We arrived in to New York on the morning of 3rd June after an amazing adventure. I have to say goodbye to my crew who are going home and crew who are continuing to St Katherine's Dock, London. Many mixed emotions. Fair winds and a fast crossing.
Thursday 5 June 2014
Gareth's Nose!
01 Jjune 2014
02.00, iI have been woken by the sound of shouting and no engine! Gareth is in the galley with a very bloodied, broken nose and Jonathan with a bleeding head.
The steering broke on the helm and they were in the lazerrette fixing it when the steering rod swung round and got Gareth. We are under way again now. Latest update we are due into New York on the 4th!
Yesterday we motored all day at under 5knts., the frustration really telling on some crew, I was mother watch which was ok. The heat is less intense around 30+ in the galley, a big improvement to 40+.
I was up for my watch at02.00 and off watch at 19.00. I do not do my watch tonight, which would be now, as 'mother' always gets a night in bed. I am quite thankful i missed all the drama.
I have taken up residence in the 'mate's' bunk, nothing is comfortable tonight but I think this is better than most. My 4th change s since Jamaica.
On the whole getting on alright, feeling more comfortable with the constant movement of the boat, the personalties and the ebb and flow of life on board. I think there is a gap with the whole 'forming and mourning' process of group dynamics and we are stuck in the storming phase much too long.
10.15 and all has changed! A new watch routine is the order; 4hrs standby, 4 hers, watch , 8hrs off. So here I am in the galley sitting on standby, watch 1 have just come down and are off to bed, watch 2 on deck, watch 3 (me) on standby watch 4 in bed.
It appears what happened last night was, the chain came off the steering and for an hour we had no steering, Gareth went into the lazerrette to sort it and got whacked in the face by a 'steering pole'.
10.30 Gareth has cleaned his face a bit, he has a black eye now but not looking too bad with the dried blood gone!
The long and short of this story is, no-one can work out when we will arrive in New York, we are sailing because we don't have enough fuel, which is better because it is faster. A few crew have flights on the 3rd, which they might miss! The stress is telling!
I will have very little time in New York, probably only 1 day, which is a shame. Still I am looking forward to being home.
An Ode to Qingdao
An Ode To Qingdao
The Owl and Pussy Cat
By Edward Lear
Adapted for The Ellen McArthur Cancer Trust
By Gail Nathan
The Owl and the Pussy Cat went to sea,
In a red 'n gold Clipper boat,
With their friend Bernie who was from Killernie,
They all hoped to stay afloat!
The owl looked up to the sky above,
And prayed and chanted and prayed,
O lovely sea gods, O sea gods please tell,
Where's the guiding Mermaid , Mermaid
Where's the guiding Mermaid?
Pussy said to the owl "You silly old fowl",
No such creature does exist,
So sad to see, nigh on a year at sea
And you've damn well gone 'round the twist',
They raced away for many a day,
Through the lands where the wind gods blew,
Around wind hole to wind hole they planned and they plotted
But alas it wasn't to be spotted
Around the world at a pace, a pace,
Around the world at a pace.
They fought to the last, oh what a blast,
Into New York they did race, they did race,
Beaten into the land of the free,
In front of the Statue of Liberty, Liberty,
But Owl and Pussy were too cunning a crew,
And Bernie from Killernie too,
As they sail away to Derry Londonderry,
A new plan they have to race,to race
A new plan they have to race.
Bobbing around
It is Franny's birthday and I am here bobbing around in the Atlantic, 40* + and going nowhere. The crew had a vote and the decision was to retire. Gareth contacted other boats and they have contacted the race office. The decision will be made at 01.00 hrs, which is 9 hrs from now. ETA New York under motor is 3rd, Franny leaves on the 2nd, I am so upset!
I have moved from my bunk next to the engine and generator, as the temperature reached 35*+. I have been on watch from 6am 'til 12.00, my rest time is 12.00 to 6pm, which is impossible in this heat. I am now sleeping in the sail locker where it is a cool 30*!!
Leaving Jamaica
Since my last blog the roller coaster of life has taken its toll!!
Jamaica was wonderful in so many ways; Russ was on the dock to meet us and I was so happy to see his lovely smiling face. He was like a schoolboy, all full of excitement and anticipation; goodness only knows what a wreck I looked like!
We shared a villa with Matt, Owen and Jim, what fun and good times that was. We breakfasted together most days depending on who had been out or drunk too much the night before, we went to the beach, into town and generally 'hung out' together. We ate dinner around 7pm, often after a pre dinner beer and good conversation which carried on through and after dinner.
Richard and Lesley came over for dinner one evening, which was fun. We watched a movie and generally chilled in good company.
We had a staff of 3 looking after us, Wayne who waited on us, Lester who cooked and Alma who cleaned and washed anything left on the bedroom floor. I don't know what she made of our smelly sailing clothes!
Russ and I took a road trip into the Blue Mountains one day. We were driving for about 8 hours on a pretty bad roads, we came home via Kingston, which is a nightmare to drive through. During our drive we stopped and spoke to people along the way, what a happy culture they are, always smiling and time to exchange views and opinions. Coffee is still a big crop in Jamaica along with fruit. We were told that the coffee farmers have to sell their produce through the government co-operative, which to us seemed a bit less than free enterprise!!
I was in two minds about getting back on Qingdao. The trip down From Panama I found gruelling, the heat was so extreme that I didn't feel I could go through it all again. Well, here I am lying in my bunk in 40+ degrees and having a weak moment and wishing I wasn't here! I take my hat off to the round the worlders!
I have spoken to most 'worlders' and they all have their own way of coping. Vicky says 'you have to learn to live in your head', I see what she means. The close proximity of people becomes unbearable. Knowing that although you try very hard to maintain basic hygiene standards you are also falling far below anything you would accept in 'normal' life!
But is all that important? they are living their dream to sail around the world. Of course, for me it is a basic necessity and so without it It is difficult!
Our sail to New York. Is taking longer than the longest forecast time! We, once again took a 'flier' out of Jamaica, will it pay off? Who knows? We try to boost moral amongst the crew but many of us have friends and family flying over for the weekend to see us sail into New York. How disappointing most will have left before we get there! I definitely do not know what is going on, arrival dates change with the watches.
We had a nasty incident a coupe of nights ago when Shona took a terrible tumble from the high side. She hurt her shoulder and put some nasty gashes in her arm, she was very shocked and in pain.
At the moment we are on the edge of yet another wind hole, we will find out at midday if we are still last.
I am so sad, I will probably miss Franny in New York, Russ is waiting. This adventure has been tough, soul searching and not what I expected in many ways. It is a marathon roller coaster of emotions.
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