Over the last few days ...
Tuesday 9th 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 10th 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 2nd 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
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
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
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
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.
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!
