6.24S 99.43W Wednesday12th March - Day 5 –
Bennett’s temperature rose to over 104 last evening and with his throat
swollen, head bursting and ear ache setting in we decided to use the two minute
silence at the start of the 1800 radio net to ask for advice. He has been on a
course of Oxytetracycline since the symptoms began with paracetamol every 4 - 6
hours but the question was should he stay on this course or should we switch to
Amoxicilina tablets or inject him with cephalosporin antibiotics? The SSB
wasn’t very clear so we telephoned on our iridium and I was thrilled we
had bought it, not just for sending and receiving emails and blogs, but for
just such an emergency. Well the doctor Ian on Tapestry and the surgeon Hugh
on Stargazer were brilliant – switch to Amoxicilina tablets they said,
keep up the Paracetamol and drink plenty of fluids. Although he doesn’t
feel much better this morning at least his temperature is down a degree. What
we have to remember is that these guys are retired and if 30 odd boats each
with 2 – 6 people on board ask for medical help every two minutes it must
be like a busman’s holiday for them – but they have been great, not
only with us but everyone – thank you! Most of us have been on the
week’s medical course but it is still daunting when someone is ill and it
is your responsibility to make the right decision.
Second night of our shared watch and I managed to keep going from 2100
hrs to 2.30am this morning – only problem being that I didn’t keep
an eye on the diesel levels in the starboard tank and it ran out – giving
Paul the nice problem of air in the system which then needed bleeding! Anyhow
it was time to sail, we don’t have enough juice to cross oceans, so out
went the genoa and we made slow, sail slappy progress of around 4 knots. We
have covered around 750 nautical miles so we are about a quarter of the way and
are pretty much at the back of the fleet now so let’s hope we don’t
need rescuing! Today we are gently lolloping along under sail, it’s an
overcast day with little wind, quiet and serene in the middle of this vast
expanse of water. Personally I love it – 20 plus days to fill –
reading all those books I have waited years to even open, writing, playing
board games, keeping in touch with people who I have hardly had time to say
hello to over the years, my flag making mission of course and the challenge of
producing interesting meals to keep up our peckers! Unlike the fruit and
vegetables we bought in Lanzarote before crossing the Atlantic (which were
probably genetically modified to last for weeks) the lemons from Galapagos have
already rotted and the tomatoes are all on the way out – I made a soup
with half adding my home made pesto and a spaghetti sauce with the rest. A
long way to go with no fresh produce ahead……I do have tinned and
bottled though.
Talking of rescuing we overheard that Spectra and Happy Wanderer have
finally converged today so lets hope Andy can sort out Alan’s autopilot problems……..With
all this time on my hands I wrote another tongue in cheek
Ode………..obviously to be sung to the tune of ‘I’ve
been a Wild Rover’ - only trouble is I can’t get the tune out of my
head now!
ODE TO A HAPPY WANDERER
I’m
with the Blue Water Rally, to sail the world
My
engines are on - and my cloth is still furled
My
Mary’s my godsend, my Mary’s my wife
And I
have to admit we do love this sea life!
So its no, nay, never.... oh nay, never no more
Will I be a landlubber and live on the shore!
I’ve
sailed on my boat now for under a year
But
I’ve still spent my money on gambling and beer
The
fags aren’t so costly as once I did think
Thank
goodness I have enough lockers for drink!
So its no, nay, never….oh nay, never, no more
Will I be a landlubber and live on the shore!!
My
genny’s a puzzle, my diesel is low
But a
friend in the Rally will give us a tow
My
steering, the ‘bastad’, has given up too
But
help on the radio, it came up on queue!
So its no, nay, never….oh nay, never, no more
Will I be a landlubber and live on the shore!!
I asked
the same question to all that I knew
My
engine is hot – why? I don’t have a clue
A fish
in the intake? A wiring complaint?
It’s
all quite beyond me, I’m feeling quite faint!
But it’s still no, nay, never….oh nay never no
more
Will I be a landlubber and live on the shore!
The
alternator’s ruined - but what can you do?
‘cept
call in the experts although there are few
My
reasoning’s simple – just fix it today
Or else
we’ll be last and the others away!
It’s still no, nay, never…oh nay, never, no more
Will I be a landlubber and live on the shore!
My home
team, the Wanderers, I can follow with ease
As the
BBC broadcast their scores to appease
Newspapers
are lacking but what a small price
To pay
for this absence - in pure paradise!
So its no, nay, never….oh nay, never, no more
Will I be a landlubber and live on the shore!
We’ve
crossed the Atlantic, the Pacific’s
ahead
Please
Mary keep watch now - while I go to bed
The
world is our oyster, the oceans our view
And the
cupboards are filled with my own special brew!
So its no, nay never…oh nay, never, no more
Will I be a landlubber and live on the shore!
No
wonder I’m happy - no wonder I wander
Me and
my Mary could never be fonder
We’re
loved by our friends on this Blue Water Rally
Don’t
leave us behind now – we don’t want to dally!
Oh its no, nay, never….no, nay, never, no more
Will I be a landlubber and live on the shore!
I’ve
done all my sums now, and I have a great ruse,
If my
friends carry the spares we’ll have space for the booze
To sail
round this world with the greatest of cheer
And
happy to share it with all who are near!
Oh its no, nay never….no, nay never, no more
Will I be a landlubber and live on the shore!
You
know what I say now - ‘a friend in need is a pest’
And as
my true friends I will not let you rest
We are
in this together, my Blue Water friends
But one
day I promise I will make amends!
My
dream from a small boy was to sail my boat
But
it’s been quite a challenge to keep it afloat
My
Mary’s my sweetheart, my Mary’s my wife
And I
owe it to her we’ve accomplished this life!
So it may-be one-day…. Yes it may-be
one-day
That I’ll give up this sea lark and pull into that
bay!
And be a landlubber for many more a year
With sweet memories of my Blue Water Career!
Written with affection!...........
