Crew Blog
A Celtic Blessing
25 February 2008
What an amazing welcome and send off by Qingdao. After ten days of being treated like celebrities in China we are off to Hawaii on the longest single race of the whole adventure with six new crew joining nine of us who sailed from Singapore.
Every race start and finish produces some unexpected conditions and you will have seen from the race viewer how far the wind took us in the first twelve hours or so. The first additional feature we hadn’t expected was the Scottish summer weather which arrived at 0400 this morning and allowed us to generate another temporary crew member. I don’t expect them to stay the whole course to Hawaii. The other surprise arrival on deck was the kedge anchor which none of us had seen since training in July last year. At least it prevented an undignified synchronised drift back to Qingdao.
We are now half way there on the whole race both in time and distance so in some ways we are on the way home, even if we have half the world to travel and plenty more new experiences to challenge us. As most of us on the Glasgow boat are at least part Celtic this seemed an appropriate message to send to friends and family back home.
A Celtic Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always on your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rain fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
It’s quite hard to believe tonight that in less than four weeks we will be back in T-shirts and shorts looking for cold beers in Hawaii.
Colin Sherriff
1. Sarah, Crowthorne 26 February 2008
Great blog Colin - good to hear from the Black Pearl again and may the wind be on your back all the way to Hawaii.
2. John Diffenthal, Sandhurst, Berkshire, UK 26 February 2008
Great to see you running towards the front of the pack again. Let’s hope that you manage this race with fewer injuries than the last one.
Sail fast and safe. Go Glasgow!
3. James & Dorothy, coleraine N Ireland 26 February 2008
Hannah and crew
Sail fast and keep safe Glasgow. Loved your temporary crew member,don’t think he’ll cause any bother. Will be watching your progress throughout. Go for it Glasgow - The Black Pearl can do it. Best wishes to all and love to Lisa.
Dorothy and James x x x
4. Lorna & Jon Darke, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan 26 February 2008
Hi Hannah and crew of the Black Pearl,
So pleased you all enjoyed the stop over seems you were all treated to celebrity status - well deserved after the last race! Did not realise that you all had to anchor up on Sunday night to stop returning to Qingdao for the Welcome Back Party!
Looking good at the moment although a long race, fingers crossed for another podium finish. The celts here are saying GO GLASGOW GO!!!
Sail fast and safe as always,
Lorna & Jon
5. Jacqui Ure, Perth Western Australia 26 February 2008
Glad I missed the arrival of the additional crew member “Wee Jimmy”. I am sure he was a huge asset to the crew! It’s a while since I have seen snow (Scottish or any other) and it will be a while longer if I can help it! I far preferred the weather in Perth and Singapore whereI last sighted you all.
You’re doing great - keep it up and you will be #1 in position. At that point my Scottish heritage will gain dominance over my Australian naturalisation and you’ll hear me cheering all the way from Perth - WA!
Best of luck to you all and may the words of the Celtic Blessing hold true for each of you.
6. Alex Crossland, Stonehaven, Scotland 26 February 2008
Welcome on board to Nic and the other new crew members. Have a safe journey and good luck!
7. Graham Jenner, Shrewsbury 26 February 2008
Hannah & Crew, all the very best for this long leg and hope the wind is favourable for Capt. Jack and Black Pearl. Take care and hope you did not put too much ice in your G&T;’s just beacuse it was available. Much love, Mum, Dad & Beccyxxx.
8. Dee & Nick Sawyer, Aberaeron, West Wales 26 February 2008
Your Celtic Blessing reminds me of Van Morrisons Celtic New Year, which I have added below.
(Van Morrison)
If I don’t see you through the week
See you through the window
See you next time that we’re talking on the telephone
And if I don’t see you in that Indian summer
Then I want to see you further on up the road
I said, oh won’t you come back?
I have to see you my dear
Want you come back in the Celtic New Year?
In the Celtic New Year
If I don’t see you when I’m going down Louisiana
If I don’t see you when I’m down on Bourbon Street
If you don’t see me when I’m singing Jack of Diamonds
If you don’t see me when I’m on my lucky streak
Woa, I want you, want you to come on back
I’ve made it very clear
I want you to come back home in the Celtic New Year
Celtic New Year
If I don’t see you when the bonfires are burning, burning
If I don’t see you when we’re singing the Gloriana tune
If I’ve got to see you when it’s raining deep inside the forest
I got to see you at the waning of the moon
Said oh, won’t you come on back?
Want you to be of good cheer
Come back home on the Celtic New Year
Celtic New Year, Celtic New Year
Celtic New Year
In the Celtic New Year
In the Celtic New Year
Come on home, come on home, come on home, come on home
Celtic New Year is 31st October so don’t wait that long....
Good luck and Gods speed to you all.
9. Brian & Dru, Peterborough 27 February 2008
Glad to hear you’re on the move again and hopefully you’ll have ditched that temporary crew member by now - no need for surplus weight.... Safe sailing, and we’ll be with you all the way.
10. Brian & Dru, Peterborough 27 February 2008
P.S. Like the photo Lisa!
11. Guy Brocklehurst, London 27 February 2008
Keeping tabs on the boat but in particular Doddy (Michael Dodd) who has joined the crew for their current leg.. Good to see you are maintaining your cracking progress despite Doddy joining the boat.. just messing mate.. very good to see you’re going well mate.. Will be keeping an eye out for you..
Take it easy (if that’s possible).. and look after yourself..
12. Gaj, Glasgow 27 February 2008
Looks like you’re doing well! A quick ‘hola!’ to Nic....sorry I didn’t get a chance to say tatty-bye before you left. I’m sure we’ll raise a glass to you all in Cottiers one night soon.
Went on a sail last weekend to Rothesay - we got a Force 8 but I don’t think it was as testing as where you are right now!
Gaj
13. barbara & Jon, aberaeron 27 February 2008
Great to see your in the leading pack, keep up the good work,
great to hear from you Dafs, keep safe!!!!!!!!
14. Paul & Anne, Ayrshire 27 February 2008
Well done Glasgow - consistant sailing - great team work.
Robin- sent your golf clubs ahead to Hawaii just in case the “Canadian Hairdressers” turn up before New York.
Keep safe and keep going
best wishes
Paul & Anne
15. Smokey Decla'n, of Arbroath 27 February 2008
16. Corinne, Matt and Tate, Aberdeen 27 February 2008
Go Glasgow (and Nicola). Nice photo, hope it warms up soon.
17. pam brunton, sarnia, canada 28 February 2008
ALOHA....Thought I would let you know , 83degrees on the big island today, will be getting warmer as the week progresses. The Wee guy without the tan may not stand up to that kind of heat. Though I am sure the rest of you can. Robin spoke to Margaret yesterday and was brought up to date. The Canadien Hairdressing Golfers are looking for some green grass, as we are still in the depths of winter..-18degrees today with the wind chill -24… no laughing. Take care all the sun and sand await you. Love Pam
18. Sue Scott, Glasgow 28 February 2008
Hello to the Black Pearl from a wet Glasgow. The last leg was tough for you all. Hannah, Lisa hope your ribs are bearing up! Looks like poor Stevie is suffering. Colin excellent blog. The landies will be meeting up soon in Glasgow to catch up. We’re with you in spirit all the way. Love as always - Hyacinth XXXXX
19. Alan +Rena Lindsay, Coleraine 28 February 2008
Come on Glasgow. You have been brilliant so far. Keep going fast and safe. Lisa Coleraine is watching you closely and we are all behind you.
Lots of love
Alan+Rena
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