Magic Dog Blog
Thursday and Friday 27 and 28th
The days are beginning to blur – but I am happy – I love
looking out to sea and spend time
watching for Dolphins. The feeders keep
asking me about the weather; Tina even radioed Chris Tibbs on his boat Taistealai
( I like Chris & Helen they were
nice to me in Las Palmas) I wanted to
ask him if he needed my help with the weather! When they ask me what the weather is going to
be – I stop and think and sometimes I say ‘rough’ and that makes them all
laugh! Funny feeders.
I have been talking to some of the animals I have met - Storm Petrels, Turtles, Dolphins and whales
– they seem very interested in me too. A very tiny bird landed on deck for a
rest and we had a chat about living at sea.
The feeders had a crew meeting and ran though all the
hazards and equipment in detail and everyone looked very serious – routines for
fire and man over board were discussed at length – but no one mentioned DOB and
that worried me a little.
The feeders are all working hard and every day they are up
and happy and then stressed and down.
Today was a good example – we began the day with everyone having a happy
breakfast of pancakes with maple syrup and Mango and then it all got very
challenging – first we have a faulty flux gate compass ( get me with the
technical language – not bad for a dog!)this means we have to hand steer on
certain headings - then there notice two holes in the very big flappy white
thing that were caused because we are apparently sailing down wind and the ends
of the – things they call spreaders have rubbed holes. Mark and Tina are sad because they bought sail
repair gear but it was the wrong sail repair gear and the sticky tape they have
is not strong enough. This has caused
some stress and anxiety in the team and I hate that my feeders feel they have
let the team down – they did the best they could – I have watched them
preparing and shopping and doing lists for a year.
It turns out the big flappy thingy is called a Main Sail – I
am learning a lot!
The boys took the Main sail down and did what they could to
repair the holes. There was also a baton coming out so that was removed.
Now we are sailing by hand until we change course again
tomorrow. I hope that everyone will not
be too tired – I will do my best to support them.
Gybing and banging
and squeeking makes me nervous I don’t like it at all and the feeders don’t
like it now either as they are trying not to bang the sail.
But despite the holes in the Mainsail – the furler head not
functioning, the batton missing, the flux gate not functioning, the watermaker
not making water, the broken chart table and the stress in the team…
……..We are doing well ..we are talking it out and working
together
The wind has dropped
and the Weather is great
Information on weather and routing from my friend Andrew is
helping us a lot and it is lovely to know that friends and family are
supporting us from a far
My main concern is that someone spilled coffee all over me,
and the deck, and then I got juice on my
coat from a rotting pepper. We all look
a bit bedraggled!
John cheered us up at the end of the day by catching a very
big Dorado and we are all having that for supper.
I hope today everyone is happier and supports each other
more tomorrow.
Tina says the sailing is the easy part …. It is the repairs
and the team work that are the greatest challenges
She says “The only way out is
through”
My poor feeders are battling