Sunday, 16 July 2017
Getting Ready
Just collecting my things together for the first few days of the Pennine Way. I catch the train on Saturday morning and meet J and K at Manchester Piccadilly then it is on to Edale and the first day of walking on Sunday. This will be a short blog to start with as we are only doing 3 days because I am jetting off to Australia on 27th!!!
Tuesday, 25 October 2016
Sunday 24 March 2002
On 4-8 watch we saw one dolphin and one fishing net buoy. Had a philosophical discussion withThomas about green issues, energy, recycling, fishing etc. Our views are very similar.
We cleaned the bridge again. Had a lecture on lights and shapes.
At the morning brief, captain said we would probably motor for 48 hours to get near the westerly winds (we are heading NE). At the moment we are in the centre of a high, however, 10 minutes later the winds picked up and we spent the next hour setting sail and squaring yards. Nice sunny day but a cool breeze.
Lunch was chicken and pasta soup then a sort of spaghetti with tomato sauce and sausage.
We are having a knot-tying competition at 4 so we spent an hour practising knots. We came 2nd - I got a single sheet bend to do and got it right first time.
In the boat race we had spaceship and female astonaut (with helmet). Thomas was our first person and he came easy first. Stewart was our second and came 2nd! We are streets ahead just now.
Took the sails down at 6pm - now on engines. Dinner was roast beef and yorkshire pud, roast spuds, cabbage and carrots. afters, melon, pineapple and ice cream.
We cleaned the bridge again. Had a lecture on lights and shapes.
At the morning brief, captain said we would probably motor for 48 hours to get near the westerly winds (we are heading NE). At the moment we are in the centre of a high, however, 10 minutes later the winds picked up and we spent the next hour setting sail and squaring yards. Nice sunny day but a cool breeze.
Lunch was chicken and pasta soup then a sort of spaghetti with tomato sauce and sausage.
We are having a knot-tying competition at 4 so we spent an hour practising knots. We came 2nd - I got a single sheet bend to do and got it right first time.
In the boat race we had spaceship and female astonaut (with helmet). Thomas was our first person and he came easy first. Stewart was our second and came 2nd! We are streets ahead just now.
Took the sails down at 6pm - now on engines. Dinner was roast beef and yorkshire pud, roast spuds, cabbage and carrots. afters, melon, pineapple and ice cream.
Saturday 23 March 2002
Took first lookout port side, it was quite dark and the phosphorous was glinting in the water. A ship appeared off our port front quarter about 7 miles away. Two dolphins leapt out of the water on our starboard side. Got quite cold.
Helped to overhaul the fore course and buntlins and slightly square the fore t'gallants and royals. After happy hour we had a tacky souvenir competition (1st Red, 2nd White, 3rd Blue, last Volunteer crew) then a video on the life boats and life rafts. In the middle we were visited by a US navy helicopter. In radio contact the pilot said they were part of a US navy fleet bound for the Med and they may "come to have a look" at us!!
They asked what we were doing and we replied "having a BBQ, want to join us?"
Lunch was veg soup, cold meat and salad. On 4-8 watch we took in all square sails as we were only doing 2 nots. Now we are on engines doing 7 nots. Sailing north to, hopefully, pick up the westerlies of a depression.
Supper was lamb (?) chunks braised, saffron rice and spinach, water melon, angel delight and cream. After dinner we did spaghetti run to tidy up all the ropes.
Helped to overhaul the fore course and buntlins and slightly square the fore t'gallants and royals. After happy hour we had a tacky souvenir competition (1st Red, 2nd White, 3rd Blue, last Volunteer crew) then a video on the life boats and life rafts. In the middle we were visited by a US navy helicopter. In radio contact the pilot said they were part of a US navy fleet bound for the Med and they may "come to have a look" at us!!
They asked what we were doing and we replied "having a BBQ, want to join us?"
Lunch was veg soup, cold meat and salad. On 4-8 watch we took in all square sails as we were only doing 2 nots. Now we are on engines doing 7 nots. Sailing north to, hopefully, pick up the westerlies of a depression.
Supper was lamb (?) chunks braised, saffron rice and spinach, water melon, angel delight and cream. After dinner we did spaghetti run to tidy up all the ropes.
Friday 22 March 2002
Didn't have to get up for early watch - bliss!! Got up at 7.15. We have changed watches now and we are on the 4-8 stint. Wind strengthening.
As we left Bermuds it started to rain. We managed to get the sails hoisted and set before the rain really came down, very choppy seas. Got soaked stowing all the ropes. Even before all sails set we were doing 9 nots. Captain has just announced that we might be rolling a bit but we are doing 13.5 nots. It is now 11:45am. We ae on second sitting for lunch, which I'm told is macaroni cheese on toast. The soup was muligatawny and was served in cups because the ship is tossing about a lot.
Before we set sail Joe, the 3rd officer, went ashore to take his moped back and he retrieved Paul's baseball cap from the Caffe Latte internet cafe.
Wish I had been able to phone home or touch base somehow yesterday. I miss Al and my girls. Dinner was shepherd's pie, peas and sweetcorn with roasted sweet potatoes (not very nice). Pudding was tinned fruit in a pie and custard, fair to OK!
Came off watch at 8pm, had a shower and washed my hair (also undies and zip trousers), went to bed and read for a while. Light out at 9.30pm. Woke several times during the night. Up at 3.30am to go on watch.
As we left Bermuds it started to rain. We managed to get the sails hoisted and set before the rain really came down, very choppy seas. Got soaked stowing all the ropes. Even before all sails set we were doing 9 nots. Captain has just announced that we might be rolling a bit but we are doing 13.5 nots. It is now 11:45am. We ae on second sitting for lunch, which I'm told is macaroni cheese on toast. The soup was muligatawny and was served in cups because the ship is tossing about a lot.
Before we set sail Joe, the 3rd officer, went ashore to take his moped back and he retrieved Paul's baseball cap from the Caffe Latte internet cafe.
Wish I had been able to phone home or touch base somehow yesterday. I miss Al and my girls. Dinner was shepherd's pie, peas and sweetcorn with roasted sweet potatoes (not very nice). Pudding was tinned fruit in a pie and custard, fair to OK!
Came off watch at 8pm, had a shower and washed my hair (also undies and zip trousers), went to bed and read for a while. Light out at 9.30pm. Woke several times during the night. Up at 3.30am to go on watch.
Thursday 21 March 2002
BERMUDA!
Got up- at 3.40 to do 2 hours on harbour watch. Couldn't wake Bob - had to send the other Anita down. Went to wake Stewart but he was unconscious!! 5 of us couldn't wake him! Stayed up at the end of harbour watch because I am on Bosun's duties. We hosed and scrubbed the decks then got stood down so I went on shore with Sally and Paul. I tried unsuccessfully to send some emails. Then we bought tickets and went on the bus to Hamilton. Had a lovely pizza and 1/2 bottle of chardonay for lunch. Caught ferry to HM Dockyard and went round the maritime museum. Ferry took 90 minutes as it called in at all the villages! Museum was fascinating, though the captive dolphins were not! Caught buses back to St George. Went to see if Paul's hat was in the cafe but no luck - closed!
Went out with Paul and Russ for fish and chips!! Went to bed around 10pm then up at 1.25 with upset tum!
Blue watch has been augmented by Thomas, a German chap who is hitching a lift to the Azores. He was waiting for a yacht which has got into difficulty with a broken prop and a torn sail, so he asked if he could join us. His English is very good and he is a very willing worker. He has the bunk next to mine.
Got up- at 3.40 to do 2 hours on harbour watch. Couldn't wake Bob - had to send the other Anita down. Went to wake Stewart but he was unconscious!! 5 of us couldn't wake him! Stayed up at the end of harbour watch because I am on Bosun's duties. We hosed and scrubbed the decks then got stood down so I went on shore with Sally and Paul. I tried unsuccessfully to send some emails. Then we bought tickets and went on the bus to Hamilton. Had a lovely pizza and 1/2 bottle of chardonay for lunch. Caught ferry to HM Dockyard and went round the maritime museum. Ferry took 90 minutes as it called in at all the villages! Museum was fascinating, though the captive dolphins were not! Caught buses back to St George. Went to see if Paul's hat was in the cafe but no luck - closed!
Went out with Paul and Russ for fish and chips!! Went to bed around 10pm then up at 1.25 with upset tum!
Blue watch has been augmented by Thomas, a German chap who is hitching a lift to the Azores. He was waiting for a yacht which has got into difficulty with a broken prop and a torn sail, so he asked if he could join us. His English is very good and he is a very willing worker. He has the bunk next to mine.
Wednesday 20 March 2002
BERMUDA!!
Had a bad night, couldn't get to sleep till after 2am. Got up at 5.45am, on watch at 8am. I took the helm on 000degrees, wind NNE force 8, swells about 15-20ft. I had to be clipped on to the port rail to prevent me slipping. Quite cool though fairly sunny. Looking forward towards the bowsprit, one moment it was aimed at the sky, the next you thought it would go straight to the bottom, the angle was so steep, then it would rise up on the swell and start again. At 8.30 I went on starb'd lookout and saw a family of Atlantic Spotted dolphins with babies. At least 6+ in the group. Babies could not quite jump out of the water but belly flopped back into the waves. Fantastic. Lunch was spicy beef soup and beans, cold meat and salad, water melon.
Next stop Bermuda for 2 nights. Could not do our washing as it is too rough. All except waist and bridge out of bounds.
8.52pm - we did a dog watch today in order to shift the watch timings around, so now blue watch are on the 4-9 stint. At 4pm we braced the yards and I had an altercation with Chaz the Red WL for allegedly messing up the fore t'gallant. Actually it was Elizabeth the medic who came to "help" me. I spoke to Chaz because she was slagging me off to her watch. She apologised but said she was giving everyone a bollacking not me in particular (which was patently not true).
Dinner was roast chicken, potatoes, cauli and courgettes followed by toffee ice cream and mango.
I have volunteered to do the 4-6am harbour watch so I should see the sun rise. I am also on Bosun's duties tomorrow.
Everyone has gone on shore leave except Sally and myself.
Had a bad night, couldn't get to sleep till after 2am. Got up at 5.45am, on watch at 8am. I took the helm on 000degrees, wind NNE force 8, swells about 15-20ft. I had to be clipped on to the port rail to prevent me slipping. Quite cool though fairly sunny. Looking forward towards the bowsprit, one moment it was aimed at the sky, the next you thought it would go straight to the bottom, the angle was so steep, then it would rise up on the swell and start again. At 8.30 I went on starb'd lookout and saw a family of Atlantic Spotted dolphins with babies. At least 6+ in the group. Babies could not quite jump out of the water but belly flopped back into the waves. Fantastic. Lunch was spicy beef soup and beans, cold meat and salad, water melon.
Next stop Bermuda for 2 nights. Could not do our washing as it is too rough. All except waist and bridge out of bounds.
8.52pm - we did a dog watch today in order to shift the watch timings around, so now blue watch are on the 4-9 stint. At 4pm we braced the yards and I had an altercation with Chaz the Red WL for allegedly messing up the fore t'gallant. Actually it was Elizabeth the medic who came to "help" me. I spoke to Chaz because she was slagging me off to her watch. She apologised but said she was giving everyone a bollacking not me in particular (which was patently not true).
Dinner was roast chicken, potatoes, cauli and courgettes followed by toffee ice cream and mango.
I have volunteered to do the 4-6am harbour watch so I should see the sun rise. I am also on Bosun's duties tomorrow.
Everyone has gone on shore leave except Sally and myself.
Tuesday 19 March 2002
I woke early to grey sky and rising seas. The sun cleared the cloud by 9.30 and on watch I saw hundreds of tiny rainbows as the wind whipped the tops off the waves and as the sun caught the spray it turned into rainbows. Pancakes at breakfast.
Baby Bosun Jane took us off to scrub the decks, then back on watch. Speed reached 10.2 nots, course now 010 degrees.
Lunch was minestrone soup, jacket potatoes, cheese, beans and tuna. Dinner was spicy pork chops, linguini pasta, carrots and green beans. Chocolate sponge and chocolate sauce.
At 1600 we took in the royals and the main t'gallant. Later we took in the fore t'gallant.
In the boat race we came 1st and 2nd! Volunteer crew had a fantastic sail and out-riggers plus lights!! Red had a huge Dalek, we had a razor, tooth brush and tooth paste!!
Baby Bosun Jane took us off to scrub the decks, then back on watch. Speed reached 10.2 nots, course now 010 degrees.
Lunch was minestrone soup, jacket potatoes, cheese, beans and tuna. Dinner was spicy pork chops, linguini pasta, carrots and green beans. Chocolate sponge and chocolate sauce.
At 1600 we took in the royals and the main t'gallant. Later we took in the fore t'gallant.
In the boat race we came 1st and 2nd! Volunteer crew had a fantastic sail and out-riggers plus lights!! Red had a huge Dalek, we had a razor, tooth brush and tooth paste!!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)