First all thank you to all the friends, family and random bloggers who have both read and left comments on our blog. All comments are greatly appreciated and really help crew moral. As requested we have put together a list of crew members with what they have become known for over the past fortnight and what their fellow crew members have described them as. The normal blog will follow.
Skipper- Chris Matthews- Daniel Craig look alike
Mr. Mate- Andy Wright- 'Your not here to have fun' Wrighty
Red watch
Watch Officer- Andrew Downey- Mr. Cheese grater and spoons
Watch leader- Bryn Kewley- 21- Chuck Norris
Dominic De'Ath- 18- Hairy
Josh Warren- 17- Even hairier
Kai Holdgate- 20- Man Mountain (Neanderthal)
Luke Almond- 19- Like Kai but worse (Lion)
Matt O'Connell- 18- Casanova (Man Machine)
Blue watch
Watch Officer- Simon Turvey- Hard on the outside, soft on the inside
Watch leader- 21- Jonny Wareing- Man of action
Liam Fullbrook- 18- Party boy
Toyin 'T-man' Kimber McCall- 20- Mr. Experience (Gonna Chunder)
Tom West- 17- Indecisive about many things (fish and chip addict)
Rupert Edwards- 17- Big big big fluffy storyteller
Julian Burton-Pierce- 17- Mr. One liner
White watch
Watch Officer- Paul Steptoe- Dr Rona musician
Watch Leader- Mark Williams- 23- 'Pure Scandalous' Williams
Jonny Ho- 20- Jonny the body Ventura (Number 49)
Matt Cooke- 17- The Chav Cooke, Blad!!!
Lee Price- 17- Veggie Lee
Steve Jackson- 17- Knacked Sailor
Ben Davis- 18- 18 years old and not had a beer (Fogle)
Today was a relatively calm day in all sense of the word. Once again all was calm at sea with little or no wind, white watch had an epic four hours of sail changes today only to lose the little speed we had. This was the story of the day, boring conditions leading to games and funny moments spurring out of sheer boredom.
Blue watch was on mother watch duties today and started the day with some pancakes for breakfast. Jonny of the Wareing showed some real skills in the galley as he flipped pancakes on a rolling boat and Rupert showed his uncanny skill of making a huge mess where ever he goes by dropping his pancake sunny side up on the floor. However he did pick it up and finish it so no pancakes where harmed. Unfortunately breakfast also brought the first sad moment of the day and some serious mourning..We have ran out of 'Alpen'.
The immense boredom and lack of wind of today has led today to some random stories and some pretty random games. Josh came closest to his first clothes change of the trip today but bailed at the last minute. He is still wearing the same swim shorts from Halifax and the t-shirt is still same as on the flight over.
Simon showed his artistic skills by drawing a surprisingly good portrait of Jonny Wareing. This also proved the longest time Simon has been quiet since we left from Halifax.
Dolphins where seen again, becoming somewhat of a daily event but still as exciting and as ever the cameras where out trying to get 'the' dolphin shot.
Marks attempts at fishing failed once again. Although he did avoid catching the stern of the boat again so I suppose progress has been made.
The rubix cube on board has been solved for the first time by Paul Steptoe. His prize of 9 beers from his watch awaits him on shore.
The mate was insistent that we sent out a message in a bottle and this was completed yesterday. Somehow we found an empty bottle with the word "Gordons" on it.The mate included a photo of Rona, an Atlantic Challenge pencil and a letter informing the lucky recipient of who we are and what we are up to with a couple of contacts. Next time you are at the beach look out for it! I know it is not ideal to be throwing glass bottle into the sea but we are recycling everything else thanks to our director of renewable resources!
Also a new and extremely annoying game of 'pegs' has begun. The aim of the game is to attach pegs to people with out them knowing. The skipper seems to be the prime target and often has 3-4 pegs attached to him. The realization that you have been pegged is one of the worse feelings ever. Note from the mate - This game will be ceasing tomorrow as this is seen as "fun" and I have been a target of the said "peg" game. Full crew discipline will be restored and 100% racing effort re-started!!!!
The mate has decided that daily flogging will continue until crew morale improves!!!!!
Towards the end of the day the wind began to pick up-ish and we began cruising at 5 knots in little wind which helped to boost crew moral after a lack luster day. A hearty and homely dinner of spaghetti bolognaise also pushed moral higher.
Matt O'Connell has taken some amazing action photos of crew members and hopefully these will also be posted soon.
As I am sitting at the computer now I can up date you that we have increased speed to 7.8 knots in 11 knots of wind and Rona hardly feels like she is moving, wow what an amazing boat sailed by an amazing crew. The washing up has just been completed (I have never seen a crew enjoy the washing up so much) and the off and mother watch are in bed. May I add that the notes from home are fantastic and really boost morale!
On a personal note darling please do not put your hand in the horses mouth again and experience the local NHS facilities!
Well I heard from other boats behind us in the fleet that they have 35 - 40 knots of breeze so it could be an interesting night.
Keep the comments coming - good night from Blue watch and the rest of the Rona 2 crew.
Photos are of a headsail change in rolling waves and the skipper directing operations from the comfort of below whilst the crew brave the elements.
We're off to Donegal today (Monday), be there Tues with our binoculars!! think youmight beat us to the finish line - we'll be on land.Goingto be checking out the local internet cafes.Not sure we're too happy about bringing Josh home (fooey!!)
ReplyDeleteTry this one: Apparently she won't cross the Atlantic this way as well, but she should sail it. Who is she?
Keep it up lads.
Many thanks for the photos - makes it feel more real. Will look out for the bottle -I'm hoping to walk on the Ceredigion coast path later this week so yet again the house won't get cleaned or the grass mowed.
ReplyDeleteHope you are catching up that German boat.
Grandma Wales
Chong guo ren, gar yau - Go Rona Go.
ReplyDeleteBet we know who started pegs Lee :0)
Wow those waves look scary, but thanks for the pics its nice to see what you are having to endure from the comfort of my armchair. Nearly there lads keep chasing the Hun, your enthusiasm is amazing, See you all soon Garry & Hazel
Hey Rona 2
ReplyDeletehere is 5 riddles for you to work out:
1.There’s a dog that is tied up to a chain which is 5 metres long. There is a bone that is 100 metres away from the dog. How did the dog get the bone?
2.If you have it, you want to share it. If you share it, you don't have it. What is it?
3.The more you have of it, the less you see. What is it?
4.What book was once owned by only the wealthy, but now everyone can have it? You can't buy it in a bookstore or take it from a library. What is it?
5.What gets whiter the dirtier that it gets?
Glad to see the photos, it looks so much fun!
See u soon
Amy (steve's sister)
You should probably ask Lee where he got the idea for the peg game... (ja genau)
ReplyDeleteSee you when you get back!
Naomi xxx
Forgot to add - chong guo ren, gwai lo! =)
ReplyDeleteTo the crew of rona
ReplyDeletehere are a few riddles
1.A man walked into a bar, and before he could say a word, he was knocked unconscious. Why?
2.Romeo is looking down on Juliet's dead body. She died of suffocation. What has happened?
3.Two people are going skydiving. One of them is a skydiving instructor, and the other is going for the first time. They both jump out of the plane, and tragically neither of their parachutes open. The instructor dies and the first-timer survives. How is this possible?
4.A man is born in 1972 and dies in 1952 at the age of 25. Explain.
Love from Mark x
(steve's uncle)
Tom West and all the crew of RonaII,
ReplyDeleteHi Tom, I'll give you a wave as I pass overhead
(W -E),sometime around 6.30 GMT. Highly unlikely to catch a glimpse as we'll be around 35,000'+.
Great blog and following the race with interest.
Good luck to all
Chalky (Friend of the West Family)
Hi Lee
ReplyDeletePhoto's are great, not quite sure if its you, but great all the same.Looks like Rona 11 has quite a fight on its hands, the tracking shows a little nest of you all together.You have all done so well to hold your 1st in class.
This last big push the Skipper wants, will see you home & DRY. Love you!! can't wait to see you. God Bless Nan & Grandad xx
Good Luck also to an amazingly cheerful Crew
3 riddles
What word looks the same upside down & backwards.
When can you add two to eleven and get one as the correct answer.
What turns everything around,but does not move.