Electronics
Rhiann Marie - Round the World
Stewart Graham
Wed 28 Oct 2009 09:55
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I realise there maybe those among the few that may
read this blog who may actually be interested in life aboard and the equipment
that we have rather than my random thoughts about Politics History and
Economics.
At the moment there are four aboard, and we are
working four hour watches 4 on 4 off 24/7. Trish and I and Angust Johnson and
Craig. Angus is First Mate - Craig is in training to be a watch leader in the
Atlantic and Pacific (when in fact he should be at university). Trish is
doing most of the cooking (except in the first few days when I did some till she
got her sea legs) and the boys are doing most of the eating and the dishes. This
is also a trade off as Trish and I have only really got one full night watch
0000 to 0400. I as skipper am on call all the time and maybe turning out during
other watches depending on the situation. For the Atlantic we will work 4 on 8
off and there will be three watches of two. Trish and I from 12 - 4 am and pm,
Angus and Roddy Afrin who is joining in the Canaries will do 4 - 8 am and pm and
Craig and Murdo Afrin also joining in the Canaries will do 8 - 12 am and pm. We
will move our clocks back 20minutes each day at noon to keep our daylight and
sleep pattern consistent.
We are currently helping ourselves to a light
breakfast at the end of the nightwatch or beginning of the day watch sharing the
lunch duty and Trish has been making dinner the guys tidying up. You might
wander what I do - but with all this stuff to get off my chest and onto the blog
and take care of everyone, the sailing, the engines and systems and my watch
partner, boat business and business business I have a fairly full
day.
There are always "ship keeping" duties to be taken
care of - Trish who insisted on bringing the house with her is currently
hoovering the conservatory (she also brought and ironing board!) - dont
ask! How bloody embarrassing - but she is only allowed to do it while we are out
of sight of land and there are no ships
around and as we are only a small crew we are keeping all this a secret.
Angus and I dont tend to sleep very much when we
are off watch in the day but others can sleep anywhere. Trish incredibly can
sleep anytime anywhere. In our cabin the engine and generator room are
immediately forward of us and the propeller and steering gear with associated
autopilot rams etc are under our ears. But no problem to her day or night, she
can also sleep on trains, planes with 4 RB211 Rolls Royce engines beside her ear
- however apparently she finds it impossible to sleep in our bed at home if I
try and leave my measly 20 watt bulb at the bedside on to read! Strange thing
the human mind.
Aboard we have 10 berths not including the saloon.
VIP double forward, Double portside Forward, Bunk cabin forward starboard. All
are en-suite. Midships we have the saloon with a large raised seating and dining
area to port and two luxurious reclining armchairs and stools to starboard. On
Starboard aft of the saloon we have a large raised two seater Nav/com station
and lower two port of the companionway we have the galley area. Aft of the
companionway we have the engine room and a passageway running aft starboard of
the engine room with another pullman cabin outboard of that ( are you
keeping up?) across the whole of the after part of the yacht is given over
to the owners cabin which is en suite have a dressing table area and a
study area also. Instead of me descibing the whole thing to you have a look at
www.dicoveryyachts.com Indeed
we are fortunate to have such a beautiful and luxurious yacht which is
extremely comfortable under passage. Off watch even underway with full sail -
yesterday at 8 knots upwind - we can be found fully reclined in armchair with
feet out on footstool reading, blethering, counting our blessings or
dosing.
I was going to tell you about the electronics and
other equipment but that will have to wait fpr another day - Trish is using
the hoover in the cockpit and there is a ship approaching over the
horizon.
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