from a very remote part of the world.  The seas are very impressive as they grow bigger and bigger before we surf down them rustling up some pretty impressive speeds.  No we are not having fun and yes we are taking this seriously.. ish.  I hope you are all enjoying Cornwall.  I look forward to seeing the photos.  Plenty of swimming and lovely long dog walks.  It’s been a long time since I stepped out more than 30 strides.  I love you all and am counting the days until I can speak to you from Punte Del Este, Uruguay.  Until then.  All my love to my special girls.  Daddy.

Red Watch

Red Watch are having a couple of health problems but persevering on….. Poor Laura had a stomach ache; which the 3 boys aren’t totally convinced that her medical condition isn’t due to secretly snaffling all the chocolate……

Strong man Frankie’s muscles are too big for his own good and caused him pain due to their ongoing expansion – if they continue he’ll end up looking like Popeye (if he didn’t already look like Brutus! Red Watch has thus been temporarily reduced to 2 (Simon & Clive) but have had guest appearances from Lou (Blue Watch).  Red Watch managed the 3000 miles marker this morning (with Guest Lou) at 0330 hours along with 44.7 miles in 4 hours, narrowly taking the prize away from Blue Watch (44.3miles).

As many of you know, out here fresh water is in short supply and limited to what we have in the tanks, so we tend to wash our plates in salt water.  When fresh water used for cooking and occasional showering runs out the cry ‘we are out of fresh water’ turns to tanks being swapped or making more water but this comes at a cost of running the generator for the water maker which is in essence diesel that could be used for engine hours if for some reason we are unable to sail or the wind dies.  Currently we have a depth of 4571 metres of water under the keel and in the middle of the southern ocean so luckily salt water is not in short supply.  This did not stop Clive shouting out whilst at the sink the other day that ‘we are out of sea water’ – to hoots of laughter from all others in the galley!

Frankie has been taking oh so many photos and excellent video clips which are downloaded on the yacht laptop for us to browse over in our spare time of recent events and this will certainly be helpful for all of us to share with all of you on our return home.

Simon has found some similarities with home as he tells the girls (who are in their 20s/30s) to: eat their crusts, finish their main course before they have sweet, not to use “like” every other word and that the time for breakfast is 0730 and that no there’s nothing left to eat at 1030hrs!

The beard growing competition is in full force but Simon is being accused of “campness” due to his goatee beard. Only the photos of his wife convince the men that they’re safe…… 

Simon:  More surfing mountainous seas on a 67ft sailing, surfboard today – this time under lovely blue skies. Continues to be both challenging and rewarding. Glad to be (finally) closer to Chile than NZ and almost half way overall on this enormous (6000mile) venture. Use of Sextant for navigation going well (2mile accuracy last attempt) despite challenging sun sights due to the huge seas and “false horizon”. All my gloves performing well!

Caroline, I hope all went well with Treelands and that it wasn’t too difficult for you all. Send my love to Guy, Henry & Annie.

Linda – miss you more than the prospect of walking on dry, stationary ground! Thanks for understanding my need to do this exercise. I love you.  X

Elizabeth and Estelle – I think about you all the time and constantly wonder what you’re up to. I can’t wait to see you both again and make up for the time we’re missing out on now. Sweet dreams my little girls. Big Kiss. Pappa XX

Laura: Hi to everyone, all going well here temperature starting to drop so all my warm weather kit is keeping me toasty. Had a minor stomach bug as mentioned above but back to full fighting force now and getting back on deck is a relief. Am missing you all a lot and looking forward to a nice warm bed which is bigger than a post’it note! Sending love and hugs from the Southern Ocean xxxx Tom- I hope Norway is going well and you’re enjoying time on ship, missing you. Love you xxx

Clive:  Hello to everyone, we are currently at 50 degree south by 123 degree west (basically, in the middle of the ocean) it’s getting colder each night and we have broken out the thermal underwear, very sexy.  We have approximately 2000 miles until we reach the Horn.  The Cape Horn is a very big achievement apparently the same in walking terms would be climbing up Mt. Everest J Missing you all loads and looking forward to getting feet back on dry ground.  Lots of love Clive x x

Kyle and Willow – Daddy will be home soon and we can have lots of play time together – love you both x x

Frankie: Hi to all out there, officially in “no-mans-land!” at least 2000 miles from any civilisation!!! Unless that is the space station flies overhead!!!! Personally I’ve been put out of action with some trouble with the nerves in my hands ( constant pins & needles in fingers) been off for 4 days and got a little better so hopefully I’ll be back on the deck in no time.  We have just clocked less than 2000 miles to go to the “Horn” and then another 1500 to Montevideo!!! OM*G!! Babes, its very hard to write anything, there are so many questions but no point cause I wont get any answers, hope you and kids had a decent half term.  Hope all is well with everyone,  especially Luca and Jessica hope you are helping mummy until daddy gets back soon. Love you babes XXX. Tutto bene un saluto, Ciao.

Blue Watch.

Blue Watch – or the Westoes (all from the West Country) continue to push the limits and trim to win at every opportunity. With Red Watch having two men down, we have donated Lou to boost their numbers but are already looking forward to her return and her squeals of joy when we hit a new high speed or hear that we have pulled further away from Disco during our watch. Lou continues to sleep through anything (including Andy and Paul’s snoring) and in typical northern fashion to save money, has perfected the art of keeping her feet dry without buying expensive Sealskinz socks – a freezer bag sandwiched between two pairs of pussers socks! Steve, our second WAFU member, continues to rule the watch with his inimitable flexible rod of steel and has really taken to the art of cooking in the galley…ish. Normally calm in crisis, his resolve was tested in the early hours of this morning when, having been dragged from a good sleep to climb into wet foulies and take up the middle watch, he trudged up the companionway ladder ..only to catch his life jacket toggle in doing so.  In the ensuing explosion of an inflating life jacket the air was filled with venting CO2 (which set the fire alarms off), Steve’s expletives and a cacophony of hysterical laughter from the rest of us! Emerging back through the hatch head first, looking like a sunflower with a grumpy beaten face surrounded by yellow asking for help only made the laughter louder! For those out there interested in Paul’s progress with his oceanography book, we are pleased to report that the first chapter is complete! As we sit here in the galley having just finished the forenoon watch he is sitting trance-like with eyes closed listening to his iPod having just started tonight’s bread-run off. He has already got into the “round the Horn” mode and is currently the only one in our watching putting the earrings in on a regular basis. (I’m sure that he will be able to explain this when he gets home). Andy meanwhile, in tinkering mode having dismantled and rebuilt most of the luff boxes on the mainsail caused a stir when he noticed a semi-tone change in the frequency made by the steering gear whilst on the wheel and caused a clear lower deck whilst all the mechanism was checked – not the most accessible at sea in a force 6 with heavy swells! (all was fine ). He continues to misplace his glasses from time to time and has now perfected the art of the micro monocle as a back-up.

Steve( our illustrious watch leader)- As you can see from above we are all still smiling and having a fantastic time.  Pretty bruised now though! Hi Kaz, hope all is well back home, wish you could be out here to experience this, it is extreme sailing to say the least! And fantastic. Hi Harry I am having a great time, I will be back home in a few weeks now, as soon as I get to Montevideo I will give you and mum a call. Can’t wait to speak to you both. I hope all is going well at school, remember keep trying and don’t give up. To all family and friends following, we are still in the lead and all working hard to ensure it stays that way, let’s hope we can keep it up. Take care, until the next time ta  ta for now.

Andy (the snoring doc) ..thanks for that intro Lou!  All well here as you can see. Counting the miles down to theHorn.. only 1800 or so do! Enjoy Dublin darling. Lots of love to everyone. Looking forward to being able to walk on the moors i.e. further than 67 feet! A xxx

Paul (big Bird) – Counting down to the horn, arms aching but body and feathers just about keeping together. Sleeping bag worth every penny. Trying to decide which ear to put the ear-ring in. Miss you all & Ermington. Keep well. Paul xxx.

Hi Folks, the good ship DISCO here and all is well!  Today (18 Feb) is a special day for us; it is our 2-week anniversary since we set sail - 14 days at sea and half way to the Horn!  For most of us it has gone by in a flash and we have settled really well into life at sea.  The Watch system has taken over our lives and we have to struggle to remember what day of the week it is; nevertheless, morale is really high and the banter is rife.  We spend a lot of time discussing our ‘most favourite meal’ and how deep the next bath is going to be.... and we only have another 3 weeks to go!  It does seem now that each Watch has its own persona; Taff’s Red Watch gets most of the foredeck work and they only need to appear on deck and the weather turns bad (Skipper tries to keep away from Taff’s Watch.. and usually fails); Jo’s White Watch are the ‘Bananarama’s (from all wearing the yellow one piece dry suits), seem to spend too much time laughing and are far too cheeky (says 1^st Mate Brian); Mike’s Blue Watch (the chilled-out-sea-dogs) just spend time shooting the breeze and helming one-handed.  However, all the Watches have excelled when it comes to ‘Mother’ duties - we are eating like Kings!  The fayre has ranged from Chicken Curry to Fajitas to Beef Stew and Dumplings.  The bread baking continues although today Blue Watch burnt the first batch, but this could be forgiven if they were sidetracked by White Watch who were gybing the boat whilst taking the pole down!  The fact is Jason took a shower whilst the bread was in the oven and didn’t tell anyone!  Oh Yes, we put out the pole for the first time last night so we were truly ‘goose winged’ (main sail out to Starboard, foresail poled out to Port to catch the following wind).  Other highlights of the week include an increased number of goffers, one of which emptied several gallons of briny sea into the galley – the seats took 3 days to dry out.  As we type this the sun is out, although the hailstones from this morning reached biblical proportions (or so the story telling goes), last estimate was golf-ball size and growing.  The wildlife continues to elude us apart from the quite astonishing birds that seem to pop up from time to time; has no-one told them we as far from land as you can possibly be on this planet? In fact we have been discussing this issue more and more: none of us have been this far from any land before, and therefore so far from any humanity; indeed, when the International Space Station flies over us, as it has a couple of time (as Mikey B claims), at 250 miles high the astronauts become our nearest neighbours for about 6 mins!

Shout outs:

From Jason:  All of the ‘incapabilities’ from work - Yes it was me who burned the bread! SMK has degraded to Susan Boyle; Jade Goodie and Amy Whinehouse.  Loves to Joan – tell Jarvis he only has 25 more nights sleeping on my side of the bed!

Mikey B: Love to DNC. Still keeping up with these young thrusters; although I have burnt my finger and sprained a wrist (School boy!!)   When you next speak to Mum, remind her where I am.  Love and miss you. Xxx

From Gonzo: Love to Laura Norder and the felines, the time is flying by now, were just over half way to Cape Horn now and the miles are decreasing all the time. Much love to Father Ray, ‘Lainey, Markus Parkus and Smelganie et al. XXX

From Nick: Desperately in need of a pint of gin & tonic followed by another pint of gin & tonic. Loving it and missing y’all. Xxx

From Brian: My darling Pauline, love you lots and missing all our home comforts.  Morale is high, much to do, going too fast to fish.  Oli, I think you’d like the sailing but the time at sea probably too much for you.  Sun is shining now and it feels great.  Emma, Chris and Mike, hope all with well with you and yours.  Mum, I’m still here grinning from ear-to-ear.  Much love and hugs to you all. xxxx

From Jo R:  Hello!  It is soooo sunny now, had a super time on the foredeck last few watches, pole up, down, sails up down!!  Hope all well at home, pat to meg!!  Making lamb curry for supper tonight! xxx

From Jo A: Dad, I am truly an awful daughter... ‘Happy belated Birthday from 48.58S 135.31W’! Van the Man is proving an excellent sound track to the southern ocean! Mum, you would love the albatrosses; they really are a beautiful sight. Pete, my hat is ace, thanks! Just about surviving 3 hours sleep at a time, you’d be proud! x

From Gareth (chinky): hello Katie bay! Missing you so much now! At least in Afghan we could speak! Baby I think I am turning in to your dad, defiantly want to buy more outdoor clothing! Anyway hope you are doing your work especially your dissertation! Had a real low couple of days but feeling better today! Can’t wait to get home to you! Tell my mum and Emma I miss them! Take care my sexy bum!!xxxxxxx

From Warren (wozza) Hi everybody this is a place of extremes. One minute it’s blowing a gale and peeing it down, next it’s fine and sunny. All is well on board. Crazy morning today after the cold front went through. Gusty conditions and the reefs kept going in and out on our watch, oh for roller reefing!! My watch had the job of taking the pole down and dropping the storm staysail after a night trying to get South with the wind behind. It’s a fine line between heading South and hitting a deep depression (crazy weather!!!) or moving further East towards the High pressure system. Some of the foredeck work is truly exhausting, especially when the water is all around you. Still good fun and certainly a testing place. Sleeping is in 3 hour bursts if your lucky. Anyhow hope life is good at home. Guess my roster for the end of March is out, will have forgotten how to fly by then. Hi to Devon folk, esp Dan, Steve and Max. Hi to Jody in Torquay, keep up the networking. To my sis, yep it smells in here for sure! Hope your exam went well and the small polish family that are living in my room are paying enough rent. Hi to Matt as well, mate this is truly a big boat course and great experience. Thats it ttfn, I will catch the rest on the next blog. Wx

From Taff:  Hello all missing you very much we, are half way to Cape Horn strong winds and hail stones this morning; nice and sunny now but the weather changes every 5 minutes without notice.  Hope all ok your end? Looking forward to Ibiza and the all inclusive! Love to everybody xxxxx.

Disco Blog Tues 09 Feb

And so it begins...... they don’t call it the ‘Roaring Forties’ for nothing.  The day opened with Red Watch, comprising Taff, Chinky and Gaz, getting rather wet as the first cold front moved through.  The Army were sitting off the port side at about 10-15 miles and in and out of sight. Gaz is now fighting fit and his Warrington humour is back on board. He smiled going off watch and headed to his bunk asking the skipper on the way, ‘Why on earth would you do this for a living?’  The sun came out but with that came the wind, steadily building from the south.  White Watch combined forces with Red for the first headsail change.  The larger No.1 Yankee was coming down and No.2 going up.  To add to the challenge the skipper decreed that it would be an ‘In-Line’ change.  In essence this means that both sails are hitched on together and one replaces the other, not easy as the wind went through Force 6 and the first proper ‘goffers’ came over the bow and down the foredeck. Wozza, Mike and Alex manned the pulpit area and got the first good salty soaking.  Jo, Chinky and Gaz manned the halyards while Taff scurried around the foredeck adjusting and trimming the sheets.  All in all a 30 minute exercise and the first real wake up call to reality in these parts.  The wind continued to build, No.3 reef went into the main, the foresail lowered and then raised.  The skipper donned his ‘foulies’ and went up to banter mercilessly Chinky and Gaz on the foredeck while Brian held helm.  Cries of ‘feel the love’ and ‘man up’ came from red-suited-bald-bloke on deck. In all that the wind touched 45 knots and the Glitzy Disco Ball that hung from the Radar has jumped overboard, never to be seen again. ‘Feel the fear’ he shouts with a large grin on his face!!! ‘Welcome Gentleman to the Southern Ocean, remember it’s an image sport.’ Alex the ‘sparky’ has had the toolbox open again. Fixing the minor battle damage he is officially the ‘Boat Handyman’. Meanwhile the Army boat has nudged in front and then off to the starboard side. We are now the most Northerly Boat. Gaz thinks he’s depressed after throwing the rubbish bin overboard and now wants to ‘officially retire’ from this game. Taff is the new Welsh God of Weather. Whenever he’s on watch the wind and rain comes in force, maybe we’ll pop him inside for a while. Chef Jim is back in the galley giving ‘ready steady cook lessons’, Chilli Con Carne for dinner followed by ‘Banoffee’ pie.  More ‘ban’ than ‘offee’ given the number of Bananas we have on board. Once again the galley has been rearranged by ‘Mother Watch’, still no sign of the ‘Phantom Custard’. Nick has just amused the watch by showing them the latest chart, nothing but ocean! So that’s about it for today. Morale is still high and the records keep tumbling. 12.8 knots to Brian on the Helm and 10.7 miles cracked in one hour by Red Watch. The sun dips over the horizon leaving ‘disco’ experiencing her biggest waves to date, a steady 35 knots from the SE.  Hope you’re all well back home, ‘Disco’ signing off.

Disco Blog Thurs 11 Feb

Ladies, gents, boys and girls, greetings from the good ship ‘Disco’.  Well, it’s been an eventful couple of days.  As we left you last the wind was building and we cracked on through the night covering some 70 miles or so to the SE.  Dawn broke and the first bad news of the day; Taff declared that we had run out of bread therefore we were to have toast at breakfast.  More seriously, as the morning progressed, it became evident that we were going to have to turn back to the west to go to the aid of the Army yacht ‘Challenger’.  Blue Watch consisting of Mike “Lee Marvin/Leslie Neilson/Pierce Brosnan’s dad” Beresford, Jase Morley and Ian “Gonzo” Stevenson ably answered the call and turned the boat around to head for Challenger, thus becoming “Baywatch”.  Challenger’s mast track was coming away and we had the best spares available to help them out. In layman’s terms, if the mast track parts company with the mast the main sail cannot be flown properly.  The skipper went up our mast to check the integrity of our rig; all was well although our skipper’s voice sounded like that of an eight year old for a while after due to the tightness of the bosun’s chair rig that hoisted him up the mast. The rendezvous with Challenger proved entertaining; two 50 ton yachts coming together in the Southern Ocean to exchange parts. With Brian helming Disco, Doc Nick tried to hurl our throwing line to Challenger.  It didn’t go very far.  So, we let the Army have a go!  The throwing line duly arrived from Challenger and Wozza passed the ‘tying-a-bowline-under-pressure’ test albeit one of the French variety and a section of new track and a rivet gun were passed yacht-to-yacht.  We then ‘held hands’ with the Army for 18 hours to provide moral support as we waited for the Navy yacht Adventurer to sail the 55 or so miles to our position because they were so far back in the race!  The Navy plan to head south to lower latitudes in the hope of catching more wind had spectacularly failed and this unfortunate rendezvous gave them a rare opportunity to catch up with Disco and Challenger.  When the Navy finally did arrive in the early hours of the morning they decided to park right next to us!  Engine on, full power, get out of this congested area!  Mikey B gave us all a lesson in how to ‘heave to’ properly and held us steady through the night.  Down below with no forward boat speed, it felt like being in a dishwasher. Dawn broke and the harsh reality was that the Army yacht Challenger was going to head west to Wellington for repairs.  Adventurer snuck away whilst Disco won the moral high ground and received three rousing cheers from the Army, which were echoed by Disco.  The 55 mile lead had been given up and we were off again, now a two horse race for ‘Cape Horn’.

A fine day followed; laundry was dried on the windward rail and, having caught up with the Navy, our two yachts stayed pretty much together. White Watch combined with Red for another sail ‘in-line’ racing change; 4 minutes from halyard release to the final crank on the raised sail.  Exhausting! Alex was ‘goffered’ up on the bow while the rest suffered the ‘burning guns’ feeling on the winches.  Although a marathon and not a sprint it’s difficult not to be competitive.  White Watch has resorted to reading up on sail trimming theory in effort to reign the Navy in.  Jo A, it turns out, is a demon cake baker producing banana cakes and pancakes for all.  We thought it was Shrove Tuesday; reality was we were still confused about the passing of the date line.  That evening Red Watch led by Taff took the helm.  With Taff on deck, the inevitable happens; the wind freshens and rain comes.  A damp night passed with the wind from the west, and yes, ‘west is best’ for all those sleeping on the starboard side.  Finally, a night without the boat trying to roll us out of our bunks!  The Navy continued to criss-cross our bows until they finally edged away as generally they were flying a little more sail and had decided to head south.  The bonus about being close together is that the banter flies across the VHF.  The first inter-Service quiz took place with the Navy winning by answering 9/10 of our Harry Potter questions.  We fared dismally answering only 5/10 of their questions on Formula 1.  One up to the Navy, the next quiz is on the 1984 Miners Strike and Lord of the Rings.  Once again that bald bloke in the red suit appeared on the foredeck, his booming voice rallying the troops during the sail change.  The ‘guns’ have started to burn during reefing, anything to take the Navy on at their own game.  Chinky has increased our yacht speed by at least half a knot by eating everything in sight, no marching to be done here!!  Maybe it’s just the cold turkey of giving up the tabs. Once again chef Jim is in the galley creating gastro delights, beef goulash followed by crumble for dinner.

Last night left most somewhat grumpy.  The wind freshened to 35 knots and the sea arrived on the starboard quarter rolling the boat from left to right.  Likened to being in a gimbling dishwasher’ little sleep was had.  With the wind howling through the rigging and the surf up, it was time to catch Brian doing 15 knots down the face of a wave.  Dawn arrived with us to find the skipper and Gonzo in the bilges carrying out repairs to the prop shaft brake.  Any man who doesn’t get seasick down there deserves a medal. Wozza was ‘goffered’ by a wave in the galley, salt water raining in through a partly open hatch whilst Chinky was seen having a nail buffed by the Doctor; quite what that was the cure for nobody knows.  Somehow, we had nudged in front of the Navy overnight, but only by a whisker.  With thousands of miles of open Pacific Ocean, the Navy had managed to get themselves back into our vicinity after a fruitless sojourn down south to find wind.  As they drew ever closer on a port tack they had to give way to calls of ‘Starboard’ over the radio from our bemused skipper.

Jason found his wandering socks and the skipper seems comfortable enough to sit on the toilet in full view thinking through his ‘battle plan’ to make the 3130 miles to the Cape first. Tonight’s quiz involves questions on ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and the “1984 Miners Strike”. Interesting topic set by the Navy. That’s about all from the good ship ‘Disco’; the Navy has gambled by heading south and is now out of sight.  We plan to hold our track, secretly hoping that they will find the eye of the next depression and run out of wind for a while.  Happy Valentines from us all, catch up with you in a few days.

Disco Blog  Mon 15 Feb

Good afternoon from ‘Discoverer’. As we go to print on the blog you will no doubt be getting ready to rise on another delightful February morning. Present position at 0410GMT on Tues 16 Feb has us at 48⁰ 07’40S 149⁰ 53.55W. The rain has eased off and we are making steady progress to the SE at around 9knts. ‘Navy’ are some 60nm to the South and slightly behind as they make small repairs to their luff boxes on their mainsail. Life here has a unique routine of 4 hour shifts for 48 hours followed by 24 hours as ‘mother watch’ looking after the rest of the crew. The short bursts of sleep seem to be getting easier although we have all had some strange dreams, especially Jo A who this morning reported that overnight she had battled out the Wimbledon final with a teaspoon! Morale is high on the ‘Big Brother Disco’ although the recent persistent rain eroded a few smiley faces, albeit only temporarily, even Gaz who has done 2 weeks sailing in his life, NZ to current position, and remains smiling! Some likened life to interrogation. First we sweat, then we get rolled from bulkhead to bulkhead, now everything is damp, still we still smile. Never surrender!! Wozza had a grumpy patch yesterday and started counting down the number of possible log entries to the Cape. He recovered when Skipper announced we shall be have a ‘Pilot and Hostie’ fancy dress party on Saturday. Special guest will be DJ Symes complete with his Ipod and on his 24hr sugar high following pear crumble (yes this man has had many lives!!).  Still we continue to utilise the skills of folk onboard. Bread now has to be baked daily, with chef Jim giving the lessons in the galley eagerly watched by all.  Chinky has side burns appearing and is planning to enter the South American ‘Elvis’ lookalike competition, that’s if he can find the hair wax in the ‘Chinky Admin Vortex’ that is his bunk.  Brian caught a bird today on his fishing line but successfully got the somewhat irate ‘birdy’ back in one piece, well done brain.  Instinctively Alex was standing by with the winch handle, rations are not that low Al!! Our new friend Albert Ross watched the events from his birds-eye view and was especially amused when Chinky was tasked with launching a pot of rotten red cabbage and apple chutney, removing the lid he prepared for a powerful over arm launch, and threw it all over his back, his watchmates and the deck ... just as well it was sweet smelling then!!  Talking of sweet smelling and roses the crew had a romantic Valentines Day, waking up to Valentines Day cards with the inspired poem ‘Waypoints are red, Southern Ocean is blue, Leg 8 is awesome and so are you!!!’, signed the good ship Disco, she is looking after us very well!

The winds are staying fair, so fair in fact that it is sometimes tricky to work out which way is downwind, as discovered by doc Jo when her snowball became a Boomerang!  Taff took it one step further freaking out Mikey B by covering tissue in choc icing and aiming it straight for him!!  Duck!!  That is not all that has been flying around the cockpit, in the last couple of days there have been a couple of hours of good drying weather and so the laundry begins, base layers and pants hoisted all over the place, including Jasons socks!

After his valiant efforts in stopping the engine from catching fire and spending hours in the bilges without a hint of seasickness Engineer Gonzo has transformed the washing up by making a plug for the sink! Not only does this stop the dirty water coming back up but is great for water conservation.  Amazing what a bit of wood and gaffer tape can do!

And so we continue, Jibing our way through the last of the roaring 40s towards the furious 50s, dodging the squalls, or not, chasing the wind, watching the fronts come through, trying to break top speed so far 15 kts, beef stew tonight!!  All the best to you all and will write again soon! xx

Individual Shout Outs

From Gonzo: Love to Laura X, big tin of Tuna to the cats.  Hello to all the boys and girls at CMU, RAF Marham. Hello to Mum, Dad, Mark & Liz, Mel, Phil & Jellitot, Nan, Andrew, Carol & Hannah, Julie, Dave, Rebecca & Rachel.  Hello to Fliss & Pru back in Lynn.

From Brian: Happy Valentines Pauline – love and miss you lots; promise lots of flowers and champagne on my return xxxxx.  Oli, hope you’re looking after mum and Whisper.  Emma, Chris and Mike, love you all so much.  FSC Boys and Manning, keep working hard as someone has to while I’m sailing!

From Nick: Happy Valentines and loads of Love to Adele.  Hope you have a great time at the Wags do.  Big Hi to Ralph, Jo, Harriet and Rory and send love to Mum & Dad. Having a blast out here.

From Mike: Happy Valentines to my darling Helen with loads of love and hugs. We are now in the roaring forties and the power of the ocean is upon us.  Send my love to Toby, Mum and Barrie. Hope Meg & Bruno is looking after you while I am away. Xxx 3100 to the Cape

From Jason: Happy Valentines Joan, hope your new job is going well.  Hi to all of the family.  All is going well on the good ship disco, but I could murder a wee dram!

From Mikey B: Hi Guys, hope you are having a great half-term.  Hope SH dropped off my Valentine Card babe – missing you.  Nick: no Whales yet but lots of Albatross; Chris:  Dolphins a bit shy down here, none yet.  Hope you both looking after Mum.  Love you all Dad xxxx

From James: Helen, thanks for all the presents some of those have come in rather handy, love and kisses to you.  M & C yes it is lumpy down here but I’m staying clipped on.  A big ‘piratey shout-out’ and kisses to little Emily and her keepers Lynne and Paul.  Love also to Paula and Heidi, happy valentines to you all, see you soon. J... out

From Jo A: Would like to thank Jo Doc’s friend Jo in Auckland for taking us to the gardening centre in Auckland; the knee pads are a god send! Thanks Pete for the Valentines Card, hope all is well! To mum and dad – no torpedoes or submarines as yet!! X Scotland for the grand slam!

From Gaz: Apologies for not writing anything before but now I’ve finally found my sea legs I just want to send my love to my mum, dad and brother and say hi to everyone back home and at Waddo.  Having a great time and don’t worry mum, no sign of pirates!!

From Chinky (Gareth): HAPPY VALENTINES DAY KATIE! Sorry I can’t be there. I will make it up to you when I get back “wink, wink”! I’m missing your sexy little arse so much, can’t wait to give it a good spankin! Say hello to mum and the rest of the family. Tell Emma to be good!  Take care baby, I’ll see you soon!!

From Taff: Hope your all ok?  Everything fine here on the ultimate cruise!  Book caravan for Easter at Tantallon?  Love and miss you all xxxxxx.

From Alex: Hi all.  Everything going well and as expected, feels like a long time since seeing you all. Looking forward to catching up on my return.  Happy belated Valentines Toni.

From Jo R:  Hello!  Like Jo said, knee pads are ace, thanks Joey!!  Mum, Dad and Winnie – no whales or dolphins yet but lots of birds, good luck with the exam results Winnie!!   Dad, will call in a couple of days for the code if no luck sending it, thank you for sorting it out!!  Hope all is well, pat to Meg! Lorna, Al, Emma and Adrian, hope you’re having a super time in Zambia and Uganda!!!xx

From Wozza: Hi to everybody in particular Ian, Carey, Anna and Esmy. Hope your all well. Esmy how goes the Chamonix house hunt. Hello again to mum, dad and Sis. Sis the Iphone got trashed but hopefully get you via someone. All those at VS keep up the good work and keep the right hand seat warm, I miss Honkers!! Hi Lucy hope bambino number 3 is going well. Greetings to Mattly, John and Monty in Acton town. How is the cabin crew training going? Catch up with you all in the next blog. The whole adventure is as advertised and certainly a challenge! TTFN Wx

As ever the southern ocean is meeting expectations, twice a day as the met fax spills out from Wellington and there is always another Low Pressure System for the skipper and mates to study. As I try and right this blog, there are china-graph marks on the screen of the lap top of some weather analyses!

Wednesday 11^th AGAIN!! International Date Line crossed- Day 6.

Over the last few days so much has happened, firstly we gained a day when we went across the International Date Line behind the Chatham Islands to the east of New Zealand. We crossed about 0130hrs on Thursday morning which was perfect timing to switch the clocks back and have another Wed 11^TH of February – our very own ‘Ground Hog Day’. With the average progress being slow due to lighter than expected  winds, a day in hand was welcomed. With a little water coming in through the forepeak and super structure on the starboard side of the boat there were a few repairs to do to avoid the White Watch’s cabin becoming a paddling pool. Loud banging on the upper deck, a bit of super flex and Clive, Simon and Steve, the mate, were in their element ramming bits of  wood  into annoying little uninhabited screw holes. Steve’s efforts in securing the leaking  ‘hawsepipe bung’ were most appreciated – particularly when we saw the massive goffer (wave) soak him and those who saw the skipper in the forepeak with hands covered in white cream trying to help were completely bemused!  After this there was no rest for the wicked and whilst at 20 Knots, the tools were out to play with Handy Andy Burgess, who was about to confront the broken spinnaker pole head on. For those of you who haven’t read the last blog, this broke on Tuesday, in light airs after  hoisting the 1.5 oz spinnaker. Andy and his band of merry men (and token girl Seaking Junglie Lou) from the Blue watch, cut a 3ft section off the pole and after several hours of cutting, filing and drilling, the prepared cut off  section was resized to fit inside the sleeve to offer more strength.  If we could only send you the photos and videos!! After the initial Blue watch hit, the spinnaker pole was manhandled down the corridor and up the steps (just the job for a submariner captain who, with reversed cap and steely-eyes was already imagining that he was delivering the killer torpedo to the RAF in our rival yacht Discoverer ). Then, all hands on deck to watch or take hold of it as we tried to pile drive it home into the prepared other half pole.. much to the consternation of Paul, our other submariner who was acting as anchor man at the receiving end. 10 thrusts and a shattered wooden buffer later and success! Union! A few more screws and sweat and at 1800 Handy Andy and his successful team became triumphant - the spinnaker pole,  now effectively the pole for the headsails, was taken up on deck to be secured and ready for poling out.

2 hours later at 2000hrs local, that’s 0900 UTC we received  comms from the Army crewed yacht, Challenger.  Very sadly they had developed a problem with the track that keeps the mainsail on the mast, and for them, until definitive repairs were complete, it was decided that their trip further into the Southern Ocean was over.  Both of the other boats closed from their racing positions (i.e. Adventure had to turn back).  We joined them at first light and following  our Skipper  going aloft to inspect out mast and confirming everything was OK,  we passed some spare track across to Challenger before bidding them safe passage back to Wellington in New Zealand.  Obviously sad to  see them go, we tipped our caps to Challenger’s  Fusilers and then set our sights on what is a two-horse race to the Horn!

Thursday 12^th Feb Day 7 at Sea.

Thursday offered a great day of sailing, where the remaining two boats remained close together, on a parallel course, trying their hardest to cope with the light airs and difficult conditions to gain and maintain the lead. The ‘binos’  were in full use and it wasn’t until later in the day we finally managed  to break free.

 8pm-12am shift-  as the wind began to drop off  from the West, Nikki and Skip made a tactical decision to gybe across the race track behind the stern of Disco lying a few miles off our port beam. This would enable us to try and be poised in position for the NW winds we were expecting to fill in. It wasn’t long before Disco’s Tricolour disappeared over the horizon off our starboard quarter and we were poised ready.  The wind played ball, veered by 45 degrees in 4 hours filling in from the NW we were able to capitalise on this by maintaining a better boat speed.   When comms were made with Disco shortly after midnight, it was evident that by avoiding the gybe they  ended up with the a lower position on the race track, with no wind and had been forced to motor for a few hours (Ha!).  Disco now sits to our starboard side and are having to climb to maintain course.   Adventures crew  are in particularly good spirits at seeing Disco behind and obviously the decision to gybe early and the fanatical attention to trimming has paid off and we now have more height,  better VMG (velocity made good) and have a few hours of motoring in the bank! ‘Game on  Adventurer’!

Friday 12^th, Day 8 at sea

As I type we have a steady 20 knots of NW true building and expecting to rise to 35k later as a result we are heeled  constantly at a steady 20 degrees. Blue watch are on the controls upstairs, in full “trim to win - snooze to loose” mode,  Steve Pointon’s team’s arrival constantly fiddled with outhauls and halyards which helped put more distance  between us and the our rivals in DISCO.

 Moving down through the roaring forties towards the fiercesome fifties,  we haven’t  seen another boat or ship due to us being south of the shipping lanes. That doesn’t seem to bother crew on board ADV, I guess you don’t come down this way unless you are happy with the concept of space. Being able to see Disco again also created an extra air of excitement and competitiveness. Particularly whilst we are in the lead!  Are they shaking a reef out?  Are they sending men forward to dial up the No1? Apart from the fact that we are being buzzed by albatrosses, there is no mainland for about a 1000 miles and we can see the Southern Cross overhead at night, we could almost be racing round the cans in Plymouth. This coupled with some interesting banter between skippers and mates to spice up the day, the ADV crew seem to be on fire to maintain our position on the race track. As I type John, Nick and Clive are in the wet locker with the manuals trying to sort out the new heater which was changed in NZ. With any luck now, as we are on a port tack and water won’t go up the exhaust, we may have a chance of drying out the foulies and boots for the first time. Lunch time at the mo, Red watch are doing a sterling job of cooking up some Vietnamese  noodles and with any luck Laura will make some more chocolate muffins and delicious bread to keep spirits high for the wet crew!  So there is always something to do down here but you can safely say we are living the dream.

...but what is living the dream?....

Well, for a start, after a week at sea, we are all a bit damp. The weather at the moment is not too cold for comfort but the rain comes at least once every watch as a weather front passes over us. Foulies have been tested and the rapidity of “goffers” (getting drenched by a large wave on deck) is increasing and makes sail changing, reefing etc more interesting..and wet. Everyone is getting used to living life on an incline! Cooking, washing, sleeping  and just getting around the boat is an effort and the men, despite resorting to beard growing, have discovered their feminine sides.. by having to sit on the heads (toilet) on occasions as there is a limit to the accuracy of their aiming! The fruit supply, rapidly disappearing, is a continual hazard, suspended over the dining area and prone to disgorge its contents during heavy seas, sending bruised apples and oranges onto those below eating a meal.

The watch system is up and running and the reality of being woken up every 4 hours  to go on watch is finally being realised and is only surpassed by the privilege of being “mother watch” every third day for 24 hrs. Mother watch essentially are there to deliver meals, drinks (“wets”) and to clean up the boat.. and when the need for a sail change occurs, to help the on-watch team on deck. Baking bread has been a new experience for some and the results variable, with Clive winning the trophy so far for the” anchor” that he produced – even the albatross that took it is still “grounded”!  The only bonus of mother watch is the shower – a 2 minute wonder (despite the ability to make water it is still very much at a premium and restricted) that is ecstasy for 30mins before you’re back into the watch on deck and sweating gallons into your old unwashed clothing.  Variety is the spice of life and the pusser (Simon) has done well to get all his favourite things for the trip and in true pussers style is guarding them with his life. We have a 7-day recurring menu in theory but this can be changed as the situation dictates – even more complicated when we have two Wednesdays in a week as we did this week!

Despite most being stretched, and some being put outside their comfort zone,  everyone on board is doing well and squaring up to the challenge  of staying ahead of  Discoverer. The watches are gelling and there is already a degree of good-humoured rivalry at the quality of cooking, sail trimming and speed etc. Our three resident ‘pongoes’ (Army chaps) give as much banter as they get and are now undecided as to whether they are matelot “wan’abees”, matelot “should’abeens” or matelot “gon’abees”. Clive, Mr Innuendo continues to surprise himself by not being seasick whilst adding humour to the show , Frankie enjoys the cooking and most importantly the eating of the novel menus and is one of the powerhouses on the winches, whilst  John, still looking for the Golden Rivet, spends a lot of the time in the engine space as the “engineer”.  All of us, both Navy and Army are united in our desire to take line honours at the Horn from the ‘crabs’ (RAF) and as darkness falls and Discoverer disappears over the horizon behind us, morale is high although we all know that we have a long way to go to the Cape yet and the weather will no doubt throw more at us before we do.  A midday inter-ship Quiz with Disco on the VHF on topics Harry potter and Formula 1 racing included questions such as What team did Enzo Ferrari manage? Who was the first team to field its cars painted entirely in the sponsors colours? You ll be glad to know ADV won the first round!

Saturday 13^th Feb Day 9

Day 1500 miles done so a 1/3 of way to the Horn- well done Red watch for claming the 1500 mile stake. They also got the 500 miler, whilst Blue watch got the 1000 miler. Plenty of those still up for grabs we feel!  Looking like 1^st/ 2^nd of March for rounding the Horn currently. We went through another time zone tonight, so if you are in the UK we are now  11 hours behind  you.

Sunday 14^th   Day 10 Valentines day.

White watch treated us to a fried breakfast a marvellous day of sailing was had with Disco now 60 miles North of us on 47 degrees Lat. Heart shape breads were made and spirits were high as blue skies gave rise to ‘dobe’ drying and some sailing under full main and  the ‘one yankee’ poled out. Clive managed 15.2 Knots on the Helm although the highest is still 19.2 by Dave on White watch. As I type there is some loud laughing in the galley from Red watch preparing a lovely smelling green thai curry, White watch are in their racks resting and Blue watch are togged up trying to keep warm whilst sailing on 20 knots true due East with Steve P on the Helm.

Individual shout outs.

Skip,  everyone’s doing jolly well, food the best I’ve ever had!!

Steve, Hi darling, thanks for the lovely card, hope you have a happy valentine’s day – miss you lots!  xxx

Nikki- Nice to be doing 10 knots SOG and ahead of the RAF J. Japps- the helmet cam is in full use thanks so much and Alia, look after your leg x Pen and Las- most of this blog was written to your awesome playlist xx Fi Dunn, put another flag in for me on the board, I have a feeling this will be my last. Thanks for your text, so good to hear from you, it was one of my last I received. xx Windy thanks for the gloves saving them for the fifties. Coops the inflatable Dan buoy is attached to my life jacket thanks so much catch up soon. Scully … how many valentine cards did you get then!? Xx J Kelly College, sports teams ..lets try and beat West Buckland together this term, the skipper of the RAF boat is an old boy!! I am trying hard this end to keep the Kelly name in tact!

Blue watch:

Steve- Hi Kaz, (happy Valentine’s day darling), Harry, Mum, Dad, Nan, Ant, Kelly, Harry Emily, Doris and all family and friends that are following the blog, love you and miss you loads xxx.  We are currently in the lead as you have probably just read, just staying ahead of the RAF! We have a great crew and morale is high all pulling together with the motto “Trim to win, snooze to loose!” To all on 846 NAS that are following us, we are keeping up the junglie spirit, cuffing it and living the dream!!

Lou- Hi Mam, Dad, and Innis.  Cat the weather down here is like the weather in Norway, cold and wet!!  Mam and Dad The Seasick feeling is wearing off as I am getting used to walking sideways and bouncing around off the walls! Still loving it, see you soon. Happy Valentine’s Day to you know who!! Love you all loads. xx

Andy

Happy Valentines! Miss you all. Loved card. Hope likewise ☺x. On board food good but already looking forward to a good steak in Monte! Sailing’s been great as expected and phots to follow! Hi to all at MDHU Derriford and the Whitty – Angus - the Sealkinz already put to good use!! Hope dad worked out how to get on the website. Love you all lots. xx

Hi everyone.

Paul

Happy valentine’s all, xxx. Ellie enjoy the macheebees. Found what I came for, body just keeping up but I will be walking lob-sided on return. For Sooty had the spinnaker up! Keep well, miss you all.

Red watch:

Simon

Linda, J’espere que tu as passé une bien jour de valentine sans moi. To all my darling girls: I think about you all the time and miss you more than a daily shower! Your photos are up next to my bunk (well a 6’1’’ x 2’ box that I can just fit into……) and i say goodnight to you 3 x daily whilst on 4 hour watch routine. Always trying to picture what you’re up to and hope that school, study, activities etc are all good. When we’re not busy on night watches I look at “Orion” (and the SLS star) and feel that we’re close as I know you too can see him. Southern ocean summer more like a Scottish one than Kiwi – rain, damp, cold etc.  ! Temperature dropped significantly here in last few days and we’re all wrapping up big time for the night watches. I wear the top from Mark/Ann every day but still not cold enough to wear my awesome £20 gillet!  Hope you’re not still having to do too much ice scraping. Vous, les trois me bien manquez. J’attends avec impatience le jour ou je te verrais encore, ce serra juste 30 jours ……Big kisses and hugs Hubby / Pappa XXX

Clive – Day 7 in the big brother house and Clive is going for his 2^nd shower; I now fully understand why the Navy call us pong-goes!!  For wherever the Army goes the pong goes.  To Neil and Andy in the project office, still not been sea sick (yet), I’m guessing by now the temperature here is colder than in the UK, really looking forward to the cold beers in Punta de la sel,    Pinte de le selta,  Poultow de le selnta  Montevideo, cheers for letting me go on this having fun (at the moment, but the sea will get rougher soon) see ya soon J

Big sound out to Francesca, Kyle and Willow Daddy will see you soon / Mum, Dad, Sarah, Simon, Bradley, Harry and Trinity hope you are all well / John still love you mate x / SR Mess – Andy, Glyn, Luke, Digger, Spike, Scotty, Richard, Woody, Westy, Browny, Carol, Karen, Carey, Marie and all the others will see you soon 831

Frankie - One week at sea and the waves are getting bigger and the winds stronger!! A message for Del (please pass on to him if you see this) I would like “x 2 Army V Navy” tickets please!! Big hello to Sacha, Luca and Jessica, thinking of you all the time, Sacha you remember what you said about the trip, loving or hating boats by the end, well I think I have found another expensive hobby!!! Oops!! Un saluto per l’Italia, tutto bene fatto quasi 2000 miglia ancora 2500 per il capo!! Hello to all that are following me on here. Love you bubs!J

Laura – Hi Mum, Dad, Charlotte, Tom and anyone else reading this! The seas are getting bigger now but I’m getting used to the waves so all good. Had to switch from the patches to the sea sickness pills but they are working so feeling great now!! Enjoying it and learning lots, we’re keeping trimming to get extra time the other end and being told an extra half knot is 2 days provides all the motivation we need! Tom, Happy Valentines Day, thank you for the chocolates they are brilliant. Charlotte, those socks are amazing. I cannot convey how brilliant it is to have dry warm toasty feet in bed!! Mum and Dad I’m staying clipped on at all times and decided the big dark blobs in the Southern Ocean are the worst I’ve seen yet, no swimming for me J. Love to everyone xx

White:

Dave: Hey Stinker, got more to tell you today.....after a stormy night the sun came up and we sailed all around the mysterious island, I have searched all my charts and cant find this strange place on any of them.  For most of the time it has been shrouded in mist but occasionally when a gap appears there is nothing to see but dark cliffs and jagged rocks.  Earlier I thought I heard the sound of beating drums being carried on the wind and a strange howling sound that can only have been the wind I hope.  Tomorrow morning I’m taking the little boat with Tim and John to try and find a way in through the rocks…..I’ll let you know what happens next time.  Love and miss you son, Daddy xx

GG, all ok with you?xx I’m wandering how the six nations is going and who was on the signal!!! Hope everything is cool with you, nearly time for home x Love to everyone, getting well south now, wind is good and progress is steady  xx

John  RCIRO, Hello to you all from The South Pacific.  I hope this message finds you all well.  Happy Valentines Day Sweetheart.  I am looking forward to making up for my absence to you on my return.  Start thinking of where we can go for a meal.  Have you seen much of the family?  Charlotte & Isobelle have you been to grandma and granddads lately? I hope there is plenty occurring in grandma’s pond. When I get home can you take me on any new adventures that you have been on with Ruby & Otto.  I cant wait.  I hope you are both enjoying all the parties you have been invited to.  The sailing is going well.  We are currently in the lead though there is still plenty left to do.  I will write again soon.  Love to you all.  Daddy XXX

From the Skipper

We were enjoying some excellent Southern Ocean Conditions one morning, with squalls and sunshine. After a fine Breakfast  of (you guessed it) Porridge I thought I would get my morning dose of Vitamin B. The Watch Leader suggested that we should shake a reef out. What an excellent idea, so the team when up to the mast to start preparing to lines. Arh with a quick look aloft it was soon apparent that there was a little hicup up with our plan. Firstly the sliders that hold the top of the main sail to the mast track had come off, a little strange we thought. Then with more inspection we observed that a section of the mast track had peeled away from the back of the mast. This is quite a fundamental to the everyday operation of the good ship Challenger as this piece of hard wear holds the mainsail to the mast. We took the mainsail down and re attached the sliders that had come off and then started to scratch our heads. With more inspection with the binoculars it was soon apparent that a closer inspection was required. So I donned the man alot gear and took a trip up the mast, firstly letting Disco know on the VHF in case we needed more help. After an interesting trip aloft and getting some interesting bruises, the worst was confirmed. Some of the track had definately come away an would require more attention. So we touched base with Disco and she turned back. Soon after deceided that we should have to get the mast track roughly back in place, as where it had come away from the back of the mast, it was chaffing on the main halyard. Shorly after we put the mainsail back up and hove too. Meanwhile Major Olly King donned the man aloft kit and found the black nasty and went up armed with his camera. Olly managed to give us three new go faster stripes around the mast to attached the damaged track back to the mast and stop it rubbing on the main halyard. Soon Disco appeared on the horizon and advised us that she was carrying the fleet rivet gun and some spare track. Olly had got some excellent shots of Challenger hove too and more importantly the damage to the mast track. That after noon we performed a boat to boat transfer with Disco useing heaving lines and received the spares. Sadly Disco didnt have any rivets. We had contacted Adventure and at the evening Sched she confirmed that she was bearer of the rivets. Between us we decieded that we had to meet up and transfer spares. Meanwhile much head scratching was to be had to how we would actually repair the mast whilst in the rolling swells of the southern hemisphere, bearing in mind the difficulties the rigger had had in the yard when the boat was on the side. So Disco and Challenger had a night hove too in the Southern Ocean!!! At Daybreak Adventure appeared from over the Horizon and she hove to inspect her mast as Disco had done the previous day. Adventure confirmed that their mast was OK as was Disco's. Another perfect Ship to Ship transfer with the throwing line amongst the swells ensured that Challenger essentially had all the bit and bobs to do the repairs.  With the fleet having left Auckland a little behind Shedule Challenger gave both Disco and Adventure 3 cheers for thier support and wished them fair winds and fast sailing as they continued east and we turned west.  Being Hove too we had much time to think about how realistically we could carry out the repairs at sea and concluded that we would have to seek shelter. The nearest piece of land is the Chatham Isles which were about half way between Challenger and New Zealand.  Off we set, but with inspection of the Lonely Planet and some advice from the New Zealand Royal Navy we concluded that perhaps the Chathams was a nice place for a cruise or holiday,  but not really the place to re fuel and re provision a 14 man 20m Yacht, as it has a population of 770.  So we are to continue to Wellington. What do we know about Wellington, well its known as Windy Welly as apparently there are gales there averaging one in three days over the year ,and it is also the Capital of New Zealand. We are making best speed with our 3 reefs in as this is as much mainsail as we can hoist and have had some squalls as well. But we are now proceeding at a good speed useing some of the Queens Finest Diesel. How long will we be in Wellington, long enough to refuel, reprovision and have the mast mended professionally with some of the spares that we being flown in from the UK. After this is all complete we will return to the spot where the fleet hove too and transfered spares and continue our passage against the clock, hopeing to beat Discoverer and Adventures time and hence winning the leg.

Becky 15 February 2010.

Over the last few days ...

Tuesday 9^th  was a frustrating  day but  with a wind veer,  a grand idea was announced by the skipper to  hoist the spinnaker for the first time.  After a text book hoist with the red and blue watches, as with all the best laid plans, this didn’t quite go smoothly, after 20 minutes of crew settling well with some light air trimming, what followed was a spinnaker pole break. And for those who are  a gasp, we  weren’t pushing it too much.. honest, it was only 15 true, the sleeve repair on the pole in NZ from leg 7 break clearly wasn’t built for the loads of even a light breeze on the 1.5 ounce. The spinnaker was retrieved without damage and the pole, unable to fit in the forepeak was lowered safely and stowed to the deck in essentially two pieces.  White sails were dialled up and after a nice cuppa of tea and some light reflection on the afternoons events we trucked along hoping to make up lost ground. After a hearty beef stew created by Frankie,  almost enough to feed a roman empire , Shrove Tuesday was remembered in the southern ocean and pancakes with nutella and jam were served at 10 knots with water coming over the gunnels,  well done red watch!   

Wednesday 10^th 12-4am- Blue Watch have become the trim to win snooze to loose watch. Inching out Outhauls and Halyards to make ADV max out on boat speed, another  0.5 knots is achieved. After all 0.5 knots on 5 weeks at sea equates to two days, with crew knowing this would be the difference between  two runs ashore or  a bus trip straight to the airport the trimming becomes more focused. Meanwhile back in the Nav table, the Sat C flashes a new EGC message to Nikki 2^nd mate who was happy to see the sign of more wind on the way. Averaging 7 knots or more per day may become more of a reality.

 Wednesday morning 8am,-after some great porridge courtesy of  mother red watch we are ready to start to race to the Chatham islands which despite the slow days of late, we are still hoping to tick in the box tonight. Due to change of wind, we leave these to starboard, despite the original plan to leave these to port. With the speedy blue watch back in the driving seat,  Andy Burgess reaches 14.1 boat speed  and water pours in the through the ‘happy hatch’ rear hatch into the cockpit. Clive in the Galley, was in the wrong place, although some would say the right place- courtesy of the southern ocean he no longer needs his mother watch shower. Today Laura, also on mother watch, says she will be attempting to make some bread, but we are confident her baking skills will more than up to scratch and feed the ever hungry troops.

Currently lucky white watch  are in their ‘racks’ getting some shut eye after a very successful watch between 4am and 8am this morning. They waved their magic wand and wind miraculously appeared to build beyond 20 knots apparent, finally the need to place a single reef.  8am-12pm and the Blue watch return to the controls to change down from 1 Yankee to Yankee 2 as the apparent wind continues to rise. Meanwhile Simon on mother, fights a winning wrestle in the forepeak to tidy the collection of sails then heads back to the galley to make an avocado starter for Lunch. Who says a man can’t multitask!!

Thursday 11 th, tomorrow we look forward to going over the International Date Line. A first for many aboard. Although the Date Line technically sits at 180 degrees longitude,  it dog legs over to 172 west to keep the  Chatham Islands East of the Date Line. The date line then cuts back in to 180 degrees further north of here, to ensure Samoa sits on the West side of the line.   For us this means we sailed over 180 degrees a couple of days ago, and we currently have a westerly longitude but are still yet to across the Date Line.   When we go over we will simply have two Thursdays 11^th  in the log !! An extra day will help recover  some mileage from the earlier slower days and help then numbers and means Clive and Simon will have to wait one more day for their Birthdays!!

Individual shout outs.

Skipper.. They’ve all done Jolly well!!

Mates 

Steve

Woodroffe . Happy belated Birthday to Dad and Auntie Di Di. All is good here, aboard the good ship Adventure. The watch system with the mate and skipper is working well.  Big Shout out to all family, especially this time Mummy bear, Pappy, Colin, Timmy, Maddie, Jack and Emma, Simon, Jana and Cyntie. Love you all loads and can’t wait to see you again and my new god daughter Edith and special monster Leo G xxx

Red Watch

Simon

Hi my darling Valentine. Miss you more than fresh fruit! Love to E & E, think about you all the time  – work hard and play hard, i’ll be home soon.    Hi to Cookes, hope all well with work, school, Norsk, Cello & Treelands. Southern Ocean both beautiful and awesome – fresh fish, dolphins and  albatross’s.......  £1.99 gloves performing awesomely in testing conditions!!

Laura: The bread worked!! First attempt a winner so now got to improve on that! Hello to Mum, Dad, and Charlotte miss you all, the seas are getting bigger which is daunting, but amazing to see albatross following the boat in the roaring forties.  Tom, i miss you lots and hope you’re cards keep you smiling, Love you.

Clive just wants to say “what the F$%K”, the waves are massive, the ocean is so black and dark with no reflection, to stare directly into it at 10 knots after slipping on  the fore deck, is the most scary moment of my life to date.  Loving it!! J.  To Kyle and Willow, will be home soon lots of love Daddy x x

Frankie Want  to dedicate this entry solely to my wonderful wife Sacha to wish her a not too busy (with the kids) Valentine’s Day and I will be thinking of you even more if that is possible. Love you Bubsy!!

White

Dave Hey all, getting well south now, plenty of wind and plenty of big ocean!!  Stinker – just passed King Kong Island I think I heard a dinosaur roar.  Hope everyone is good, I’m feeling a million dollars, wish I could share with you all – plenty of dits when I get back xxx Love you all, see you soonest.  Got to go now, back on watch and full foulies required to fend off the southern swell’s – Albatross a plenty keeping us safe. Hey GG xx

John  Love to RCIRO.  I hope you are all well.  The roaring 40’s are living up to their name, its Rock and Roll every day.  Rebecca I love so much and thank you again for this experience.    You all mean so much to me and you are always in my thoughts.  Marion this wildlife is fantastic.  Derek the fishing is good when we are unfortunate to go slow enough.  My love to you all.

Tim  While we’re having an awesome time in the Roaring Forties – getting more exciting by the sail change, I still spend much of my time thinking of Claire, Ed and Louis – love to you all!

Saturday 7^th February.

Even before we had cleared customs, in Auckland 2 crew members (Simon & John) had dressed each other with vegetables to demonstrate their “cabbage head” identity to the Army yacht – something to do with colour of berets apparently!

Following Disco, with Challenger behind, all three challenge boats motored through the Motiuhe Channel into the Hauriki Gulf. By mid afternoon, a high pressure gave rise to 14 knots apparent wind from the East and the race began under full main Yankee 1, and Stay Sail.

Challenger and Disco decided to free off as we stuck inshore BTW, with a 30 degree lift on the Port tack we managed to take the lead. With this and the rising current going in our favour around the Headland of Cape Colville, Adventure were well and truly happy sailors.

After a momentary dropping of the stay sail through the tack to reconnect a hank around the top of the Headland white watch were well and truly in the Groove whilst the rest if the crew enjoyed a comfortable first night in their bunks in the relatively lights airs. Before the night was out the breeze disappeared, and the engine had started. The wind dropped right off the engine had to remain on to maintain an average speed.

It’s Monday now and as I am typing, Andy Burgess is excelling himself yet again. We have Sushi rolls in front of us on the Galley Table,  comprising of Dolphin fish caught off the back rail, served with rice, ginger, wasabi. This is the second  Dolphin fish we have caught. Yesterday, Sunday, we were definitely in touch with nature, Flying Fish, a Dolphin, our first Albatross and the events of Disco catching a “shark” only 200 yards from us made entertainment while the wind was deciding when to kick in. The evening finished with some nice sun downers. The only real events we had were it was too hot to do anything. We fixed the main sail as one batten popped out and a slider came free from the sail and the electronic barometer was re calibrated.

After fighting a 2 knot current around the East Cape the breeze filled in and yet again it was white watch who was on the controls, now known as the lucky watch. At 0200hrs the Yankee, stay sail were up and we were keen to catch Disco who managed to sneak ahead under motor on the inshore track before the wind filled in. 0230 reef 1 was in and by 0300hrs Disco were on the beam and we were looking strong to overtake them whilst they took a more southerly track, we took the speedy SE cutting the mileage. At 1030hrs ADV are 5 miles ahead of Disco, 10 miles ahead of Challenger and a second plate of Sushi is being served. Adventure Out.

Individual shout outs.

Skip

Crew are all doing jolly well!!

Mates

Steve – Hi An, Vicky and Matt, Sarah, Tom and Mavy!  Having loads of fun, hope everything’s fine with you all!  Lots of love xxx

Nikki, It’s time to give!! Please don’t forget my quest to collect 1 pound for every mile raced that’s £8000 for help for Heroes. We up to about 50% online and 60% in total overall, visit  www.justgivingnikkiwoodroffe/

Or just type Just Giving and Nikki Woodroffe into google to be able to donate online! Thank you it WLL make a difference.. as will this trip has done to my life!xx

Red Watch

Simon

To my special girls Estelle and Elizabeth and my darling wife Linda – I think about you all the time. Work hard and play hard – except Linda (don’t work too hard !). You would have loved the sushi – 20min from ocean to plate. Good to be finally underway after the uncertainties in NZ. Miss you all but see you soon.  Thanks to all my friends and relatives in NZ – great to see you all.

Clive

To Francesca, Kyle and Willow.  WOW we have had some big waters, we have a fishing rod attached to the back of the boats and so far have managed to caught 2 fish.  Will see you soon lots of love Daddy x x

Mum and Dad, Sarah, Simon, Bradley, Harry, Trinity and John,  hope you are all well, the seas are treating me well so far with no sea sickness (touch wood) missing you all loads x x

To the mess – not really missing you at all!!  We have managed to have sushi 2 days in a row which is good but would prefer some Special K – soon you all soon, keep smiling

831

Frankie. Hi to all back home, all is well glad to be sailing and away from expensive Auckland!! Luca, Jessica and Sacha thinking of you all the time. Still “Living the Dream”

Laura: Hi everyone. All going well, glad to get sailing and out of Auckland to take on the ocean. Sea legs are starting to work, getting used to being healed over all the time.  Lots of love xxx

White watch

Dave    Hi All! Everything ok this end, tension is building as we leave NZ behind us, missing you all especially you stinky bum!  Be good and concentrate on your hand writing xx, see you very soon xx. GG – keep smiling, soon be home with Baldy, Hel – hope the hand in has all gone ok, Dr Sharp soon!  Tight lines everyone, keep it steady.

John     RCIRO, Hello to you all from the Southern Pacific.  We have found plenty of wind.  I have seen an Albatross, Dolphins and I have caught fish.  So far very exciting.  The Dolphins were at night which was very pretty as they churned up the bio illuminates.  I hope both Charlotte and Isobelle enjoy your friend’s birthday parties.  Love to you all.  Daddy.

Tim Finally seen the back of NZ – more sailing required! Hope all’s well at home – love to you all,

Blue Watch

Steve-  Hi Kaz, Harry and all family and friends that are following us. I am slowly getting the taste for sushi and fresh fish. We now have some wind and are getting down to some sailing, brilliant! Hope all is well back home ta ta for now xx

Paul Hi Gail Jack Ellie  & everyone, my sea legs are working at 30 degrees, on our way to the cape!

Lou Hi Mam, dad and Innis and everyone else that is reading this blog. My sea legs aren’t working too well but I’ll get there. I hope!!!

Day 2.  Our position is 37º23’644S 177º54’056E and we are making 8 knots over the ground, heading 095Mag.  Unfortunately, there is almost no wind whatsoever, so we are having a gentle, if sometimes frustrating, welcome to our leg.  The past few days have been quite frantic at times, so perhaps this calm sea and mild weather will give us all a chance to get our breath back as we ease into the watch system and set the rhythm for the next five weeks.

As part of the maintenance on the boats, it had to be established that there would be sufficient freeboard to allow an adequate safety margin, for where we are going.  To do this we had to measure the boat in various load states, and send the figures back to the UK for the powers that be to do lots of complicated calculations.

To ‘measure the boat in various load states’ involved taking every single bit of kit off   and then measuring how high corners (the freeboard) were above the water.  Then, kit was reloaded in order of priority (obliged to have, need to have, nice to have), with each bit being meticulously weighed and listed, and the freeboard measured at intervals. Of course, no matter how sensibly and logically we went about unloading and loading, the outboard motor needed moving in and out of the forepeak an inordinate number of times.

If the calculations came out our way, we would get the go-ahead for the trip as planned.  If they didn’t, there were a few alternatives, but none of them quite what any of us had wanted, so there was much tension as we waited for information to come in.  On Thursday, we received a request for one final measurement, and horrible recollections of the outboard motor settled in our minds.  But this one was a bit different: in order to simulate the weight of the provisions necessary (bearing in mind that on average 15 people weigh about a ton), both the Army and the Navy had to pile onto the RAF boat, with their weights being added up, and the corners of that boat then measured. 

 It was then announced that the measurements were satisfactory, everybody could feel a wave of relief moving through our group of 41.  We were cleared to go around the Horn.

The total number for all three boats was 41 because unfortunately we lost one member of our crew to personal circumstances at home: we would all like to wish him and his family well. 

Friday was spent provisioning the boat.  This is not as straightforward an operation as one might naively expect.  First, a meal plan has to be worked out, which will allow for 14 people to receive adequate (and preferably varied) nutrition for the duration of the trip.  In designing said meal plan, Pete (the skipper’s mate and purser) had also to factor in the amount of freezer space, fridge space, and storage space in general.  And this would be no easy task, considering that 14 people eating 3 meals a day will take in 42 meals a day in total. This multiplied by 35 days gives 1470 meals  altogether another way of looking at it would be to imagine shopping for yourself (a single person) for 14 months, all at once. 

So we split down into two groups, a shopping party and a loading party.  The shopping party was faced with the logistical difficulty of buying and moving several tons of groceries, while the loading party prepared the goods buy removing extraneous packaging (as all garbage other than totally biodegradable waste like vegetable peelings will be coming to Uruguay with us) and then finding places to fit it all into.  It was a tough end to a tough week, but morale improved somewhat when taken to Hell to get pizzas for supper (having worked long past the closing time of the cookhouse at the naval base…and never fear, Hell is the name of the delightfully branded pizzeria).

At 1000 hours we received our last crew man fresh from the Airport and then it time to slip for the last time from Orams Marine Village and make our way to the Customs pontoon to get final clearance to leave New Zealand.

And then we were off.

We motor-sailed out for a while, before hoisting our No. 1 Yankee and staysail and switching the engine off.  Sadly, the wind later died off, and we have had the engine back on, and the sails down, ever since (but see below)

I have just been interrupted in my writing of this by a very enthusiastic Julian coming bounding down the stairs into the saloon, to herald the arrival of a pod of dolphins along our bow.  Though never one to get worked up about dolphins, I must admit that the experience of sitting up in the pullpit watching these creatures skitter about the boat was quite moving; and it was not just me…Julian kept saying it was the best thing he had ever seen, and Poe was happy to be able to cross one entry off his list of things to see on this trip.  Even Ollie was interested enough to postpone for a few minutes his beloved sleep, sticking his head out of the forepeak hatch to see if they were still there.  And they were: they followed us for hours.

The next few paragraphs should hopefully show what the pattern of life if like on this boat. First, I was cut off mid-sentence during the above paragraph, because the generator was switched off and the laptop battery died.  So, being on mother watch, I went to bed.

But then, we were awoken at 0218 (Day 3) to be told we were needed to assist Red watch with a sail change.  Now, being disoriented on waking at the best of times, and 0218 is most certainly not the best of times to be woken up, and hearing the engine still running, and knowing that there was no wind when going to sleep, I was confused, as I think were the rest of the watch.  It turned out that the wind had picked up considerably, and the No.1 Yankee had been raised but was a little too much canvas to show to that particular wind, so it had to come down and the No. 2 go up.

It was not an easy sail change, but Red watch stoutly spent an hour up front sorting it out, and reefing the main.  Once all of this action was over, it was time for Blue watch to get up top to take over.  Now, Riki (watch leader for Blue) took much relish in pointing out over breakfast (when I have resumed writing this, as the generator is back on) that his watch had overseen the longest distance covered by sail alone so far, at 36NM (an average of 9 knots). 

So, this blog entry was started on Sunday night, with no wind, and a motor crawl away from New Zealand.  It finishes with sails hoisted, a reef in, and the New Zealand courtesy flag stowed down below.  Things can change quickly, and it is with eagerness we wait to see what the next change will be.

From the Skipper.

A long but very worthwhile week was had a Orams, preparing the fleet for the longest Leg of this Exercise.  The support provided by IPT has been fantastic and the boats are in great shape for the rigours of this leg. Thank you. All the teams worked so hard moving about 4.5 tonnes of kit off and back on the boats again.  I would like to thank Roger Saynor of the Royal New Zealand Navy for arranging all the accommodation and meals at the Devonport Naval Base, making some of the simple things in life even more worthwhile! The welcome that we have had in Auckland has been fantastic and think that we were all sorry to leave.  However all the boats has a splendid sail through the Haraki Gulf and past Great Barrier Island before having to motor and hence settle into this mammoth leg.

Disco Blog First Few Days

So, with all the prep done, it was time for the off.  We were finally given the all clear to sail so the 3 yachts cleared customs on Saturday lunchtime and motor-sailed out of Auckland through the outlying islands and were ready for the Southern Ocean and our epic adventure!  We had a reasonable sailing start but were soon all becalmed.  The Royal Navy yacht Adventure immediately started their engine and motored upwind, leaving Disco and Challenger furiously working on sail trimming!  As night came the winds died, the engine was on and we gradually left the islands behind and headed into the deep blue!

The first day was a lovely calm sunny day where everyone had a chance to get their sea-legs, and the biggest danger was sunburn and an excess of morale as with the tunes blasting, shirts off, we all decided this would be an ace trip!  Mother Watch (Blue) made this all the better as we dined like Lords of the Ocean on Fajitas!  The freezer of meat may, however, be completely obsolete as Day 2 heralded Fish 1, a beautiful blue and yellow dolphin fish, chunky enough for a round of sushi 5 mins after catching. Yes!, we do have Wasabi on board, then marinated in soy and ginger it was a glorious starter as White watch rustled up eve meal number 2, under the strict prof chef eye of James who is tutoring each watch!  Alex is now known as the fish killer as he had no hesitation in grabbing a winch handle and giving the poor thing a headache!  The wind picked up soon after and unfortunately stomachs churned rather; on top of this, brand new to the sea Gaz reported he had had the worst night of his life as Red watch were pummelled on the foredeck doing a sail change!  But at least the buddy-buddy system is working as Chinky was ready with the brush and bucket as Gaz lost his spag bol, which made good ground bait for the fish!

At least Gaz aimed, unlike the salty sea dog Doc Nick the second mate, who was taken unawares and exploded apricot compote into wind and onto Chinky, who is having a bad enough time already as a new sailor and also going cold turkey from 30/day to a non smoker.  The result being he is eating his rations and those of all around him, not surprising really as the only pongo on an RAF boat, so tasty food is a revelation to him!  Another casualty was Henry the flying fish, an unlucky chap who in the middle of the massive south Pacific took his last flight as he collided with 50 tonnes of steel, and came off worst.  Red watch do seem to have the bad weather but are in safe hands with Jo A keeping a very steady helm, and loving it!

In true RAF fashion Disco is well victualled and we’re considering leaving a floating food bundle tied to a fender for the Army, Yes, the Army and Navy are behind us, hurrah!  The Army initially took a northern track whereas the Navy bolted south hoping for stronger winds, but were becalmed so lost their lead.  With lots of VHF contact the banter is rife, with so many ‘frequent fliers’ on Disco the forecasting is going well and we’re finding the winds and heading southeast on the Rhumb line.  White ‘Coffee’ watch are getting competitive, not only James and Wozza having a plunger-coffee-maker rivalry, but also the speeds each can get on helm, we’re averaging 9kts/hr but have hit 10.4 (Wozza), and we’re just about to sit down and watch a sail trim video, watch out other yachts!  But soon we’ll release our own video as Mike ‘Spielberg’ Beresford is filming everything, except his own magenta nose and cheeks, yes, he has caught the sun!

On the subject of coffee, the Skipper has a pink mug ...  and a wretched coffee maker, which we’re learning to love!  And refers to the blue man-over-board fender as Helen, his wife!

Night 1, Wozza found that is appeared to be raining indoors as the dorades had been turned around to cool the boat but now were funnelling water down his bunk!  Gonzo keeps us all in a state of terror as wavelets become sea state phenomenal, ‘Close the hatch, close the hatch, goffers everywhere’, so Mother Watch sweat it out down below, and on deck it’s glorious!  A ‘goffer’ is a wall of water coming down the deck, funny if it’s a group goffer, funnier for those watching if it’s an individual goffer!  Like the one that got Nick on the foredeck and inflated his life jacket!

Day 2, shark watch!!!  Brian’s reel spins and as he starts to reel it in a ragged fin appears, clearly this is a fish who has been in some fights, thankfully he drops off the line leaving the lure, not sure any of us fancied landing a shark but Doc Jo was there ready with a small mallet to bash it on the nose – fearless!  Later that day the reel span again and hunter gatherer Brian landed a 30lb tuna – it was that big really – massive, sushi again then the most enormous tuna steaks x30, spare cubed in the freezer for fish pie, and tuna sandwiches the next day, yum! Wozza was devastated, fish-wise he is down 2-0 and later drops Brian’s lure overboard; unintentional he claims, hmmmmm! Chinky was the star of the tuna eating competition that followed. No one could manage to eat their dinner save Chinky who managed not only his own but also Gazza’s . Needless to say he made three trips to the heads today

WO Taff is in charge of discipline, cleanliness and dress standards, needless to say there is now a beard growing competition, Jo and Jo excluded, a bit of a fog down below and Jason the ‘Stinking Bishop’ has been ordered to sit downwind of everyone and air his inner soles daily, but is now making vast quantities of compote as all our soft fruit is rapidly rotting!  The heads routine is simple, flush nothing that has not been through the body, so the snowballs have begun, not a fight, downwind!  Taff’s one-liners, Welsh lessons and menu board keep us all giggling, “we’ve run out of bread so you’ll have to eat toast!”

So here we are, just into the Roaring Forties, dolphins on the bow and an albatross on the stern!  We’re waiting with anticipation for the first depression; we have crossed the Date Line and weren’t really sure what to do, so we’ve just done 2 Sundays, any ideas please let us know!  Morale is high, the wind is good and the swell is building, all is well on the good ship Disco!!

Individual Shout Outs:

From Brian: Congratulations Chris and Heather on the engagement – no pressure Mike and Yaz – Emma, keep looking.  All’s well, the fishing is exciting and despite the loss of my best lure I expect to land something bigger soon, weather fantastic, sailing superb, spirits are high.  Lots of love to you Pauline and Oli, thank you for your patience. xxxx

From Taff:  Missing you all very much Sam keep up with the paper round.  Iwan concentrate on the football, plenty of sliding tackles for Dad.  Amie, keep studying and enjoy the quayside!  Alison love you xx. 

From Gareth (chinky); hello sexy bum, missing you so very much! Was a bit sea sick like you predicted but not too bad now! Say hello to mum and the rest of the family. Tell Emma I saw dolphins! Take baby bum from your very own Asian sensation! xxxxx

From Gonzo: much love to Laura, miss you sweet pea. X. Big shout out to Ali, Rory, Ben & Bess. Hello to all the Stevenson/Garvey clan, Mel, we`ve had an Albatross follow the boat, awesome to see!

From Warren: Hi to mum and dad. Dad I told them that you said a 10000 t ship wasn’t big enough for the passage ahead!! I’m also realising that the ‘one hand for you and one for the boat’ lesson you taught me aged 6 will shortly be in effect. Hello Sis back in Chiswick, good luck with your exam. Smelly? there is a fog cloud developing here!! Please say hi to Ma and Carl next door, tell Ma everybody says I look tired as well, although 4/4 shifts is worse than long haul!! Hello to all at 32Sqn, hope you have some jets to fly and the program is busy. Big shout out to all at Virgin Atlantic, miss the down route beers, fly safe in the ‘red and white funbus’. Catch you all with the next blog when we’ve had our first good rinsing with the Southern Ocean.

From Jason:  A big shout out to Joan and the Llan gang – happy anniversary Julie and Alan.  Missing you all – back to the galley to help Blue Watch cook the evening meal, the competition is fierce!  P.S my feet are not that bad...........

From Nick: Much love as always to Adele and missing Punchy. Thanks to Owen and the Chairman and everyone else for the gifts. I look forward to opening them later. They’ll keep me going over the coming weeks. And to Houghton...stay away from my wife!!

From Alex: Hello and love to the family. Miss my rabbit, hugs and squeezes to all J  Having a great time, just too much thinking time can be bad for the wallet on return... Hope the wedding plans are progressing Harry. Hi to all the PH’ers, I know you are always concerned for my welfare but as always I’m doing ok!

From Jo A: Hello and love to Pete, Mum, Dad, Jeff and Nicola and all at the ARCC! Enjoying some awesome helming! More to follow... xxx

From Jo R:  Mum Dad and Winnie – having a super sail, yes, clipped on!!  Galaxy going down well! Happy Birthday Winnie, hope you have a great day!! Joey, so super to see you in Auckland, best fish and chips beach picnic ever, thank you!  Kiran, hope all well with the champagne!!xx

From Mike: Hi darling as you see the crew a gelling well and the banter is all positive. Please say hi to Toby and my mum for me. It seems like only yesterday i was in the southern ocean. All going well down here with steady winds and seas, long my that remain. I miss talking to you, hope your cold has fizzled out and you are bouncing again. All my love and huge hugs Xxxx

The crew of were meeted and greeted by Lt Cdr Roger Saynor (MBE) from the RNZN at Auckland airport. All three crews were transported to the Devonport Navy Barracks and given a brief by OIC JSASTC Nick Trundle in typical southern Hemisphere style, by the swimming pool and in the sunshine. The crews then had chance to meet their individual skipper and see what the programme over the following few days entailed.

A day of rest for the incoming crew of  Leg 8 was followed by the old skippers and mates departing to rejoin the refit team in Orams yard to cut the new battens for all three mains and refit the luff boxes so in short, an afternoon of playing with anti corrosive ‘yellow stuff’, hacksaws and different size allen keys, whilst the jet lagged and climate shocked crew caught up on some rest. 

On Saturday morning, the Afterguard for each yacht which included  outgoing Skippers, Mates and the 3 watch leaders departed after breakfast from the barracks in the famous ‘love buses’ hired especially for our troops to go from base to boat each day. This is about a 15k drive, past Bayswater were Sir Peter Blake grew up and first learnt to sail and over the harbour bridge and into the edge of town, to Orams yard where the boats were situated for their refit. The remainder of the crew rejoined the boats in the afternoon for a session of familarisation to the boat, including sorting out the watch teams and berths, foulies, lifejackets and a tour of the upper and lower deck.  The main sail and the trysail were checked and hoisted successfully as sections of their respective tracks had been replaced during the refit.

On Sunday, compass swings were performed in the bay for all three boats and there was an element of excitement when the reigns were released and crew on Adventure was tasked with hoisting the mainsail, and performing some reefing drills along the way. The Yankee 2 was also hoisted and then re-packed.  Adventure crews listened carefully to their watch leaders as they were tasked with taking the lead for the drills. Back alongside, well done Nick for parking stern to between the most two expensive boats in the marina, if not Auckland, Aquila and Drum beat, one if which kindly created a large wind shadow to aid the manoeuvre. Once along side the headsail was re-hoisted for the benefit of our stray crew Clive Cooper,  who says he was abandoned, but truth be known he was shopping and got carried away doing something for someone else…no names… ah bless…. Discoverer doing sail drills along side, were the lucky winners of Clive’s company for the afternoon, but then the tables were turned as when Clive returned to Adventure and Nick Carter’s secret  winning Sydney Hobart sail manoeuvres were out of the bag for all of Adventure to enjoy…good tactics Clive. J A delightful crew meal at the waterfront, in Viaduct Harbour including spectacular fireworks, followed.

On Monday the crew were given the day off to enjoy some Auckland festivities. The National Maritime museum, the Seafood festival and Florence and the machine were all enjoyed by the crew.

On Tuesday, the crew were tasked with removing every item from the boat in order for measurements to be taken for some weight calculations, concerning load lines. Items were removed ,placed on the nearby pontoons, statistics taken, coded items were weighed and stowed and more stats taken,  all remaining kit was weighed and  stowed… you get the picture!! A particularly busy and tiring day, even the pontoons were glad it was over.

Today is Wednesday, a slightly sunnier day after a morning putting everything back in its’ place after yesterday’s chaos, followed by a session of mast climbing for essential crew photos. There is now a big sense of expectation as the final preparations for departure are being finalised.  As I type, 2 electricians and a mechanical engineer are fixing emergency lights, Clive and John are sewing the sponsor flags, Tim and Dave are starting to fix the forepeak ladder and D rings,  Laura is being creative with some netting in the galley for good stowage,  Steve is sorting his admin out, Andy is changing bulbs in torches, as every good doc does,  Frankie is chasing the gas contractor and I’m trying to do some Navigation to get us out to the start line which is 42 miles from here off the Coromandel Headland for the start on Saturday and the Skipper is counting his money ready for buying the provisions for1680 man meals on Friday!!

This will be our last shout before we head out to sea, so from all on Adventure, we send our best.

Nikki  (2^nd Mate)

Individual shout outs.

Mates

Nikki- To Suzi and Nick Jones, my dear friends, I am so so proud of you forgiving birth to Charles William Jones, born on the 8^th January. Please please wait until I get home for the christening… Lots of love to you all…  All my love to my dear family, and cool, loving supportive friends. Thank you for all the lovely emails/texts. Mum Tonga sounds great!!x

Red Watch

Simon…big hello to all back home…

Clive Daddy says hello to Kyle and Willow loads of love and kisses.

Frankie- Big shout out to all, Sacha, Luca, Jessica, all at 65 Fd Sp Sqn and all that are following me on here.  Should have left today but decided to get a bit more of Auckland!! Un saluto a mamma, papa’ e tutti in Italia. Ciao.

Laura- Hello Tom, Mum, Dad and Charlotte. The tan is coming along ;-) but Looking forward to the real adventure starting in a few days. Lots of love from the other side of the world xxxx

White watch

Dave    Hello little fella, be good and look out for your post card, love you Daddy xx

John     A big hello to RCIRO. Love to you all from Auckland.  See you all soon Love Daddy.

Tim  Hi all – we’ll soon be at sea! Lots of love.

Blue Watch

Steve- hi kaz and harry hope all is well back home, having a great time out here. Look forward to getting out to sea now and get going. Love you x x x

Paul hi all at home and the Ermington massive, missing you all. Sailing Saturday.

Lou

Andy Big Hello to all at home

After many, many months of preparation, the Army crew, are now in Auckland.   The majority of the team are are from the Second Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.  For most of the volunteers, we first heard about Exercise Transglobe when the Fusilliers were in Helmand Province in Afghanistan. News came over the Battle group that there were volunteers being sought for a for a six week sailing expedition.  Names were taken, and nothing much more was said until we returned to the UK. Soon a message came through that there would be a training/selection week in early November, so that potential crew and sailing could be acquainted with one another and decisions made accordingly.

During the Novemeber training sail, a group of us spent a week sailing around the Solent and across the Channel. Being November conditions were rather taxing (winds over 40 knots and a sea state to match), especially given that it was a first time for many of us.  A tentative crew list was drawn up, and preparations went forward.  Two additional crew members came at a later date, Sgt. Mole (and his medical expertise) and Fus. Brown, who found out later that he has been 'lent' to the RAF to fill a space on their boat.

In late January we made it to Gosport, where we had a couple of days of briefings, kit issue, and a sea survival course. This involved jumping into the Solent in January to practice moving about in lifejackets and climbing into life rafts. This exercise was viewed initially with some trepidation but which turned out to be good fun, and something of a comfort to have completed.  And then the flight to New Zealand...eleven hours to Hong Kong followed on by another eleven hour flight to Auckland.

My first impression of New Zealand from the plane was of a country of heart-rending beauty...jagged peaks of the lushest green torn apart by creeks and lagoons of water so crystalline that one could see, even from 3000m, schools of fish wending their way below the surface.  The humidity at the airport was surprising, especially after the sterile, air-conditioned climate in a pressurised aircraft cabin...of course, the irony has not gone unnoticed of a group of people fresh from one of the hottest, driest environments on Earth volunteering to go and be cold and wet for six weeks without relent.  For while many at work had expressed their jealousy of us going on this trip, and they have every right to be jealous, for it will undoubtedly be an adventure that will be remembered for the rest of our lives. Some seemed to be under the impression that it would like a six weeks' jolly around the Caribbean or a booze cruise across the Channel.  Nothing could be further from the truth: realistically, and I think it is only gradually coming to be fully realised, this is going to be a marathon, a six week test of stamina, determination and even interpersonal skills.  But this is precisely why the Armed Forces engage in these exercises.

On arrival in Auckland we were informed that the boats were on hard standing for 'MOTs', probably at an appropriate time given that this is the longest leg, and perhaps the one with the most potential for things to go wrong.  Of course, there was work to be done, and so when we got to the boat on Saturday there were still people working on Challenger.  Sunday was our first day on the water, and in typical fashion for the British Army it rained, even though the previous two days had been hot and sunny.  We took a master mariner out to swing our new compass, and then sailed about practising tacking drills and so forth.

 Maintenance Week 1.. 

Carl to Oram’s yard… Sorry where did you say the gap was for the hoist?’

And afterwards… phew!!

Sunday 10^th    January

The crews of Discoverer, Adventure and Challenger from Leg 7 were kindly escorted to Auckland airport after a couple of days of RNR, where crew meal send offs and typical NZ activities, such a sky diving and visiting the Auckland Tower for civilised evening cocktails were encountered. We must initially thank the very kind hospitality of Lt Commander R Saynor of the New Zealand Navy who, at their HQ Auckland barracks in Devonport, fed, watered and accommodated the crew with a chance to sit by the pool in the glorious NZ sunshine for 2 nights before departing back to the snowy UK.

 Incoming Challenger Skipper Mike Symes, and out going Skippers and Mates Paul, Vaughan, Neil, Nikki and Carl cracked on with compiling the defect lists in Orams yard, where the boats were taking a well earned rest.  The maintenance crews would be working along side Chris Brown, Naval overseer, who would be co-ordinating the contractors the IRAMS yard.    A plan of attack was agreed and set to making the boats ready for the next leg. Arguably the hardest leg of Exercise Translgobe, departing in two weeks, Auckland to Montevideo. With already 7 legs complete and many miles under the belt since last maintenance there was a lot to do. Many thanks must go to the IPT  crew of Martin Hawkins, BASS Team Leader,   Gary Trowbridge refit and repair manager and Jack Anderson Deck officer for their amazing financial support.

Monday 11^TH January

Initially the main battens were measured and spare battens restowed. The split ones, which seemed to be unanimously the top 2 , would be replaced before departing for the long leg of the Southern Ocean. Subsequently the famous square blue spares boxes were brought, one by one up into the pit of each boat into the glaring sun and parts from impellers to gas isolator valves were found and not found.

The idea was parts would be counted against the inventory so the skippers could compile a list of ‘what they had’ against what they should have per the inventory, to enable spares to be shared around sensibly. This would ensure all boats had working spares, before any gaps were filled by flying spares out from the UK. Of course all ensured they had a Uruguay flag! Generator checks were initiated by the contractors and Tim started on the assessing on the rigging on all three boats.

Tuesday 12^th January.

A busy day at the yard in the sunny land of Auckland began with an early start  to enable all three Challenge yachts to be lifted by a hoist which looked severly underload. The tyres were fit to burst but we were reassured the crane was able to lift 60 tons. Adventure was first up, and by 11am all three boats were lifted and crew aboard back into the blue box mode. The heat was tiring and the awnings helped to break the heat and maintain the work rate. Scott and the other electricians were aboard like busy bees, discovering and sorting the various ailments including misconnecting flood lights on Adventure. Whilst the bunk head bulbs that needed 24v 5w or 10w, well lets just say the debate started. Tim was still working on the rigging and the engineers started working on the steering on Adventure which had been causing problems for a while, as those on leg 6 will remember. Lots of work in progress, long hours at the yard..

Wednesday 13^th January

Another busy day at the yard where, with all spares boxes checked, tidied and inventory taken, skippers began negotiating and trading spares. 2 fuel pumps to Disco from Adv, 10 M6 20 ALU screws from Adv to Disco, one clew strop from Disco to Adv,  2 rolls of masking tape from Challenger to Adv. This provided much amusement, with a little bit of I will give you this if you can give me this type of affair.  With Becky trying to get rid of 300 black bin liners that Challenger seemed to have collated.  But in all fairness there was a serious side,  skippers collectively tried to ensure all boats had enough of what we needed per the inventory. Tactics to avoid excess weight and create more space weren’t employed. Mean while, Chippies were aboard running through their list of chores and the boats were becoming fast hives of contract men, Tim was still on rigging, Sean was still on the diesel leak on Disco and a man was assessing a crack in Adventures boom. Then there was the steering which was still being pulled apart.

In the afternoon, Vaughan, Becky, Nikki and Chris headed off down route14 motorway over to the Sail loft at Doyles, which is in Rosebank on the NW side of town. The place was simply amazing. The main work area was big as a football pitch and clearly a motivated and professional team lived here. We arrived to see all three main sails laid out,  details were soon discussed as to essential repairs on these and subsequently the other sails. After long discussions on the damage to leech lines, luff boxes, sliders, patches, battens, logos, cringles, tell tells,  we managed a quick peak at how Doyles make their the stratus sails… no cameras allowed. Meanwhile back at the yard  spares agreed and negotiated  we being exchanged from boat to boat up and down the ladders.  This day also saw the disembarkation of poorly Pete the spinnaker pole from Adventure who was lowered from the rocky heights of the deck to the ground beneath her. This was a parting ceremony on two accounts, one for Neil and Nikki but also for the pole itself as it fell into two parts following the removal of the famous first aid unsharpiness treatment of gaffa tape and a few old rags. 

Vaughan, as ever in his crocks, went home with very blue feet. Even the shower cubicle is still blue.. no guessing what colour the antifoul is on all three boats!! 

Thursday 14^th January

The rudder would need to be off Adventure today so already on stilts, Adventure was lifted again in situ to enable the rudder to be dropped.  On Discovery, Mike and Carl lead the way in chores and clearly had too much time on their hands. When they were asked to assist Tim to replace main and trysail track. They spent at least 20 minutes cleaning their halyards that really should have had just a sheet over. Meanwhile the galley inventory raised a question…just how many egg cups do you need going through the Southern ocean? Vaughan, as ever provided a sensible and straight forward answer ‘well it depends on leeway, so you can get a straight loaf of bread made.. simply the more leeway the more egg cups needed’

Friday 15^th January

Today concluded five hard days of work on the yard and the end of week one of maintenance.  Water chemicals were put in the water tanks and workmen continued to busy themselves fixing door latches and making emergency wash boards fit. Life jackets were serviced and Vaughan appeared with emergency supplies of goodies including exciting items such buckets and brushes, and electrical tape of all sorted colours.  Logan from Doyles called by to talk about how the sails were coming on and progress with the hanks and batten materials. It was made official Adventure’s rudder - pitting and erosion had caused the bearing to bind. Challenger’s shaft is now straight and the propeller has gone away for balancing and the engine needs a slight re alignment. The Raymarine expert confirmed and mended Adventures radar, which was out by a few too many degrees  and Challengers heading issues. On a cosmetic front, under cabin bungy and netting was freshened up on Adv.

Skipper of Adventure, Nick Trundle arrives tomorrow and with a busy programme next week, to name a few jobs, sorting the famous issues of Adventures’ rudder out, compass swings on all three,  fix sections of broken main and tri track, sails back from Doyles, put the main sails back on, sourcing food for the six week leg this will keep us busy. Then we aim to splash the boats on Wednesday…watch this space!  

Yours truly,

Vaughan, Paul, Becky, Mike, Carl, Neil and Nikki.

Spinnaker Pole drama.

Straight run for the line.

Phosphorescence

Watch Leader hand over

Day 10 – As dawn breaks, under Main and 1 Yankee, Neil orders the poling out of the foresail for the run to the finish, which the electronics say should be around 2000 that evening, all things being even. No question that there was a race on, with DISCO the prize scalp. After a couple of hours it just had to be done. With the wind within the limits for the heavy spinnaker the decision to stake all on a high speed sleigh ride to the line was taken. Preparations were made and the hoist initiated. Only the second spinnaker hoist for this crew so it was challenging. And, as with all challenges, you can’t win them all. And this was one of the ones we weren’t going to win. The starboard guy (the rope used for controlling the corner of the spinnaker which is held out by the spinnaker pole) chose this moment to jump out of its self furling mechanism and leap off the winch. The wind forced the spinnaker pole slamming forward and then being stopped abruptly by the guy wrapping itself around the winch handle. The sudden stop bent the pole which quickly fractured because of its lack of bracing and ended up as a right angled pole! Thankfully the shenanigans missed the crew members working the foredeck by very good fortune. This spinnaker set was over.

Some time was spent recovering the flailing monster, immediately followed by raising the second pole and reverting back to a poled out 1 Yankee. The time for a post mortem was not now. Straight and true down the track was the instruction, with 110 miles to go. Time going cross track was wasted time, and by this stage of the race everyone understood this. Driving ADV hard, the North Island of New Zealand was sighted at a range of some 25 miles. For most of the crew this experience of first sighting land through the haze after 7 days with almost nothing to see but birds and sea will become a poignant memory.

We crossed the line at 2100, some 2 hours behind DISCO and 30 minutes ahead of CHALLENGER.  It would be a lie to say that not getting line honours didn’t evoke a small sense of disappointment. However, the overall sense of satisfaction in successfully achieving an ocean crossing under challenging conditions was immense. Quite what the final race result will be will need to be determined in due course by the race committee, taking into account all the factors: time taken, engine hours run, equipment damage. At this time we know on engine hours were the lowest of all three boats and the other boats also suffered some damage.

Skipper and mate approved one can of beer all round, secretly stashed under the floor boards for the journey. (unless that contravenes JSASTC rules, in which case he didn’t really). Blue Watch were on, but everyone savoured the moment on deck, the darkening sky and brightening stars, some chilled music and reflective conversation. We rounded the northern tip Cape Reinga, set the staysail and an overnight course of 150, aiming for a mid-morning arrival in Opua in the heart of the Bay of Islands to clearing customs and a little piece of R&R. This was another terrific sail. Dolphins playing on the quarter, sending darts of phosphorescence parallel to us, 3 sails set, breaking dawn, a sunrise exploding out of the sea, 18-20 knots of wind on the starboard bow, flat seas (sheltered from the ocean swell by the NZ land mass). Tab was in his groove for 2 hours plus – a gentle touch on the wheel, but not so gentle anyone could wrestle it from him. He’d become a seasoned pro at this game and Russ finally after the finish line reported that he’d just found the strap on his bunk used for securing yourself in during rough weather – useful knowledge for next time!

Day 11 - The Bay of Islands was the first hint of any civilisation for what seemed an age. A myriad of boats, spectacular scenery, coastal navigation, collision avoidance, waving at passing boats attracted by the sight of a big, tough yacht, dressed in evident corporate colours, and looking as if it had been places. Clearing Customs was an experience, giving us all a taste of what quarantine regulations must have been like in the early years of colonisation. With the crew banned to the upperdeck, alongside an offshore Q jetty, large quantities of food were passed up the companionway for bagging as contraband. Destined for incineration ashore, much of it was quickly consumed as being too good to waste, even if it was not good enough to pass the Bio hazard inspector’s say so. Once cleared, we slipped to an alongside berth, in company with DISCO and CHALLENGER.  The luxury of real showers and heads, a walk ashore followed. DISCO kindly arranged all a Leg 7 drinks party that evening and this was a real chance to unwind, and to mix with the crews from the other boats. Experiences were compared, stories shared, bruises bared. For some, this was the taxiing prior to coming up to full flying speed of later celebrations. As the sun set, all three crews drifted off to the local café / restaurant which, more used to serving 3 or 4 people at a time. A prior visit by first mates in the afternoon to check the proprietors new what was heading their way was a good move by Nikki.  All three crews descended; given the scale of the operation there was no shortage of people willing to offer unsolicited assistance - including our crew members from ADV both behind the bar and in the kitchen (including our very own “Tom Hanks in Castaway” impersonator, James). After all, we were all qualified Mother Watchers, and team work and speed were still to the fore.  The owners tolerated the entertainment until Russ, as the Naval crew lead singer, towards the end of a loud and extensive repertoire, decided the encore would, appropriately, be a climb up Sunshine Mountain…….

            We’re climbing up Sunshine Mountain, where the four winds blow

            We’re climbing up Sunshine Mountain, faces all a-glow

            Turn your back on all your sorrows, reach up to the sky

            We’re climbing up Sunshine Mountain, you and I.

The climb went well until the mountain became Table Top (unfortunately wrong continent and wrong kind of table). As the table made to buckle under the pressure, Russ’ sea legs demonstrated remarkably instinctive balance; disaster averted and summit achieved. The combined Naval choir more than compensated for the Army reserve and RAF, despite plenty of encouragement from the Naval crew.  This theme continued in the local nightclub, with the ADVENTURE crew turning out en masse to represent their Service and Country in the local watering hole/nightclub. James elected to stay behind to protect ADV from Army / Air Force reprisals, expected in retaliation for their sail covers having been switched and which succeeded in confusing many a returning DISCO / CHA reveller into which boat was actually theirs. James reported that there had been boarders, but that they didn’t disturb him too much!

Day 12 – The next morning there were many amongst us who struggled to separate the post crossing swagger, the sea legs wobble once back on dry land, and the morning after effect. Only the boat felt stable and familiar. The plan was for an afternoon of R&R followed by an evening departure for the 110 mile passage to the South and to Auckland, the official final destination. Neil wished Helen to have an opportunity to watch lead for the final leg and Al, showing his Weapon Engineering pedigree and thus quick to seize the prospects of another ‘all night in‘, swapped into Red watch and Mother Watch. A quick call into the old capital of Russell, also in the Bay of Islands, to buy some fresh veg and a disposable BBQ, and then a 90 minute motor to a lagoon surrounded by imposing hills, for a banyan. Home made Burgers, bangers, a variety of salads, dressings, sauces and a streaming manifest showed that culinary imagination was still running strong under Cathy’s discipline. Whilst the local Tern population had to be fended off, the crew, after an energetic game of beach football, were very well fed. A walk to the crest of the hills around the lagoon offered views of bays, islands, remote houses and more than a little talk of the prospects for buying property or NZ as a cruising ground. Who knows what the future might bring in these regards? Back on board for pudding of Lemon Three Biscuit Base, displaying in strawberry writing, The Team Works, ADVENTURE, and the Southern Cross. And then the final departure for what a bumpy beat South along the rocky coastline.

Day 13 - As the forenoon developed into another glorious day of sunshine, the wind died, necessitating the start of the Iron Spinnaker. No problems setting the engine to forward! Arrival will be sometime this evening, with Friday off to explore Auckland (or for many to go and do some white water rafting!), and then a Saturday to clean ship, before flying home on the Sunday. So there’s really not much else to be said from this end of the telescope. As Al, Chris, Lee and Neil hoisted the 1 Yankee for the final time, bare feet, bronzing bodies, no stress, the outcome, in the modern vernacular, and reflecting the entire trip, was that was Well Quick, like, init. WICKED!!!!!

Next update, face to face Monday 18, upon our return to UK, except for Nikki, to whom the best of luck as you face the South Pacific and Cape Horn. We look forward to following the next leg.

Personal messages from the Leg 7 ADVENTURE crew:

Neil, Skipper – Thankyou for a great trip especially to Nikki, my 1^st mate, who has never sailed on a Challenge boat before but picked up the gauntlet and done a great job. And of course a superb crew who gelled early and set the tone of enjoyment straight away. The banter has been great and we all sing off the same hymn sheet with typical service sense of humour. We all feel proud of our second place against Guru Vaughan the RAF’s skipper and his crew because with a 2 hour lead DISCO used her engine for 3 hours more than us. I fear our spinnaker incident, although down to a faulty winch, will penalise us in the points and the expected 1^st place overall may not happen – but there’s always hope! The gelling between the crews has been a delight to see and the leg has been superb. Weather has been hot today (sorry about that) and whilst we were on our final approach to Auckland working with shirts off and clearing sails away a NZ Navy helicopter hovered beside us and called me on the radio to say hello and ask us if we wanted to visit the air station for a flight; he was no more than 20 metres away and at deck level flying backwards – a great welcome, thankyou guys. Two weeks of maintenance for me now and then fly home at the end of the month. See you all soon. xx

Nikki, First Mate –   For those aboard leg 7 A massive Thanks to Neil  Penman for being such an amazing guy to work along side on my first firstmate experience aboard a 67FT Challenge. It’s a job good it went well as I won’t be able to forget the experience!! A MASSIVE thanks to all the Watch Leader and crew for their amazing enthusiasm and commitment to Adventure and their own crew mates, for looking out for each other and the boat and most of all putting up with me shouting go go go during every sail change!!  Exercise Transglobe has been a life changing experience for us all.

For those at home..Thanks guys for the lovely text messages from all as we reached land fall and the finish.  The NZ landfall was amazing, truly amazing, with the southern cross in full shine. I only think with time the true reality of the achievement will kick in. As ever it’s the journey and not the destination. End ex for leg 7 apart from scrubbing the decks, bandaging up the spinnaker pole and some celebrations the crew, for working so hard, using the engine the least and 2^nd line honours. I will be in Auckland fixing the boat up some time, then heading off the boat for a few days to see some friends south of here before returning for Leg 8 preps 26^TH ish.

Hope you’ve all had fun fun fun in the snow. Love hugs and smiles to all and remember with the biggest risks come the biggest achievements….. J  xxxx

RED WATCH

Helen – We’ve been in NZ for 2 nights now, the Bay of Islands is stunning and we had a great party with the other 2 crews. Yesterday’s day on the beach was very relaxing, followed by another challenging overnight sail. We’ve just arrived in Auckland for the last few nights. Home soon – looking forward to seeing everyone. Many thanks to the Joint Services Sailing Centre and Exercise Transglobe teams for a fab 2 weeks and a once in a lifetime opportunity that I’ll never forget!                                                                                                                                                                                   

James – I had forgotten quite how beautiful New Zealand is and the Bay of Islands must be one of the highlights. Combined with a very enjoyable sail with a fine bunch of people to share the trip I must now ask - any spaces available on the next leg to South America ?

Lee- A great adventure from Hobart to Auckland, but like all good things they have to come to an end. Really enjoyed the last two weeks, hopefully I will get the chance to do something similar in the near future. Thank you to all the crew for making the experience all that much better. Home time soon see you all when I get back!

Cathy –  Great trip which has lived up to expectations, with some awesome sailing in the roaring forties, some thrilling (and wet) and exhilarating nocturnal sail changes and above all, superb company!

WHITE WATCH

Clem – The sailing is over, now trying to see as much of NZ as I cram in!! Have had a great adventure and enjoyed every minute off it well almost!! Great crew, great boat, miss you all at home see you soon.

Stephan – I feel very privileged that I have been part of this epic journey across the “Roaring Forties”, and roaring they were. Time to let the body recover from hard work, it is bruised and battered by the elements and bits and pieces from the boat. I might come home with a nice scar on my leg from our little incident with the pole as well. Last night was the last watch for the “White Watch Bunch”, another busy one with hoisting the three sails, reefing the main sail and intense helming, achieving a nice 10-11 kts speed through the water at times. On our way to Auckland now, ETA 1800 tonight, so we have two days to explore the highlights of New Zealand, before we fly back to a cold and grey UK. Thanks to all on board the “Adventure of Hornet”, I had a great time and this trip is one of the highlights during my exchange in the UK!! See you around, some time, somewhere, some how!

Kris – I think every thing has been mentioned and I know the feelings on this trip are all mutual. I would just like to say an extra thank you to the RAF for their hospitality, especially Alison who although suffering from sea sickness through out the trip still made it her priority to see I was ok, a great bunch of people.

BLUE WATCH

Al – All good things must come to an end. It’s been a blast. Must start some long term planning into how to share this kind of thrill with family. It really has to be experienced! Transat to the Caribbean upon early retirement perhaps? Or NZ? Thanks to skipper, mate and all the crew of ADVENTURE, and to Blue Watch in particular. The spectrum of magical moments in the cockpit, behind the wheel, at the base of the mast, on the foredeck and underwater, has been complete. Can’t wait to see the progress on the building works and the great British weather and M, S and L. xxxxx

Russ – This has truly put the Adventure into Adventurous Training. And for those doubting Thomas’ amongst you it most certain isn’t a jolly; don’t be deceived by the reports of glorious sunshine, stunning views and legendary banter, this has been a superb learning experience and a great example of what life in the Services can offer.  And despite my lack of recent sea-time, I have even enjoyed keeping watches – the most I’ve ever done in my 22 yrs in the RN!  Looking forward to a couple of days in Auckland and one final chance to be adventurous – Zorbing and White Water rafting beckon – before a final run ashore and flight home on Sunday. Can’t wait to see my gorgeous wife Jo and the loyal lunatic that is Beamish, as well as catching up with everyone else’s news.

Gemma – This has been immense, trip of a lifetime is such an understatement. The sailing was great, the people I’ve met are fantastic and got to spend some time chilling in the bay of islands. What more can I say. We are still finalising our plans for Auckland but I’m sure it will be great too. As much as I love you all, I will be sad to leave, I can really see myself living here in the future. See you soon. Gem xxxxxxx 

Nikki Woodroffe

After we crossed the finish at the Northern tip of New Zealand we enjoyed an overnight sail to Opua in the Bay of Islands were we met up with the other boats, it was great to see everyone again and compare our adventures.  After finally clearing customs whose strict rules on entry into New Zealand had meant that we were stuffing ourselves full of any fresh produce and trying to get rid of egg shells. Gill sent seven eggs across the galley during breakfast as the boat was rolling in an attempt to help.

After finding berths for all 3 boats and enjoying a luxury shower which didn’t mean you had to hang on to the toilet at the same time it was time to relax.  We held a drinks party on board Discovery for all three services so we could buy the others a beer and share stories.  We discovered that Christian our Navy stowaway had been forced to clean the heads with his RAF t-shirt!  We know he will wear it with pride really!  It was a beautiful evening in the marina and I think everyone had a great time.

Earlier in the  afternoon Jim had persuaded the local café that they really wanted to stay open that evening and cook for 42 people. Antoinette, the owner, seized the opportunity to entertain us and I think the fact her husband was New Zealand Air Force swung it for us.  The Navy and Army joined us and it was a lovely evening together which resulted in lots of singing and frivolity.  Many thanks to Antoinette who drafted in some friends to help look after us.  Those of us with any energy left headed into town for a boogie, but tiredness got us all in the end especially Phil who was asleep at the table.  The Navy took the opportunity while we were away to change a few things on our boat some of which are still being discovered!  However, we had our revenge - I hope your boat smells less fishy by now guys!

The next day we sailed to a bay near the small colonial town of Russell where we had a chance to explore what was once planned to be New Zealand’s capital, it was idyllic.  After returning to the yacht we spent the afternoon swimming and halyard swinging, Simon seemed very keen on this activity, it was a really relaxing time after our week.   We sailed overnight to Auckland down the coastline which was a shock to the system getting back into our watches and doing lots of sail changes.

We have arrived into Auckland on a beautiful afternoon and have started the clean up operation.  We are looking forward to a days free time in Auckland after we have scrubbed the boat clean.  The boat will have 2 weeks maintenance before the next leg to Montevideo.  I think we all agree that will be a tough leg, we found our leg quite tough and the next guys have 5 weeks at sea so good luck and all the best to the next crews and remember to keep the RAF in front!!

Thank you so much to the Skipper Vaughan and the Mates Carl and Henry, you have been fantastic!  We had a lovely meal served by our Mates last night, the Tiger Prawns with curry mayonnaise were great and I’d like to say the main was lovely, but tinned stew is not really lovely – scraping the bottom of the barrel is the phrase! 

Also a huge thank you to Neil, Clive and Andy at the Trans Globe office for all your hard work.

Skippers footnote:-

This was a fantastic trip for me as skipper, all the crew worked well together and made the trip really enjoyable for all of us. I wish all of the crew a safe journey home you worked hard to get line honours and you deserved them, I look forward to seeing you out on the water in the very near future. To the other two yachts crews I would also like to thank you for your support, we were indeed 3 yachts on a tri service exercise showing how well we can work together. I hope you all come back to JSASTC soon. Vaughan

Siobhan says thank you to Mum and Dad for following the blog and see you soon! X

Gill says thanks to Fiona, Wenders and G I Jane for the texts and Neil of course! X

Steve says hello Munch, hope your not too cold! And thanks to Hedley for putting out the bins! X

Our 4th Blog.

With roughly 200 miles to sail to the finish line, which is not Auckland itself but the very north west tip of New Zealand, things are getting exciting and we expect to cross sometime on Monday evening.  The three boats are very close although not in sight of each other yet.  The wind is currently holding 25-30 knots with a low pressure pushing up from the south and a squally cold front expected during the night, Gillean (The Weather guesser) thinks we could have very gusty winds, rain and a significant wind shift.  The shift on deck are preparing for all conditions by changing to the smaller foresail and putting another reef in the mainsail.  Vaughan our Skipper (who is not competitive at all) seems to be running around the boat getting excited by the final sprint, he is muttering about a spinnaker run across the line, most of the crew are muttering under their breath about more sail changes!  It is set to be an exciting 24 hours.

Down in the Galley, Siobhan and Paul prepare another exciting meal, with fresh ingredients running short but about a 10 year supply of chilli flakes they are having a Ready, Steady, Cook competition at about a 20 degree angle. Food and drinks are an important topic of conversation on board, Granny Titters recipes required more onions than planned and the onion police have been rationing them ever since.  Puddings are getting creative and the question is nutella with creamed rice wrong?

We have heard that the Army’s heads are a little blocked not just one but both we send our sympathies but now we know why they are called the pongos!

The injuries are mounting with one of the watches dropping like flies, our poor doctor spends time trying to fix people and ends up feeling very sea sick herself.  Jim was whipped with a rope and his hand has swollen to double the size he has been renamed the claw due to his bandaging. Steve’s knee continues to hurt and his dancing career may be in jeopardy. Neil took a good whack in the face. Phil joined their shift to boost numbers and seems to have hurt his shoulder...!

Henry has had a shocking day and due to an excessively wet foresail change he is having to change his biological pants 2 weeks early, his cabin mates report that he is applying plenty of his tropical smelling body butter to keep things fresh.  The first Mate, Carl, can’t understand why his favourite socks aren’t dry after two days on the rail in a force 6.

After we cross the finish line it is another 250 miles to Auckland and we are hoping to pop into the Bay of Islands to have a look on the way south.

It has been a great trip so far and the crew are all getting on really well, the banter improves by the day and our Skipper and Mates have been fantastic.

Henry says a very happy half century to Christine and sends his love.  He will of course buy her a fantastic present in Auckland.

Siobhan says happy birthday to little Eleanor and Brian and is looking forward to regaining comms in a few days.

Paul says Karen get the bath filled ready my body needs it!

Alison sends all her love to Peter.

Vaughan sends his love to Helen, he is wearing his life jacket and staying clipped on. Hi to Mum N Dad,Stu & Celia too.

Carl says high to Ster Howard and 33 Sqn in Kenya; as well as to the rest of the Howards in Gloucester and Highworth.

Phil says lots of love to the wife and kids and he’ll speak to you in a few days, say hi to FB for him.

Jim says he is having a ball.

Gill send her love to Neil and says she will phone when she gets a signal.

Neil wants to tell Cathy, love you, miss you.

Monday 11^th Jan 2100 local time

An exciting 24 hours has passed, Red watch went on shift on Sunday night straight after dinner. After a couple of hours the wind steadily increased to 30 knots and we were reaching along at great speed the sky darkened and at around 10 pm the rain started, the weather guesser informed everyone helpfully that she had seen lightening, funnily enough they had not failed to notice, the cold front was approaching.  Carl took the helm while we had a 180 degree wind shift in the pouring rain on the front.   We went from a broad reach to heading in the wrong direction while we sat out the weather.  The Gill waterproofs were tested and seemed to stand up to the weather well.  Eventually we gybed back on course and sorted ourselves out and we were on our way again.

The rest of the night passed relatively uneventfully with us maintaining 10 knots on a reach most of the night.  As day broke we were all looking for the  Army and Navy boats but they were not insight.  Superb sailing throughout the day followed and we all eagerly anticipated the midday position update on what was likely to be our last few hours racing to the finish.  It was great news for us to hear that we were 22 miles in front of the Navy and 25 miles in front of the Army with 50 miles to go.  Spirits were lifted and the skipper was twitchy about keeping his lead!

After a brilliant afternoon where everyone was up on deck enjoying the weather and helping keep our 10 knots per hour speed we approached the finish at around 6.30pm eventually crossing at 6.39 pm with Martyn, who started as a complete novice taking the helm for line honours.  Funnily enough the skipper won the sweepstake on the crossing time with Henry missing out by one minute – was this a fix??

A beer was enjoyed by all to celebrate and the backdrop was simply stunning, New Zealand looks fantastic and I think we were all mesmerised by the site of dry land.  We do not know if we have won the race overall as lots of things have to be taken into consideration including, engine hours and breakages.

Spirits are high on the good ship Disco and we are all looking forward to seeing the Bay of Islands and Auckland, we all send our love to those at home and many are searching for phone signals already! 

ADVENTURE - TRANSGLOBE LEG 7

As the trip progresses, the crew are increasingly generating their own inter watch competitiveness. We have Cathy’s Crew, Red Watch, a typical nuclear family, Mum (Cathy), Dad (James), and two children (Helen and kid brother Lee).  The odd domestic argument quickly overcome, solid and effective delivery of helming, Mother Watch duties on the button, sound and safe. Then we have Al’s All Stars, Blue Watch. Al, the old(est) person in the boat (quickest man-overboard recovery drill of 90 seconds, Blog meister), Russ (in charge of catering services and planning), Tab (a taciturn jack of all trades), and Gemma (the boat’s masseuse, no kidding, who has kept the skipper and others relaxed since the race pressure has been building}. And finally we have the only all male watch, White, Arty’s Cowboys. Arty, “the wind’s always changing direction Gov” and, without a hint of irony, knowing they are the best looking watch. Steph, Dutch, a superglue quick-dry humour, up for everything, loads of energy, a safe and reliable pair of hands. Clem, possibly with one leg shorter than the other because he has a tendency to go off course a lot, always in the same direction. And Kris, fully recovered from his hospitalisation and abandon ship drills and, possibly because he is training to be a Navy diver, keen to try and fall overboard on every occasion, including using sail powered ejection. Their competitiveness is boundless and their spirit driven to win. They just have to be the best at everything. Fastest speed achieved (it doesn’t matter to them whether it was in the right direction), fastest sail change, fastest reef, best meals served when on mother watch, greatest distance run in a single watch (but rarely along the intended line) and fastest time to clean the heads (shower / toilet) compartments (well, boys will be boys, and time tidying up is time which could be better spent playing!!

Day 5 – Replete on their breakfast of toasted bacon sandwiches, Blue Watch take over the Forenoon watch with two reefs in the main and the Number 3 Yankee up, having first negotiated the companionway blockage of whale watchers, who proved you cannot get four people through that hatch at the same time. Conditions are magnificent – clear blue skies, 30 knot winds gusting forty, from the South West, driving us Eastward in an increasing sea state. With High Pressure forecast, this could be as good as the Southern Ocean gets, in terms of the big seas, surfing down the front of waves, everyone getting into the groove as far as getting a feel for the steering, and feeling the muscular after effects from that steering effort. This was how those of us new to this kind of sailing had hoped and imagined it to be. Cameras were seen in abundance as helmsmen and women posed behind the wheel, in front of the foaming crests and rolling walls of water. Seasickness was largely overcome. Everyone was becoming familiar with the tiring effects of the established routines.

The midday skippers’ radio schedule confirmed the fleet disposition, with ADV having by some margin the greater distance to run to the finish but, having kept to a more Southerly route, tactically well positioned to minimise the time under the effects of the high pressure (no wind), and then to pick up stronger winds developing from the West for a run up to the west of NZ to the finishing line, a line projected north from Cape Reinga, the North point of North Island. CHALLENGER reported her position as some 70 odd miles further North and a little East, smack in the High Pressure System. The Race scoring system for legs takes into account finishing position, number of hours under engine, and penalties for equipment damage, to discourage skippers from driving their boats too fast at government expense. Quiet confidence from Nikki, doubling as tactician, she was barely able to contain her excitement, claiming that Boat Speed is God, never tiring from encouraging go, go go, faster sail changes and reefs with the stop watch rolling.  The day ended with Magnificent Moon rises, of the sort you can experience only at sea with an unbroken horizon; Star Scapes, with the Milky Way cascading across the night sky, providing ample opportunities for most of us to display a general ignorance of astronomy, not that one could tell from the confident manner in which a little knowledge was shared; and sunrises, with just the on watch team there to witness the event, not another boat in sight, just sea birds, the wind and the waves, quality kit from the official sponsor (GILL) keeping everyone warm, sailing straight (in the groove), and as fast as possible.

Day 6 - As the sun rose the High Pressure came full on, the wind reduced to 15 knots and, to maintain Eastward momentum, it became necessary to start the engine. Never really what a yacht wants, what this meant was an opportunity to enjoy the sunshine, relax a bit, do some tea towel laundry via the pot on the hob. And most importantly for some, try for a sun tan. Boat speed maintained, the skippers’ midday call confirmed that excellent progress had been made. We’d caught DISCO, by distance, and CHALLENGER seemed to have spent much of the previous 24 hours under engine due to being in the High pressure. Nikki hadn’t ceased her go go go calling, and manoeuvres were becoming slicker with watches competing against each other for faster sail changes and reefing. The wind steadily picked up allowing the spinnaker to be set for several hours of sailing, pretty much on a reach (wind coming from the side), Cathy, as the first person on the helm with spinnaker aloft, and wind shifty, duly noted there was plenty of sea room should she have to bear away to reduce the risk of broaching. The crew fell about laughing, of course we had sea room!! or at least we would hope so,  we had the whole of the southern ocean, all 2000 miles behind us with not a boat seen since departure! Cathy was as ever in the groove thinking of only the spinnaker and exercising good seamanship!

Such was progress, and the fact that CHA had reported a birthday party on board, and knowing that there were no birthdays aboard this time on ADV, Nikki creatively called for a surprise birthday party for Neil the skipper for the next day, not that it was his birthday! The birthday party was an excuse for considerable merriment. The saloon was decorated, cards were made, and lunch was taken in fancy dress attire, the expression ‘in the groove’ took on a whole new meaning (Russ, up to you to explain) Two of the Cowboys wanted to be cowgirls. Neil was in heaven.  Nikki was definitely on a roll! On that subject, she had recently issued a new set of instructions for Mother Watch, which read something like:  Remember, boat speed is god, a 1% drop in hydration = a decrease in performance, fill new on watches water bottles on departing your watch and offer the night watches caffeine brew to get them in the groove quicker.(Clearly a lady who keeps her faith strong). Label Heads tea towels with heads in permanent marker, for use only around the heads (this took some deciphering). The black bags in the forepeak is for heads only rubbish (tied with greybag) the other is for kitchen waste and some more sensible advice on Reduce, reuse recycle, first mate duties and watch good leaders = a spik and span boat!

Day 7 – dominated by 10-12 knot speeds along 030 Magnetic, 052 Course over the Ground (COG). The midday skippers’ call confirmed what we had hoped. Although we had fallen slightly behind DISCO, miles had been gained on CHA. The race was on for line honours, but we had motor miles in hand should the wind fail us. By this stage, one day is merging very much into another as the watches pass. The generator is run a couple of hours morning and evening for battery charging, water making, water heating, and providing 240v for charging the plethora of modern accoutrements that everyone carries around with them, and for which the boat is well equipped. Al is thoroughly taken by the range of navigation and instrument systems aboard and can often be found with his head in the instruction manual; and a wooden spoon over the knuckles from Nikki each time he tries to push a few buttons.

Day 8 – COG 052 – wind shifted gradually round to the North West and the staysail was brought into action. A confused sea meant for some uncomfortable conditions below, and with every watch entailing a sail change, reef change, plan change. Mother Watch hard at it. As well as the daily duties of cleaning, cooking, providing regular refreshments, bagging sails, helping out the on watch Watch if required, hoovering those parts of the bilges which the bilge pumps cannot reach, grabbing a few hours sleep, compacting rubbish using kitchen scissors and empty bottles.

Day 9 – COG 052 – sunny in the morning and great boat speeds, then gradually reducing to grey and overcast, rain squalls, 30+ knots of wind leading to bigger and steeper sea, cascading spray, thumping bows. For the Watch on deck, this just adds to the adventure part of the trip: quick check that everyone was still there after the occasional monster wave washed over the deck, driving rain being but a drop in the ocean compared with the constant spray, ear-splitting cracks as the bow takes certain breaking waves square on, heeling to 45 degrees, looks of real grit and satisfaction. Below decks is more the endurance part. It always feels and sounds much worse than it really is, except that everything does become more difficult to achieve. Whether it’s preparing meals and refreshments, managing just to staying in your bunk let alone sleeping, sail packing or living generally, slips, spillages, bruises and torrents of nautical language become very much the order of the day.  With such conditions dominating from midday onwards, Blue watch clocked up two records (it can’t be said that they’re not competitive, simply more reserved in their approach than the wild, playboy, playful White bunch): the maximum distance sailed during a four hour period of 49.1 nautical miles, and the slowest ever sail change; lots of reasons – no excuses!

The midday exchange showed all the boats closely bunched for distance to go to the finish, some 30 hours hence. ADV still with the greatest distance to go, and reported weather conditions from the other boats neither confirming nor denying where any advantage might lie. Overnight the wind varied as a front moved through and a direct course became impossible for a while. Lighter winds, more sail, night time focsle dramas, tiredness beginning to show but the desire to pull out all the stops for the final push clearly evident. It’s a good thing that injuries don’t incur penalties in the race scoring system.

Day 10 – barring the unexpected, the race will finish today!

Next update, scheduled to be posted on Thursday 14 Jan.

Personal messages from the Leg 7 ADVENTURE crew:

Neil, Skipper – Great, great, great; fantastic sailing with amazing boat speed and stiff competition and this time not having to start as “tail end Charlie”. 42 hours to the finish and we’re buzzing trying to maintain maximum boat speed. Loving it!

Nikki, First Mate –  Monday 11^th. Up for the midnight till 4am on the grave yard shift watching over the White watch otherwise known as the cowboys! A shift full of action, with wind and spray taking centre stage. At 1220am the 2 Yankee was dropped as the apparent wind speed built and then rehoisted 30 mins later upon wind dropping (almost in a record time!) The sea state was building to rough, with swell on the beam and it was a free salt water all over body shower on the foredeck if you wanted one.. the boys however, Clem, Kris, and Stefan  however had no choice, particularly as the flood lights weren’t working, so bar the red lenses, it was completed in the dark. The boys had a challenge to keep her on course Stefan, aka Michael Schumacher, did particularly  well even with a second reef in.  I slept between 5am and 715am. At 730am, the usual skipper /mate hand over with Neil aka Penny Skipman for my next shift 8am-12pm. At 8am I took a quick spin on the helm with Blue Watch and then we shook a reef out to No.1 as the wind had dropped With a new downloaded weather Grib File to project what the next few days would bring for us and of course the competition Disco and Challenger, it was off the helm and back to the laptop and charts, leaving the driving to cherpy Russ. Go Adventure go. Wacked the generator on to charge batteries and so mother watch could use the 240v sockets to prepare lunch  fantastic cheese on toast,  it’s a classy affair  you know on this boat!! I fixed the freezer coolant and we then performed usual comms on HF to see how comrades on Disco and Challenger were finding the Southern Ocean, and more importantly what their position was. With us positioned as the most southerly yacht,  we made the decision to climb overnight, on a beam reach, capitalising on the strong NW winds that we had been dealt, a good plan, particularly as Disco were in an area where lighter airs were expected and with the wind was due to veer for us in the next few days, this should reduce our chances of a beat to the finish.  Unfortunately, Disco to the North, had more wind than predicted and so they crept into the lead over night, progressing well in a more  NE direction, capitalising on not having to climb as much to make the finish line. Right now we have 30 knots of breeze and a rough sea, the laptop is doing well to stick to the Nav table. It’s becoming hot and muggy on board as we head out of the Southern Ocean and North into the Tasman Sea. However, fear not for melanomas, no sunshine can be seen. The wash boards and hatches are playing a crucial part in keeping the boat dry as the breaking waves swamp the cockpit and the boys are all tooled up with foulies and hoods. There is hardly one inch of skin exposed to the wet. Lots of Albatrosses this morning. A trawler came up on the AIS 90 miles away last night, this is the only boat we have seen since we left Tasmania  7 days ago That’s one big wide open space……that reminds me of that song by the Dixie chicks.. Wide open spaces.

RED WATCH

Helen –  Hello! It’s been a very wet few days, prior to midnight last night we had some hard work with 3 sail changes in 2 hours but we were then rewarded with a fab sail for the rest of the watch. The full milky way was out and incredible night sky with lots of shooting stars. Just before we went off watch we sailed through a massive field of bright green glowing bioluminescence, possibly jellyfish (?) as they were about 50cm each and there were hundreds of them – really beautiful. Enjoying myself but looking forward to seeing Mike – just 5 weeks to go in Afghan, hang on in there! Hope you had a good holiday Mum and Dad and look forward to seeing you soon. Lots of love, Helen x                                                        

James – Excited at seeing New Zealand. Emma do you want to emigrate?

Cathy – Another good day of sailing, after being cooped up down below yesterday whilst mother and missing the wetness! New Zealand is in sight and just a few miles to the finish…….. be in contact soon. 

WHITE WATCH

Arty – Nothing to report! And he is busy cooking another fabulous meal! Mind you, all the things being said about the White Watch ….. he can cook a cracking meal!! Thanks Buddy!

Clem –. Is on his way to the crows nest, trying to spot Challenger who must  be close by now! So he is unavailable as well to write something personal. Hopefully he will be back in time to add something personal.

Stephan – Oh my God, sorry Renate but I think I just found another expensive hobby!! I need to win the lottery and buy myself one of these bad boys and go racing. What an amazing  feeling to be at the helm of a yacht this size in Severe Gale force winds with waves and swell making you go “all over the place”. With visibility dropping to 100 metres and torrential downpours, it looked like a movie scene last night, bit of a shocker when in those conditions the wind swings around 100 degrees and causes the main sail to jybe. Changing sails in the dark with spray coming over the bow and struggling to get the life line attached surely makes the adrenaline flow! Drenched to the bone but loving every minute of it. Last nights storm left a baby giant squid on the deck, and also a flying fish was detected on the starboard side of the boat this morning. This morning’s kip was interrupted by Helen calling for “All hands on deck”. The pole on the Yankee was broken and had to be replaced. Hard work again, but enjoying every minute of it.

Just spotted land!! Another 20 odd miles to go and then we will be at the finish in NZ waters. Relaxing one day in the Bay of Islands and then we will head for Auckland to check out the local scenery and get the essential souvenirs!! A man can never have too many t-shirts!! Looking forward to going home and having several showers per day instead of once in three days, and have a decent bed without snoring people around me… no offence Tab!!

I like to thank the Skipper, first  mate and crew of HMSTV Adventure for this great adventure and Gemma for showing me the signal for this exped. White watch buddies, many thanks and remember the motto!!

 Love and kisses to everybody, en ik kan niet wachten om weer lekker tegen je aan te liggen Renate!! XXX

Kris – Hi all, journey nearly over now, had a fantastic time with a great bunch of people, was part of , obviously the best watch. Just want to say thanks to all the organisers and the people who took part in my leg of Transglobe and would like to say it is well recommended to any one reading.

BLUE WATCH

Al –Dad, if anyone is closely following this blog I suspect it will be you. Hopefully it’s providing a little taste of things. Just like difficult sea passages, it’s the arrival at the destination that makes the hardship worthwhile. In this case, each day has brought some new and tremendous sailing experience, each experience being a destination in its own right. Sophie – good luck for your interview at PGS next Saturday. How do you calculate the area of a triangle? Louis – how’s the guitar practice going? Love to all xxx. Thanks to Cdre Steve for letting me come on this trip, I hope 2010 for the MWS has started well. A belated congratulations, also, for your very well deserved QBH. And to Jon Glass for getting the COLLINGWOOD leg organised, we’ll all have plenty of stories to tell.

Russ – Hi Jo (and Alan, Jean and Mum if you’re reading this).  I’ve decided to abandon the previously mentioned Bulimic (seasickness) method of weight control in favour of sleep deprivation and hard work on the upper deck having settled into a watch keeping routine.  Have now reached the North tip of North Island and will be cruising down the coast toward Bay of Islands for a couple of days so might get a chance to call. Arriving Auckland on Wed/Thu so will def speak soon.  Hope the time has been passing quickly for you and that Beamish is not becoming too much of a mummy’s boy! Love you loads. R xxx

Tab –  Hi all, have had a fantastic time. Very hard work, big seas, but every thing that I expected. New Zealand is now with in sight. Jill not long till I’m home missing you loads, have you got the weekend off when I get home? Will text when we reach harbour in about three days. See you all soon.

Gemma –  Wow, can’t believe we can see land. Feels like we only left yesterday and we are here already. Doesn’t time fly when you are having, that and when you are so tired you haven’t got a clue what day it is. A few days in the bay of islands followed by some time in Auckland should be fun and mean I may even get back into a regular sleeping pattern before I get home. This has been by far one of the best things I have done. We have had a few ups and downs in the weather which has given some pretty big waves. Today on the other hand has been much calmer and hot, have managed to get a little sun today, only on my face and arms but I’m not complaining as its January and it’s hot. Love to you all and should have reception again soon so will get in touch. Big kisses to you all. Gem xxxx

Blog 3

Discoverer set sail from Hobart on Monday 4^th Jan evening after one of the Adventure crew was given the all clear to travel despite having spent 12 hours in hospital for an infection in his leg.  He joined our crew on Discoverer so that Alison, our Doctor could continue to administer his medication with the plan to transfer him back to the Navy crew once at sea.  Once we had found room for our stowaway and welcomed him on board we were on our way.

Once out of the Derwent River the wind and waves picked up and our stomachs were put to the test.  Some people have been experiencing the pleasure of their meals more than once but everyone is beginning to get some color back in their cheeks and enthusiasm for sailing once more.  Some fantastic meals have been presented already including Thai green curry, chili, Granny Titters Special Beef Stew and spag bol. Steve, Henry and Phil have done a fantastic job of the shopping and hiding all the food on board and I don’t think chocolate supplies will ever run out!  I even won a free bar of chocolate from a wrapper today but don’t think I will get back to Tasmania to claim that.

We have been lucky with the wind, despite the threat of high pressure building over the Tasman sea a low pressure pushing in from the west has created a squeeze in the isobars and build up of wind with some great downwind sailing and plenty of surfing experience on the helm.  Simon has beaten Martyn and Steve’s speed record by reaching the highest speed of 16.4kts on the helm so far. 

On night two our adopted crew member was deemed well enough to return to the navy after donning an RAF T-shirt and stuffing his bag with RAF merchandise we negotiated with the senior service over his ransom! (1 x generator impellor) Unfortunately the first attempt to return him was aborted after a few problems including losing our boat hook and Siobhan getting into our dinghy over the side of the boat to recover it, I think it was as close as she would like to get to the (shark infested) Tasman Sea.  The following morning in even bigger seas a second successful attempt was made in.  Much respect is due to our naval colleague in his bravery to be passed between boats in big seas 200 miles out of Hobart and also to his crew in recovering him safely, I think our hearts were in our mouths during the transfer as there were a few interesting moments.

As soon as he was safely on board the race began, we put our spinnaker up straight away in an attempt to gallop away from the Navy this worked initially with some good boat speed however soon after we were unable to hold it on any angle that would take us towards New Zealand.  Unfortunately the drop was not very efficient and the Navy escaped.  Looking at the positions of the 3 yachts at lunchtime today we are all quite close with no runaway winner yet, with the winds due to drop it may be a case of the last boat to keep the wind gets the advantage.

Sailing at night with each crew doing 4 hours at a time has been a new experience for many, during the day we are sailing for 6 hours at a time, the only wildlife spotted each day has been albatrosses or albitri!  Jim is still attempting to get a good photo.

We don’t need a foghorn on board with Henry around and his enthusiasm knows no bounds, when he is not making noise he has been crash gybing the boat to make sure everyone knows he is still there.  Today we have been celebrating Mark’s 40^th birthday with BLT sandwiches, cakes and noisy balloons that Carl had planned to release on the New Years Eve flight but sensibly decided not.  Siobhan landed on her bum as she fell out her top bunk during our rescue attempt the other morning, Steve is offering to apply arnica.  Sleeping on the boat is a noisy affair and is like being in the tumble dryer.

So the race continues and we’re all looking forward to a few good hard days of sailing.

Shout Outs:

Mark would like to thank his daughter for her lovely birthday gift and say hello to Archie.

Steve says Hedley can you remember to put the bins out.

Jim says love to Hazel.

Neil says hello to Cathy.

Siobhan says love to friends, family and the Boy.

Carl sends his love to Owain and Emily in Parsons, Kent.

Henry says hello to his family and he hopes the kids have gone back to school happily.

Gill says she can’t forecast the weather out here but she is doing her best, hello to Mum, Neil and friends reading this.

Love to Alison’s husband Peter.

Phil wants to make sure the kids are all working hard at school(!)

Warning to the girls in Auckland… Simon is on his way!

Helen, I am afraid the food is good on the yacht, so it looks like the post Christmas weight loss program is on hold for another year!! Enjoying the sailing but still missing you loads. All my love V xxx

Skippers footnote.

All the team are working together well and have settled in to the routine, the last 24hrs has been good sailing weather and although we hoisted the spinnaker at the start (mind games with the Navy) as soon as they were out of sight we slowed down to get used to the yacht. Most of the team have now settled in and all are looking forward to a good sail to Auckland. We have a nice 20kt wind astern of us at the moment and are finally making way in the right direction, the wind may drop soon though as the following high weather system arrives (clear skies and very little wind)......... good for getting our washing dried but not so great if you are trying to sail a 42 ton yacht. A great atmosphere on the yacht and most have now had their first shower so happy smiling faces is the order of the day. Thank you for checking in on our progress. Vaughan.

Exercise Transglobe Leg 7 Hobart to Auckland

Newsflash 1 from the Tasman Territorials aka ‘The Red Devils’ on the good yacht CHALLENGER

Leg 7 of Exercise Transglobe is from Hobart to Auckland via the Bay of Islands which is a distance of approximately 1500 nautical miles. The crew of the Army yacht CHALLENGER for leg 7 is the only all volunteer crew out of the 39 crews participating in the Exercise.  We are very grateful to Captain Terry Hackett for the extraordinary work that he has done to organise and fund the Leg, largely found from 71 (Yeomanry) Signals regiment.  The crew members are as follows:

Skipper : Paul Molyneaux

First Mate : Andy Whitmore

Red Watch:

Kev Harding

Tracy Isaac

Gary Taylor

Adam Twose

White Watch:

Roy Carpenter

Nicky Hemsworth

Graham French

BazTowers

Blue Watch:

Derek Fairclough

Clare Sharp

Teresa Mallia

Jason  Bontoft                         

Red watch crew Blog

Watch members – Kevin Harding, Gary Taylor, Adam Twose & Tracy Isaac

Thursday 31^st December 2009 to Saturday 2^nd January 2010

We assembled at Gosport for the safety brief, an update on the exercise so far and to be issued with kit at 0930 hours on New Year’s Eve. The Gill sponsors kindly supplied all of the necessary kit for all three crews, and the project team supplied us with loads of extra spares that the boat needed to put in our luggage: the horseshoe life buoy and engine pump were hard to fit in!

We left Gosport for Heathrow at 1700 hours, taking off at 2200 hours. What should have been the highlight of the flight, New Years Eve, turned out to be belated message over the Qantas tannoy which was somewhat disappointing. We landed at Hobart at 1000 on the 2^nd January 2010, all very tired. After half an hour’s rest the shopping party, led by our very own Dale Winton, Adam Twose (Chopper), did a supermarket sweep in the half hour before the cash & carry closed. The rest of the crew spent their time carrying out minor repairs to the boat after the Sydney to Hobart race. Once all the food was packed away and the repairs complete the crew went for a well deserved shower. The Taste of Tasmania Festival was the entertainment for the evening. The crew sampled the local bush tucker and amber nectar and marvelled at the locals enjoying the biggest festival of the year. Moo Brew and Wallaby burgers were a big hit! The Mate, Andy Whitmore, thought he was having a close encounter after seeing luminous algae in the pipes of the heads during his midnight visit.

White watch Blog

Watch Members – Roy Carpenter, Nicky Hemsworth, BazTowers & Graham French

Sunday 3^rd January

It was an early start for all in order to allow us to re-fuel Challenger, breakfast was served at 06:15 and we motored for approx 50 yards to re-fuel all 3 boats in convoy. Since it takes quite a while to fuel three 67ft yachts (approx 5 hours) we were able to go shopping again and carry out some final pre-sail admin, including a full tour of Challenger from Andy Whitmore (mate of the yacht).

After lunch it was time to head into the bay and do some sail training evolutions. Each watch did a couple of tacks and gybes to get back into the swing of things.  We also practised man over board under sail and in the process should have carried out a hat over board drill after Gary’s went flying. The Skipper was delighted that the Mate achieved an MOB under sail in case he was that man!

Upon return to harbour we had to relocate from our original spot as the owner had returned.  The new plan was to do some ‘‘Mediterranean Mooring’’ which involves having the bow on a buoy and the yacht perpendicular to the pontoon.  The trickiest bit was to get 2 members of the crew shore side to catch the warps.  The initial idea was to return to the fuelling location and simply step off onto some tyres; unfortunately the tide was a lot lower than the time we left so it would have been more a leap of faith to grab the bottom of the tyre and haul ourselves up testing our upper body strength!  Our next plan was for the 2 lucky victims (Nicky and Jason) to get off at a ladder and make their way round the other side of the harbour.  This would have involved a little bit of ducking and diving and either climbing 2 sets of fences or ducking under the fence whist negotiating the tyres under the watchful eye of the harbour’s CCTV cameras.  In the end our chosen method was to drop them off at the final pontoon, which was relatively pain free.  There was then a challenge for the rest of the crew to pick up the buoy whilst Nicky and Jason fought against 50 tonnes of steel (and won)!  Concurrently the RAF had appeared alongside us who had a slightly different method and had Nicky and Jason not been there to help would have struggled!

A nice supper of chicken curry was prepared by Chopper and the rest of the RED WATCH.  After which our 2 novices on board, Gary and Graham, were fortunate enough to row Adventure’s dinghy, as part of their competent crew training, which they both thoroughly enjoyed. When the opportunity arose for Graham to row a passenger safely back to shore, the spectators quickly dispersed so Gary was the chosen one.

The rest of the evening involved personal admin for all and the terrible trio (Baz, Gary and Derek) disappeared to the local bars until the early hours for the second night in a row!

Blue Watch Blog

Watch members – Derek Fairclough, Clare Sharp, Teresa Mallia and Jay Bontoft

Monday 4^th January

Reveille was at 7 am so that we could have a quick breakfast and then prep the boat for the off at 10 am. Sadly this was not to be since it transpired that one of the navy crew was in hospital after a suspected insect bite left him with a balloon-like foot. The Skipper was champing at the bit to be out on the briny blue and caused much hilarity during a crew briefing when he demonstrated his compassionate side by declaring that if the decision was up to him alone, the Army would set sail immediately! After much deliberation over what to do, (during which time we took the opportunity to have crew photos taken) the RAF doc broke the chap out of jail and took him into her care on Discoverer. So, finally at 1830 we were able to slip from Hobart and set sail. It was a beautiful evening with twenty knots of wind so we took the opportunity to do what we came here to do: we hoisted the sails and blew away some of the cobwebs. The other two boats decided to motor-sail which meant that they rapidly disappeared into the distance. Unfortunately it had been agreed that the three boats would stick together for the first two days in order for the navy crew member to recover and be monitored by the doctor before being transferred (mid ocean!) back to Adventure. So, we trimmed our sails accordingly and by first light the following morning all they could see was the red rear of Challenger!

So far we have seen quite a number of dolphins (or possibly porpoises, we’re not zoologists!) as well as an albatross or two. We have also seen a rainbow encircling the sun which had us all amazed. We have already been forced to question the musical taste of one crew member after listening to their ipod…honestly, who has Dolly Parton on a 90s playlist?! The crew have also learnt a new word whilst checking the diesel level in the day tank: meniscus. Kev thought this was a new word for diesel and most of the others still can’t pronounce it!

Shout outs

For AHE – we’re off! Paul

G’day to Emma and Rachel - haven’t died yet!

Martin, Clare – You would like all the sun

Mum and Dad – Hope you are well, great seafood down here.

See you all in Feb, Jason.

Mandy and Jessica, missing you loads, look after each other, see you in 14 sleeps time. Love you both, Graham.

In pink and strapped on! Andy

It beats the basement any day. Missing the Hunni monster. T

Jane, Emma and Nick – Miss you all loads. Take care and will see you all soon. Lots of love Kev. p.s. Having a great time in the sun!

Ian, Mum and everyone – g’day from sunny Oz, this adventure training lark is a breeze! Not thrown up once yet. Missing home already. Love you loads (especially Ian). Give the girls a kiss from me. See you all soon, love from Tracy.

To all at home – yes, I am missing you. Nic love you today. Been sick so that is all done with, now can enjoy the trip. Thanks for the pressies. Love Adam

To Julie and Charlotte and everyone – g’day mate from down under. Roy

To Angie, girls and Josh – well, I am finally at sea down under. The sea is good, fair winds and lots of sun. Miss you, see you in two weeks. Love Baz xxx

To Mum, Dad and Michael – Enjoying the sunshine, there is lots of it. Hope the snow at home is not too bad and that all the animals are well. Nicky xxx p.s. Charlie, Baz says Hi!

Bri – Missing you, really wish you were here, you would love it! Apart from a brief bout of feeding the fish during the night I think I have found my sea legs – woohoo!

Ali, Dan, Mum and Dad – Having a great time, don’t worry I am always strapped on!

Anyone else who might be checking – Thanks for looking in and sorry it took us so long to get this blog up! Looking forward to telling you all about the trip when I get back.

Love Clare xxx

ADVENTURE - TRANSGLOBE LEG 7

Day 3 – In the expectation of a scheduled departure at 1000, and after a night in which a melodic ring tone of some church bells heralded the hour and every quarter hour in between, the day started well, with clear blue skies (the previous two had actually been dull, grey, squally, occasionally rainy, and not a little chilly, but we didn’t report that in Blog 1 in order not to dampen the jealousy factor from people back home). Forecast wind: a steady blow from the port quarter for a couple of days. Dinghy stowed. Excitement levels rising….. And then, in the best traditions: Change of Plan!

Kris, very unfortunately, had developed an infection (we suspected a TASMANIAN spider bite acquired whilst he was running off his jet lag up in the hills outside Hobart) requiring a period of hospitalisation, and necessitating some enforced extra alongside time for all three boats. Contingency plans were hatched between the skippers and mates, including coastal stop, boat transfer, helo transfer via hi-line courtesy of the Royal Australian Navy  All these possibilities had the Navy crew salivating. Happily, however, the medics were more concerned than the patient, and with a grit that would have had the Second Sea Lord dancing the hornpipe (if he’d been able to take the time off and attend this leg, as had been his intent), Kris dispensed with his IV, slipped the hospital, and stowed away on DISCOVERER, under the watchful eyes of  the Doc Alison.

It was time to go. With the passarelle, on realising it was heading for the sail locker for the next 10-12 days, firstly trying to jump ship and then trying to bite Helen’s fingers off (no problem’s with Helen’s reflexes!), our little Fleet was off (1800 departure), all hands on deck to set sail. Red Watch as Mother Watch (24 hours on domestic duties), Blue watch on, motor sailing to make best progress out of Hobart Bay before nightfall, and White watch …. well, at this time, just watching. Spag Bol on the menu (cooked up the previous day by Russ who, as the only officially competent Pusser, was i/c provisioning, galley hygiene (secretly I think he rather likes the different coloured chopping boards and probing hot food)) as the first meal at sea; and first class it was, too.

Sadly, however, with a loppy roll under the stern, as we altered East towards the land of the Kiwis, not everyone managed to hang supper, noting that Nelson was a habitual sufferer, and that it was no respecter of experience, several crew members were struck by the dreaded mal de mer.  Gemma, eventually succumbing having courageously kept going throughout the Middle watch, caused a neat diversion and operated the Man Overboard Alarm whilst performing a rather dignified throwing up action over the stern. Timing was perfect, even if the manner was suspect, because it acted as a wake up call for the skipper, whose turn it was to go on watch anyway (working a turn and turn about routine with Nikki). Full marks also to Lee, who saw nothing unusual the next morning in moving from feeding the fish to going back to the saloon to finish his breakfast. With Russ, Cathy and others soon following suit the fish were certainly not going to go hungry.

Small explanation of the Crew watch system: With the day starting at 0800, the Forenoon watch runs from 0800 – 1200, Afternoon 1200 – 1600, Dogs 1600 – 2000, First 2000 – 0000, Middle 0000 – 0400, Morning 0400 – 0800, and then the cycle repeats.  Running a three watch system (Red, White and Blue ( best)), each watch would have one day as Mother watch and then 2 days doing 4 hours on 4 hours off for 48 hours, and then the cycle repeats. Each watch has a watch leader who coordinates their crew under the watchful eye of Nikki first mate and Neil our Skipper.

Day 4 -  The forecast NW wind didn’t materialise until the Morning watch, but when it did arrive there were a few hours with some good sailing and hopefully just the first of many visits by dolphins, albatross, peterel and various other forms of greater and lesser unidentified flying objects.  Light winds permitted some spinnaker pole handling practice and booming out the foresail, but eventually the dying wind forced us to re-start the engine to help make up some of the time lost the previous day. The plan at this stage, and following discussion between Neil and DISCO’s skipper Vaughan, was for all three boats to travel flotilla style until the following morning, when Kris would be sufficiently recovered by boat transfer to be able to rejoin his adventure in ADVENTURE and a new starting line would be made.  Joint Ops worked well between ADVENTURE and DISCOVERER, but CHALLENGER disappeared over the horizon, perhaps hatching some cunning plan or other.

Later in the evening, with ADV and DISCO in close company and the wind reduced, the skippers felt that, with Kris recovering well from the duvets, feather pillows and other ministrations the RAF are so good at, that his return to ADV that evening should be attempted before he applied for a Service transfer.  Difficult to know quite how to describe the next couple of hours, beyond saying that whilst Kris’ personal effects were safely transferred, the method of hurling him across like a sack of spuds was considered a tad unfair for a recent patient and abandoned.  Much better for ADV to trail her dinghy on a long line, DISCO to approach the dinghy, transfer Kris, ADV recover the dinghy with Kris, et voila. Plan execution, however, might be considered either an attempt by ADV to add significant drag to DISCO (not the case since such a deed would be entirely unnecessary) or for DISCO to add to her dinghy collection. Anyway, the exchange of one dinghy for two bags of personal effects was considered enough for the moment so, with night falling, the two transglobers (still no sight nor sound of CHALLENGER) agreed a new RV for the following morning, for a further attempt.at getting Kris to the right boat in safer conditions and day light.

At this stage DISCO headed south, perhaps to ensure she kept the dinghy, so ADV set off in hot pursuit, keeping DISCO in her sights whilst encouraging a more northerly track. All efforts to lead DISCO further north towards the RV came to nought, and after a Morning watch (Blue on) which saw the winds rise to a steady force 6, the swell increase from the South West, a dull grey dawn and some 13 knot surges of boat speed, the conditions were set fair for Exercise Recover Kris. Difficult to know how to describe the next couple of hours, beyond saying that quite why Kris abandoned a perfectly serviceable dinghy whilst having the time of his life in the Southern Ocean is a question for another day. Towing the dinghy behind him, he was successfully recovered to ADV, with Steph and Clem showing, with X-men like heroics, that tarbuckles and jon buoys are not the only means of recovering MOBs to Challenge 67s. Long arms and a boat hook rigged as a harpoon worked pretty well. And the fact that Kris was the missing member of their watch might have had something to do with their superhuman motivation!

After the morning’s excitement, the start of The Race was heralded swiftly. After a short skippers briefing, and with “ready steady go” called on VHF, the two boats leapt from their stalls like, well like forty tons each of Challenge 67 yacht. Time: 1207. CHALLENGER had been located some 70 miles north and east, so whether she knows the race has started, or is currently having her own one, only time will tell.  It’s hoped that SSB Comms and Sat C enroute will allow a GPS position from her at the time of the race start and calculated on handicap the distance from Disco and Adv start position..

DISCO rigged for Spinnaker, ADV for Tea and a McVities (not an official sponsor, maybe next time) digestive biscuit. A measured assessment of the situation, a poled goosewing, selected, and DISCO’s stern view changed swiftly to one of her bow; early days but exciting stuff.  It should be noted that the goosewing was cleverly directed by the skipper, again ensuring an excuse to send Nikki aloft, this time out along the spinnaker pole some 30 feet above the rolling waves, to untie a knot to save having to drop the sail again and lose time. Clinging sloth like beneath the pole, this was indeed a gutsy manoeuvre by the Mate.

Overnight the wind unexpectedly increased from the forecast 30 knots, and began gusting 48 knots within angry, violent rain squalls. Red and White watches, along with the indomitable skipper and Mate, had their work cut out. Both watches were at full stretch for four hours, in the dark, derigging the spinnaker pole, changing head sail, each requiring four people just to move them, putting in two reefs in the main, all on a very wet and unstable platform. With huge forces at play, everything having to be done by hand (or many hands) and lack of experience, a huge and exhausted sense of achievement came after the herculean efforts. For Blue watch, with Mother watch duties complete and not required on deck, it was supposedly ‘all night in (bed)’. However, below decks, constricted into their narrow pipe cots, it sounded as one might imagine the Somme had been during a bombardment. Easing winches under the kinds of forces at play were like explosions reverberating around the inside of the steel vessel that is our home. Skipper screaming warnings over the sound of the gale and equipment, sea crashing, and any moment the expectation of injury (and more screaming). This is ADVENTURE training.

Hats off here to all the Leg 7 crew for the manner in which they are gelling. But mostly to the Skipper. Not only a really good bloke but whilst solo sailors get loads of recognition for their endeavours, skippering a yacht designed to demand maximum input from the whole crew, many of whom had never sailed before a couple of days ago, in a place as exhilarating but unforgiving as the great Southern Ocean, requires something special.

As daylight dawns on Red watch, with the sounds of Blue preparing breakfast below, and White snoring in unison, a pod of whales were seen close on the starboard beam. Special.

More to follow, communications permitting, at the next update, scheduled to be posted on Monday 11 Jan.

Personal messages from the Leg 7 ADVENTURE crew:

Neil, Skipper – This is what I signed up for! Again a great crew who are willing and fun. We’ve been blessed with a great following wind thus far and the banter between the boats has been epic (Baz – an old crew mate - from the Army boat planning an operation to kidnap DISCO’s glitter ball and DISCO’s skipper blatantly photographing the transoms (back of the boat) of our and the Army’s yachts in Hobart stating that he would need something to remember them by! Long may it continue… Hi to everyone at home and at VIVID, I hope you are all well and the freezing temperatures are abating. XX

Nikki, First Mate – I’m being abused by my crew who are taking advantage of my lovely sweet nature….. only joking, the dream team works and Neil’s not bad either despite him sending me up the mast three times in two days!! Having a ball. Roll on the  forecasted 30 knots. Currently ahead of Disco who have a spinnaker wrap on our starboard side.. oh happy days!!! Trim Trim Trim of course 17.1 boat speed last night mmm on happy chick.  Determined to regain the points the RAF won on the last leg just for you Commander Richard Tarr.   Hope all those on Sydney- Hobart Leg got back okay and are jetlag free and memory happy.  Love to all- thanks to all those who put some top playlists on my ipod, the crew are enjoying them as  much I am. xxx 

RED WATCH

Helen – on watch with Cathy, James and Lee.  We had an exciting night last night.  At the end of our 8pm-12am watch the wind was increasing and gusting upto 50kts at times, we put the 1^st reef in the main and waited for the off watch to come on a midnight to help derig the pole holding out the Genoa, downsize the Genoa and put another reef in the main.  This took another 2.5 hours so we ended up getting in bed at 2.30am – to get back on watch at 4am.  Helming was quite tough – massive waves and we got good at turning against them and surfing down them.  Very jealous of the white watch though who got 17 knots down a wave, we didn’t quite get there but mostly at 15knots.  Sunrise was at 5am this morning, when we saw whales alongside us – very cool after a hard night!

James – In a strange way am starting to learn to enjoy sail changes at night with the boat bouncing and water filling the air. What I have certainly enjoyed this morning was surfing the boat down waves with the occasional whale rolling by for our enjoyment – still have a grin on my face.

WHITE WATCH

Arty – No time for a blog today concentrating on keeping up 17.1 knots!!!

Clem –. Hello All, having the time of my life not a hint of sea sickness, hit 17 Knots and got a close up of a couple of whales on the last watch. Happy birthday Gary!!! Dan hope your exams have gone well!!! Kids try and be good. Boro Girl see you soon!! Love to all xx Ps the Aussies didn’t want to talk Cricket !!!    

Stephan –  Having a great time!! Quote from the skipper this morning “this is what it must be like, living in a washing machine”. Hard work last night but it is great when you pulling in the Yankee and your head is under water at the bow in gale to severe gale force winds with a serious swell making the boat go all over the place!! Love and kisses to all my readers!!

Kris – Hi all, having a great time, although hard work at times,  been in hospital, been for a swim, spent a few nights with the RAF, saw a couple of whales and just about getting my head around sailing, how many other people can say that!!

BLUE WATCH

Al – A few days and nights and this adventure is already meeting expectations. Some top notch sailing and excitements of the sort I’ve been dreaming of, Some great YouTube material captured. Hope the building works are going well again this side of the New Year. Can’t wait to see the progress but can’t help thinking a yacht might have been a good alternative. Hugs and kisses. And still got some bubbles left in the lucky bubble wrap!

Russ – Living the dream - despite the seasickness! Unusually for me, every time I go near the galley (and practically anywhere below deck) I get overwhelmed by a desire to lie down and close my eyes -probably penance for not having been to sea for so long!  Still, doing my best to create the occasional culinary masterpiece to keep the rest of the crew happy.  Hope Beamish is keeping you amused Jo and our bump is behaving him/herself.  Only 10 days to go now Rxxx 

Tab – I’m alright. Trying not to get a sun tan but it seems to be compulsory.

Gemma – Have got to say although I haven’t been feeling to great, this is a unbelievable experience. Think I may have finally got over the sea sickness now. Whoop whoop. Its incredible to see the birds and dolphins, haven’t seen any whales yet but the trip is still young. The stars are so bright, there are so many. Would only be better if the clouds would stay away, also make steering to a point easier if you had the stars there to look at. Love you all, mum, I’m safe and haven’t broken anything, dad, yes I am eating properly. Give the girls a big hug from me. xxx

 ADVENTURE - TRANSGLOBE LEG 7

Day 0 - On the last day of 2009, 10 crew members for Leg 7 mustered at JSASTC for kit issue and initial vessel familiarisation. Endeavour, the only Challenge yacht remaining in the UK had gone into refit, much to the surprise of the Transglobe organisers so that part of the day was left out. The 2200 flight departed on time, heralding the shortest New Year’s Day anyone had previously experienced, and 3 in-flight breakfasts. The journey was trouble free, with the 10 becoming 13 on arrival in Hobart, meeting up with Skipper Neil, Mate Nikki, and White Watch leader Arty.

Day 1 - After a warm welcome from Neil and Nikki mandatory briefings conducted, massive provisioning planned and executed (and no need to go back a second third, or even fourth time, honestJ), including enlisting the assistance of Tasman Will from a local restaurant, who very kindly allowed us to freeze down large quantities of  produce, thus promising fine cuisine for many days, the crew stepped ashore for a quick meal at the Taste of Tasmania Festival (TOTF) and an early night (some only as early as 0230). All was set fair for the following day’s planned shakedown.

Day 2 - saw an early berth transfer to a fuelling jetty for topping up tanks, and Nikki, like a Koala up a gum tree to give the blog an appropriately geographical feel, hoisted up the mast for rigging inspections, as a precursor to our first sail. After some alongside drills and a sandwich lunch, we set out into Hobart bay for 4 hours of shakedown, including reefing practice and MOB drills by Neil, Nikki and the 3 Watch Leaders, Cathy Red, Arty White and Al Blue. With a stiffening breeze, the Super Maxi LOYAL, fresh from some spectacular speeds during the recent Sydney to Hobart race and sensing some competition, came out under full Storm sails. She ever so slowly caught us up and, after a brief neck and neck moment and even one when we might just have had the edge, as the wind died we slowed but she didn’t! Maybe next time!

Back to Hobart and Neil demonstrated skipperly calmness as he neatly used the elements to park us alongside in a very tight spot. 30 minutes later, with the dinghy up from the depths of the sail locker, inflated and launched, and following some entertaining warping practice, the Med moor was achieved, with CHALLENGER and DISCOVERER providing a most tactful audience. Having the dinghy provided, for two of the most novice crew members (Gemma Blue and Lee Red), the opportunity to gain competent crew ticks for rowing, and for the Electronic Warfare specialists (Clem White and Tab Blue) to also show their skills on the water! That evening was again spent savouring the delights of the TOTF and also saw the arrival of the 14^th crew member, Helen, directly from Sydney. Everyone turned in genuinely early in anticipation of a 1000 departure the next day.

Introducing, and personal messages from, the Leg 7 (mostly from HMS COLLINGWOOD) ADVENTURE crew:

Neil, Skipper – Hi to everyone and I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year. The Oz Christmas was surreal with people in the same Santa outfits we have in the UK but in their 35º heat. Thanks to Steve & Paula and Steve & Nicky for looking after me in my stays in Sydney and Melbourne, it was great to see you.

Nikki, First Mate – Best of luck to the students of Kelly College for the new term, especially to the sports staff and teams and the CCF staff and cadets. Love to all family and friends, but big shout outs to Mum, Peals, Scully, Grut Family, Sis and La’s, TJ,  Dunnage, and Buzz the dog.  Hope Christmas and NY were spectacular, having a ball but miss you all, see you in the spring xx.

RED WATCH

Cathy – To Steve, good sailing yesterday, sorry you’re missing it. Talk to you when we get to the other side.

James – Looking forward to good sailing – best regards to all

Helen – Happy New Year Tom , Jim, Chops and Mum and Dad. Hope you had a fab holiday. Lots of love to Mikey in Afghan with 845 NAS – last few weeks to go exclam. Xxxxxxx.

Lee –

WHITE WATCH

Arty –

Clem – Happy New Year to you all. Just finding my sea legs; it’s been a while! Kids, be good, see you soon.

Stephan –  Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!! Dikke kur voor Renate!

Kris –

BLUE WATCH (is best)

Al – Happy New year to family and friends. Heaps of love to Manu, Sophie and Louis. Thanks for my little piece of luck bubble wrap. For John – move over Blue leader, the Pink Panther’s moving up!

Russ – To Jo, Beamish and ‘bump’ – missing you all, lots of love.

Tab – All well, hope you all had a good new year.

Gemma – Happy New Year. I would say wish you were here but I already know most of your wish that any way. Love to all.

Leg 7 Discoverer

4^th Jan

After a great familiarisation of Hobart including eating plenty of seafood we are setting off this evening after a brief delay, which has resulted in us taking on board a stowaway and secret weapon, a Navy diver!  We are heading for the Tasman sea with a lovely sunny evening and a nice breeze, however a big high pressure seems to be building between Australia and New Zealand so it looks like plenty of sunbathing and perhaps lighter winds than we hoped for.  Although the crew seems very disbelieving of the meteorologist on board!  Marty went for a spin in the rowing boat toward his competent crew qualifications with Henri shouting orders!  Steve has spent his retirement fund on new yachting kit he looks quite the part now. Many hours have been spent perfecting our knots ready for the voyage. Pauls snoring continues to rock the boat and the people of Auckland will definitely hear us coming. As I sit here writing this Siobhan and Phil are preparing a lovely pasta bolognaise for dinner as we head up the Derwent river away from Hobart.  A fuller blog will follow but I must head on deck now to help prepare to leave. 

Our first mate, Carl says hello Boo and all in welsh Wales.

The skipper Vaughan would like to shout out to his lovely wife Helen.

Phil says Bex and Jess enjoy your last day off from school.

Paul says hello to Karen and Ellie.

The crews gathered at Gosport on the 31^st Dec for our pre departure briefings and to meet each other for the first time, the thought of leaving the snow and cold behind for the Australian summer was appealing.   Having departed Heathrow a couple of hours before midnight we celebrated New Year with a toast over Prague where Neil spotted the fireworks out the window.  With brief stops in Singapore and Melbourne allowing Simon to squeeze in burger on his world tour of Burger King we finally landed in Hobart at 10am on the 2^nd of January.  It was like a fine day on the east coast of the UK with cloud on the deck and drizzle.  The weather immediately brightened up and the shorts were on. We have arrived in a land down under and discovered that Qantas do a very good breakfast 3 times in 24 hours.  Neil attempted to sneak a tangerine past Australian customs but was stopped and threatened with a strip search.

It was exciting to be in Hobart so soon after the Sydney to Hobart race with many of the yachts still here and a good atmosphere all round.  The first day was spent shopping for food and kit, in Steven’s case, who seemed to have forgotten to bring anything on the kit list and broken all the things he did bring!  The challenge of the day was to see how many RAF personnel it takes to put up a sun awning – about 8 or 9 and several cups of tea.

Alison our on board doctor is looking after us well already treating a bite to Henry’s ankle mysteriously received during the flight he claims it was a killer snake!

After a long day fighting jet lag we intend to go to "The Taste of Tasmania" for dinner then head for a well earned sleep. With the start planned for Monday morning Sunday will be spent familiarising ourselves with our 67 ft craft and remembering which ropes to pull. 

Now we have the sun awning up we are hoping it will be a nice 20kts with plenty of sun to get us to Auckland but we note the Army and the Navy have not put their awnings up yet – do they know something we don’t?

Shout outs.........

Alison would like to send lots of love to her husband Peter and she misses him already and wishes he was here.

Paul sends his love

Phil says Hi to all.

Gillean says love to Neil and Hi to anyone else taking the time to read the blog.