So, nearly there. The thunderstorms finally caught up with us in the middle of the night, boat speed sometimes 15kn, rain, lightning,sail change, but really nothing special.Only 17sm to go, and the celebrations can start: Champagne, beer, whatever, and most likely all afternoon , evening, and night. Let's deal with the consequences tomorrow.
So what is the conclusion of all of this, if there is one ?
Well, it depends most likely on each of the individuals here on board. But there is a broader scheme that I would like to point out to the reader. Because one has to ask oneself what makes people not knowing each other joining a boat of very confined space, only bunk beds, a 'fire place' , ie gas stove, and storage only left for food and the sails - if you brought more clothes than you were wearing on arrival, that is your own fault. The answer I believe is that all of us seeked the experience. We never came to win the race ( we will be third, I guess), but we came to see what we are made of. And what an experience it was. We learnt again basics. Not only to clean the toilets, cook for 11 others, do the washing up, but also basics on humanity. We realised again the need to give space to others, whilst demanding the team effort and disciplin from everyone. Because this kind of boat you can only sail as a team. So selfishness does not bring you far, but with the right spirit, people can work together to achieve great things - whatever we might choose.
The other experience was fun. So much fun we had, down to the point of sillyness. There is a saying that people who sing are good people. I don.t know whether we are good or not, but we sang. Well ,we started slowly, but by now Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heartsclub Band and all its other songs we could sing as a choir. The best and all time favourite however remains 'The wheel on the bus go......', and if you meet a person in the street humming this song, he or she might possible be from our boat Diana.
So if I would ever do this trip again, and needed a crew, I know now plenty of people I would not hesitate to ask joining me. Because we might have lost the race, but we have gained many new friends. What is more important? I leave that to the reader to dwell upon.
Dr.Detlef Munchow
alias
Master Mike
alias
Michele di Venezia
Adventure Seeker and Sailor
Interpretor of Oz
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Stop the presses
At 23:44 yesterday evening the skipper not only found the kettle, he actually put it on and made a brew! Why is this so odd? We have been on board the boat since 1 October and it is the first time it has happened!
This down wind sailing malarky is a bit of a breeze - we have got this gybing stuff well and truly sorted out and we can now do it under 60 minutes, if we really concentrate, and this includes stopping half way through for a brew! We got the idea after seeing steam coming out of the skippers ears ie steam equals tea!
This was really put to the test tonight when a huge squall came through (apparently- as the authors of this blog were safely tucked up in their respective bunks) and the guys on deck had wind, rain, skipper's shouted commands to get the spinnaker down, get the foresail poled out and put up the staysail (the sail between the mainsail and the foresail) all in about 20 minutes - as the guys wanted to get off deck by the end of their watch, and decided to forego their brew. However, all the crew had to help pack away the wet spinnaker which meant that by the end we were all wet.
We are now nearing Barbados and looking forward to the first case of cold beer - each. We have champagne in the fridge and would you Adam and Eve it the fridge has packed in - so only semi cold champagne to look forward to We rufty tufty sailors have a really tough life.
Morale is high and our mental state is good. We sing " the wheels on the bus go round and round" with the hand actions, obviously. We hear the skipper saying "muppets" under his breath - he may need counselling when we get to Bardados - but it won't be anything we have done. But one sign is him at the pointy end of the boat (does anyone know what it is called?) first staring into the water and then taking photos of it What is that all about?
All in all we think we have been a brilliantly efficient crew- quite capable of sailing in all sorts of conditions. As long, of course, that Duggie, Julian and Rory (the 3 proffesionals) are there to yell at us which bit of blue rope to pull in or let out!
On a serious note - on behalf of everyone who has sailed on Diana on this epic adventure - we give our heartfelt thanks to Duggie, Julian and Rory for looking after us, making the trip such a pleasure and getting to Barbados(or at least, 50 miles away) safely.
Finally - hi to all the crew who have been on the previous bits of the trip. We still talk about you and the various incidents! We hope that you have enjoyed these blogs.
Hope all is well for everyone at home and for Juno, Minerva and Isis.
Jim and Rowena
This down wind sailing malarky is a bit of a breeze - we have got this gybing stuff well and truly sorted out and we can now do it under 60 minutes, if we really concentrate, and this includes stopping half way through for a brew! We got the idea after seeing steam coming out of the skippers ears ie steam equals tea!
This was really put to the test tonight when a huge squall came through (apparently- as the authors of this blog were safely tucked up in their respective bunks) and the guys on deck had wind, rain, skipper's shouted commands to get the spinnaker down, get the foresail poled out and put up the staysail (the sail between the mainsail and the foresail) all in about 20 minutes - as the guys wanted to get off deck by the end of their watch, and decided to forego their brew. However, all the crew had to help pack away the wet spinnaker which meant that by the end we were all wet.
We are now nearing Barbados and looking forward to the first case of cold beer - each. We have champagne in the fridge and would you Adam and Eve it the fridge has packed in - so only semi cold champagne to look forward to We rufty tufty sailors have a really tough life.
Morale is high and our mental state is good. We sing " the wheels on the bus go round and round" with the hand actions, obviously. We hear the skipper saying "muppets" under his breath - he may need counselling when we get to Bardados - but it won't be anything we have done. But one sign is him at the pointy end of the boat (does anyone know what it is called?) first staring into the water and then taking photos of it What is that all about?
All in all we think we have been a brilliantly efficient crew- quite capable of sailing in all sorts of conditions. As long, of course, that Duggie, Julian and Rory (the 3 proffesionals) are there to yell at us which bit of blue rope to pull in or let out!
On a serious note - on behalf of everyone who has sailed on Diana on this epic adventure - we give our heartfelt thanks to Duggie, Julian and Rory for looking after us, making the trip such a pleasure and getting to Barbados(or at least, 50 miles away) safely.
Finally - hi to all the crew who have been on the previous bits of the trip. We still talk about you and the various incidents! We hope that you have enjoyed these blogs.
Hope all is well for everyone at home and for Juno, Minerva and Isis.
Jim and Rowena
Monday, 16 November 2009
"It feels like December 23rd"
That was how Julian described the mood on the boat today. The big celebration is there on the horizon but it is still too soon to get too excited about it. One major problem was solved today though - now we have finished all the fresh food there is space in the fridge for the champagne! (Don't worry, there is still food should the wind die down, but it would be pasta and rice from here on in.)
Talking of fresh food, we had corned beef hash today, made with the last of the potatoes. It was surprisingly good, considering how it looked and the comments people made when handed their plates. Mike explained it to us. "This is the secret of my success. I know how to turn s**t into gold".
There has been a turnaround in the long-runing "paper,scissors,stone" compeition between Mike and Giles. Mike had a long running streak today and Giles is now two behind in the series with only a couple of days to go. Nail biting stuff.
Perhaps more nail biting than Diana's position in the race, where we are consistently holding third place. Our consistency might well have paid off in the longer run since we still have all our equipment intact, wheras one more accident on any of the other boats and they would have problems patching things up again. (You have to admire Juno for keeping up as well as they are without a spinnaker, managing to sail with their enormous "number one" jib poled out.) Anyway, there are still a few hundred miles to go so things could change. In the end it would be nice if all the boats can get in on the same day, which might just be possible as it stands.
The dolphins, turtles and aeroplanes continue to be elusive (ie we have not seen any yet). We do get seabirds though. Today we were entertained by three gannets fishing around the boat. Often it is only a single bird that circles the boat, perhaps just to break the monotony of its own long journey across the ocean.
I am off to take a turn on the helm. Goodbye for now, from Phil and the crew of Diana.
Talking of fresh food, we had corned beef hash today, made with the last of the potatoes. It was surprisingly good, considering how it looked and the comments people made when handed their plates. Mike explained it to us. "This is the secret of my success. I know how to turn s**t into gold".
There has been a turnaround in the long-runing "paper,scissors,stone" compeition between Mike and Giles. Mike had a long running streak today and Giles is now two behind in the series with only a couple of days to go. Nail biting stuff.
Perhaps more nail biting than Diana's position in the race, where we are consistently holding third place. Our consistency might well have paid off in the longer run since we still have all our equipment intact, wheras one more accident on any of the other boats and they would have problems patching things up again. (You have to admire Juno for keeping up as well as they are without a spinnaker, managing to sail with their enormous "number one" jib poled out.) Anyway, there are still a few hundred miles to go so things could change. In the end it would be nice if all the boats can get in on the same day, which might just be possible as it stands.
The dolphins, turtles and aeroplanes continue to be elusive (ie we have not seen any yet). We do get seabirds though. Today we were entertained by three gannets fishing around the boat. Often it is only a single bird that circles the boat, perhaps just to break the monotony of its own long journey across the ocean.
I am off to take a turn on the helm. Goodbye for now, from Phil and the crew of Diana.
Sunday, 15 November 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZEENIA !
The usual reader of Diana's Blogs might forgive me sending a rather personal note to my daughter, but there is also a message for all of you .
Dear Zeenia,
first, all the best and lots of love for your 8th birthday. Unfortunately I can't spend this happy moment with you today, but we will celebrate it on my return at Mr Chow, your favourite chinese restaurant.
As a result I can't give you a birthday present today either, which I know you had wished for. But I can assure you that there are children out there in this world, who are materially much worse off than you are, but who nevertheless are joyfull, laugh, and are even in their own way happy.
Some of us visited , organised by Ondeck, the Albert Moreaas school on San Antao, Cape Verde. It is the private initiative of a single man.
Many of the pupils have only one dress, one shirt, and some have 'Flip Flop' shoes, whilst others are barefoot. Many walk for miles every day to and from school to what they call 'home' : A hut in the middle of a rather deserted island, no windows, no door, but washing hanging outside. According to some sources, in the year 1982 more than 80% of the population on this island were illiterate, today roughly 72% of all children visit a secondary school. And that has been achieved by people who have collected money for this and other schools. It takes only 20 Euro! to have a place for one child for one year at school, and that includes a warm meal - probably the only one per day they get.
I have therefore contributed some money on your behalf into the collection box we organised for the school, and which we handed over to the head teacher. This I did instead of buying you a present, and I know you support this gesture. I will show you some pictures from the school, and maybe you can discuss this in your own school, and decide whether you want to continue helping them or not.
And so I believe there are on this your special day at least three people in this world happy : One child in Cape Verde, because he or she can go to school , you, because it is your birthday, and me , because I happen to be your very proud father.
With all my love, Papa. I miss you.
Dear Zeenia,
first, all the best and lots of love for your 8th birthday. Unfortunately I can't spend this happy moment with you today, but we will celebrate it on my return at Mr Chow, your favourite chinese restaurant.
As a result I can't give you a birthday present today either, which I know you had wished for. But I can assure you that there are children out there in this world, who are materially much worse off than you are, but who nevertheless are joyfull, laugh, and are even in their own way happy.
Some of us visited , organised by Ondeck, the Albert Moreaas school on San Antao, Cape Verde. It is the private initiative of a single man.
Many of the pupils have only one dress, one shirt, and some have 'Flip Flop' shoes, whilst others are barefoot. Many walk for miles every day to and from school to what they call 'home' : A hut in the middle of a rather deserted island, no windows, no door, but washing hanging outside. According to some sources, in the year 1982 more than 80% of the population on this island were illiterate, today roughly 72% of all children visit a secondary school. And that has been achieved by people who have collected money for this and other schools. It takes only 20 Euro! to have a place for one child for one year at school, and that includes a warm meal - probably the only one per day they get.
I have therefore contributed some money on your behalf into the collection box we organised for the school, and which we handed over to the head teacher. This I did instead of buying you a present, and I know you support this gesture. I will show you some pictures from the school, and maybe you can discuss this in your own school, and decide whether you want to continue helping them or not.
And so I believe there are on this your special day at least three people in this world happy : One child in Cape Verde, because he or she can go to school , you, because it is your birthday, and me , because I happen to be your very proud father.
With all my love, Papa. I miss you.
Saturday, 14 November 2009
Tom Dangles from the Pole
After winning the mid-Atlantic quiz at the halfway party on Thursday, Tom was given the unique oppotunity to go up the pole to admire the view and take a photo of us all. And so, around Friday lunchtime he was stood on the foredeck, attached to a harness and winched up the down-haul until he was suspended somewhere off the side of the boat, around 20ft above the water as we sped along at 8kts. Somehow he even remembered to take the photo and managed not to look too terrified! The photos we took from the boat are pretty good as well.
Last night was one of the busier nights as we had to jibe at around 11 o'clock at night. We took this opportunity to bring forward a planned lowering of the spinnaker from lunchtime today to the middle of the night. And so the early hours were spent repacking and wooling the spinaker before putting it back up again a few hours later. Although a few of us lost some sleep during this time, I think we are mostly agreed that doing this at night was probably preferable to doing it in the middle of the day, especially as today is one of the hottest yet.
However all of this was almost done in vain as we were hit by a squall in the early hours which brought torrential rain and fairly strong winds, but fortunately this passed fairly quickly before it was neccessary to bring the spinaker down again.
It was a bad night for Watch 1, who lost sleep in the middle of the night and then got rain on in the early hours.
Overall it has been an interesting night, however the sun is now up and it is a beautiful day.
Only three more days to Barbados!
Giles
Last night was one of the busier nights as we had to jibe at around 11 o'clock at night. We took this opportunity to bring forward a planned lowering of the spinnaker from lunchtime today to the middle of the night. And so the early hours were spent repacking and wooling the spinaker before putting it back up again a few hours later. Although a few of us lost some sleep during this time, I think we are mostly agreed that doing this at night was probably preferable to doing it in the middle of the day, especially as today is one of the hottest yet.
However all of this was almost done in vain as we were hit by a squall in the early hours which brought torrential rain and fairly strong winds, but fortunately this passed fairly quickly before it was neccessary to bring the spinaker down again.
It was a bad night for Watch 1, who lost sleep in the middle of the night and then got rain on in the early hours.
Overall it has been an interesting night, however the sun is now up and it is a beautiful day.
Only three more days to Barbados!
Giles
Friday, 13 November 2009
We passed the half way point at lunchtime
and celebrated with a cake (thanks to Ro for making it, not easy on board) and a dry party.
A special mention to all the people on the previous legs now we are passed half way and we are happy to report the saillng is much easier with shorts and T shirts replacing the oliskins and boots of the Biscay legs.
The day started well with the thought of getting below 1,000 miles to go but then one of the toilets broke down and Rory spent over 5 hours taking it apart and repairing it for which we are all eternaly grateful - a big thank you to Rory. Prizes from the half way party were a night watch off for Chris (me) who won the sweepstake on the time to reach half way and I can report that its a fantastic prize and despite numerous offers of beer in exchange I have decided to keep it for myself with a 12 hour break rather than the usual 4.
Tom won the quiz and is going out on the spinnaker pole to take photo's. Now we have been at sea for a few days the level of humour has dropped to school boy at best to the point were sleeping on deck risks the aquisition of a marker pen tatoo as Phil discovered earlier today. We have also been doing some gybing with the spinnaker up.
This involes most of the crew and I dont fully understand everything that happens but I focus on 5 ropes 3 winches letting some out, releasing others and winding in the rest if the skipper starts swearing as well as shouting then we go faster and the process is complete when he stops shouting and starts nodding, the deck is covered in rope, everyone is gasping for breath and the boat is facing in a slightly different direction. Finally the skipper asks "OK any questions" and we cant think of any, so its finished until the next one.
Thoughts with everyone at home now its downhill to the finish and special thanks to Lauren and Amy for their text message - see you soon.
Chris and all the Diana crew.
A special mention to all the people on the previous legs now we are passed half way and we are happy to report the saillng is much easier with shorts and T shirts replacing the oliskins and boots of the Biscay legs.
The day started well with the thought of getting below 1,000 miles to go but then one of the toilets broke down and Rory spent over 5 hours taking it apart and repairing it for which we are all eternaly grateful - a big thank you to Rory. Prizes from the half way party were a night watch off for Chris (me) who won the sweepstake on the time to reach half way and I can report that its a fantastic prize and despite numerous offers of beer in exchange I have decided to keep it for myself with a 12 hour break rather than the usual 4.
Tom won the quiz and is going out on the spinnaker pole to take photo's. Now we have been at sea for a few days the level of humour has dropped to school boy at best to the point were sleeping on deck risks the aquisition of a marker pen tatoo as Phil discovered earlier today. We have also been doing some gybing with the spinnaker up.
This involes most of the crew and I dont fully understand everything that happens but I focus on 5 ropes 3 winches letting some out, releasing others and winding in the rest if the skipper starts swearing as well as shouting then we go faster and the process is complete when he stops shouting and starts nodding, the deck is covered in rope, everyone is gasping for breath and the boat is facing in a slightly different direction. Finally the skipper asks "OK any questions" and we cant think of any, so its finished until the next one.
Thoughts with everyone at home now its downhill to the finish and special thanks to Lauren and Amy for their text message - see you soon.
Chris and all the Diana crew.
Thursday, 12 November 2009
The 'day' began ...
... with serious concern about squalls particularly after poor Juno's encounter with one, so for hours in the middle of the night Duggie skipper and Julian first mate were rushing up and down from the commanders cubby hole checking how the squalls approaching us looked on the radar.
Thank goodness this can see rain clouds and there was a vicious looking one at a mile or so away from us for some time. There was endless discussion about whether we should drop our spinnaker in anticipation. Meanwhile the crew were on tenterhooks sitting in the cockpit with adrenalin rushing around our systems at an exhausting rate. We each had our allocated place by the rope for which we were responsible in the dropping routine.
Our chosen routine is the 'letter box drop' which involves the deflated spinnaker being pulled through the gap between the mainsail and the boom; the red rope which controls this is now not unnaturally called the post office rope. Anyway the vicious looking squall turned out to be a little rain with no dramatic wind so the spinnaker stayed put. Much as we would have liked to put our much verbally rehearsed skills into action, on balance having the spinnaker still set and in tact was the best outcome.
Today has been a washing day with various clothes emerging from the washing bucket to festoon the guardwires. Clearly we are all getting ready for our halfway party to be held when we have only 1000 miles left to go to Barbados, which we hope will be tomorrow afternoon.
Cakes are being planned and rumour has it that there may be a bottle of bubbly secreted on board for this occasion !
Otherwise it has been a fairly quiet day with a little less wind than we like - it would only take a little more for the boat to be surfing down the swells but we can't complain - lovely sunshine, a few flying fish to watch and even the odd Shearwater skimming the wave tops. We hope the dolphins will remember about us tomorrow, or a whale or turtle would do....
Tom
Thank goodness this can see rain clouds and there was a vicious looking one at a mile or so away from us for some time. There was endless discussion about whether we should drop our spinnaker in anticipation. Meanwhile the crew were on tenterhooks sitting in the cockpit with adrenalin rushing around our systems at an exhausting rate. We each had our allocated place by the rope for which we were responsible in the dropping routine.
Our chosen routine is the 'letter box drop' which involves the deflated spinnaker being pulled through the gap between the mainsail and the boom; the red rope which controls this is now not unnaturally called the post office rope. Anyway the vicious looking squall turned out to be a little rain with no dramatic wind so the spinnaker stayed put. Much as we would have liked to put our much verbally rehearsed skills into action, on balance having the spinnaker still set and in tact was the best outcome.
Today has been a washing day with various clothes emerging from the washing bucket to festoon the guardwires. Clearly we are all getting ready for our halfway party to be held when we have only 1000 miles left to go to Barbados, which we hope will be tomorrow afternoon.
Cakes are being planned and rumour has it that there may be a bottle of bubbly secreted on board for this occasion !
Otherwise it has been a fairly quiet day with a little less wind than we like - it would only take a little more for the boat to be surfing down the swells but we can't complain - lovely sunshine, a few flying fish to watch and even the odd Shearwater skimming the wave tops. We hope the dolphins will remember about us tomorrow, or a whale or turtle would do....
Tom
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