Date: Sunday, 05 December [12:30 UTC]

 

Facts and figures:

We are still ~1500 miles away from St Lucia and the winds have been light, but are now starting to fill in from the NE as per the GRIB files. We

have not been motoring as we need to conserve our fuel.

 

Having listened in to the daily ARC radio update this morning, we are lying approximately 2/3 way down our class: Group B. We are unable to see the fleet tracker position information, but based on noting each yacht’s update which includes its latitude and longitude, this is where we see ourselves. Perhaps those who are closely following the race could provide some additional info.

 

As detailed above, we have still a long way to go. The forecast is more favourable for us now and we expect to see a daily increase in wind strength of 2 knots directions NE. We need to increase our boat speed to 6 – 7 knots, but we are in the hands of the gods.

 

As per today’s blog photo, Skipper Ivan can be seen on deck suitably attired for the fine weather. He shot out of the cockpit just after noon as he was sure that he spotted a Candy Floss machine on the horizon! (for those of you who don’t know, Skipper Ivan – in his relative retirement – is involved in the manufacture and sales of automated Candy Floss vending machines) We can only put his actions down to lack of sleep which is known to cause illusions. The crew are committed to nursing him back to good health.

 

Casting (again, no pun intended!) our minds back to yesterday’s fishing success, Mikes ‘Dorado’ was filleted and cooked for evening dinner. None of us had tasted this type of fish before and didn’t really know what to expect on the taste front. Head Chef Dermot, fried up the fish until golden brown. This was served up with Cape Verde potatoes, squidgy carrots and tinned peas. The various pallets around the saloon table compared the ‘Dorado’ to sea trout; mild mackerel; dwarf hamster and sardines? Only the bones were left, so you can tell that the fish went down well. Jimmy Dempsey didn’t want fish, so he was served up some cooked Serramo ham (Mike’s fishing bait!) and cleared his plate, but please don’t tell him!

 

Late afternoon, the yacht was visited by a number of shoals of seemingly inquisitive ‘Blue Fin’ tuna. The crew marvelled at such a sight and couldn’t understand how John West managed to get tuna fish into the tins in a uniform fashion as the tuna were most definitely pointed at both ends?? Dermot and Mike spent a couple of hours trying various methods of fishing off the bow trying to catch one of these lovely fish. Needless to say, the tuna remain alive and well!

 

A more serious incident was witnessed on deck by Mike just before dusk. Dermot, in his attempt to get ready for evening dinner, needed to get a bucket of sea-water to prepare the Cape Verde potatoes. The ‘blue’ bucket was required for this job and Dermot (suitably trained in deep sea bucket handling techniques), threw the bucket over the side taking care to hold the rope lanyard firmly in his left hand. All was going accordingly to plan until Dermot realised that there was something seriously wrong: the bucket failed to respond to the firm jerk of his left hand and the ‘blue’ bucket was seen drifting, at speed, behind ‘Ocean Hobo’. The crew (who are all familiar with the ‘man overboard’ drill) looked on amazed as there was little they could do to avert this potential crisis. Dermot was visibly shocked. After receiving some comfort from Mike, he stated that “in all my days at sea, the lanyard has always been attached to the bucket handle! Who didn’t attach the lanyard?” The crew, being sensitive to the situation in hand and realising that Dermot was in shock, consoled him and Skipper Ivan unveiled the ‘black’ stealth armoured rubber bucket that is held for such emergencies. Dermot was still unhappy and was concerned that he may be viewed in a poor light by the Skipper and crew. Unknown to Dermot, a crew meeting was held later that evening as we all agreed that he displayed a subtle lack of ‘due care and attention’ whilst handling the ‘blue’ bucket. The skipper has advised that he will be dealt with once we get ashore. Between times, if anyone sees this ‘blue’ bucket, could they please hand it in to the nearest Coast Guard station.

 

Kind regards from the skipper and crew.

 

Footnotes:

1. Thanks for the continued emails of support and encouragement. Please note that we cannot receive any file attachments, so photos of snow etc cannot be downloaded!