there onboard playstation, good job we aren't blogging sound!!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sing Star on Dar Szczecina
there onboard playstation, good job we aren't blogging sound!!
Onboard with 1st in class
Szczecina, a great boat, and brilliant crew.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Rona II adds decking from Ikea
perfect for the skipper and mate!
Arrival in Göteborg
looks like they also have a monkey at the helm!
Heading for Goteborg
night of celebrations, you couldn't have scripted it.
In a local fishermans bar, embracing the culture of a Danish Stag and
Hen party. With a one legged paraolympic swimmer, dressed in toga, and
his best man a 6'8" steroid pumped angry fisherman.
Smashing 9" nails into a block of wood, as the local pub game, in the
UK we just play Jenga!
You have to love Denmark!
Anyway we are now onroute to Sweden.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Wood and nails
First nail in buys the nails
Last nail in buys the beers
The fisherman is hammering in Eds nails, we are losing badly!
DotD
We have a grumpy and smelly watch officer. Captain Nelson has been
voted by a coalition to be dick of the day, and given the unwashed
t-shirt, that's been with us for from the start of the trip. Despite a
truly worthwhile effort by Joe dropping his wallet into 5m of water.
voted by a coalition to be dick of the day, and given the unwashed
t-shirt, that's been with us for from the start of the trip. Despite a
truly worthwhile effort by Joe dropping his wallet into 5m of water.
How do we stop him being grumpy? It's a small boat for a grumpy member
of afterguard!!! Please send advice, money and alcohol..... stu
Rona II crew go Geocaching
Geocache code: GC17E40
www.geocaching.com
Race Finished
The Champions.
A very difficult finish saw us becalmed for several hours last night,
but we have made it to the line, and now can only wait for final race
positions!!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Head for the second waypoint
phone Shelly, we are just in mobile range again!
News of current 2nd place (16th July 1100)
is excellent news having moved from 4th place in last nights results.
This is blue watch on deck happy to have heard the news and now keen
to keep pushing on for more...
Next results this evening.......
Tall Ships wait for start (#4, 14 July)
(current) start at 1730 gmt.
Binocular Photo (start #6, 14 July)
way to capture them with binoculars on the end of your camera!
This was the last shot taken on our blog phone, all other start photos
will appear once we can access our other cameras, probably back on
land.
Those shots are worth waiting for, we over took lots of the fleet
before night fall, and right up close to the big tall ships we got
some corkers. Not to mention the sun setting behind one of the biggest
square riggers in the race!
We are off.... (start #5, 14 July)
onboard, there is just time to grab two crew and snap a shot as we
cross, that's the naval ship representing one end of the line. Great
timing by the mate put us over the line moments after our start.
Crew hit the deck (start #3, 14 July)
the sunshine.
Keep tracking our progress at: http://www.tinyurl.com/2010rona
A Big Update (sat phone)
Good morning Rona2 blog readers,
sorry for the delay in sending you all a decent update. We have had a great
couple of days. The journey down the river was long, arriving in an
anchorage
in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
sorry for the delay in sending you all a decent update. We have had a great
couple of days. The journey down the river was long, arriving in an
anchorage
in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
We had a few final jobs to do Wednesday morning before heading to the start
line some 30 miles offshore. One of the jobs was to play man overboard with
a horseshoe lifering!! This suitably earned a crew member the D*#k of the
day
award!
The race start was delayed for two and a half hours due to light and
changeable winds. The class A start was spectacular, seeing 25 tall ships
cross the line within minutes of one another is amazing.
Class B started soon after (older ships with gaff rigged sails), then Rona 2
in Class C, we crossed the line at full pace, with number one genoa, full
main and mizzen.
In the light winds we made great progress on the classes ahead powering our
way through the fleet overtaking many of the square rigged vessels, some
great photos to follow cheering to the Russians on Kruzenshtern.
Soon a vicious rain squall swept across the fleet, which made the deck watch
question reality after a beautiful sunset. Rona2 approached the first way
point in the early hours of Thursday morning. Gybing onto Starboard, polling
out the headsail and launching the mizzen staysail. Flying down wind
touching 13 knots was a fantastic feeling. The stream of phosphorescence
made
Rona2 look like she was sailing on bubbles of light. The myriad of
navigation
lights made us realise how large the fleet was.
In the morning we gybed back onto port and reduced headsail as the wind
increased. The wind kept on increasing and Rona the Rocket was flying. Large
amounts of water across the deck, but truly brilliant sailing. The speed
competition between the watches was well underway. Eventually we had reduced
the sail plan to main with 2 reefs and stay sail, still hitting 13 knots of
boat speed, with a peak gust of 60 knots!!
Seasickness hit a few of the crew but most fought their way through it, in
true RSP spirit.
Friday morning sees Rona2 with 2 reefs in the main, yankee 1 and staysail,
power reaching, surfing down the now moderating sea at 12+ knots. Sun rise
was beautiful, a moment to reflect on how fortunate we are to have this
opportunity. Breakfast is being cleared up, heads and saloon being cleaned
whilst the on watch maintain lookout and drive the boat to her maximum
potential.
Now life is a little more comfortable we hope to update you soon. (Life is
Good)
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Gusting 58 knots (sat phone)
Lots of wind and lots of water, over the deck, over the crew, and a little
getting inside. When things dry up we will write a longer report. We have
had great sailing since the start, and look forward to this evening position
report to find out where we stand in the race so far.
getting inside. When things dry up we will write a longer report. We have
had great sailing since the start, and look forward to this evening position
report to find out where we stand in the race so far.
Our current position: 54.11.584N 004.18.786E at 1953 on 15 July
You can track us at http://tinyurl.com/2010rona
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Crew head on deck
the sunshine.
Keep tracking our progress at: http://www.tinyurl.com/2010rona
Tall Ships wait for start (#4, 14 July)
(current) start at 1730 gmt.
Rains gone, suns out for the start (start #2, 14 July)
Busy start area (start #1, 14 July)
a holding pattern.
Bit of a busy radar!
Awaiting Start (Sat Phone)
Now waiting for our start at 16:45utc (17:45uk local). We are waiting for an
awesome roast beef dinner and would like the rain to stop :)
awesome roast beef dinner and would like the rain to stop :)
The press are getting wet!!
This is blue watch in the rain and loving it, left to right:
John Bound, (Skipper)
Ben Hedges
Joe Coles
Stuart Woodger (Mr Mate, at helm)
Sam Oldham
Barney MacFie (WO)
Steve Jackson (WL)
Ed Ireson
Busy start area
a holding pattern.
Bit of a busy radar!
A night on anchor
This morning have been woken to the smell of frying bacon. We have
spent the night at anchor, and are now ready to head out to the start
line for later in the day.
spent the night at anchor, and are now ready to head out to the start
line for later in the day.
Crew moral is high, and the sweep stake has been complete for finishing times.
Feels like we have been together for several weeks, although it's only
the start of day 5.
Best go now, the eggy bread started to be fried, time to get a seat
for breakfast.
Track us:
http://www.tinyurl.com/2010rona
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
A great dinner from Red Watch
epic apple crumble and custard!
We missed the parade of sail :(
Sure everyone watching our tracker will have notice the lack of
movement and that the parade of sail is over.
movement and that the parade of sail is over.
Well we we're on time for the lock along with 15 other boats from the
race. For a reason we are yet to understand the parade all happened,
but we all got left in the lock, and when they finally opened it all
they could say was sorry but it's all finished, just turn right and
leave!!
Great shame for the crew who never got to see it :(
More lock music
Tonight", great stuff thanks guys, although we are still in the Lock!!
Songs in the lock
So we have been in lock a while now, the entertainment has started,
renditions of Bohemian Rhapsody, Wonderwall and Rock You. Other boats
joining in, great fun, and someone started on the ships horn and now
they are all at that too!
renditions of Bohemian Rhapsody, Wonderwall and Rock You. Other boats
joining in, great fun, and someone started on the ships horn and now
they are all at that too!
Our tracker is at: tinyurl.com/2010rona
Busy Lock
place, breathe in everyone!
Tracker
Our tracker is here:
http://www.tinyurl.com/2010rona
http://www.tinyurl.com/2010rona
We moved under one bridge and have been waiting a while for the lock!
Bring on the parade of sail...
Time to leave....
Right it's time to go... 2pm we slip and head for the first lock.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Fireworks to send us on our way
Thanks Antwerp from all on Rona II.
Stress of the race builds.....
Mr Mate
supper tonight. Parade of sail tomorrow before heading down the river,
it's 80 miles from here to the start line.
World Cup. done
band to see the night in. Most people were rooting for Holland, so the
crowd were a little depressed, with another pile of people
celebrating.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
World Cup Final in Style
score still even, and now a band for half time.
Onward to party
hope they are showing the world cup!
Tug-o-war
story is much like England in the World Cup.
Sun up....
case and the smell of sausages is in the air.
Stories and boasting from last night has already begun, everyone
appears to have enjoyed their first night!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Then came the rain....
torrential rain, thunder and lightning!
The crew plans have changed and now they have all gone to the party
onboard Moose, as it real close.
Photo: Stu and Alex return from a shower and wonder why they went!
Delivery crew hand over to leg 1
condition. We are busy sorting food, and the skipper and mate have
gone to an official dinner while we prepare shepherds pie.
Photo taken with both crews as we handed over.
Tunnel done....
now on on our sat tracker:
http://www.tinyurl.com/2010rona
The photo is what happens if the carriage in front of you on the
Eurotunnel is empty
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Leg 4 Update, Belfast, 14/15th August 2009, final blog.
14th August
What a day, after breakfast some of the crew went on a tour and talk to the shipyard where Titanic was built. We saw the room where the plans were drawn up and then went out to see the slipway where she was built and launched.
After lunch a live telephone link with the space station had been organized and Bryn, Toyin and Luke were able to talk directly with the Astronauts and ask them questions like “is motion sickness in space the same as on sea”. The answer is that people who get seasick do not always get spacesick.
Then it was time to prepare for the crew parade. This was an extremely noisy and boisterous event through the streets of Belfast culminating in the prize giving ceremony.
We won 1st in class for our leg, 1st in class overall for all the legs and a certificate to show that Rona 2 had participated in legs of the race. A fantastic result and one that the Project should be proud of.
The award ceremony was followed by the crew party, this was for all the crews of the ships. Eventually everyone stopped partying and went to bed ready for the final day.
What a day! Titanic tour, live conversation with the space centre and 2 1st prize awards.
15th August, last day
Everybody was up early to clean, complete final packing and say goodbyes.
The minibus arrived and by 1030 we were on our way to the airport saying goodbye to our home and protector for the last 4 weeks, Rona 2.
To sum up this has been a most fantastic experience:-
A crew that have been the best
We have coped with every sort of weather the North Atlantic can throw at us except Sun.
The most wonderful experiences on land and water.
Many new friendships made.
And to top it all we won!!
I feel that I have been privileged to have sailed with such a fantastic team and can only wish everyone fair winds and success in their futures.
Chris Matthews,
Skipper Rona 2.
What a day, after breakfast some of the crew went on a tour and talk to the shipyard where Titanic was built. We saw the room where the plans were drawn up and then went out to see the slipway where she was built and launched.
After lunch a live telephone link with the space station had been organized and Bryn, Toyin and Luke were able to talk directly with the Astronauts and ask them questions like “is motion sickness in space the same as on sea”. The answer is that people who get seasick do not always get spacesick.
Then it was time to prepare for the crew parade. This was an extremely noisy and boisterous event through the streets of Belfast culminating in the prize giving ceremony.
We won 1st in class for our leg, 1st in class overall for all the legs and a certificate to show that Rona 2 had participated in legs of the race. A fantastic result and one that the Project should be proud of.
The award ceremony was followed by the crew party, this was for all the crews of the ships. Eventually everyone stopped partying and went to bed ready for the final day.
What a day! Titanic tour, live conversation with the space centre and 2 1st prize awards.
15th August, last day
Everybody was up early to clean, complete final packing and say goodbyes.
The minibus arrived and by 1030 we were on our way to the airport saying goodbye to our home and protector for the last 4 weeks, Rona 2.
To sum up this has been a most fantastic experience:-
A crew that have been the best
We have coped with every sort of weather the North Atlantic can throw at us except Sun.
The most wonderful experiences on land and water.
Many new friendships made.
And to top it all we won!!
I feel that I have been privileged to have sailed with such a fantastic team and can only wish everyone fair winds and success in their futures.
Chris Matthews,
Skipper Rona 2.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Leg 4 update,13th August 2009
Leg 4 Update, Belfast, 13th August 2009
After a partying on Merrilyn red watch pulled off an amazing breakfast in
the space of only 10 minutes. Our taste buds were blessed with a beautiful
combination of fried eggs, beans and pork burgers (may contain meat).
This gave us the energy to complete the day's tasks. Because most of the
hard work was done yesterday there wasn't too much to do other than some
light cleaning of the heads and the galley. While mother watch was clearing
things away below, blue and white were clearing the deck and re-attaching
the main, which had been taken off to be repaired.
On completion of the chores of the day it was time to have some fun. Those
of us who wanted went bowling at the leisure complex right by our birth. It
was an exciting game, which ended in a nail-biting battle between Paul
Steptoe and the skipper. Paul was quite far ahead, which meant that Chris
required 3 strikes in a row. Amazingly the skipper got 2 and unfortunately
only 9 on the third bowl, which was a great achievement, but not quite
enough to clinch the victory.
At 12 o'clock the five-a-side football matches were on the schedule. A
minibus was waiting for the eager Rona 2 football players. When we arrived
and had overcome the initial organizational issues players were shuffled up
and a few friendly matches with mixed teams were played. The Capitan Miranda
boys were on form in their crew football kit scoring most of the goals.
David and Marcelo from Capitan Miranda and Molly and Eloise from New Moon
were particularly good.
In addition to the sporting activities of the day, crew members were making
trips to Primark in the city centre to get kitted out for our party.
Boys with Primark bags filled to the brim with bright 80s gym clothes came
back throughout the day.
There is a lot of excitement amongst crew members about the party, with the
skipper acquiring an Irish Folk band with the help of our liaison officer
Joanne and a sound system for the music from Matt's laptop being hired from
a local shop.Refreshments being 'wheelbarrowed' in and invitations being
handed out. A proud red-watch moment was the trade of two party invites for
a few crates of Lucozade from some attractive promotion girls who were
handing out Lucozade to the public.
As the day progressed the crowd increased greatly (perhaps to the expected
400.000) There were also many tours of Rona 2 to visitors who were keen to
see what life was like on the boat. It is also always amazing to hear
stories of people who have read our blog and want to put faces to the names
that they have been reading about.
As we were preparing the curry for dinner we realized that we did not have
any curry powder left. In a heroic mission by Bryn, he ran to the local
Indian, 'Indian Ocean', and returned with the manager's personal curry
powder mix. The dinner turned out alright considering it was made with
tinned hot dogs and meatballs.
With the speakers set up and the drinks on ice the party was ready to start.
The first guests started coming in at around 8 o'clock and stories of the
previous night and the day's events were exchanged. The Capitan Miranda boys
turned up too and told us all about life on the navy ship as well as
thanking us for our blogs, which provided them with some entertainment along
the race. During the course of the evening the Irish folk band turned up
with harps, fiddles and pipes to create a perfect party atmosphere on the
boat. Towards the end of the evening there was some concern about the public
coming onto the pontoon without crew badges. However, Rona 2's police
service led by Simon and Bryn dealt with any wrongdoers effectively.
The sheer mass of brightly coloured boys created a spectacle that onlookers
couldn't get enough of, taking pictures and asking to come on all night.
To everyone's disappointment the party drew to a close around 2 am but many
of the lads stayed up to talk about the nights events. It was fair to say
that no one was looking forward to the clean-up operation of the sticky
deck.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank James, Angela and Paul
Connan for the generous donations and driving us around to pick up supplies
for the crew party. Rona 2 is very grateful and the party would not have
been the success it was without their support.
Crew of Rona 2
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