Gozwoz - Stop Press! The Incident of the Bucket

Some of the qualities of the Bosun will have become apparent to the reader over the last few weeks. Resourcefulness has been mentioned. A willingness to lead with his head has been mentioned. Also there is a tendency towards hyperactivity. Finally there is a desire to excel, if possible on a public stage.We were motoring towards the mainland, having crossed the shipping lanes and were looking forward to our first view of the cliffs of Southern Portugal when the Navigator, who was engaged on the swimming platform in scrubbing the fenders which had become encrusted with chicken manure in Ponta Delgada, dropped the bucket he was using which floated off behind the boat. Instantly the crew went into man overboard mode, OGL kept his eyes on the precious object and directed the skilful Coxswain. read more...

Gozwoz - Days 5 and 6 from Santa Maria

Last night the Navigator had the good fortune to sleep, though not simultaneously, with both the Bosun and Roger, who kindly allowed me to share their double berth in the stern while we were sailing upwind and they were respectively on watch. It was good to sleep somewhere that did not involve episodes of weightlessness as the bow came down. The Bosun, who seems to have kept a possessive eye on proceedings, commented that the Navigator was appropriately positioned on his edge of the bed, as he had been trained, but that Roger was in the middle. Her explanation was that the Navigator was monopolising the duvet. That allegation, which is familiar to the Navigator, is no doubt relied upon by all women when appropriate.Sadly Our Great Leader did not have an enjoyable start to the day,. read more...

Gozwoz - Day 4 from Santa Maria

The Bosun's reason for being on the rally is that he wanted some proper ocean sailing which the westward ARC had not provided. He then complained that the previous legs on ARC Europe had not provided what he wanted. He accepts that the present conditions are meeting his expectations, although they are not such as to induce merriment.Since 4pm yesterday we have been sailing on a course for Cape St Vincent hard into a NNE wind of F4/5. The sea is choppy and GOZWOZ is going at it like a lopsided hobby horse, albeit a very seaworthy one. While the conditions are no worse than you might find in the Irish Sea with the same wind, coping with them for the unexpected 48 hours or so is the challenge. The positive factor is that we are making good speed and preserving our northing. An arrival late. read more...

Gozwoz - Day 3 from Santa Maria

We have now been motoring for two days and have covered over 300 miles of the 800 or so to Lagos. There has been a slight change in the wind, which has not been over F2 for some time, and which went to the NE at 7/8 knots. We tried to sail this but our course was well to the south of Cape St Vincent which we must round before reaching Lagos and returned to motoring after a short while to preserve our northing. Other yachts in our vicinity have gone through the same process and we have seen three crossing our stern from north to south while attempting to make progress under sail. Most appear to have given up.There is nothing much to report from yesterday. The only newsworthy events were the appearance of two whales and in the same area a pod of dolphins engaged in fishing, that is. read more...

Gozwoz - Day 2 from Santa Maria

A day of motoring in a flat sea that often resembled a mirror. We are getting good efficiency from the diesel engine in this sea and are using about 2-3 litres fuel per hour whilst still getting 6-7 knots of forward motion.The main event today was the sighting of two whales - not so much a sighting because the first was only 20 metres from the bow coming across from starboard to port, the second seen a few minutes later only 40 metres from our stern on the same course as the first. Majestic creatures, they both had prominent fins, the first being smaller.The weather is agreeing with the GRIB files for once and we are still making a little northing in preparation for our southerly turn towards Lagos.. read more...