It's pretty safe to say things aren't really going to plan on BP Explorer at the moment. We have been through a lot together but this last leg has tested us as a team more than any other. It would be easy to be angry, our mistake could be placed on the shoulders of a few, instead we
carry the burden between us and sharing it does make it easier to handle. It also makes us realise just how lucky we have been throughout this race.
Over the past few days we have had a sample of what Team Stelmar went through in leg two, a hint of what Team Save the Children and Pindar may have felt being at the back of the fleet, lonely, while everyone else races ahead and we will may end up feeling Imagine It. Done.'s sense of loss coming into Cape Town as we too watch our position fall back from one that looked much more certain.
It is difficult not to think about what could have been. We were all looking forward to close quarter racing with the whole fleet within shouting distance. Some of the most memorable moments of the race for us have been the close finishes that we seem to have made our trademark. While it would have been a dream to blast in to Portsmouth and win this leg, we had at least hoped to be there for the bulk of the celebrations. Nothing quite describes the feeling of comradeship, as we are welcomed and welcome in our
friends on the other yachts. And of course seeing our family and friends on ribs and supporters boats coming to greet us for the final time amongst all the pomp and ceremony of the finish day has been in our minds from the start.
But it's not over yet. Some careful analysis of the numbers reveals we still have a chance. If Barclays Adventurer, currently in third position on this leg, come in fourth and Spirit of Sark, currently in ninth place, come in tenth and we cross the finishing line less than 17 hours after them we will maintain our second place overall. It gets a bit more complicated after that but third could still be ours thereafter. Add to that the fact that Barclays Adventurer have a protest hanging over them and as we have witnessed so many times in this race - anything can happen.
Whichever way it goes one thing is for certain. We set out from the beginning to be the best team we could. We know we are capable but hope that we have never been arrogant. We know that we have applied everything we have learnt and done it in a safe and happy environment. I believe we have all
done our best and while absolutely nothing should be taken away from every point earned and the teams that will eventually climb the podium and take their trophies, this adventure has been so much more than a race and that lifts our spirits.
It is rare to be involved in something that is truly greater than the sum of its parts and I feel privileged that I have been involved in a truly excellent example. The Global Challenge with its amazing family of crew volunteers, skippers, leggers and Challenge staff make every stopover some of the best times I've had in my life. The wonderful feeling you get when you know that your friends and family are watching and supporting you every mile and living the adventure with you. And, of course this fantastic BP Explorer team, and its supporters, that have sailed around the world. When we met for the first time back at the start of 2004 none of us could have ever hoped to have shared so much.
We can see the English coastline - we are nearly home. I am desperate to get in but at the same time, deep down, have a feeling of not wanting it to end. Bear with us on the quayside everyone, when we do get there we are going to be very happy to see you and the tears won't be ones of sadness but ones of joy.
Showing posts with label John Bass. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Bass. Show all posts
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Saturday, July 2, 2005
47' 27N 14' 28W
For most of the race we have written our logs from the aft computer but then we moved to the navigators table so as to avoid waking those trying to sleep in the aft accommadation - the light from the screen and the annoying clickty-click of the keyboard can be a pain. Now we need total focus from Stephen and he sits glued to the navigation computers making sure we are on course every five minutes or so. So once again I'm at the back trying to type as softly as I can, freezing every time I hear someone turn in their bunks. I can hear Holger and Olly talking through the open hatch above me, they probably don't know I'm here. Holger's concerned that some of the other boats are gaining on us. The position report as we came on watch showed some slight gains across the fleet - damn! We are still holding fourth place though.
Me To You are under four miles ahead and as I write this I can hear Naomi calling back to the helm that she can see their lights on the horizon.
We have been sailing well and putting miles, and bits of miles, between us and those behind and we've been creeping up on Me To You in third place. But, with a bad position report comes that nagging doubt that maybe some of those around us have a little more wind or a kinder sea state and that maybe they could steal a position back. Barclays Adventurer and BG SPIRIT are less than three miles behind us, which is nothing. We can track Barclays Adventurer on the radar and they are a good measure of how we are doing but BG SPIRIT are about 35 miles to the north and potentially are getting different conditions. It's a testing time.
This has been a strange leg in so many ways. Just when you think you have it all figured out this ocean racing lark twists you round and you have to face new situations. One could say that in terms of sailing these boats we are hardly amateurs anymore but it seems that on this leg we have seen more things to test our confidence than any other. Spinnakers twisting in strange ways as they go up and then again getting caught on new parts of the rigging as they come down. Not errors necessarily but just bad luck.
We have also made some mistakes that seem really amateurish, kites attached wrongly, halyards twisted but perhaps now we are just being hypercritical. We have managed to sort them all out of course well before they have caused a serious problems but it does make you think all the time. Have we checked everything? have we done this so many times that we are becoming complacent? The end result is that we may be performing some procedures slower than we have done in the past. David seems to think so and is encouraging us to speed up a bit. The good news is that we haven't trashed anything, we are still a very safe crew and we have been regularly sailing faster than the rest of the fleet but as the competition heats up and days left to prove ourselves get less, everything needs to be spot on. When it comes to boat lengths at the finish there is nothing that can go slower and nothing that can go wrong. Maybe we are being hypercritical but with everything else being equal it could be the one thing that gets us the result.
Me To You are under four miles ahead and as I write this I can hear Naomi calling back to the helm that she can see their lights on the horizon.
We have been sailing well and putting miles, and bits of miles, between us and those behind and we've been creeping up on Me To You in third place. But, with a bad position report comes that nagging doubt that maybe some of those around us have a little more wind or a kinder sea state and that maybe they could steal a position back. Barclays Adventurer and BG SPIRIT are less than three miles behind us, which is nothing. We can track Barclays Adventurer on the radar and they are a good measure of how we are doing but BG SPIRIT are about 35 miles to the north and potentially are getting different conditions. It's a testing time.
This has been a strange leg in so many ways. Just when you think you have it all figured out this ocean racing lark twists you round and you have to face new situations. One could say that in terms of sailing these boats we are hardly amateurs anymore but it seems that on this leg we have seen more things to test our confidence than any other. Spinnakers twisting in strange ways as they go up and then again getting caught on new parts of the rigging as they come down. Not errors necessarily but just bad luck.
We have also made some mistakes that seem really amateurish, kites attached wrongly, halyards twisted but perhaps now we are just being hypercritical. We have managed to sort them all out of course well before they have caused a serious problems but it does make you think all the time. Have we checked everything? have we done this so many times that we are becoming complacent? The end result is that we may be performing some procedures slower than we have done in the past. David seems to think so and is encouraging us to speed up a bit. The good news is that we haven't trashed anything, we are still a very safe crew and we have been regularly sailing faster than the rest of the fleet but as the competition heats up and days left to prove ourselves get less, everything needs to be spot on. When it comes to boat lengths at the finish there is nothing that can go slower and nothing that can go wrong. Maybe we are being hypercritical but with everything else being equal it could be the one thing that gets us the result.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
46o33N 31o59W
The last 24 hours have been reminiscent of the southern ocean. The yellow headsails have been up and BP Explorer has assumed the heeled at 28 degrees position. The skies have been grey and we have been pestered by a continuous drizzle. It is nothing like as cold as legs two and five but we have been in full foulies with heads ducked not to shield us from driving spray but a face tickling rain. This is David's favourite type of sailing, no kites to worry about but zooming at 11-12 knots towards our destination. For the crew it's not as comfortable both on deck and below but we are happy to be moving quickly towards La Rochelle.
We have been increasing our lead on BG SPIRIT and Spirit of Sark which is a good thing but we still have a number of yachts to get past before we can claim to be in the lead pack. Ahead of us are Barclays Adventurer - we can see them on the horizon, Me To You, Imagine it. Done, Team Stelmar then in the lead and four points behind us over all are SAIC La Jolla. We've still got a lot of work to do and have to focus on every manoeuvre as mistakes at this stage could prove very costly.
It is now less than three weeks until the end of the race and inevitably talk on the rail is not of what we'll be doing in La Rochelle , as would be the norm, but what we are going to do when it's all over. Those that have rented their houses out may not be able to move in right away and so will be staying with friends and family. Some will be returning to their old jobs but others need to start looking for work and the aft computer is occupied most of the time as crew type their CV's in their off watch and try to arrange interviews. For some of us this race has lead us to seek a totally new direction. Another adventure, starting a business that we perhaps lacked the confidence to start before or just a different career path. There is a genuine buzz of excitement as to what the future holds but we can't let it distract us from the immediate future, trimming, the next sail change the next spinnaker hoist.
Reports from the letters page indicate we seem to have some new readers including professional letter writer Ken Erskine. It's always good to know we are exciting so much interest.
We have been increasing our lead on BG SPIRIT and Spirit of Sark which is a good thing but we still have a number of yachts to get past before we can claim to be in the lead pack. Ahead of us are Barclays Adventurer - we can see them on the horizon, Me To You, Imagine it. Done, Team Stelmar then in the lead and four points behind us over all are SAIC La Jolla. We've still got a lot of work to do and have to focus on every manoeuvre as mistakes at this stage could prove very costly.
It is now less than three weeks until the end of the race and inevitably talk on the rail is not of what we'll be doing in La Rochelle , as would be the norm, but what we are going to do when it's all over. Those that have rented their houses out may not be able to move in right away and so will be staying with friends and family. Some will be returning to their old jobs but others need to start looking for work and the aft computer is occupied most of the time as crew type their CV's in their off watch and try to arrange interviews. For some of us this race has lead us to seek a totally new direction. Another adventure, starting a business that we perhaps lacked the confidence to start before or just a different career path. There is a genuine buzz of excitement as to what the future holds but we can't let it distract us from the immediate future, trimming, the next sail change the next spinnaker hoist.
Reports from the letters page indicate we seem to have some new readers including professional letter writer Ken Erskine. It's always good to know we are exciting so much interest.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
43o14N 47o12W
What can we do better? How can we make BP Explorer go a little bit faster than the rest of the fleet? These are the questions we ask each other all the time. How the hell did they get there when we are busting a gut doing everything we can? What more can we possibly do? We think to ourselves for fear of bringing negative vibes by saying our thoughts out loud. The fleet are getting faster, they are making less mistakes and any advantage we had at the start of the race for all the practising, all the team building and all of David's knowledge is now making less of a difference. Add to that our recent knack of finding our own private wind hole while all around us sail away and it's all a bit, dare I say it, frustrating.
At eight this morning we rounded Waypoint Charlie though things didn't quite go to plan. The wind changed direction allowing 'those that shall not be named' - you know the ones that wanted us to feel as bad in Boston as they did coming into Cape Town - to creep ahead. They are now 1.5 miles in front. We are confident and so hope to pass them soon.
Ahead of them are Spirit of Sark and BG SPIRIT and these are our real targets. We have been making small gains on them all day and at the last position reports they are just under two miles and just under four miles in front respectively.
This afternoon our good friends on Pindar were close enough for us to see them working on deck and we took the opportunity to take some pictures of Laura with Graham's boat in the background. However, some very acrobatic dolphins stole the show when they darted up between us jumping and flipping until they disappeared after a short play in our bow wave.
We had something of a surprise today when we found a card from Matt Cannon, one of the BP Explorer crew on the last leg. The message inside thanked the rest of the crew for making his experience enjoyable and gave us words of encouragement for the rest of the race. A PS at the end said that he had hidden some 'excess weight' under his bunk. On further investigation we found a stash of chocolate, cookies and sweets. Matt you are a star, the beers are on us when we next meet. Dennis Boyd, one of the BP Explorer crew members on this leg, added to making this a red letter day by bringing out a bottle of 16 year old Kentucky Bourbon as we came off watch at 6pm - we went to our bunks happy!
As the sun went down we can see all but three of the fleet, their navigation lights twinkling all around us This experience is much bigger than just a race and there will be so many great memories when we finish in July but for now wouldn't the memories be that much better if we were on the podium even with all the anxiety and stress that brings? We think so and so we are going to battle to the end.
At eight this morning we rounded Waypoint Charlie though things didn't quite go to plan. The wind changed direction allowing 'those that shall not be named' - you know the ones that wanted us to feel as bad in Boston as they did coming into Cape Town - to creep ahead. They are now 1.5 miles in front. We are confident and so hope to pass them soon.
Ahead of them are Spirit of Sark and BG SPIRIT and these are our real targets. We have been making small gains on them all day and at the last position reports they are just under two miles and just under four miles in front respectively.
This afternoon our good friends on Pindar were close enough for us to see them working on deck and we took the opportunity to take some pictures of Laura with Graham's boat in the background. However, some very acrobatic dolphins stole the show when they darted up between us jumping and flipping until they disappeared after a short play in our bow wave.
We had something of a surprise today when we found a card from Matt Cannon, one of the BP Explorer crew on the last leg. The message inside thanked the rest of the crew for making his experience enjoyable and gave us words of encouragement for the rest of the race. A PS at the end said that he had hidden some 'excess weight' under his bunk. On further investigation we found a stash of chocolate, cookies and sweets. Matt you are a star, the beers are on us when we next meet. Dennis Boyd, one of the BP Explorer crew members on this leg, added to making this a red letter day by bringing out a bottle of 16 year old Kentucky Bourbon as we came off watch at 6pm - we went to our bunks happy!
As the sun went down we can see all but three of the fleet, their navigation lights twinkling all around us This experience is much bigger than just a race and there will be so many great memories when we finish in July but for now wouldn't the memories be that much better if we were on the podium even with all the anxiety and stress that brings? We think so and so we are going to battle to the end.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
43o05N 58o04W
Well if company was what we wanted on this penultimate leg then company is what we've got. Most of the fleet are within a couple of miles of each other and only SAIC La Jolla have separated from the pack to head south. For the most part we don't need the six-hourly position reports - we can see most of the other yachts on the radar. It does make a change from weeks at sea without seeing anyone, often anything, but with the race so close we'd prefer some pick-up in the wind to allow us to split from the pack and get ahead.
Today has been very foggy with little or no wind and the oh-so-familiar glassy sea. We plough on making sure that every base is covered, focused helm, alert trimmers and best weight distribution i.e. everyone on the low side and it is paying off. We have been creeping away from the other yachts, if only very slightly. It is light until about 9:30pm and as we sailed through the mist we caught sight of the top of Spirit of Sark's mast looking like a lost ghost ship. We caught and passed them but they disappeared almost as quickly as they appeared. But we could still hear them talking on deck - it was very eerie. Later, as we tacked, they appeared again, now dark they flashed their torches at us and we returned fire. Their mast lights more visible in the fog they remained in sight until the end of the watch but have once again vanished from sight if not the radar screen.
While not much fun for us these conditions are suiting those who have chosen to cross the Atlantic under their own power. On Tuesday we received this e-mail from Race HQ:
Dear Fleet
Olly Hicks in his rowing boat Virgin Atlantic (last posn 1430 = 20/06/2005) is listening out on channel 16 VHF hoping to speak to any yachts in our Fleet as it is very lonely out there on your own. He would dearly love to talk to someone. See what you can do. I will be updating you with the rowing boat fleets posn later today.
Many thanks all you VHF Hams
Lisa Marie
Duty Race Officer
In the early hours of yesterday we could hear Stuart, the skipper on Barclays Adventurer, talking to Olly and he sounded grateful for the chat. Rowing across the Atlantic is one way I thought I could top the Global Challenge and it is something I have been planning even before this race. It was great to hear someone actually doing it and it has heightened my interest to pursue it when I get back in July.
Good luck Olly, we've only got enough food for 14 days so if we don't get some wind soon we may need to borrow your oars and I might have to start my training early.
Today has been very foggy with little or no wind and the oh-so-familiar glassy sea. We plough on making sure that every base is covered, focused helm, alert trimmers and best weight distribution i.e. everyone on the low side and it is paying off. We have been creeping away from the other yachts, if only very slightly. It is light until about 9:30pm and as we sailed through the mist we caught sight of the top of Spirit of Sark's mast looking like a lost ghost ship. We caught and passed them but they disappeared almost as quickly as they appeared. But we could still hear them talking on deck - it was very eerie. Later, as we tacked, they appeared again, now dark they flashed their torches at us and we returned fire. Their mast lights more visible in the fog they remained in sight until the end of the watch but have once again vanished from sight if not the radar screen.
While not much fun for us these conditions are suiting those who have chosen to cross the Atlantic under their own power. On Tuesday we received this e-mail from Race HQ:
Dear Fleet
Olly Hicks in his rowing boat Virgin Atlantic (last posn 1430 = 20/06/2005) is listening out on channel 16 VHF hoping to speak to any yachts in our Fleet as it is very lonely out there on your own. He would dearly love to talk to someone. See what you can do. I will be updating you with the rowing boat fleets posn later today.
Many thanks all you VHF Hams
Lisa Marie
Duty Race Officer
In the early hours of yesterday we could hear Stuart, the skipper on Barclays Adventurer, talking to Olly and he sounded grateful for the chat. Rowing across the Atlantic is one way I thought I could top the Global Challenge and it is something I have been planning even before this race. It was great to hear someone actually doing it and it has heightened my interest to pursue it when I get back in July.
Good luck Olly, we've only got enough food for 14 days so if we don't get some wind soon we may need to borrow your oars and I might have to start my training early.
Monday, June 20, 2005
42 28 S, 70 18 W
The first log after our somewhat unpleasant protest hearing in Boston and the temptation would be to bleat on about the injustice of it all - but I won't. It's not the end of the world; we are joint second overall and only three points behind the leaders after all. There is nothing we can do about it so we are just going to forget it and get on with this leg. We would however just like to thank everyone including, crew from other yachts, who have given us their support.
The morning of the start began with breakfast at the very impressive Boston Harbour Hotel. A feast of bacon, eggs, potatoes, fresh fruit and fresh orange juice would be the last we will be seeing for two weeks so we filled our plates. At about nine o'clock we headed out of the hotel and into the general hustle and bustle of start day. We said our goodbyes to friends and relatives and wished the other skippers and crews good luck and safe sailing and got onboard BP Explorer for the blessing of the fleet.
At about 11:30 we were off - well nearly. When it came to our turn to leave we were minus one very important crewmember, our skipper David. It could have been the perfect opportunity for one of us to seize the top spot and go for glory but in the end we decided we needed him and so were pleased to see him fight through the amassed supporters to join us.
The start was a good one. In a close battle at the start line we were flanked by Samsung on our left and Team Stelmar on our right. Team Stelmar got it wrong and crossed the line early forcing them to do a 720 degree turn when we were out of the harbour. Samsung were just meters away and almost level but we had the right of way. We squeezed past them to cross the within seconds of the start gun and so become first, officially, over the line.
As we tacked back and forth out of the harbour the Boston skyline started to disappear into the distance. A huge cruise liner called Spirit of America had stopped just outside Boston and was being well guarded by a US coastguard ship, two RIBs with machine guns mounted on the front and a high-speed patrol boat. We didn't pose much of a threat, Major wasn't steering, but they made it quite clear they were going to enforce the 100-meter exclusion zone around the ship. A friendly wave and we both parted company to complete our independent missions.
No sooner had we started to get going when the wind dropped and we all parked up. VAIO, Samsung and SAIC La Jolla got some better wind out to our left and moved ahead closely followed by BG SPIRIT. It was not clear what was the better sail combination, genoa or yankee and staysail. SAIC La Jolla surged ahead with the genoa but then slowed again. We swapped several times and made ground on the others. At the last position reports things are so close as to not really be significant but SAIC La Jolla are in front with us in second. As the sun went down the silhouettes of 11 other Challenge yachts spread across the horizon was a magnificent sight. I made a point of looking at them for a long time; I knew I couldn't take a picture, there wasn't enough light, so I made sure I burnt it into my mind - just one of many great memories from Boston, indeed the race.
The morning of the start began with breakfast at the very impressive Boston Harbour Hotel. A feast of bacon, eggs, potatoes, fresh fruit and fresh orange juice would be the last we will be seeing for two weeks so we filled our plates. At about nine o'clock we headed out of the hotel and into the general hustle and bustle of start day. We said our goodbyes to friends and relatives and wished the other skippers and crews good luck and safe sailing and got onboard BP Explorer for the blessing of the fleet.
At about 11:30 we were off - well nearly. When it came to our turn to leave we were minus one very important crewmember, our skipper David. It could have been the perfect opportunity for one of us to seize the top spot and go for glory but in the end we decided we needed him and so were pleased to see him fight through the amassed supporters to join us.
The start was a good one. In a close battle at the start line we were flanked by Samsung on our left and Team Stelmar on our right. Team Stelmar got it wrong and crossed the line early forcing them to do a 720 degree turn when we were out of the harbour. Samsung were just meters away and almost level but we had the right of way. We squeezed past them to cross the within seconds of the start gun and so become first, officially, over the line.
As we tacked back and forth out of the harbour the Boston skyline started to disappear into the distance. A huge cruise liner called Spirit of America had stopped just outside Boston and was being well guarded by a US coastguard ship, two RIBs with machine guns mounted on the front and a high-speed patrol boat. We didn't pose much of a threat, Major wasn't steering, but they made it quite clear they were going to enforce the 100-meter exclusion zone around the ship. A friendly wave and we both parted company to complete our independent missions.
No sooner had we started to get going when the wind dropped and we all parked up. VAIO, Samsung and SAIC La Jolla got some better wind out to our left and moved ahead closely followed by BG SPIRIT. It was not clear what was the better sail combination, genoa or yankee and staysail. SAIC La Jolla surged ahead with the genoa but then slowed again. We swapped several times and made ground on the others. At the last position reports things are so close as to not really be significant but SAIC La Jolla are in front with us in second. As the sun went down the silhouettes of 11 other Challenge yachts spread across the horizon was a magnificent sight. I made a point of looking at them for a long time; I knew I couldn't take a picture, there wasn't enough light, so I made sure I burnt it into my mind - just one of many great memories from Boston, indeed the race.
Saturday, June 4, 2005
38o55N 63o44W
The stage is set for the final few days of this leg; it looks like it's going to be a bit of a nail-biter. For all our friends and family watching the website at home I'm sure it'll be the start of an anxious few days. For us too trying to defend our current position and maybe, just maybe steal another place before the finish line, it's going to be a finger tapping, position report watching, 48 hours. For BG SPIRIT the leg is almost over but they will be watching with interest to see where Spirit of Sark and we come in because that will affect the overall positions going into the next leg to La Rochelle. We need fourth or better to maintain our lead; it is going to be
tough. Barclays Adventurer are 90 miles ahead of us, VAIO are 50. These are miles that could disappear in one day but it would require a lot of luck to be on our side. Next in fourth place, at the moment, is SAIC La Jolla, that's who we have our sights on. It has happened before, we've thought the positions were pretty much set and then on the last day everything has changed.
The weather still has a couple of hands to play and it is set to go light again in the next 24 hours which could create an opening for us - conversely it could also create an opening for those behind. It has been so close this leg and it will go down to the last few hours I'm sure. Spirit of Sark, our constant companions on this leg, are only eight miles behind and Imagine It Done less than a mile. Seeing them on the radar and occasionally over our shoulders has the affect of keeping us very, very focused. On the white board one of the crew has put the message 'it ain't over until the fat lady sings' and we know from previous legs it certainly isn't.
We all start planning our stopover activities about now. Unfortunately we may only have one day off in Boston so we are not going to be able to do much. Shopping is top of the list for most of us. The excellent exchange rate means that most things are going to be about half the price they are in
the UK. Casual enquiries as to what are the best laptops have been made to Richard and myself and it looks like the electronics shops of Boston may do very well out of this crew at least.
It's strange to think that the 2004-5 Global Challenge is almost over. This is the last of the long legs and the next two are a couple of weeks and less than a week. That would have been a long sail back when I started the training, now they are short hops. I'm sure all too soon I'll miss it all and I'll wonder why I wished away the days, at this precise moment, I can't
wait to get into Boston.
tough. Barclays Adventurer are 90 miles ahead of us, VAIO are 50. These are miles that could disappear in one day but it would require a lot of luck to be on our side. Next in fourth place, at the moment, is SAIC La Jolla, that's who we have our sights on. It has happened before, we've thought the positions were pretty much set and then on the last day everything has changed.
The weather still has a couple of hands to play and it is set to go light again in the next 24 hours which could create an opening for us - conversely it could also create an opening for those behind. It has been so close this leg and it will go down to the last few hours I'm sure. Spirit of Sark, our constant companions on this leg, are only eight miles behind and Imagine It Done less than a mile. Seeing them on the radar and occasionally over our shoulders has the affect of keeping us very, very focused. On the white board one of the crew has put the message 'it ain't over until the fat lady sings' and we know from previous legs it certainly isn't.
We all start planning our stopover activities about now. Unfortunately we may only have one day off in Boston so we are not going to be able to do much. Shopping is top of the list for most of us. The excellent exchange rate means that most things are going to be about half the price they are in
the UK. Casual enquiries as to what are the best laptops have been made to Richard and myself and it looks like the electronics shops of Boston may do very well out of this crew at least.
It's strange to think that the 2004-5 Global Challenge is almost over. This is the last of the long legs and the next two are a couple of weeks and less than a week. That would have been a long sail back when I started the training, now they are short hops. I'm sure all too soon I'll miss it all and I'll wonder why I wished away the days, at this precise moment, I can't
wait to get into Boston.
Wednesday, June 1, 2005
35' 45N 53' 39W
OK, I must admit, this is getting a bit boring now. We are back in light airs, long sunny days and cloudless nights wistfully floating along with little or no boat speed.
Goldie Raley said today "You know, we shouldn't complain, if this was a day sail these would be near perfect conditions" The trouble is we are in our fifth week now and we would really like to get to Boston and finish this confounded leg. The position reports are changing so frequently, and in such a way, that we could understand if people have contacted the Challenge Business asking if the website is reporting the correct information. We have to double-check the figures ourselves as we type them in too. In a 24-hour period our position will go from third to eighth to fifth with no indication where we will end up as we get the next reports -it's all so random. It has reached a stage where I for one pretty much ignore them.
Once the wind picks up and there is once again an equal playing field, then can we analyse how we are doing in the race. For now we can pretty much assume that BG SPIRIT has it in the bag for first place, Team Save The Children and Pindar are going to need some help to get out of the last two places but every other position is there to play for - though VAIO are building a nice distance with about 60 miles between them in second place and SAIC La Jolla in third.
The weather predictions are suggesting a change in the conditions in the next 24 hours with winds of 30 knots and a possibility of 50 knots, however these are not set to last more than about eight hours or so.
The talk on deck and at the midday briefings has been can we do anything? David confirmed that we are sailing the boat as well as we can for the conditions but there is not much more we can do. Yachts either side of us gain one moment and we and the yachts behind gain the next. For the first time in the race so far I think luck is playing a huge part. Amongst the crew it's a new emotion to deal with - are we destined to be lucky? We've had some luck in the past but our ability to sail the boat better in most conditions has been the key factor in putting us two points ahead overall.
With such variable conditions controlling our destiny, at least in the short term, we have to dig deep to a new place, let the uncontrollables deal their hand and play it the best we can.
Goldie Raley said today "You know, we shouldn't complain, if this was a day sail these would be near perfect conditions" The trouble is we are in our fifth week now and we would really like to get to Boston and finish this confounded leg. The position reports are changing so frequently, and in such a way, that we could understand if people have contacted the Challenge Business asking if the website is reporting the correct information. We have to double-check the figures ourselves as we type them in too. In a 24-hour period our position will go from third to eighth to fifth with no indication where we will end up as we get the next reports -it's all so random. It has reached a stage where I for one pretty much ignore them.
Once the wind picks up and there is once again an equal playing field, then can we analyse how we are doing in the race. For now we can pretty much assume that BG SPIRIT has it in the bag for first place, Team Save The Children and Pindar are going to need some help to get out of the last two places but every other position is there to play for - though VAIO are building a nice distance with about 60 miles between them in second place and SAIC La Jolla in third.
The weather predictions are suggesting a change in the conditions in the next 24 hours with winds of 30 knots and a possibility of 50 knots, however these are not set to last more than about eight hours or so.
The talk on deck and at the midday briefings has been can we do anything? David confirmed that we are sailing the boat as well as we can for the conditions but there is not much more we can do. Yachts either side of us gain one moment and we and the yachts behind gain the next. For the first time in the race so far I think luck is playing a huge part. Amongst the crew it's a new emotion to deal with - are we destined to be lucky? We've had some luck in the past but our ability to sail the boat better in most conditions has been the key factor in putting us two points ahead overall.
With such variable conditions controlling our destiny, at least in the short term, we have to dig deep to a new place, let the uncontrollables deal their hand and play it the best we can.
Sunday, May 29, 2005
31o37N 49o03W
We're still here! Just in case you were thinking the Challenge website was on the blink and the display of our position has frozen - believe it or not we are still racing. One could, not surprisingly, think that we'd had enough of all that rushing about and decided to take life at a more leisurely pace.
We've done over 27,000 miles through the world's toughest oceans, we've smashed through huge waves, fought to put up sails in howling winds and stood trimming at the shrouds in freezing temperatures. Even in port it's a mad rush to get the boat ready for the next leg and the stress of packing
your bag three days before you leave and trying to get it to 30 kilos even thought you've just brought ten kilos of stuff in port should not be underestimated. You could be forgiven for thinking - I recon they're taking advantage of the sun and having a bit of a rest. Even now as you sit at our desks with a full day ahead, deadlines to meet, bosses to please you may
wonder - I bet they are sunning themselves on deck and drinking some of that Gin & tonic that we know they've got on board. They don't seem to be moving very fast that's for sure. Well you would be nearly right actually, we are
catching up on our tans and there's not much to do so, but for the helm, nav and trimmers we are sat on the rail chatting amongst ourselves. However it's like being stuck in a traffic jam, stuck on the tube or delayed at the airport - it's a gap in the hectic schedule but you can't rest. Your brain
knows you've got to be somewhere and it won't relax until you're there. You are constantly looking at your watch counting how much time has been wasted, feverishly looking at alternative routes and wondering what the rest of the
world is doing while you are stuck in that same spot for what seems like an age. It's not free time it's time not doing something when you should be doing something and that's worse than no free time. We are eating the same food we would be if we were working hard so we're getting fatter. We're not as tired (physically) so it is actually more difficult to sleep during the off watches. The tendency is to stay awake and read or catch up on the e-mails, the problem then is that you disrupt your sleep patterns and you'll
be tired on watch and awake off watch again. Believe us when we say we are wishing and praying for wind. It's not good for the soul all this floating about.
BG SPIRIT's bold move to the North looks to be paying off. They are over 100 miles in front. It's by no means over yet but you have to tip your hat at the move they made going out on their own as they did. Such a move could have spelt disaster and they deserve their moment of glory. The next four positions are being traded almost by the hour and there is less than a mile between second, third and forth place and thereafter 15 and 18 miles for fifth and sixth place - nothing at all in these conditions. So, we wait, and wait, and wait.
Such is the nature of this game that I doubt if, even with their lead, BG SPIRIT is able to relax and until we cross the finish line neither can we - even if we do, deserve a bit of a rest.
We've done over 27,000 miles through the world's toughest oceans, we've smashed through huge waves, fought to put up sails in howling winds and stood trimming at the shrouds in freezing temperatures. Even in port it's a mad rush to get the boat ready for the next leg and the stress of packing
your bag three days before you leave and trying to get it to 30 kilos even thought you've just brought ten kilos of stuff in port should not be underestimated. You could be forgiven for thinking - I recon they're taking advantage of the sun and having a bit of a rest. Even now as you sit at our desks with a full day ahead, deadlines to meet, bosses to please you may
wonder - I bet they are sunning themselves on deck and drinking some of that Gin & tonic that we know they've got on board. They don't seem to be moving very fast that's for sure. Well you would be nearly right actually, we are
catching up on our tans and there's not much to do so, but for the helm, nav and trimmers we are sat on the rail chatting amongst ourselves. However it's like being stuck in a traffic jam, stuck on the tube or delayed at the airport - it's a gap in the hectic schedule but you can't rest. Your brain
knows you've got to be somewhere and it won't relax until you're there. You are constantly looking at your watch counting how much time has been wasted, feverishly looking at alternative routes and wondering what the rest of the
world is doing while you are stuck in that same spot for what seems like an age. It's not free time it's time not doing something when you should be doing something and that's worse than no free time. We are eating the same food we would be if we were working hard so we're getting fatter. We're not as tired (physically) so it is actually more difficult to sleep during the off watches. The tendency is to stay awake and read or catch up on the e-mails, the problem then is that you disrupt your sleep patterns and you'll
be tired on watch and awake off watch again. Believe us when we say we are wishing and praying for wind. It's not good for the soul all this floating about.
BG SPIRIT's bold move to the North looks to be paying off. They are over 100 miles in front. It's by no means over yet but you have to tip your hat at the move they made going out on their own as they did. Such a move could have spelt disaster and they deserve their moment of glory. The next four positions are being traded almost by the hour and there is less than a mile between second, third and forth place and thereafter 15 and 18 miles for fifth and sixth place - nothing at all in these conditions. So, we wait, and wait, and wait.
Such is the nature of this game that I doubt if, even with their lead, BG SPIRIT is able to relax and until we cross the finish line neither can we - even if we do, deserve a bit of a rest.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
27o49N 45o36W
We kind of knew it was going to happen, it always does! The once perfect position of us in first place, BG SPIRIT behind and Spirit of Sark way back in seventh place was bound to change - it has. For days we've been predicting light airs and they have been better than we expected. In the first leg from Portsmouth to Buenos Aires it seemed like we were sitting in the middle of a glassy sea, not going anywhere, loads of times. This leg we have been luckier. There have been light winds but they have not lasted long and after a short period of just going slow, we've been off again. It's now gone light in fact it's just gone! We woke this morning to the sullen faces of the on-watch who, during the night, had been zigzagging across the chart in search of some forward motion. A new set of position reports were in that although were not bad - we had actually gained a place (we were first), they were not good either. Our constant foe, Spirit of Sark has crept up into second place just 5 miles behind. It is a sign of how much we want to win this leg, indeed win the race, when even when we are in first place we are disappointed that the others are not further behind. We can now see Spirit of Sark over to our left, two yachts bobbing on a still pond, small puffy clouds littering the sky, the sun blazing a fiery trail across the water. It could be an idyllic scene, it is idyllic but for the fact that on both yachts there is a harnessed energy wanting, waiting for the wind to rise, standing poised to shuttle the crew into action steering, trimming and changing sails. Instead we are creeping about not wanting to affect the little boat speed we have.
We are nervously looking over at our nemesis and hoping that they don't move in front, don't catch some wind and don't sail off leaving us behind to wallow. There's not much we can do actually. All those speedy sail changes, perfect gybes mean nothing when there is no wind. We can send someone up the mast to look for wind; David is up there now. The helms and navigators can watch the numbers for anything that might help us get going and the rest of us can be alert, ready for the next tack to capture the little puff of available breeze. It is actually more stressful than when we've got 40 knots. It's another reason to send David up the mast!
Hopefully this will not last and we'll be on our way again soon. Hopefully the gods have not saved all the light stuff and are going to give it to us all at once. It's cruel really that a on a perfectly beautiful day in a spectacular environment where all worries should melt away like the ice in our imaginary gin & tonics we are instead fretting and fussing about racing. Still that's what we are doing - that's ocean racing I guess.
John Bass
All the crew would just like to wish our BP Explorer Project Manager, Claire Blakeway a very, very happy birthday today. We are so lucky to have you on our team and our thoughts will be with you. Our recommendation, take the day off from looking after us and leave answering any e-mails until tomorrow afternoon!
We are nervously looking over at our nemesis and hoping that they don't move in front, don't catch some wind and don't sail off leaving us behind to wallow. There's not much we can do actually. All those speedy sail changes, perfect gybes mean nothing when there is no wind. We can send someone up the mast to look for wind; David is up there now. The helms and navigators can watch the numbers for anything that might help us get going and the rest of us can be alert, ready for the next tack to capture the little puff of available breeze. It is actually more stressful than when we've got 40 knots. It's another reason to send David up the mast!
Hopefully this will not last and we'll be on our way again soon. Hopefully the gods have not saved all the light stuff and are going to give it to us all at once. It's cruel really that a on a perfectly beautiful day in a spectacular environment where all worries should melt away like the ice in our imaginary gin & tonics we are instead fretting and fussing about racing. Still that's what we are doing - that's ocean racing I guess.
John Bass
All the crew would just like to wish our BP Explorer Project Manager, Claire Blakeway a very, very happy birthday today. We are so lucky to have you on our team and our thoughts will be with you. Our recommendation, take the day off from looking after us and leave answering any e-mails until tomorrow afternoon!
Monday, May 23, 2005
19 39N 40 26W
The other day Christian came up to me and said how would I like to change watches? As bowmen we share the same role on each watch and he suggested that he would like to see how Olly's watch did things - he has been on Cop's watch since the start in October. It would also give us both a chance to work with the rest of the crew which, although we'd worked together plenty of times in training and on start and finishes, had not spent day-to-day watches with before.
I was a little uneasy at first. Although we are all one team we are divided into two smaller mini teams for each watch and moving from the group I'd been with from the start would be strange. It did make me analyse just how much I thought I knew Cop, Major, Andrew, John Stewart, Giles and Goldie - though Giles and Goldie have been on Olly's watch before
now. Anyway, we agreed and last night I went to bed early from Olly's watch and was woken half way through Cop's watch. It's not very surprising that everything works pretty much the same. Both watches talk through how they perform procedures and pass tips and suggestions on to each other. At our daily crew de-brief, ways of doing things are agreed and issues such as safety, crew happiness and performance are discussed as one crew. The fundamental difference is the day-to-day personalities. Over time we get to know who, on our watch, is grumpy when first woken, who naturally migrates to certain jobs such as main trimming, running the spinnaker lines etc. or just what food they prefer at meal times for example. These are all things that I didn't, and still don't, know about my new watch. Nearly eight months into the race having circumnavigated the world under sail with this
crew I only intimately knew 'my watch'. So over the next ten to fourteen days or so, until the end of this leg, I'm going to get to know how they tick and they are going to get to know me a little better too - certainly something I hadn't thought about at the start of the leg. Already our swap has become something of a talking point and both watch leaders have reported a renewed vigour from us both, perhaps as a result of us trying to impress our new 'mini' team-mates.
The swap certainly hasn't affected our performance. As of this afternoon's position reports we have moved from third to be in first place again. Our constant attention to trimming and helming is paying off and we have crept up on and overtaken SAIC La Jolla and BG SPIRIT who are now four miles and seven miles behind us respectfully.
David reports that he has never sailed so fast and consistently in a straight line before and we have covered an amazing 4700 miles in three weeks with just under 2000 still to go. It's fingers crossed for continued good winds and an early entry into Boston. We currently have our 1.5 race kite up which has not been out for nearly a week so it's looking good.
I was a little uneasy at first. Although we are all one team we are divided into two smaller mini teams for each watch and moving from the group I'd been with from the start would be strange. It did make me analyse just how much I thought I knew Cop, Major, Andrew, John Stewart, Giles and Goldie - though Giles and Goldie have been on Olly's watch before
now. Anyway, we agreed and last night I went to bed early from Olly's watch and was woken half way through Cop's watch. It's not very surprising that everything works pretty much the same. Both watches talk through how they perform procedures and pass tips and suggestions on to each other. At our daily crew de-brief, ways of doing things are agreed and issues such as safety, crew happiness and performance are discussed as one crew. The fundamental difference is the day-to-day personalities. Over time we get to know who, on our watch, is grumpy when first woken, who naturally migrates to certain jobs such as main trimming, running the spinnaker lines etc. or just what food they prefer at meal times for example. These are all things that I didn't, and still don't, know about my new watch. Nearly eight months into the race having circumnavigated the world under sail with this
crew I only intimately knew 'my watch'. So over the next ten to fourteen days or so, until the end of this leg, I'm going to get to know how they tick and they are going to get to know me a little better too - certainly something I hadn't thought about at the start of the leg. Already our swap has become something of a talking point and both watch leaders have reported a renewed vigour from us both, perhaps as a result of us trying to impress our new 'mini' team-mates.
The swap certainly hasn't affected our performance. As of this afternoon's position reports we have moved from third to be in first place again. Our constant attention to trimming and helming is paying off and we have crept up on and overtaken SAIC La Jolla and BG SPIRIT who are now four miles and seven miles behind us respectfully.
David reports that he has never sailed so fast and consistently in a straight line before and we have covered an amazing 4700 miles in three weeks with just under 2000 still to go. It's fingers crossed for continued good winds and an early entry into Boston. We currently have our 1.5 race kite up which has not been out for nearly a week so it's looking good.
Friday, May 20, 2005
10o23N 33o48W
Well, we are out of the doldrums at least we hope so. I remember writing this in a log on the first leg and they moved up behind us to draw us back in again! We appear to have got through without too much lingering in light airs. Even when it was light we didn't do the bobbing at zero knots and spinning on the spot which is a relief. In fact we have made very good speed averaging about nine knots compared to previous races where the average has been seven knots to this point in the leg. We now have two or three days or so of steady north-easterlies. The yellow headsails are up and it's easy sailing. It leaves little opportunity to make great gains on SAIC La Jolla and BG SPIRIT in first and second place but we are creeping up on them. In the last 24 hours we have crept half a mile closer to SAIC La Jolla but it involved us losing then getting back five miles in that period and it's a similar story with BG SPIRIT. It is clearly frustrating for David who has taken to screaming into the skies - another familiar sight from leg one, though pounding the spinnaker bag is a new one on us. The skies have cleared from the confusion of clouds that blanketed us in the ITCZ a plethora of stars and a near full moon light the deck of BP Explorer and the surrounding sea. When we came on deck for the start of the six until ten watch we looked upward, as we often do, and noticed a bright spot close to the moon, if fact within it's circumference in the dark area. It obviously wasn't a star or planet and as we looked throughout the watch it appeared to orbit about half way round but then, as it reached the upper limb it started to move away. When we came off watch at ten it sat at about 2 o'clock about four times the distance from the moon it had been when it was orbiting. Somewhat perplexed I called my brother on the satellite phone. Unfortunately I'd not taken into consideration the time difference and he was in bed and I'm not sure I had his full attention, oops! When he wakes this morning I'm sure he'll wonder if he dreamt his big brother calling from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean to ask if he knew what was orbiting the moon. Our final conclusion was that is must have been a satellite but, if any friends and family reading this has any information then please let us know.
Today was 'everyone's mate' Major Malhi's birthday and it was chocolate cake and a rousing chorus of 'for he's a jolly good fellow' and not one, but two rounds of Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday Major.
Today was 'everyone's mate' Major Malhi's birthday and it was chocolate cake and a rousing chorus of 'for he's a jolly good fellow' and not one, but two rounds of Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday Major.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
3o 25N 27o56W
I was woken at about eight thirty yesterday by some of the crew counting down on deck. 5 - 4 - 3- 2 -1 - Wooo Hooo! For a fraction of a second the Latitude on the GPS read 00o00'00 - we caught it on camera at 00o00'68. We had crossed the equator, the first in the fleet, and were back in the Northern Hemisphere after spending nearly seven months on the other side of the World. Gabi and Giles were on watch at the time and Matt had asked to be woken for the official moment we crossed. At noon Neptune was summoned and he duly appeared from below decks. He has obviously been trying to keep up with fashions as his outfit had changed from the one he wore at his last appearance on our way to Buenos Aires. However, I think the latest fashion journals are taking their time to reach the depths of the Ocean as he looked rather 70s with his yellow and green plastic top and man-made fibre under shorts. He was still the spitting image of our skipper, David Melville but he looked as if he'd aged somewhat, as if the last seven months had taken their toll. He wasted no time in summoning the first of the Pollywogs, Gabi. Looking very sheepish she knelt before him to hear her crimes and be dealt her punishment. Being Brazilian and therefore too exotic, breaking the cafetiere, never going to sleep, sending to many e-mails and wearing a bikini on a training sail. A baying crowd of shellbacks booed most of her crimes though the bikini crime met with some votes for it - scrubbed and actively encouraged. The ever-accommodating ship's boy (Olly) stirred the rancid mix of leftover slops, which had been left to ferment over three days and smelt, we have on good authority, like a mixture of fermented milk and vomit. Three scoops and Gabi had paid her dues. Next up was Giles. The crew had requested more paper when listing his crimes but they included; sucking up to the BP bosses at every opportunity, telling his own boss he'd be gone for eight weeks and then disappearing for six months, wearing polyester shirts and shorts obviously several sizes too small to try and emphasize his muscles, impersonating a member of a boy band, and speaking in a quiet voice to get girls to lean closer. Five scoops, one that was placed strategically down said tight shorts proved the crime when every grain of rice, sweetcorn and meat substitute could be clearly seen through the material. Matt, trying to outwit Neptune appeared for his sentencing wearing full foulies. They were hastily removed for fear of angering Neptune and he knelt to hear his crimes. 'Being suspiciously good and therefore clearly up to something, wearing dodgy purple shorts and ballet shoes on deck and having a porn star name (Matt Cannon) - two scoops. The stench was all too much for one member of the crew and they ended up shouting 'Europe' from the rail. All was not over though. Earlier we'd seen Neptune whisper to Olly to save some slop for a final sentencing. All was revealed when Neptune himself knelt before us and stated that he was indeed our skipper and furthermore had a confession. Although he'd crossed the equator many times before he had hidden in a crane on his first crossing for fear of his head being shaved and his block and tackle painted primer red thus, he'd never been judged himself. Though it seemed woefully inadequate for such a crime the rest of the slop was dumped on his head.
The off watch retired below to enjoy a tot of Whisky to celebrate our crossing in first place. The whisky was a generous gift from our BP safety guru, Paul Everest who incidentally also supplied the Harley Davidson shades so favoured by those wishing to buck the trend of Oakleys amongst the new look sailing community.
The off watch retired below to enjoy a tot of Whisky to celebrate our crossing in first place. The whisky was a generous gift from our BP safety guru, Paul Everest who incidentally also supplied the Harley Davidson shades so favoured by those wishing to buck the trend of Oakleys amongst the new look sailing community.
Saturday, May 14, 2005
6' 15S 18' 29W
So far this leg has seemed like a speeded-up version of some of the other legs but with most of it still to go. We have come to expect the ever-changing positions, from 1st to 6th then climbing back up again but it is happening every few days on this leg rather than every couple of weeks in the previous ones.
Whereas in the previous legs we have inevitably blamed the navigators for steering us into light airs here we are experiencing the changing conditions much more frequently and it is obvious to the crew that they are practically unavoidable. While some bold moves are being made by the likes of BG SPIRIT things are equalling out and re-shuffling on a daily basis. After nearly two weeks at sea there are only two miles separating us from 2nd and 3rd place and only 14 miles from VAIO in 1st place. At average speeds of 10 knots or more that's less than two hours. In the last 24 hours we have moved from 6th to 4th - 3rd if you take the waypoint as Boston. We have reduced VAIO's lead by 9 miles, reduced BG SPIRIT's lead from 12 miles to 2 miles and we overtook Spirit of Sark yet again but this time they have shot off west, a tactic only time will tell if it pays off. The fleet are lining up to cross the equator in the next 72 hours or so, it would be nice to predict that we'll be up at the front, it won't be for want of trying.
The more the positions change and the closer we get to the edge of our sail plan limits the more stress is placed on David's shoulders. Olly commented on my reference to 'crew sleep' in one of my recent logs. I suggested that the burden of the 24-hour watch was shared between David and the watch leaders but he said his and Cop's role was much more akin to the crews than that of the skippers - they really too could forget things as they passed to the new watch. One also has to remember that David is not even on a 24 hour
watch but a 10 month one - one that starts at the start gun in Portsmouth and finishes the same place as we cross the finish line.
It's getting hotter! Bits missed by the liberal application of factor 50 sunscreen are highlighted in red. The (nearly!) naked starfish posture in the bunks is the latest fashion below decks and the fans are the only things stopping the crew from melting completely where they lay. Above decks fashions are varied. Oakley sunglasses seem to be favoured by most but a breakaway contingent of 'style setters' are changing the face of yachting attire by sporting Harley Davidson wrap-around mirror shades and bandanas. John Stewart is sporting a 'biker' goatee beard to complete the look. Remember you read about it here first.
Whereas in the previous legs we have inevitably blamed the navigators for steering us into light airs here we are experiencing the changing conditions much more frequently and it is obvious to the crew that they are practically unavoidable. While some bold moves are being made by the likes of BG SPIRIT things are equalling out and re-shuffling on a daily basis. After nearly two weeks at sea there are only two miles separating us from 2nd and 3rd place and only 14 miles from VAIO in 1st place. At average speeds of 10 knots or more that's less than two hours. In the last 24 hours we have moved from 6th to 4th - 3rd if you take the waypoint as Boston. We have reduced VAIO's lead by 9 miles, reduced BG SPIRIT's lead from 12 miles to 2 miles and we overtook Spirit of Sark yet again but this time they have shot off west, a tactic only time will tell if it pays off. The fleet are lining up to cross the equator in the next 72 hours or so, it would be nice to predict that we'll be up at the front, it won't be for want of trying.
The more the positions change and the closer we get to the edge of our sail plan limits the more stress is placed on David's shoulders. Olly commented on my reference to 'crew sleep' in one of my recent logs. I suggested that the burden of the 24-hour watch was shared between David and the watch leaders but he said his and Cop's role was much more akin to the crews than that of the skippers - they really too could forget things as they passed to the new watch. One also has to remember that David is not even on a 24 hour
watch but a 10 month one - one that starts at the start gun in Portsmouth and finishes the same place as we cross the finish line.
It's getting hotter! Bits missed by the liberal application of factor 50 sunscreen are highlighted in red. The (nearly!) naked starfish posture in the bunks is the latest fashion below decks and the fans are the only things stopping the crew from melting completely where they lay. Above decks fashions are varied. Oakley sunglasses seem to be favoured by most but a breakaway contingent of 'style setters' are changing the face of yachting attire by sporting Harley Davidson wrap-around mirror shades and bandanas. John Stewart is sporting a 'biker' goatee beard to complete the look. Remember you read about it here first.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
13o00S 9o42W
The last 24 hours have been quite exciting, enjoyable and rewarding. Our sail plan has remained the same and the wind has been quite constant, but for the occasional squall, so that is not the reason. While there have been some changes to the menu, the food is pretty much the same and so there is no real cause for celebration in that department. And, despite constant requests, Holger has not broken out the controlled drugs and allowed us to get high and loopy on the best the pharmaceutical industry has to offer - I repeat, despite constant requests. No, it's because the sailing is now so much better and we are constantly energised and boosted knowing that we are sailing well. We have been gybing the spinnaker in close to three minutes, a procedure that took in excess of twenty minutes in our early training days.
There is a genuine enthusiasm when we go on deck unlike some other legs, namely the southern ocean, where it was an obvious struggle. And as a crew we have gelled and bonded so that there is a shared energy lifting everyone rather than just individuals or small groups. We have purposefully surged through the pack of leading yachts to be in second place with the waypoint at the equator (it is important to mention which waypoint we are using as the positions may vary. At the time of writing we are second, or within one mile of second, with the waypoint being Boston as well). VAIO are just five miles away in 1st place, BG SPIRIT have made loads of ground and threaten us from the right and our constant companions on this leg so far, Spirit of Sark, we can see on the horizon behind us. A new nav light appeared on the horizon to our left overnight, that of Team Stelmar. With this company the stage is set for a battle royal and we are going to have to be an exceptional team to be sure to come out in front of this formidable pack.
Yesterday saw the liberation of a bottle of Gin, some tonic water and a shower of cocktail umbrellas (I'm not sure what the collective name for a group of cocktail umbrellas is so I made it up) in celebration of passing St Helena. There was much rejoicing and the off watch gathered in the sail locker for an impromptu party. I think the next celebration will be the equator where the rest of the crew will be taking delight in subjecting Giles, Gabi and Matt, all Equator virgins, to all kinds of horrors tempered with the subsequent downing of some bubbly no doubt.
There is a genuine enthusiasm when we go on deck unlike some other legs, namely the southern ocean, where it was an obvious struggle. And as a crew we have gelled and bonded so that there is a shared energy lifting everyone rather than just individuals or small groups. We have purposefully surged through the pack of leading yachts to be in second place with the waypoint at the equator (it is important to mention which waypoint we are using as the positions may vary. At the time of writing we are second, or within one mile of second, with the waypoint being Boston as well). VAIO are just five miles away in 1st place, BG SPIRIT have made loads of ground and threaten us from the right and our constant companions on this leg so far, Spirit of Sark, we can see on the horizon behind us. A new nav light appeared on the horizon to our left overnight, that of Team Stelmar. With this company the stage is set for a battle royal and we are going to have to be an exceptional team to be sure to come out in front of this formidable pack.
Yesterday saw the liberation of a bottle of Gin, some tonic water and a shower of cocktail umbrellas (I'm not sure what the collective name for a group of cocktail umbrellas is so I made it up) in celebration of passing St Helena. There was much rejoicing and the off watch gathered in the sail locker for an impromptu party. I think the next celebration will be the equator where the rest of the crew will be taking delight in subjecting Giles, Gabi and Matt, all Equator virgins, to all kinds of horrors tempered with the subsequent downing of some bubbly no doubt.
Sunday, May 8, 2005
19' 55S 0' 34E
We are one week in and it seems to have flown by which is good. We have seen our position go from right at the back at the start, to being first a couple of days ago, to being in sixth now. But this has not sent us spiralling into self-doubt, far from it, everything is going smoothly and confidence is high. David's log on Friday is an excellent insight into what makes a skipper tick, well our skipper anyhow. It is poignant he should mention how well he sleeps as a measure of how well we are doing. In contrast, " Crew sleep, what a wonderful thing" he said. "That sleep where you've got to the end of your watch and it's up to the other watch to look after things now". I'd not thought about it that way before but it's true. It's true as long as we've done everything we can during our watch to make the boat go faster and hand over to the new watch knowing that there is nothing left undone, no mess to sort out, no extra work for them to regain lost miles. Knowing that we have done everything we can is the key to the inner calm and a good 'crew sleep'. We have made some significant advances since those testing few weeks at the start of the first leg. To say we can almost do manoeuvres blindfold would not be too much of an exaggeration. To aid the helms and to retain our night vision we have be doing a lot of things on deck at night in near darkness. It is much safer now that the yacht is more level and we have developed a routine that works, a routine that has become second nature. Much like our attitude to safety a lot of the things we do are becoming habit - continually reviewed and checked to avoid complacency - but habit.
There are too many reds on the positions screen (yachts in front of us) and as we sailed along the middle track the yachts either side got the better of us. But things, we hope, are set to equal themselves out a bit soon. We are in a constant head to head battle with Spirit of Sark, which sees us crossing paths on a regular basis and we are also taking miles out of the leaders so we should be able to work our way up through the positions again. We just need the weather on our side or at least to present a level playing field.
As we enter week two we are just going to continue as we have been doing. There is in fact a lot of positive energy onboard. At the end of the day David and the watch leaders have the most pressure but as I write this log (at 4am) David and Cop are sleeping soundly and we hope Olly and our watch will when we get off at 6.
PS. To Gabi's friend Cenira, thank you for your kind words about my logs. Always appreciated.
There are too many reds on the positions screen (yachts in front of us) and as we sailed along the middle track the yachts either side got the better of us. But things, we hope, are set to equal themselves out a bit soon. We are in a constant head to head battle with Spirit of Sark, which sees us crossing paths on a regular basis and we are also taking miles out of the leaders so we should be able to work our way up through the positions again. We just need the weather on our side or at least to present a level playing field.
As we enter week two we are just going to continue as we have been doing. There is in fact a lot of positive energy onboard. At the end of the day David and the watch leaders have the most pressure but as I write this log (at 4am) David and Cop are sleeping soundly and we hope Olly and our watch will when we get off at 6.
PS. To Gabi's friend Cenira, thank you for your kind words about my logs. Always appreciated.
Thursday, May 5, 2005
We were very different people when back in October we left the shores of England bound for Argentina. That first leg saw us getting to know each other and BP Explorer and more importantly, ourselves. The light airs and glorious sunshine we are experiencing today give us time to reflect on the first leg. Just like a perfume or the smell of Play Doh reminds you of an ex-girlfriend or of long gone school days, the Atlantic Ocean stirs memories of that first few weeks at sea and all that has gone between. Soon we'll have gone full circle and it feels like we are re-visiting familiar ground but this time we are more prepared, more aware and are stronger individuals. I'm glad the Southern Ocean is behind us and sailing with the kite up and going 10 knots in the right direction just makes me miss it less. Olly said today that sailing in these conditions just reminds how bad the Southern Ocean was. The procedures are second nature now and living in this steel bathtub is becoming normal. We are getting used to the smells, the uninteresting food and the disturbed sleep. I am already getting the feeling that when I get home I'm going to miss it all so much. With the experience comes a better understanding of what we are doing and a confidence that we are doing our jobs well. On the first leg we were asking David much more and tentatively approaching tasks not really sure if they were the right things to do. Now we just up and do them knowing that they are right. The same sea, same weather and the same competition but it feels very different.
24 hours ago we were in fourth or fifth position last night we were in first having taken 23 miles out of the leaders. Team Stelmar, Spirit of Sark and Barclays Adventurer are all within sight and at 2am this morning Team Stelmar loomed beside us shrouded in a light mist like a ghost ship. We came to within shouting distance and David, not wanting to miss an opportunity, shouted at them!
They bore away and disappeared once more into the darkness the light from their steaming light illuminating their spinnaker looking like a small moon reflected in the still waters. Our lightweight kite fluttered in the scarce wind and we returned to trimming and tweaking.
When writing these logs I am always worried that they may be repeating the same old stuff over and over and as we start our journey home am I just repeating previous experiences in reverse. But I think this won't be the case. Although we are travelling a similar path, we will be looking at it in a different way and as such it isn't a journey there and back again but one journey, a play where the set is re-used but the actors are different and the performances more polished.
24 hours ago we were in fourth or fifth position last night we were in first having taken 23 miles out of the leaders. Team Stelmar, Spirit of Sark and Barclays Adventurer are all within sight and at 2am this morning Team Stelmar loomed beside us shrouded in a light mist like a ghost ship. We came to within shouting distance and David, not wanting to miss an opportunity, shouted at them!
They bore away and disappeared once more into the darkness the light from their steaming light illuminating their spinnaker looking like a small moon reflected in the still waters. Our lightweight kite fluttered in the scarce wind and we returned to trimming and tweaking.
When writing these logs I am always worried that they may be repeating the same old stuff over and over and as we start our journey home am I just repeating previous experiences in reverse. But I think this won't be the case. Although we are travelling a similar path, we will be looking at it in a different way and as such it isn't a journey there and back again but one journey, a play where the set is re-used but the actors are different and the performances more polished.
Monday, May 2, 2005
31 29 S 13 51 E
Start days are always adrenalin fuelled affairs and are practically the only time the whole crew are on deck at the same time. They are also the most tiring. Having started the day at about 7:00 and after the emotional roller coaster of the send-off at 11:00 there is a pause of about two hours for the start gun when we just want to get going. Then through all the excitement of the initial jockeying for best position we start to settle into the routine tasks and thereafter get into our watches. Olly's watch stayed on until 22:00 and we were getting pretty tired by the time we hit our bunks. With only four hours of sleep in 22 hours we were up again at 02:00 and didn't hit our bunks again until 06:00.
Our first night at sea was very exciting starting with 30 knots of wind and the flanker up. To our left and just ahead were Team Stelmar, Spirit of Sark and SAIC La Jolla. We watched nervously as the wind rose and more pressure was put on our straining spinnaker. We watched as Team Stelmar's flanker wrapped and flapped in the wind, at one point I'm sure I saw it rip in two but I couldn't be sure. They downed it quickly and went to a poled-out no 1 yankee but they lost ground and we came to within calling distance. We couldn't hold on any longer - the risk was too great. We went up to prepare the yankee for a hoist and as we did so went into a broach. Water cascaded over the deck and BP Explorer heeled at an alarming angle. We tripped the flanker (releasing one of the 3 corners causing it to de-power and flap like a flag). The guys in the cockpit struggled like mad to pull it in and at one point it got the better of us and fought back dragging Olly across the deck before he finally had to let go. With thoughts of past legs, when flankers have been lost and points deducted, we renewed our efforts, with everyone pulling, we got it all below deck without further incident. We poled-out the yankee and there it has remained.
Six hours of sleep was very welcome at 6 this morning and we awoke to stories of yachts blowing flankers and boat speeds in excess of 20 knots though none have been confirmed. We have been steaming along at over 13 knots average and we are well and truly back to proper sailing again.
At lunchtime today we celebrated Jasper's 1st birthday (David Melville's son) and David was presented with the first bottle of Champagne of the leg, which I'm pleased to say he shared amongst the crew. We also celebrated Cop's birthday, which was actually last week but any excuse for some chocolate cake is a good one in my book.
A quick one from the skipper: "happy birthday jasper, you make me smile every day'' love daddy
Our first night at sea was very exciting starting with 30 knots of wind and the flanker up. To our left and just ahead were Team Stelmar, Spirit of Sark and SAIC La Jolla. We watched nervously as the wind rose and more pressure was put on our straining spinnaker. We watched as Team Stelmar's flanker wrapped and flapped in the wind, at one point I'm sure I saw it rip in two but I couldn't be sure. They downed it quickly and went to a poled-out no 1 yankee but they lost ground and we came to within calling distance. We couldn't hold on any longer - the risk was too great. We went up to prepare the yankee for a hoist and as we did so went into a broach. Water cascaded over the deck and BP Explorer heeled at an alarming angle. We tripped the flanker (releasing one of the 3 corners causing it to de-power and flap like a flag). The guys in the cockpit struggled like mad to pull it in and at one point it got the better of us and fought back dragging Olly across the deck before he finally had to let go. With thoughts of past legs, when flankers have been lost and points deducted, we renewed our efforts, with everyone pulling, we got it all below deck without further incident. We poled-out the yankee and there it has remained.
Six hours of sleep was very welcome at 6 this morning and we awoke to stories of yachts blowing flankers and boat speeds in excess of 20 knots though none have been confirmed. We have been steaming along at over 13 knots average and we are well and truly back to proper sailing again.
At lunchtime today we celebrated Jasper's 1st birthday (David Melville's son) and David was presented with the first bottle of Champagne of the leg, which I'm pleased to say he shared amongst the crew. We also celebrated Cop's birthday, which was actually last week but any excuse for some chocolate cake is a good one in my book.
A quick one from the skipper: "happy birthday jasper, you make me smile every day'' love daddy
Tuesday, March 1, 2005
Leg 4 Day 3 : 40 16 S 149 27 E
I've looked all over and there is no cool place in this yacht! On deck the sun beats down and punishes anyone not covered from head to toe or who hasn't applied the factor 50 sunscreen. Below decks it's hot and humid and even the fans in the galley provide little comfort as they are blowing warm air. All too soon I fear we will be wishing we were back in the sun but for now give me some refreshing water over the deck and a chilly breeze.
It's a strange thing this ocean racing lark, yesterday David was looking decidedly glum and scratching his head over some disappointing position reports, today everything is much brighter. There has been a complete turnaround in the positions and boats that were in front are now behind us while some that were behind have moved just ahead of us.
Barclays Adventurer flank us to the right and Imagine It. Done. to the left, both are close enough to see crew moving around on deck. The breeze is set to weaken as a new wind comes in from the west and there will be a return to some anxious times as BG SPIRIT and Spirit of Sark, out to the east, could gain ground as they benefit from the old wind as we wait for ours. David is once again in good form and has been proudly showing us his advent calendar lovingly crafted by his wife Kate. Each day of the leg has a window revealing a photo or a message. Naomi on the other hand has been looking slightly down all day. It's her birthday tomorrow and the thought of turning 30 has seen her usually 'pink' outlook on life turn slightly purple. Fortunately she is the second youngest person on BP Explorer so she's still the spring chicken to us. So, it's kites up, heads down and shirts off.
It's a strange thing this ocean racing lark, yesterday David was looking decidedly glum and scratching his head over some disappointing position reports, today everything is much brighter. There has been a complete turnaround in the positions and boats that were in front are now behind us while some that were behind have moved just ahead of us.
Barclays Adventurer flank us to the right and Imagine It. Done. to the left, both are close enough to see crew moving around on deck. The breeze is set to weaken as a new wind comes in from the west and there will be a return to some anxious times as BG SPIRIT and Spirit of Sark, out to the east, could gain ground as they benefit from the old wind as we wait for ours. David is once again in good form and has been proudly showing us his advent calendar lovingly crafted by his wife Kate. Each day of the leg has a window revealing a photo or a message. Naomi on the other hand has been looking slightly down all day. It's her birthday tomorrow and the thought of turning 30 has seen her usually 'pink' outlook on life turn slightly purple. Fortunately she is the second youngest person on BP Explorer so she's still the spring chicken to us. So, it's kites up, heads down and shirts off.
Safe, Happy, Faster hopefully not hotter.
John Bass
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Leg 4 Day 1 : Leaving Sydney
The start of leg four - for most of us the 'dreaded leg'. We did the Southern Ocean and rounded Cape Horn and while it had its high-points, for the most part it was pretty miserable. With leg 2 in our minds it will come as no surprise that the thought of another 35-40 days of the same and probably worse does not get us leaping around the deck all excited. The start day began as usual with us all meeting up for a crew breakfast. The friends and family that came to visit us in Sydney were also there and it's a time when we say our farewells. Then it was all down to the boat, those final hugs and wishes of 'good luck' and 'safe sailing' to all the other crew we've met in training and since and then it's wait for our turn to slip our lines and head off for the start. It's difficult to describe how wonderful it is to see so many people waving and cheering us off but the shouts of 'I love you' really stir the emotions and though relatively hardened sailors now, for some holding back the tears is just as difficult as when we left Portsmouth.
We circle and maneuvered BP Explorer trying to find the best start position and warmed ourselves up for when everything has to go just right. All the time our supporters circled and cheered. The hard-core BP girls Sarah, Claire and Ruth clung on for dear life as their inflatable bounced and crashed over the waves. They didn't tire of waving and smiling and we didn't tire of seeing them and waving back. Soon the minutes were counting down and we roared towards the start line. There were yachts to our left and right as the start gun fired to signal the start of leg four. We were in an excellent position and crossed the line just after Team Stelmar. There was no time to savour the moment as we prepared the pole for a spinnaker hoist. The yachts behind us, Barclays Adventurer and Me To You, were flying the kites already and there was no time to lose. We overtook Team Stelmar to take the lead around the first mark and as I write this log we are holding our position - all in all we couldn't have asked for a better start on our voyage to Cape Town.
My Mum Brenda surprised me by flying to Sydney to meet me as I arrived and stayed to see me off, a massive challenge for her as she hates flying. I'm sure I can speak for everyone who's friends and family have visited on the stopovers so far when I say, thank you, you being there meant such a lot, I love you and don't worry about us on this leg. The more we do the more secure we feel about our abilities and what we are capable of achieving. We've grown as a crew and have learned to support and look after each other. With this crew I'm sure this leg will turn out not as one to be dreaded but one to be savored.
John Bass
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