An eclectic mixture on board, but – oh dear, none that would gain entry to the Royal Yacht Club bar

 

Mark and the two Bens have gone a bit Hemingway on the facial hair front.  Mark’s is the more nautical, moving in the direction of the bloke on the old Players fag packet.    Ben Scott’s is more of the “Shaving is for cissies”  variety, random black and grey sproutings that hard men leave alone.   Ben D  has designer stubble a la Mark Webber, that gritty tough guy look.  Glenn and Gregor are clean shaven.  This is really because a couple of days’ growth on the older geezer gives you that “Granddad on the way to the day centre” look.  We prefer the sleek First Sea Lord look, but below the face the image starts to fall apart.

 

The most striking fashion item to be seen is Teresa’s leopard skin pattern deck shoes.  The remainder of her ensemble does give the impression of someone who has made an effort.   However, her red wet gear is so-o-o 20th century.   Mark is more of a problem for the fashionista – sagging grey or khaki shorts are de rigeur for him, with a variety of tops ranging from Mountain Biker Grunge to a T-shirt with some information about how pesto is good for you.  Also a wide brimmed Aussie hat with the corks surgically removed.

 

Ben Scott sports tops and hoodies with lots of writing about American Universities.  Also some strange shorts that do not have a pocket, with the result that when we are ashore someone else has to carry his wallet.  Boots rather than shoes, and the boots are more of the clog dancing variety than anything else.

 

Ben Dowson is lead singer in a blues band in Indonesia and is generally to be seen with a cool Man In Black look on board.  The band does a full Blues Brothers act, with Ben (Elwood) in hat, suit, shades and narrow tie.  Only the shades make it on board, but the overall look is on the smart side

 

Gregor’s contribution is a pair of stained Marks&Spencer clam-picker shorts, a “How-log-can-I-wear-the-same-one” T-shirt, and a pair of trainers that cost 3 euros new in Mallorca.  There have also been sightings of a Skull-and-crossbones bandana, and a lucky Maori necklace from New Zealand (thank you Gabriel and Charlie)

 

Glennbo can be seen rising from his cabin in a splendid gubernatorial dressing gown, as befits owner and skipper.  Eventually this gives way to day clothing which is, on the whole, acceptable for someone of his eminence and status on the good ship Ocean Science.

 

We have not seen a living thing out here for the last couple of days, so I guess that even if we were in the height of yachtie fashion no-one would know.  In fact the only object which we have seen that is not us is a child’s football, which we overtook with ease.  

 

Our speed downwind across this ocean remains good, typically 8-9 knots with a max of 12 – all this on the headsail and one mainsail.  No prospect of spinnakers yet, with a true wind speed of 25 from NE.  Very bumpy yesterday with a swell from NE of about 4 metres trough to peak, confused by a lesser swell from the N.  We did 194 nautical miles. 

 

Lunch yesterday was a stir fry heroically made by Teresa from a Lanzarote chicken ripped apart with her bare hands.  In the evening we had bangers and mash – or more precisely posh Ginger Pig sausages oven-baked with mashed potatoes spiked with parmesan and fried onion.  Not bad eh?

 

And that's the news from 28 West