Nick as guest blogger..........this has been the pants
day of the trip, we always need pants days to show up the rest and give us the
full contrast. Today was scorchio, no swimming as we are trying to make best
speed, had to make do with buckets over us instead. Also this was a mysterious
day of no fish even though we were going at a very suitable trawling speed for
tuna. Absence of the ubiquitous flying fish was probably the reason. Feeling our
way through the light evening breeze with our ghoster up and clocking a healthy
6 knots helped by the very flat sea state.
Crew have been trying to bust through the lethargy by
doing several things..........Matt doing proper Japanese coulior ski prep with
some very impressive squats on the foredeck to get ready for his ski trip to
Japan in Jan......girls went through a slightly less rigorous than
usual session on the foredeck due to heat and knowing that the skipper will
not be pressed for swim this time, bingo wings fully reduced and tans coming on
a storm............skipper appears on deck with slightly deranged glint in his
eye and throws in a frantic sail change to keep the crew on their
toes, Carl responding with proper lower deck enthusiasm and is likely to be on
hard tack tonight for insubordination, again!! Yoyo has been lashed to the
galley in sweltering heat totally uncomplaining as ever and produced eggs Benedict and bacon this morning for those lucky enough to be on the dawn
watch. Other Arcites should read this and weep......yes real EGGS BENEDICT with
home made mayo and bacon!! Must have been the Buddhist meditation I taught
her on loving kindness in the dog watch (it was her first experience on night
shift and even thought Hen was a giant octopus when she woke her up)!! and
yes we are still on fresh fish and have never once resorted to hard tack unless
as punishment!
Haig has spent time today away from major repairs except
for the freezer, by thrashing Carl and Yoyo at backgammon. Must be due to an
inordinate time spent in solitary confinement recently!! He also seemed to spend
more time on the foredeck today tweaking our headsail in zero wind........enough
to send any good sailor mad........we then resorted to a complete recording from Blackadder Goes Forth played on the cockpit speakers to stop the crew from
finally sticking pencils up our noses and going wibble.......whats for dinner
tonight Baldric, Rat au Vin Captain Blackadder........and what pray is
that.......it is a rat that has been run over by a van!
Only 1000 miles to go and big winds on their
way..........not Haig winds but proper big winds PLEASE!!
Onwards!!