Just 10 days to go
Oldnick
Tue 11 Mar 2003 09:32
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Since halfway
we have been making good time, averaging 140 miles/day. Only had a couple
of days over 30
knots but all from behind so going well.
Currently with 1400 miles to go out of 4800 we feel as though we are almost
there, and should arrive around March 21 all things continuing to go well.
Talked to Koopy the weatherman last night and the weather looks favourable for
the next 10 days.
Given that this is Bill and Ian's first real taste of ocean sailing (yes,
they didn't have a clue what they were getting themsleves into), I thought it
might be good to have a peak at their diaries to see what they have been
recording....
Extracts from Ian's
diary....
Feb 14...A Valentine's Day to remember. Slipped moorings at 10:27. Had to
go around power boat race to get diesel. Seals on fuel pontoon. Gave the
refuelling guy all our Sth African small change. Whilst Craig on pontoon, Bill
and me think about taking command of boat and take Old Nick to Tahiti..slight
technical problem as we don't know how to sail. Note: keep Craig on board a
little bit longer and learn from him.
Feb 22...Well, had a few wild seas in the last couple of days. Having a
strong gale right now, been blowing since 8am this morning. At 1030 we took the
main down and just had the storm jib up. Big seas, big swells and gusts up to 42
knots. Glad we kept Craig on board.
Feb 23...Early one evening Pete Long is on watch and suddenly yells "I see a ship coming up fast, must be a big cruise ship, you can see all it's deck lights on".
Craig comes up on deck and says "No Longy, It is the moon..and what would a
cruise ship be doing in the Southern Ocean anyway?"
Things I have learnt:
Halyard: "Yes it's that big blue rope..how many times do I have to tell you Ian!"
Preventer: "A piece of rope that is going to F#%**$ break if you keep gybing"
Boom: Handy nautical device designed to show which side of the boat to throw food scraps. Secondary use: Support mainsail
Autohelm: Mutinous electrical device that packs it in at the first sign of trouble. Once revived picks own course - removed from duty
Navigator's Dividers: Handy device for cleaning under fingernails
Helmsman Seat: Medieval device for torturing from Helmsman a confession of what course they are really on
True Course: Course set by Navigator best suited to getting us to Australia.
Course..as in "what course are we on?": Direction boat travelling in..generally unrelated to True Course
Best Course: Course that will least attract attention from Navigator (i.e. no flapping of sails).
Bill Oakes: Bold and noble initiator of no swearing policy on Day 1. Policy doomed from Day 1.
Extracts from Bill's
diary....
Feb 17...Getting used to shifts at helm. Difficult to cook in windy
conditions when bouncing around so much. Getting used to sleeping in my
cocoon.
Feb 18...No wind. Lost cup overboard when trying to empty dregs - cup in
ocean, handle in my hand. Crew giving me grief over my inadvertant referral
to the movie "Lawrence of Olivier". Very boring day, little progress.
Feb 19...Pooped in the morning..specifically, Ian was pooped and he
lost the Danbouy. It was a hell of a wave, the rest of us were down below and we
heard a huge thud as the wave broke and smashed into the boat. Ian was
catapulted like a pathetically wet rag doll into the wheel. Ian now has bruised
rib and an inflated ego as he believes that he alone saved Old Nick.
Memorable events:
1. Ian being pooped by gigantic wave, sprayhood needs stitching
2. Bill throwing cup overboard
3. Ian stealing half of Longy's watch..why??
4. Engine not charging batteries correctly
5. Longy seeing passenger ship..it was the moon
6. Ian throwing used wetwipes overboard to windward and just missing
helmsman
7. Autohelm gone..which means manual helming from now on
8. Sailing 198 miles in one day..fell short of 200 cos Craig put 3 reefs
in.
9. Longy keeps referring to wombats as "dingbats"
10. Mainsail rips and replaced with new one which has diesel spilled on it
from the jerrycans
11. Storm jib halyard breaks.
12. Craig continually calling out "what course are you sailing?"
13. Bill had to wake Craig up for his watch |