Blog 8

Patience ARC 2012
Sat 8 Dec 2012 15:20
Dear Readers
We are now firmly on the home straight with 750 miles to go (2 La Rochelle’s to Jersey yachties) and if the forecast is right of 20 odd knots of wind from NE/ENE we expect to finish on Wednesday morning. The sweepstake runs from 0600 (the Owner) to 1212 (the chef) local time on Wednesday. The owner is calling for more sail but not getting much support particularly from the chef.
There are some in the crew we can speak highly about such as the tactician who today alone has fixed 2 compass lights, whipped some rope, took the rubbish to a locker in the bow where no one else dare goes, baked bread and is making a lunch of sausages and lentils. What a star and supporter of the owner with only minimal monetary inducement necessary.
Eddy is doing a grand job on the helm whilst we put our clocks back another hour. We are now 3 behind you with one to go when we finish. Eddy is efficient, does not answer back, does not need feeding but is a limited conversationalist although that would suit some of the other crew.
WEB has been quite a find. A quick learner and goes around with a little black book which forms the basis for his blogs which I am sure you have enjoyed. He was as you expect severely reprimanded for his recent observations about the Owner’s dress sense. Did not go down well at all. Otherwise does what he is told and is rarely late for his watch.
The chef continues to create culinary delights and coaches the rest of us when it is our turn to cook. Woebetide anyone who changes the ingredients for their dish of the day. He also caught a fish, an 8 pound Mahe Mahe, to order as it was needed for the Owner’s paella last night. The chef though has incurred the Owner’s wrath by having an unauthorised second shower and then announces we have only a quarter of our water supply left. Needless to say he will now be cleaning his teeth in the used washing up water from now on.
What does the owner controller do apart from demolishing the Jamieson bottle? I have yet to work that out. The rest of us have fun talking about Jersey stories because we know how he hates that, being the only mainlander. He does do a mean bacon butty breakfast though. He will make up for his errant ways by going up the mast to untwist a halyard when we get in.
Amazingly we are still talking to one another, the jokes still fly even if they are circa Tommy Cooper and we are getting as brown as berries. Not bad for December 8th. As for phones in the cooker. We were not drying them out but the cooker makes a good Faraday cage when lighting strikes, a real fear the night before last.
Regards
The Owner