Les Papillons - The start

Log written by jack (8 years old). It was hard saying goodbye to mommy and my brother and sisters on the dock, especially Jessie who was crying, we sailed to the start line which was very exciting with lots of boats. In the night we sailed with the spinnaker, but then it got too windy so we took it down and put the big pole on the front white sail. Dad calls it goose wings or something. Barry and my brother matt got wet from a big wave and I stayed up till 3 o’clock then went to bed because dad and granddad said it was much too windy.This morning the waves are so big they knocked granddad of his chair and daddy and uncle Shane laughed. I wanted to go fishing today, but at 11 knots the fish will not swim as fast as the boat so I am looking forward to my pot Noodle instead for. read more...

Les Papillons - sunny day 3

Log written by jack (8 years old). I have sat at the back of the boat for three hours with my uncle Shane and we have not caught any fish, I don’t think we will catch one today because the waves are really big. I will have to have another pot noodle for lunch. Granddad started playing his banjo but daddy could not think properly so he has been sent to the pointy bit of the boat to sit and practice some songs. Daddy just played a big trick on my brother Matt, he called him on the boat radio from his portable VHS from on the toilet, he pretended to be another boat, it was really funny. But dad said I could not put it in the blog because it was a bit naughty of him, but dad’s just fallen asleep so I have uploaded it.Speak to you tomorrow . read more...

Les Papillons - Day 4 almost caught lunch

Log written by jack (8 years old and 1 more day). Yesterday afternoon uncle Shane caught a big blue shinny fish and then Barry caught the biggest fish I have ever seen. Even though Barry and Shane tried really well, they could not get them on deck. Barry looked very tired after the fish had escaped.As day was getting to dawn loads of dolphins came to play at the front of the boat , it was very exciting. At tea time it was very bumpy and my pot noodle went all over the seat and my new top and uncle Shane had to wash it in the sink.This morning Shane caught two more fish, but they both got away again. Dad said it was now Atlantic fish 5, les Papillons zero. I hope we catch some this afternoon because my pot noodles are getting boring, but still nicer than dads curry that he has been making.. read more...

Les Papillons - day 4 - problems at sea.

Just a few problems to report. Yesterday our VHF bew the fuse and now today it keeps blowing when we try to transmit, so no more VHf. Our SSB radio seems also to only receive and not transmit. 12.15 today, a big bang at the top of the mast and the main sail dropped to the deck at an amazing speed. Pretty annoying as we had had the halyard professionally spliced in Las Palmas! The skipper steve Bennett climbed the mast and made a new halyard, but with the force of the sail falling down it has damaged the track and at present we can only get the main sail 2/3rds of the way up. We hope to have a better solution within the next 24 hours.Fingers crossed for the next 75% of the crossing.. read more...

Les Papillons - day 5 - flying fish

Log written by jack (8 years old). This is so much more fun. Its like going to the zoo. Dad was hanging up the mast for hours yesterday trying to fix the boat after the sail fell down, he looked like a monkey.Barry and Shane lost more fish, I didn't want another pot noodle so I had some of dads sweet and sour chicken, he didn't put his spicy things in so it was ok. In the night three flying fish decided to try and jump over our boat, but they landed on the deck. dad says that we might eat them latter if Barry and uncle shane don't catch any, but there are only two left now as one is on the hook trying to get a bigger fish, ooopppssss its now fallen off.I will ask my brother Matt to get a photo of them so that I can add it to this log latter. Dads just put up three sails at the same time. read more...