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