It’s a Long, Long Way to Limerick

28^th October 2022

Churning our way through the South Indian Ocean we are in a jungle of tumble! Like clothes in a washing machine, we are drenched and spun continuously. Occasionally we are lulled into the belief that the sea state has improved but it is always too short lived. Yesterday we had our halfway party and celebrated with Black Lion, who remain about 7 nautical miles away from us. Over the VHF radio, we popped champagne corks together! George and I had baked jam tarts and a Bakewell tart. Every crumb was eaten and every drop of champagne drunk, apart from the drop given to Poseidon over the side, to keep us out of harm’s way.

Yesterday George learned how to bake bread! It was utterly delicious. We used it as a vehicle for beans on toast with pork sausages for a simple supper last night! A taste of Sunday night’s supper at home for George and Louis! Today he baked another loaf!!

The twice daily radio net call, which we hosted for our South Pacific crossing, is hosted this time by Lester on Juno. He was a radio operator in the Dutch army, so is smooth and efficient. Most in our number are able to participate, which makes us feel very connected and safe during this long, lonely passage. Nikaia, owned by Hartmut and Claudia, lost their life raft overboard yesterday and it inflated. With great difficulty they managed to haul it aboard and stow it on the fore deck – quite a feat in these lurching seas. We are gaining ground on them, so we have offered to shadow them if they feel they need it.

Quite a limerick fest has been generated by Louis on the radio net call, with boats who are often on the quieter side contributing. Other word games are being suggested as the days roll by, it all keeps the brain from ossifying!

George wrote a limerick about Louis:

There once was a man called Louis Goor,

Who sailed around on Irene IV.

His brain was small,

He wasn’t tall,

And all he could do was snore.

Joe Davie from Archaeopteryx wrote:

There once was a fish that could fly,

But he never quite made it to the sky.

He flew at the sun,

Oh, wait that was my bum,

And now that fish likes guys.

Alex Hodge from Liberty wrote:

We once had a fanciful notion,

To sail around the Indian Ocean,

In Oyster boats,

With friends afloat,

With crew that could stomach the motion.

A Poem by James Thomas from Adalia II:

A poet once said to me,

You meet God a thousand miles out to sea.

I pray and hear Him say to me,

“You are in an extraordinary sailing family.�

Enjoy the challenge, the characters, the fun,

And keep on loving each other after the passage is done.