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05:12 20:32.42N
34:12.88W
Hello Barbara here reporting on day 11 of our
epic voyage.
Yes, indeed it was my namesday yesterday.
By and large I don't expect my English friends to celebrate my Polish namesday,
but when there is an option on cake, then it is a whole different matter.
Where there is a possibility of a fully iced, layered, chocolate sponge then I
believe it becomes very important to uphold as
many traditions and celebrations as you can think of. (I am reliably informed
that st Kevin's day is on the second wednesday in december.)
My wonderful boyfriend Chris managed to arrange a
handmade card, the cake and presents all before 10 am!! 150 points, go to
the top of the class. I got: a very nice pair of sailing gloves to match
the pair that I already have, and a swiss army knife in case something should
happen to mine. Then I got 'Collins bird guide to Britain and Europe',
which is really useful since I love birdwatching, and we will be going back
that way at some point, and Chris said 'yes I could just picture it on your
bookshelf'. How intuitive. I also got a lovely blue sarong with
dolphins on it, which he had been hiding in his cupboard along with his
other sarongs (nothing if not in touch with his femine side) just for a special
occasion like this. And from Kevin I got a very posh jar of Harrods
Marmalade, like they sell in duty free. So delicious I might have to share
it with the rest of the crew.
It was a
beautiful day too - flat as a mill pond and nice and sunny.
Somehow I mannaged to wangle being on watch almost all day. In calm
weather like this, you need to keep a keen eye on the horizon, but bearing in
mind anything on the horizon will take 20 minutes to get to you, this still
leaves plenty of time for reading. And I can't believe how many flying
fish there are! These delightful creatures come hurtling out of the water
in great swarms, 'fly' about a foot above the surface for 20 - 30m in a big
ark, and then plop back in again with a big splash! one poor chap even
landed in the cockpit the other night. He hit me in the arm and
scared the life out of me, then flapped around the place for a good couple of
minutes before he exhausted himself sufficiently for me to scoop him up in a
kitchen towel and chuck him back in! I wouldn't mind but he left fish
scales everywhere...
Well the wind has
got up, but we haven't got south enough so where heading to Costa Rica. Can't go
south west with our head sail system so I think our first place for class will
have to go to someone else. But it's not over till the fat lady sings. On the
subject of night shifts, what better excuse do you need for having cake for
breakfast - I'm off!
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