Crew Blog

Friends come calling

18 March 2008

Durban 2010 and Beyond transferring fuel from Liverpool 08

Yesterday was a busy day on Durban 2010 and Beyond with lots of friends stopping by with gifts.

First of the day was Liverpool 08 who sent lots of fuel and plenty of good wishes. Next to stop by were Uniquely Singapore, who as well as the fuel and good wishes also sent over some very welcome treats. In exchange for fuel we sent over water, milk powder and a few other goodies to Qingdao.

Last but not least to stop by was The Black Pearl - Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper - who sent over a rather fabulous looking cake covered in hundreds and thousands, a DVD (Pirates of The Caribbean, naturally) and to make the set complete a party pack with party poppers and other assorted treats. With Lucy’s birthday coming up tomorrow, these will definitely help with the celebrations… although we don’t seem to be able to find the bottle of Benromach which we’re sure must have been in there! However all our troubles were put into perspective when we discovered that Glasgow had been without tea bags for five days! So, naturally, to return the favour we sent over a box of our finest to relieve their thirst

Janet

1. Stephen Remiens, Ausstralia 18 March 2008

HI Durbs

Bit slow on getting the news very shocked to hear 2 boats lossing there masts bet it gave all a big fright, so glade all here everybody is ok, apart from Durbsy Girl but sure with a new stick and bits of wire you get will get her flying again!!

Go Durban this will be a race/trip you will forget.

Thinking of you all
Take care
Kiwi Steve and Mengs

2. Mark Webster, Worcester 19 March 2008

Hard to believe that you can be so busy with visitors and cakes in the middle of the Pacific Ocean! Glad to hear you have enough food there. Hope that your new mast will be on soon and that it will bring you good luck for the rest of the race. We are going to enjoy the Poort for Easter. You must enjoy the Island lifestyle. Greetings Websters

3. Alida du Preez, Illovo Beach 21 March 2008

It is so amazing the team spirit on board and also the friendships from the other boats. What an experience, if you guys don’t become friends forever at least you will have wonderful memories. The demasting was not nice, but what the hell, you can handle anything with panache. Well done and keep up the good work. Thinking of you and the next leg is ahead to make the most and show everyone who is the boss. LOL have fun.

4. Alcott Hall Primary, Birmingham 25 March 2008

Hi Mr. Gray,
We hope you’ve managed to fix your boat
Hope you had a great birthday - what a way to spend it, a grassskirt and a Mai Tai!?
Stay safe and sail fast, and here’s hoping this next leg is a little less eventful than the last!
Wwwwhhhhooooooooooooooooosssssssssssshhhhhhhh!
‘The Academy’ x
P.S. Good to see you at the front of the photo on the other Durban site, it makes it so much easier to find you That top is as colourful as some of the ties you used to wear!

5. Jane Morris, Reading Berks 26 March 2008

To John Gray
Happy Birthday from all the family in Caversham Reading.
Wishing you and the crew a safe journey home.

6. Hilary Roberts, Manchester 31 March 2008

Hi to Mandy and fellow crewmates on the Durban Clipper!
Sorry to hear you lost your mast - hope you will be repaired soon and back on your way.
Mandy - what a wonderful way to take a career break. I hope the trip will be everything you wish of it. I will think of you when marking exams this summer and will look forward to hearing all about it in November.
Every good wish to all.
Hilary.

7. iain hall, Solihull West Midslands 08 April 2008

To John Gray
Hope all is well and the prospect of another exciting new port is enough motivation after all the challenges.
Glad all is well .
We are thinking about you, Cant wait to read the Book>~
Best Wishes Iain and Anne
PS Hope the last epistle was recieved?

8. Alcott Hall Primary, Birmingham 09 April 2008

Hello Mr. Gray and buddies,
How goes the boat fixing (it’s got to be better than ‘death by SATs revision’ )? You’ve had an even longer holiday than we did! (just over 6 weeks until the next one! hahaha )We were mooching about on the internet and found a couple of videos of the Durban on ‘you tube’ - you’ll have to give us a wave next time your being filmed
Happy hula-ing.....
‘The Academy’ x

9. Trevor Pickard, Wet and Windy Warwick 26 May 2008

Sitting in the pouring rain thinking of you in the sun.... Trust this leg is a bit more friendly than the others. We’ve been following with interest and can’t wait to catch up on your return.

Trevor and Sue

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