Being a dog at sea there are certain delicate subjects we
don’t discuss but just so you are not concerned for me I have to report that
all systems are working well. It has
taken me four days to settle and I think the people are the same. It is odd at sea as our address keeps
changing – apparently just now we are at 26.17.2N 25 09.31 W
There is an endless amount of entertainment for me on the
yacht watching the feeders working. They
are a good pack and work together well, but I have noticed that sometimes they
are tired and stressed – that’s where I come in to make them smile or give them
a hug. They call it May Watch when they
have to pick me up and cuddle me – but of course really I am looking after
them.
It is 2.30pm and all is calm. Mark is on watch with Tina –
Simon is watching a movie and Lottie and Nisse are having a well-earned
rest. John is on deck with Mark. I love all the food they are making –
spaghetti carbonara (that has Bacon!) Chicken Casserole (I love chicken)
Scrambled Eggs and Smoked Salmon (my favorite)
They are also eating a lot of fresh fruit – which is frankly weird. I love Lottie – she is a really good cook and
when she cooks I sit on her feet – not just because she has pretty feet but
also because it stops me slipping across the floor and because she always gives
me treats from her yummy food. I love
watching Lottie and my mum – Tina cooking on board as it is funny – they have
to dance about and help each other hold things as the boat is rolling about
like a barrel in a stream. I like it but
it makes the feeders tasks seem harder.
I have to tell you
though – I am tired this after noon because I have had a lot of looking after
to do during the last 24 hours. Things
have been very busy on Magic.
I will tell you what was happening.
During the night there were squalls and heavy rain. The
people were wearing their funny suits again and looking very serious.
Nisse was ill with a fever and Lottie was nursing him. Everyone has been rushing about so much I
think they are tired.
Then I heard something I don’t understand – a concerned
voice said “ the steering and auto pilot seems to be failing” the feeders all
looked very worried and were talking about having to go to Cape Verde as the
steering wouldn’t last the whole trip to St Lucia. They had to do something
called “hand steer” what ever that is.
They didn’t look very happy about it.
They worked as a team all night and when the dawn came they focused on
the problem they had. Nisse (who was
still feeling ill but carried on) and Simon went into the bedrooms at the back
of the boat (I think they said the Port and Starboard bunks at the stern –
odd?) they took the roof down and saw
that there was a wire thingy that had jumped out of a disk thingy –and there
was a chain thing that had come out of the cogs I felt that they were worried
because all the people were worried. They
got out the Emergency Tiller (I thought
– good thing that nice lady Anna from the ARC safety check team made the
feeders find it and check it fitted.)
Then they worked on taking down the
biggest white flappy thingy that they had been tending so carefully it
made me jealous. John, Nisse and Simon
looked like they were in control as they stood on deck. As the big flappy
thingy came down they wrapped it up while John and Tina pulled on some bits of
string to help them.
There was a lot of noise – creaking and banging and
whistling wind. Then Nisse and Simon –
the “fix everything” feeders, focused and worked together to fix the problem –
meanwhile outside – the on deck team with the “emergency tiller” in place
sailed the boat very carefully whilst handing tools and grease to the fix
everything feeders.
Soon it was all over.
I felt that they were all relived – but they were all very quite for a
long time. Then things sort of got back
to normal – what ever that is anymore!!
They tidied away the tools and the “emergency tiller” and declared
that the now repaired, tightened and greased, steering was better than new –
then there was a hesitant moment when they said “put the auto pilot on” not sure what that is but they were all
looking at the button and the round wheels.
They seemed happy that all was well and when they are happy I am
happy.
Then on to more serious matters – breakfast! I was delighted when they decided to have
scrambled eggs and smoked salmon – that’s my favorite – it was raining and
windy and grey so to cheer them selves then had chips for lunch – My mum Tina
has a thing called an Actifry on the boat and it makes everyone very happy to
have chips safely. I don’t really like
chips that much so I don’t get it – but I love it when the feeders and all
smiling. My mum likes that too – that is
something she is very concerned with. I
think she is like me – she feels it if people are not happy and it makes her
unhappy.
So everyone was happy – chips for lunch and there was even sun
in the sky – then there was a bang and the big flappy thingy seems to
fall. Poor feeders they had just relaxed
and now they all looked very worried again.
It was very windy and I heard Simon say that “the Main Halyard had
slipped dropping the main part way” they
do say odd things. They pulled on string
and made that grinding noise I hate with the big silver drums and then all
seemed to be well.
Now dinner is made – Chicken Casserole and everyone is
resting – apart from me as I am writing my blog ….
This sailing life is great for me with all the fresh air,
strange other animals to see and delicious food but I am not sure that the
feeders are having a good time. I hope
that they don’t have any more stress now and that we can all enjoy ourselves.
Mum got the following email from an old friend just now and it made her
very happy so she had a little cry – I love my mum so I am off now to give her
a cuddle
May the Maltese on Magic
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