Saturday, and I am slightly surprised that I have survived this long.
Adventure is rocking back and forth as per normal, the wind is at around 25
knots and the sea remains choppy. The novelty for me is that I am sitting at the
saloon table writing said
Blog, which prior to this would have been impossible due to the state of
my stomach
At the last count, I had “chundered” 30 times, a number the Skipper
insists that one has to keep count of, and clearly amuses the remainder of my
watch (Blue) and ultimately the rest of the crew. Anyway, at this point, despite
having pleaded with the Skipper & Windy on at least one occasion to be let
off at Weymouth or put over the side, it appears I
have survived.
To say the weather is awfully clement right now would be a lie, but for
Blue Watch it is certainly fun. Lunch is just about finished and we will shortly
head up on deck to resume our jiving, tacking and putting the storm sails up;
bound to interesting… Peter and Dave are hoping for another dunking in the
fore-pit, when the helm picks course through “big” waves, meanwhile Linda will
continue to hang on resolutely to the sheet under her control. Byrne has gone (I
am told) from being somewhat nervous to emitting little shrieks of pleasure
whenever Windy announces its about to get a little sporty and all this time our
Watchleader Anne keeps a firm eye and hand on our drills. And as for I as long
as my SealSkinz socks continue to fight the rising tide in my boots and I
remember Army left from right, then I think its going to be a bit of a
giggle.
The mood throughout the crew is remarkably upbeat and it looks like the
actual expedition to Greenland will be a
unique, if novel experience for all of us. Of course this crew is the Leg 1
party and I am the exception being on Leg 2, which is a shame as I will miss
this bizarre group of energetic lunatics, though no doubt my crew is equally
bad.
Mike Curtis-Rouse
