April 20, 2008 - Mid-day Sunday 20 April |
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35o 35.5’ North 42o 41.2’ West
No. of successful loaves of bread cooked by Jim – 1
Downhill all the way now (we’ve passed the half way mark)
What a party!! .. You really should have been here … (somebody really should
have been here). On the menu was Thai Chicken Curry with turmeric and fennel
rice followed by chocolate brownies smothered in vanilla and chocolate ice
cream all washed down with a bottle of Pinot Noir. (See, now you wish you’d
made the effort don’t you). There were some very tired and bedraggled looking
people appearing from their bunks this morning I can tell you. (No change there
then).
Although there is still a very long way to go, for me (B), it is a real
psychological lift to know that we are on the run in rather than still being on
the run out. The weather is still being kind to us and blowing us along at between 7 and 8
kts/hr along the rhumb line (straight towards) although it is a little bit more
bouncy than it has been.
Jim decided that he would like to have a go at making the bread yesterday
afternoon. I’ve got to say that my bread makers crown is under threat. A very
creditable loaf was produced which we had for breakfast this morning as a
follow up to a Jim original – porridge ladled over freshly diced apple.
Captain “Bob the builder” Mark was in fix it mode again yesterday and I must
admit to having a bit of a private chuckle at one stage. He took the ignition
key plate off the bit that he stands behind when he is driving to give it a bit
of a clean up. There was nothing actually wrong with it when he started but
after he had finished and put it back together, the warning light didn’t work …
I also quite enjoyed the bucket full of water that he threw through the galley
porthole when he was mucking out the cockpit area!
Unusually for Mike, he had a bit of trouble getting to sleep on Friday night.
He diagnosed the problem as having been caused by too much snoozing during the
day on Thursday so he made the decision not to make the same mistake again. He
then went up into the cockpit and immediately fell asleep. Nice try Mike.
From the tone of the blogs that you are getting, some of you may be under the
impression that this sailing lark is a bit of a doddle … don’t you believe it,
it’s sheer hell out here. Seriously though, we have been really lucky with the weather so far on this
part of the journey … fingers crossed that it stays that way until the Azores.
Bye for now
Ps Apparently “pelagic” means “to do with the oceans” or something.
FOR PHOTOS PLS CLICK ON ... http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Yacht.Jem/AtlanticCrossing
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| • Post A Comment! |
April 20, 2008 - More photos please |
| Posted by David Walsh |
Great BLOG - I feel like I am living it with you every day and feeling very boring in the office. Can we have some more photos please - particularly of Jim howlers etc.
Best of luck.
Dave |
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April 21, 2008 - Barrow Blog - Mon 21/4/08 0630hrs |
| Posted by Denise and Roger |
Just reading 20/4/08 update from literally mid Atlantic - seems all is well and weather has smiled on you to date. There seems to be a heavy pre occupation with bread making though. Nothing like a fever in the galley amongst the crew ...as long as someone is at the pointy end making sure no supertankers come looming over the horizon!! We had one of Denise's bang on roast dinners yesterday...not a bread roll in sight, but roast potatoes to die for in abundance.
Our planned first weekend away in the VW van to North Norfolk this year, will seem very tame by comparison to your adventure. Still, Cromer pier on a wet and windy May Bank Holiday in your flip flops, can be pretty dangerous. It will be a first trip away for Bryn. Still with Cromer pier, and fish and chips en route in Swaffham...we know how to live life on the edge.
NCFC now only have 2 games to avoid the abyss of League One football next season - we lost against league leaders WBA last Sat..
The whales were quite a spot - amazing creatures with built in navigation, to make man look wholly inadequate. To see them as you did, in mid ocean, must have been a reflective moment... brings it all home exactly where you are and what you are doing.
Before I get any more philosophical - I had better close. As Brian will tell you - my skill at keeping messages (and police reports since 1972) short...has been a dismal failure over the years.
Keep safe and good sailing for the downhill bit.
Denise and Roger. |
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April 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment |
| Posted by Anonymous |
Hi Dad it's Charlie.
Just a quick message to say keep up the good work, sounds like it is a bit too easy at the moment.
I was thinking as you're now over half way can you not just drop the sail & drift the rest of the way? Surely you'd have enough momentum??
All is well here, sun is shining occasionally, no sign of a nephew yet.
see you soon,
x |
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About Me
Left UK in May 05 in our Moody Grenadier 44, summer in Med, then ARC 05. South from St Lucia to Venezuela by May 06. UK for some shore time. Back sailing Jan 07 Venezuela to Cuba, east coast US, then Mexico, Belize & Guatemala. March 08 Back across the Atlantic to UK via Bermuda & Azores.
Jem is now back in Berthon Lymington - hoping for a new owner?
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