Look at me I can Twistle 15:06.96N 40:15.75W
Lady Corinne
iain and gaynor macalister
Sun 10 Jan 2010 16:52
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1500 hrs Sunday 10th Jan 2010
Good Afternoon from a sun drenched and still
charging LadyC. We have been clocking up a steady speed and the last 24 hrs saw
us log a distance of just over 150 nautical miles in the right direction.
The sky is blue with some cotton wool clouds around and the seemingly relentless
trade winds pushing us ever on. We are all feeling good and have managed
to perform all kinds of nautical cleaning procedures, most important for me was
the first shave in a long time, I was taking on the appearance of a salty old
sea dog and it's nice to see my face again (probably only my opinion) as it
was starting to disappear under a healthy stubble. When we provisioned in
Mogan we bought a very expensive, cooked or cured, pork loin joint
to have on Christmas day but, as you know, we were somewhat occupied and
didn't have the opportunity to prepare the feast. Remembering where we
stowed it this morning, Gaynor cooked,although this verb in no way does
justice to the routine she had to go through, Bacon, eggs and fried bread,
we put the table up in the saloon and sat down together about half an hour ago
and had a very civilised brunch, it was delicious. Announcing the preparation of
a meal always seems to start a cycle of waves that doesn't start until the
process is beyond the point of no return and then Gaynor spends the rest of the
time juggling with pots,pans and utensils that seem to spend most of the time
being plucked from the air as they fly around the galley. It is a testament to
her good nature that food ever arrives at the point of consumption and I have
nothing but admiration for her ability to keep us vittaled to such a high
standard. Robin has suggested in a recent email that I should stop beating the
cook. Today's sea is again of a messy variety and not even the Twistle can
level it out so I hate to think what it would be like with conventional
sails. We are continuing with two hours on followed by four off and
everyone seems happy with that. I feel a bit guilty as it means that I get
sunset and sunrise on two of my watches. Max isn't worried as he calls it
the graveyard watch and reckons that they are when you feel most fatigued and
Gaynor, I think, would like the opportunity to enjoy one or the other, so we may
have to change them around soon. Night watches are usually occupied with
star gazing, reading,listening to music on an Ipod or writing a blog and they go
past really quickly. Except when you're tired and then it's hard to
believe how slowly time goes by. We are now able to get some rest
with the improved motion below but I know Max is still struggling as he sleeps
in the forepeak and as the bunk(a double) is shiny vinyl he spends a lot of his
off watch time rattling around up there Like a ball in a pinball machine
trying to find someway of wedging himself in. Pre-Twistle he also had
problems with ventilation, as there was always a lot of water coming
over the bow and he couldn't open the forehatch or vents. Now he is able
to have the hatch open most of the time and it's a lot cooler up
there as the decks stay dry. I still find it hard to believe that we haven't
seen another ship of any sort since we left the Cabos, at any time we can
probably see a circle of around 12 miles from the ship to the horizon on each
side, but the feeling of solitude is quite nice. I'm going to get some
rest before my night watch starts at 1900 and I think it's my turn to take
minnie for a walk today (see pic). Hope you're all surviving the sub zeros
and that nobody is suffering. Keep the emails coming I know I keep banging
on about them but you just don't know how important they are to us.
Hasta el mar se seca
LadyC and her overfed crew
Robin, Thanks for the weather watch offer, regular
postings will be hard due to watch patterns and the fact that I am the comms
officer and I don't think anyone else knows how to use it but any warnings you
can give us from the blog position postings ( I know I forgot to put yesterday's
on but I will get Zara to go online and update it for me) will be very welcome,
don't worry about the regular stuff but if you see any real meanies heading our
way. Thanks
Amanda, Welcome back,Happy New Year to you
both good to hear your news, I was beginning to wonder if you'd abandoned
your Cuban roots and run off with the Argies. Borneo sounds awesome,but don't
they still eat people there? Be careful and I hope you and Jamie have a
wonderful time, please fill me in when you get back. Oh and thanks for planting
the curry seed in my mind. now I can't wait.
Zara and Simon - How are you? Loft converters to
removal men - your combined talents know no boundaries. Hope Alex's move
went well. Zara please would you go online and update the last
blog That's sooooooooooooo much
better as I left the position off it. I'll give it to you in words or this blog
will think it relates to it - fifteen:thirty-eight.fifty-six N
thirty-six:fifty-seven.ninety-nine W . Sounds pretty grim there, bet you
can't wait to get to the snow, have they had a big fall over there? would be
nice if they have a good base established. Almost wish I was coming with
you again this year.
Duncan - Well done on the race we'd love a rundown
on the action - did Mel manage to get a Hotel in Hobart? write soon lots of love
to you both.
Michael and Theresa - Don't tell me I now have to
put up with a bossy wife and a bossy brother-in law!
Alex - We all send you best wishes that you'll be
very happy in your new place, It will be nice for us to have you closer when we
get home.
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