Free Spirit - Log 31 - an unfortunate incident

I share the concerns of the Captain about the everincreasing odd and obsessive behavior of the Chief Engineer.  I am also alittle surprised and concerned at my own reaction to thatbehaviour. Today, after lunch, the engine was turned off sothat the oil could be checked.  The Chief Engineer was clearly disappointedand somewhat agitated to learn that whipper-snapper, and not the Chief Engineer,would be checking the oil.  The galley was then fully occupied,whipper-snapper sitting on the floor reaching into the engine compartmentchecking the oil and me at the sink drying the last few dishes.  The ChiefEngineer suddenly decided that he wanted to recheck the couplings attaching theengine to the propeller shaft - no harm in that but absolutely no urgencyeither.  However,. read more...

Free Spirit - Log 30: 15 June 2015

Miracles will never cease. At around midnight theloom of the lighthouse on Cape St. Vincent, the most southwesterly point ofcontinental Europe, lit up the night sky over the bow. Free Spirit, and hermotley crew of vagabonds, thieves and Carole are back! This news is sureto be greeted with great joy in the old country. I expect the bunting willbe out and there will be and music and dancing in the streets. Theexcitement of the young women who have been emailing the young whipper-snapperevery day - sometimes several times a day -must be boundless. Perhaps DavidCameron will order a public holiday and Her Majesty will send us a note ofcongratulation. Or perhaps not.  We are currently sailing (motoring) along the coastof the Algarve towards the bay of Cadiz. read more...

Free Spirit - Log 29: 14 June 2015

The Chief Engineer, known to be a bit odd at thebest of times, seems to have taken a turn for the worse. There areworrying signs of obsession. Last night his head appeared in thecompanionway demanding to check the engine oil. What's wrong withthat? you might say. "He is Chief Engineer after all". Well, nothingexcept that it was around midnight and the oil had been checked just afew hours earlier. Thinking he must have been havinga nightmare about engine failure with a massive supertankerbaring down upon us at a rate of knots -  or something of the sort - Ireassured him everything was OK and suggested he go back to bed, which heeventually did. But not, unfortunately, before waking the Judge. read more...

Free Spirit - Log 28: 13 June 2015

This is my first attempt at a blog, but given thatwe are now at about the half way point on the final leg I feel that time isrunning out.  The usual caveat applies - thanks to Peter, Carol, Ian,Richard and Louis for their assistance in preparing this blog.  I am theauthor but they are responsible for any mistakes or errors.  Also a warningthat having lived for 20 years in the offshore world, I am entirely judgmentproof so there is no point in bringing any legal proceedings.   It has been quite a tough trip so far: (I) numerous comments in the Captain's blog (whichwill be entered into the Booker Prize for fiction next year) about my diet.These comments are not, in fact, confined to the blog as even Ian made a commenttoday about the size of my bottom (I think that the. read more...

Free Spirit - Log 28: 13 June 2015 (Captain's Postscript)

Here's a conversation that took place in thecockpit yesterday.Me: "Ian, is it true that you have to pay a forfeitto the charity you are collecting for on this trip every time you are sea sick?" Ian: "Yes". Me: "And did I see you puking over the sideyesterday?" Michael: "Yes you did and it gave me great pleasurenot because I was being sick at the same time and appreciated thecompany, but because Louis reprimanded him for being sick towindward." Ian: "I was puking to windward because yourbig arse was in the way as you were puking to leeward." Michael: "But it's a big deck." Ian: "Yes, and you've got a bigarse."  Charming isn't it.. read more...