50:19.5N 004:57.3W Midday (BST) Fix 13 June 2010 Yo Ho Ho And A Bottle Of Rum!
Oboe D'Amore's Web Diary
Nigel Backwith
Sun 13 Jun 2010 10:02
2010
View our progress on Google Earth at: http://blog.mailasail.com/oboe
GPS Position: 49:54.1N 004:49.6W
Sea Miles (previous 24 Hours): 157nMs
Sea Miles to date: 4,485nMs
Present Course Over Ground: 069°M
Present Boat Speed 8.3kts
Average Boat Speed (previous 24 hours): 6.5kts
Average Boat Speed to date: 6.3kts
Estimated GPS Position in 24 hours time: RIVER DART (YIPPEE!)
Sea State: Smooth
Wind Speed and Direction: 12kts SW (Southwest? About time me thinks!)
Barometric Pressure: 1009mB
Saving the best for last, I guess. Lizard point off the port beam, winds
from the Southwest (where were you in our hour of greatest need?), sun
shining out of deep blue skies, most crew in the cockpit in shorts and T
shirts slapping on the sun cream. Ryan under his duvet on his 46th episode
of Jack Bauer and 24. Get a life you sad little git. You're not a teenager
anymore! Hey Ho, who needs the Caribbean?
Cheese and tomato omelettes courtesy of Rob (The Old Retainer), using up the
last of his wonderful Portuguese cheese from Horta and a fresh cafetiere of
coffee courtesy of Nigel (Killjoy the Skipper). David (Beverage) drops down
into "his" galley and digs out the ingredients for a winner, winner, roast
chicken dinner with all the trimmings and, well, life's bloody marvellous!
Oh how easily they forget; they are but simple folk with simple needs.
5,000 miles and 38 days at sea, six "wet behind the ears" landlubbers
climbed aboard the good ship Oboe D'Amore and introduced themselves. Hello,
I'm Nigel, I'm your skipper. Hello I'm Maggie, I'm Wendy, I'm Rob, I'm
David. Yo Ryan's my name, Ryan OK? Not Brian! What next skipper? Let's play
winches. Who knows how to trim on and crack off a sheet safely? Dumb
silence. Who knows how to helm a straight course? Dumb silence. Who knows
how to hoist the mainsail? Dumb silence. Who knows how to boil the kettle.
All hands go up. Brew up then Maggie please. Mine's tea, black, weak,
mine's tea, strong 2 sweeteners, but in coffee I take proper sugar. Mine's
green tea with lemon, please leave the bag in the cup. Mine's builder's
snaps the skipper and that's what you're all 'avin'! Let's check our life
jackets. That's back to front David! Sorry, what did you say? Back to
front shouts the skipper. Are you deaf? Yes, actually! Mine's got a hole
in it, skip! Oh sorry, give that one to Rob.
In Bermuda we lost Wendy earlier than planned. Her achievement is to be
praised. Her unstinting work, despite the mal de mer puts her high in our
esteem. Thanks a bunch Wendy and especially for christening us Zen Dog.
Few take on the challenge of W to E Atlantic crossings and the rest of us
now know why! As planned, in Horta on the island of Faial in the Portuguese
Azores we lost Maggie. An accomplished sailor and near-skipper, Maggie's
ability to focus on all aspects of crewing an ocean-going yacht in difficult
weather is to be applauded. Focus, despite the increasing pressures of
clients drumming their fingers back home. After all there can't be that
many equine physiotherapists to choose from can there? And it'll soon be
Cheltenham! That leaves the four of us blokes, no longer bothering to shave
or wash, free to tell each other schoolboy jokes: "What do you call an
Italian with a rubber toe? - "Roberto!" announces Ryan and all fall about
laughing; now able to prance around like elephant ballerinas in our
figure-hugging thermal tights and wellington boots (Dubarrys for the skipper
naturally!). The closest thing Englishmen are likely to get to wearing
budgie smugglers! (Private joke - answers on a postcard please. Ken,
Catherine, Pierre and Patricia not allowed to say anything - how's it going
in Antigua and Geneva anyway?)
Memories? Too many to mention. Good times? Too many to mention. Bad
times? Least said, soonest mended and for those of us with early onset
dementure, what bad times?
As we approach Dartmouth, 50 miles ahead, all is very quiet. One of our
stowaways woke this morning and took to the wing. The other might never
leave as he has become addicted to Weetabix and peanuts. I can only speak
for myself when I say I am in a bubble of euphoria but I have a sneaking
suspicion the others are in that bubble with me. They think it's all over -
it is now! Mine's a pint or two of flat warm ale please.
ZEN DOG . . .
He Knows Not Where He's Going,
For The Ocean Will Decide,
It's Not The Destination,
It's The Glory Of The Ride....
Nigel Backwith (60) Bad Tempered Skipper "Stop that bl***y boat
from slamming. It's your job. You're watch leader!
Ryan Lloyd (21/22) First Mate and Oft Acting Skipper and Head
of Entertainments
Rob Edson (63) Chief Engineer and Toilet Blocker
(Unblocker???)
David Jones (63) Galley Wench and Sorry, What Did You
Say?
Maggie Turner (39+) Hard Working Near-Skipper and Ship's Physio
Wendy Lloyd-Morris (39+) I'll Be OK After The First Couple Of Days
Date: 13 June 2010