I'm on galley duties today so I got up at 6am. On duty by 6.30. As well as setting and clearning tables and serving food, it was CO's inspection and we cleaned the galley walls, tops, fridge etc. I scrubbed the floor as well. Then I made the salad, served lunch (Scotch broth, pizza and salad). I did washing up and boy were the pizza dishes hard! Got stood down at 1400 - 16:30.
In the morning we watched a film on cold water survival and Jon Buoys. You should always keep a hypothermic person laying down with their legs elevated to prevent collapse due to blood rushing back into the legs and depriving essential organs of oxygen/blood.
We had rock cakes for afternoon tea! Supper was chilli with rice, peas and sweet corn, pistachio ice cream and mango and pineapple.
Had a shower and washed my hair, can of coke and bed by 8.30pm to read - bliss!
Ship swaying a lot. Braced yards to starboard at 7pm ready to set sails as soon as wind veers to westerly.
Tuesday, 25 October 2016
Sunday 17 March 2002
Porrige and smoked haddock for breakfast. Went on watch at 8am and at 8.30 the Captain decided we would have to take in all the sails and start the engine so that we can sail in the right direction! I stayed on the helm but everyone else hauled and stowed the sails. At 10:35 we did happy hour. I was on hoover duties in the Wardroom and Chartroom but I also did Blue Watch bunk rooms.
I was told to alter course to due north and we are now doing 9 nots. There's a lot more cloud and the wind is picking up (still from the north) so it is cooler.
Lunch was oxtail soup (worst I've ever tasted) and pasta bake with salad, then melon. Tonight we are having St Patrick's Day celebrations with fancy dress, games, Irish Stew and beer!! My watch is only allowed one beer (or wine) as we go on watch at 8pm. In the end I didn't have any wine as you had to buy a bottle and find people to share with. Dinner was Irish Stew with potatoes and carrots and then a sort of trifle with fruit, chocolate Angel Delight and cream.
I was told to alter course to due north and we are now doing 9 nots. There's a lot more cloud and the wind is picking up (still from the north) so it is cooler.
Lunch was oxtail soup (worst I've ever tasted) and pasta bake with salad, then melon. Tonight we are having St Patrick's Day celebrations with fancy dress, games, Irish Stew and beer!! My watch is only allowed one beer (or wine) as we go on watch at 8pm. In the end I didn't have any wine as you had to buy a bottle and find people to share with. Dinner was Irish Stew with potatoes and carrots and then a sort of trifle with fruit, chocolate Angel Delight and cream.
Saturday 16 March 2002
Got up at 6am. Sat on focs'l drinking tea and chatting to Dia. Breakfast cereal and toast. On morning watch we did "Man Overboard" drill using a red gallon plastic container with a face painted on it. We had to brace the main mast to starboard to make the ship stop, put on the engine, lower the rib and retrieve the "man" and the life ring. Michael is still ill, so with Steward on "Ents" committee, we had only 3 on the bridge again.
Lunch was soup, ham/cheese toasties. Heading 340-350 degrees. Log showed 4.5 nots, 1/8 cloud, slight sea, wind scale 4 Easterly.
We did the boat race again. I came last but because 2 teams were disqualified, I got 2nd place!!
It is Elizabeth's birthday so we had birthday cake.
Dinner was braised steak, mash, carrots and green beans, then fruit sponge and custard.
Quite cool on watch this evening. First sliver of a moon which cast a lovely beam of light on the surface of the sea. Wind is very light and from the north. Only way we can sail is with it on the starb'd beam, so we made 3-4 nots but in the wrong direction!!
Lunch was soup, ham/cheese toasties. Heading 340-350 degrees. Log showed 4.5 nots, 1/8 cloud, slight sea, wind scale 4 Easterly.
We did the boat race again. I came last but because 2 teams were disqualified, I got 2nd place!!
It is Elizabeth's birthday so we had birthday cake.
Dinner was braised steak, mash, carrots and green beans, then fruit sponge and custard.
Quite cool on watch this evening. First sliver of a moon which cast a lovely beam of light on the surface of the sea. Wind is very light and from the north. Only way we can sail is with it on the starb'd beam, so we made 3-4 nots but in the wrong direction!!
Friday 15 March 2002
We have the flying Gib and 2 others, all foresails, 2 staysails and main tops'l, t'gallants and royals set. Wind was light until 11.30am and it was difficult keeping course so that wind filled the sails. Speed rose to 7notts. Lunch -soup then smoked salmon, cheese, salad, cold meat and left-over trifle.
Did some rope/knot work with Russ my WL then had a sleep, shower etc. During early watch there was a whale sighting and 2 dolphins, all unidentified. This afternoon I watched tuna bow-riding the ship. They were about 1m long, silvery pink on underside, dark on top.
At 5pm we started the inter-watch boat race. Blue watch (mine) got a first and a second.
Dinner was dolphin fish, cauliflower, peas and little roasties. Crumble and custard. Now I'm off to pull on some more ropes (6pm).
Beautiful sunset
Did some rope/knot work with Russ my WL then had a sleep, shower etc. During early watch there was a whale sighting and 2 dolphins, all unidentified. This afternoon I watched tuna bow-riding the ship. They were about 1m long, silvery pink on underside, dark on top.
At 5pm we started the inter-watch boat race. Blue watch (mine) got a first and a second.
Dinner was dolphin fish, cauliflower, peas and little roasties. Crumble and custard. Now I'm off to pull on some more ropes (6pm).
Beautiful sunset
Monday, 24 October 2016
Thursday 14 March 2002
Woke at 5.55 and got up just after 6am then went to watch the sun rise. The land (St Barths) was much closer than I thought it was - just about a hundred yards from the ship! The sea is even paler blue than in St Lucia, chrystal clear for about 30m. I saw a shoal of fish about 4" long scatter when a shark-like fish about 4ft long came into their midst.
After "Happy Hour" we all went ashore. I bought, wrote and posted 10 cards. Had a mediocre lunch of chicken tortilla sandwich. I bought some more sun tan lotion as I think I might need it! Returned to the ship at 13:30, did some washing, moved my clothes to a different locker, had a shower and washed & dried my hair.
We are due to set sail for Bermuda immediately after dinner.
Saw some pelicans and a couple of frigate birds.
We had one sitting for dinner which was lasagne and trifle then IMMEDIATELY after dinner we sailed off the anchor which meant having one sail braced to starboard and one to port with sails set, so we had to do a lot of handling and pulling. Once off the anchor and underway we put the engines on for about 1.5 hours to ensure we cleared Antigua.
After "Happy Hour" we all went ashore. I bought, wrote and posted 10 cards. Had a mediocre lunch of chicken tortilla sandwich. I bought some more sun tan lotion as I think I might need it! Returned to the ship at 13:30, did some washing, moved my clothes to a different locker, had a shower and washed & dried my hair.
We are due to set sail for Bermuda immediately after dinner.
Saw some pelicans and a couple of frigate birds.
We had one sitting for dinner which was lasagne and trifle then IMMEDIATELY after dinner we sailed off the anchor which meant having one sail braced to starboard and one to port with sails set, so we had to do a lot of handling and pulling. Once off the anchor and underway we put the engines on for about 1.5 hours to ensure we cleared Antigua.
Wednesday 13 March 2002
Woke at 5.55 then dozed off again. Woke with a start at 7.10 with just enough time for a quick wash and up to breakfast. No queeziness today. Sea slight, sun hot. Went on watch at 8am and spent most of the watch on helm and lookout.
Lunch was carrot and lentil soup, cauliflower cheese, water melon.
Apparently there was a humpback whale and calf spotted about 1/4 to 1/2 a mile off the starboard side at 1300GMT.
There was a squal while we were on watch and there was a fantastic rainbow with the ship seeming to go right into the centre of it.
We anchored off St Barths at about 12.30am (00:30).
Dinner was port steak with carrots and tumeric rice followed by coffee ice cream/fruit salad/rice pud.
Lunch was carrot and lentil soup, cauliflower cheese, water melon.
Apparently there was a humpback whale and calf spotted about 1/4 to 1/2 a mile off the starboard side at 1300GMT.
There was a squal while we were on watch and there was a fantastic rainbow with the ship seeming to go right into the centre of it.
We anchored off St Barths at about 12.30am (00:30).
Dinner was port steak with carrots and tumeric rice followed by coffee ice cream/fruit salad/rice pud.
Tuesday 12 March 2002
I am a Day Worker today, helping the bosun. Woke at 5.45 as I was told I would be called at 6am but I wasn't. Went to first sitting breakfast at 7.20 but felt a little queezy so had small bowl of cereal only. Took a pill. Bosun had us aloft loosing the ties on the main lower and upper topsails, then likewise on 2 bowsails. We also set one staysail. Then it was "Happy Hour" and I went back to my watch to do cleaning. I got lumbered with scrubbing the deck on the bridge so had to lift and shift all the black mats. After Happy Hour the bosun had us scrubbing the boat deck and foredeck. I also cleaned out the drain-aways.
Lunch was chicken and celery soup - I didn't have any main course as I was still a bit queezy. Had another pill. Bosun let us have 1.30-3.30 off for a kip and boy did I need it! We started chipping pain but got called away to a lecture. After dinner (meat pie, boiled spuds, carrots and beans, rice pud) we were told to help in the galley so I did all the washing up (2nd sitting). Then we had a whale lecture. I had a quick shower and change then joined my watch as we are so short-handed. Only 7 of us and 3 are ill - not sure they are as ill as they say, or think they are!! The stars were incredibly bright and clear. We steered 300 degrees and headed towards the straight between Monserat and Antigua. Not a sign of life on the sea.
Lunch was chicken and celery soup - I didn't have any main course as I was still a bit queezy. Had another pill. Bosun let us have 1.30-3.30 off for a kip and boy did I need it! We started chipping pain but got called away to a lecture. After dinner (meat pie, boiled spuds, carrots and beans, rice pud) we were told to help in the galley so I did all the washing up (2nd sitting). Then we had a whale lecture. I had a quick shower and change then joined my watch as we are so short-handed. Only 7 of us and 3 are ill - not sure they are as ill as they say, or think they are!! The stars were incredibly bright and clear. We steered 300 degrees and headed towards the straight between Monserat and Antigua. Not a sign of life on the sea.
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