Hi guys

New waypoint in now “Start point”  280 miles, although we have to navigate shipping separation zones etc

We expect a busy 48 hours negotiating through all the commercial traffic, today we have already seen 5 ships, which is more than the total we had seen up to today.

 

We had a tidy up and clean down, followed by a shower, Wal has refused showers since 19th ! no matter how we try to persuade him, unfortunately he only has x2 set of clothes

But i guess its all fair as he took no part in the cleaning.

 

So we are now out of boat water but have a good few bottles left, so can freshen up on Tuesday when we expect to arrive.

We have been doing a fair bit of “goose wing” sailing with main on one side and the genoa on the other, We use a pole to hold the gen out and this has taken a hammering,

We set it up this afternoon as the forecast is for the wind to be blowing up the channel so we expect to be poled out “goose wing” or spinnaker. However some bits have broken off the pole, but our out of the box thinking came up with a solution, using wooden wedges, the pole now looks like it has a wine cork sticking out of it.

May be a bit of fun taking it down, not sure what the harbour master will say about us coming down into Salcombe with 3m of pole sticking out the side of the boat!

 

Wal has been a bit evil over the past 2 days, which is a shame considering we have to everything for him, dress him, feed him, get into his bunk etc.

From day one we realised he was not physically built to winch, or work out side of the cockpit etc, so we try and find him tasks he could do, this quickly boiled down to making coffee and tea

however he had not seen a marine cooker before so Pete set about training him how to turn on a hob.

FYI to light a hob you use x1 knob, to control the gas and x1 button to light it.

You also have to hold the knob in for a few seconds once the hob is alight, this is a safety procedure, if you don't hold the button in the gas gets cut off. 

 

So Pete begins training on day one,

by day 2 they have verbal checklist going, which Wal has yet to master.

Mark and i hear them both reciting

 

Knob in

Turn Knob

Press red button

hold knob in

(count) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

let knob out

put kettle on

 

This takes 3-4 days before Pete declares Wal as proficient to boil water.

Brill

 

Wal now assumes the role of the fountain of knowledge with regard to lighting a hob

He ventures into the galley whilst Mark is cooking something on a hob,

Wal declares, “this gas isn't on”

“yes it is mate”

“no i am telling you, you haven't lit it correctly”

“the gas is on wal, trust me”

“it bloody well isn't”

 

at which point Wal removes the pot and leans towards the hob for closer inspection,

“"“Careful Wal you will burn yourself”

“How can i if the gas isn't on”  

 

Mark gives up

Wal then leans over the hob to see if he can hear the gas coming out,

his comb over falls over his head and ignites, Wal is swearing at every body and every thing, whilst Mark an ex fire investigator, throws a tea towel  over Wals head and calmly says

“ i told you the gas was on Wal”

 

2 days later

I am on watch with Wal,  and to keep him as involved as i dare,  i suggest  Wal makes us a hot drink,

This is a ruse to get Wal out of the cockpit whilst i do some sail trimming, having done the sails, i sit back and star gaze, some time later i realise there is no sign of Wal,

I lean over the companion way and look into the saloon, at first i cant see Wal, but can hear him muttering, leaning over further i see Wal kneeling down in front of the cooker still muttering,

the boat is sailing north which means Wal is facing east, Surely not!

I can then make out what he is saying

Push knob

push red button

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

bastard

Push knob

push red button   etc.

 

“Wal, you have forgotten to turn the knob,”

 

yes yes yes

 

i never got the drink,