Position at 2100 local time, 1st August 2009, 51.46N, 25.10W
Since our last blog update, life on board Rona II just gets better and better!
Last night we experienced constant rain throughout the night and the wind swung around to the SW. This meant we had the wind behind us and we, like the dancers, "gibed all night!" The only missing ingredient was the music and the women.
As the day progressed the wind has continued to strengthen, reaching gusts of up to F9 and we recorded 42 knots of wind - we have now experienced our first full Atlantic gale. The highlight of this was we touched 14.2 knots through the water. Despite numerous sail changes and towering waves, the crew coped well and rose to the challenge.
Red watch has been Mother Watch today and we've battled below deck to produce breakfast, lunch and dinner. Curry is on the menu tonight - oh no, more wind!
A new game of murder has been started: we already have one kill - with a hose pipe in the cockpit - and two failed attempts by the skipper.
The day ended with a couple of songs before dinner keeping everyone in high spirits. The winds had eased just enough to have a relatively flat happy hour.
We are still chasing PVD which is approx 100 miles ahead of us. At lunchtime today R II was still 1st in class. As the finish line starts to get closer - now approx 650nm away, the pressure and drive to win is mounting. We are also looking forward to hot showers, clean clothes and sunshine!
Thanks for the last set of responses: keep them coming. A big happy birthday to Tom's brother, Chris, on his 16th birthday from all the crew.
P.s. Ernie the octopus is in good health although the highland cow is still a little seasick!
Red watch
Love reading your blogs. Felt in harmony with you as we have just been blown and flooded out of the Lake District on a camping trip to Ullswater. Brilliant to hear you are in first place, keep up the great efforts. Will send a riddle soon. Chris had a great Birthday - thanks.
ReplyDeleteCharlie & Bruce - Toms parents.
Reading your daily blog is just incredible (I thankfully can’t even imagine the impact of a 15 foot wave) but fantastic news that you are in first place, so keep it going, you know you can all win it and besides the lure of shower, a chilled pint of beer, food on a table that doesn’t move and no smelly heads must be quite appealing by now…!
ReplyDeleteBut in the meantime we thought we would send a question and a classy joke.
Leading on from Toms revelation that badgers don’t lay eggs, what are the two mammals that do actually lay eggs?
Two blondes go fishing. They catch a lot of fish and return to the shore. 1st blonde: I hope you remember the spot where we caught all those fish. 2nd blonde: Yes, I made an 'X' on the side of the boat to mark the spot. 1st blonde: You idiot! How do you know we'll get the same boat next time?
From Toms Uncle Simon (who is still very envious), blonde Auntie Fizzy (who is very glad to have two feet firmly on dry land) and little Jasper (who is currently loving Christina Aguileras video of ‘dirty’ on MTV).
p.s. simons café serves fish and chips with a chicken portion on the side.
How do I get the photo Matt? I clicked on photo then an arrow and got a menu,one option defined a photo - well I know that' just want to see what it's like out there
ReplyDeleteSo you have found another source of wind - well done now you just have to capture it and store it. Maybe you can make an atificial alimentary canal. If you are running short of gas you need to find another energy source.
Keep focused though we're all willing you to win the Welches the Wellens and Joneses.
Its been great reading your blogs.Youve made us laugh several times but Im glad its you out there enjoying the heavy sailing and not me.Im enjoying reading all about it while being dry warm & eating delicious food!! Hope this gets through to you as not had any success so far. youre doing a great job Steven keep it up.
ReplyDeletefrom Steve's Mum
A mahoosive thank you for wishing me a great sweet sixteenth! Tom's brother, Chris
ReplyDelete