Merlyn III - : Merlyn III - D-1 - Reality and other checks

The pirate picture seems to have led some misguided youth to think that we are on some sort of jolly. Far from the truth: work continued unabated the next day, and by the evening - apart from one or two annoying niggles - Merlyn seemed in pretty good shape as we set off for a very jolly dinner hosted by Discovery Yachts for the crews of the five of their yachts taking part in the rally.

Any premature complacency was shattered yesterday: first by the ship's safety and medical briefings in the morning - all the problems which might befall - and then by the arrival of more than 15 crates of fruit and vegetables - all of which had to be washed and dried before stowage!

Hopefully any cockroaches or other nasties were exterminated before we set off to the final pre-start party at the Royal Yacht club. This included fireworks and scantily-clad dancers.

Today, we completed stowage - two crates of lettuce still need a good home - the final niggle with the water maker was solved by our heroic captain, and the ship was cleaned.

Morale is good as we prepare for a relaxed supper and the start at 1 o'clock tomorrow. The forecast is a Force 3-4 north-easterly hopefully picking up a bit as we head round the south of the island and out into the deep rolling sea.

Jonathan