The Final Countdown

ULA
John & Jackie Richards
Sat 22 Nov 2008 23:57
The start gets ever nearer and the last two days has seen the Ula crew putting in a massive team effort to get us ready for the off. Yesterday saw the delivery of the fresh fruit and veg which all needed removing from its packaging, washing and stowing on board. John and I went off to Puerto de Mogan to pick up Jenny from her sailing course and returned to find everything sorted, boxed or hanging up in nets above the saloon table guarded by our new crew member Rodney (photo to follow). Meanwhile Howard had also manfully volunteered to run the gauntlet in the marina launderette (an interesting logistical exercise with 3 washing machines serving 1300 ARC crew members!?!) and all laundry had been washed and was hanging out to dry along the guardrails-including my knickers! Apparently having a wife and three daughters back home means he is quite comfortable with ladies underwear!? Andy C and Cazababe had been tasked with some last minute shopping for the 'hard to find' items and returned mission accomplished and Jenny had really enjoyed her sailing course. So apart from struggling  and failing to squash all our frozen vacuum packed meat from El Corte Ingles into the freezer compartment the day was pretty successful.
 
In the evening we had a fantastic meal with the Libertad crew at La Buena Vida, a restaurant we had found while here in October. The staff there remembered us and looked after us fantastically well. By the time we left everyone seemed to know we were involved in the ARC and several other people in the restaurant were asking us all about it. We left with many hugs, kisses and good wishes - a memorable night!
 
Today we have had to clean up the boat, stock up with some last minute food items, two more cans of diesel and  various medicines/first aid items for the trip. John and Adrian attended the final Skippers briefing and at lunch time we all headed off to the Club Nautico for their Menu del Dia lunch. A three course meal  and a glass of wine for an amazing  8euros! The rest of the time has been spent planning the final jobs for tomorrow morning and a bit of retail therapy. We are now all really wanting to get an early night but are waiting for the Farewell Fireworks at midnight. As they will be set off over the marina we have no chance of party pooping and sleeping through although John and Andrew are currently doing their best!
 
There are several awards for this blog:
 
 Happy Shopper award to Caza and Andy for managing to locate 4 bottles of Robinsons barley water in El Corte Ingles!
 
 Clean Laundry/Unabashed award to Howard for services to boat hygiene and ladies underwear.
 
 Domestic God award to Adrian for consistenty excellent washing up
 
Sailing Survival award to Jenny for becoming a 'competent crew'
 
Ingenuity award to Andrew for successfully getting five pirate swords through airport security and a further Eeyore award for currently snoring like a donkey while waiting for the fireworks!
 
 
We are all ready for the off and looking forward to finally getting going tomorrow. The weather forecast at the moment appears to be reasonably good for four days. Wind somewhere between 8-18 knots and swell initially around 1.5metres.
 
Many thanks to everyone at home who has been emailing and texting us with their good wishes - it's been great to hear from you all and to know you are thinking about us and will be following our progress!
 
Signing off for now. Hopefully our next blog will be 'en passage'
 
Jackie