Matelots Diary
Cruinneag
Sun 27 Nov 2011 17:33
In all my 25 years before the mast, I've never crewed on a ship where they work you as hard as on Cruinneag III. The crew have to turn to with the Dyson every morning before we've even had our latte and pan au chocolate. One man forgot to take the filter paper out of the coffee machine yesterday and was sentenced to 15 licks of the cat. He coughed up a furrball this afternoon and is feeling much better now. After that excitement we attended a lecture from Karen on foredeck drills as we wanted to put the sails up for photos. Thursday night was Raman's Happy Hour, 'Rum'ns Carribean Bar' - "you can drink whatever you want as long as it's got Rum in it!".
Day 6 - Susan 'Aligator Aberdeen's' Happy Hour 'The Billabong Bar' served us Kangaroo punch. A fruit punch with Kangaroo juice. Probably. All our wine corks have gone in the fishing box so she had plastic bottle tops hanging from her hat - very chic. We caught yet another dorado that noon and Nick and Raman conjured up a delicious vegetable curry and rice accompaniment.
and so to day 7. Sighted some flying fish, I thought Steve said 'frying' fish and ordered a special supper until someone pointed out the little silver birds that keep falling in the sea. Nick and Raman opened their mid-atlantic branch of Subway again for lunch which girded our loins for launching the big red spinnaker sail. The resulting spinnaker dry mouth was countered by 'Hydr8' hour at Trev's beauty saloon. The crew were treated to a Shampoo and Set using our Synergy Health Hydr8 waterless shower caps (not available at all good retailers...contact Trev for more information). This made up for the large jug of Pimms tipping over on the engine room - we've never seen a happier engine!
Steve and Susans take on Bangers and Mash was Venison Sausages with Parmesan Mashed Potato and Pan Fried Cabbage, Pato Negro Ham, onion and Garlic, all sloshed down with 1999 Domaine Tempier Bandol la Migoua.
Day 8. Underwear change day today so crew happy apart from Karen who got mine and has to walk around holding them up. Bacon and sausage with pancakes and maple syrup for Sunday Brunch.
So far this voyage of discovery we have seen a giant turtle, a breaching whale, lots of dolphins and Dandy the ship's dog (still competing strongly for the 'golden duvet' sleeper of the week award - she's had more time off than Rip van Winkle's bunk-light). We've caught Dorado and Tuna, and Flying Fish - or for our friends around Aberdeen 'Fash wi wings'. Now that we've seen all the wildlife, all that is left to discover is the back of the drinks cabinet.
(Todays Blog comes to you from Crewman Trevor Watson)