Gitana - Q&A begins!

Thanks for the first few questions back via the blog/ TPA and the AQA FB
teachers forum (BCK - can you repost some of these answers to that for us)
- keep sending them!

Do check through the blogs for the Maths and Food Tech challenge questions
- we've got a bunch more to send in your direction!

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Portsmouth Academy - over to you first!

> - How do you occupy your time on the boat when you aren't on watch? Does
> it get boring?

We blogged about this the other day, talking about the jobs we're doing on
board. That said, we've all surprised ourselves with how easily we fill
our time! There's always lots to do and we've always been surprised about
the things we meant to do but never quite get round to. We've just
reached the half way point and I have not felt bored for a second yet!

> - Have you caught any cool fish?

So far we've got lots of fresh food still, so we don't want to be wasteful
and fish when we don't need to. That said, we've had lots of flying fish
shooting past the boat, one landed on the foredeck (we didn't see it land
so couldn't rescue it in time). One landed right next to the helm
yesterday, made us jump as it was flapping around, managed a quick rescue
and all was well! (More fishing news next week)

> - Have you been up the mast at sea?

Not yet! We had to go up in port before we left to put some padding on
the rigging to protect the sails on the journey. Some of that padding has
been worn through so when we get a calm day hopefully i'll get up the
rigging. Have some great photos from the top of the mast last week!

> - What has been your favourite thing so far?

For James, it's huge - total amazement that after two years of hard work
he got to drive his boatd and crew across the start line of the ARC2018!
Very emotional moment!

For me - sitting on the bow of the boat as a pod of dolphins played and
danced in the water underneath us. They followed us for 20mins, totally
transfixed!!! Amazing!

For Dave - Moment on the helm as Gitana was flying like a train through
the water, 9-10kts perfect conditions, no autohelm, just Dave (heavy
weather helm legend!) at the wheel, sails set on a broad reach!

For Des - Star studded skies at night and sunsets have been incredible

For Mike - Leaving the marina for the start, was an emotional moment as
all the boats started to leave to begin the journey.

> - TJ - when are you coming back, you are the best teacher!

TJ - spread the word! Flying back to the UK 21st December and back in
school 7th January! Looking forward to seeing you all!

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AQA Teachers forum (FB)

> - Liz Cullis-Hunt asked "Where is the deepest point you cross?"
Deepest point on our journey is 5574m (18*31'N,37*30'W) really close to
our halfway point, just East of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge!

> - Emily Hartley asked "What is the furthest point you will be from land
> during the whole journey and where is that point on the crossing? (And
> what is the land that is closest at that point?)"
Although sailing from Las Palmas in the Canaries to St.Lucia in the
Caribbean, turns out our further point from land is actually half way
between the Brazil coast and the Cape Verde Islands.

18*11'N, 42*10W - 782nautical miles from land (Santo Antao, Cape Verde &
Cabo Orange, Brazil) depth of 4600m and about 1550nautical miles into our
journey.

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We've got a few more to come from the Geography teachers forums and from
school - keep them coming!

Update today - 1665nautical miles to go (almost half way!!) and still 3rd
in class (we were 1st yesteday briefly, but Degree of Latitude keeps
nipping at our tails! The prize is still certainly up for grabs!

Until tomorrow!
K (Miss if i teach you!)
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SY Gitana