Crew Blog

A day of two halves

08 March 2008

Lisa and Hannah put in the hours on the spinnaker

Tuesday morning started well as I got out of my bunk at 6am, pulled on my oilies and brushed my teeth, all without being hurled across the boat at speed, which is always a bonus! The day then started to go downhill rapidly as I heard Hannah shout down ‘Lisa, I hope you serviced that sewing machine in Qingdao’…My face froze…I had thought about servicing the sewing machine in Qingdao, in -10 degrees with no heating on the boat..and I had also thought about going to the pub, sitting in the heat and having a beer…This was not the time to divulge my decision making process..

As I poked my head on deck I saw half of our spinnaker flying as normal and then looked around to find the other half dragging behind us in the water..This was going to be a heck of a lot of sewing.

Hannah and myself then set about the mammoth task of turning two kites into one aided very readily by multiple tea and coffee offers and Wee Sue even delved into her secret chocolate supplies to produce 2 large bars for both of us. You know it’s bad when Wee Sue starts giving out the ‘special’ chocolate supplies.

By midday we were 5 hrs into repairs and had just about managed to trim the frayed edges and dry the kite in preparation for taping the 20m of kite that were to be sewn together. By 8pm spirits were still high, 13 hrs down and only stopping for meals. We were working well at sticking the two halves together even though every other word was a yawn.

By midnight, 17 hours in, the descent into delerium had set in and Colin arrived down to offer us more coffee only to find us in uncontrollable laughter which had been caused by a sneeze.... Chocolate brownies were made by Andrew and seemed to help the situation and by 2am the taping was complete the sewing commenced!

Sewing machine was well gaffer taped to the floor to prevent wild lurching motions and I was equally wedged into position with headtorch on, ready to embark on the 6 hr sewing mission ahead. By dawn the progress was good and we battled on through until 2pm when we eventually turned our 2 spinnakers into one!

We now await the right conditions in which to fly it and actually discover if it all resembles the shape of the old one and is stuck together the right way round!...I think I’ll stay below decks for that hoisting!

Lisa ( aka Master Sail Repairer)

1. Pam Hart, Keighley, West Yorks. 09 March 2008

Good old Sue to the rescue. Chocolate cures all ills. Keep up the good work, your doing well, up to third this morning. Lets have a first.

Pam and Michael.

2. Sarah, Crowthorne 09 March 2008

Great work Lisa, sounds as though you might have missed your true vocation! Really good to see the Black Pearl pushing for a podium position! Keep on fighting all the way to Hawaii.

3. Dipxy, Dumfriesshire 09 March 2008

Well done Lisa ... and bless ‘Weee Sue’ for the chocolate bars. The spinnaker will be perfect. Good idea to keep below decks .... you might even manage to sneak in some zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Best wishes
x

4. Dipxy, Dumfriesshire 09 March 2008

Well done, the Black Pearl. Glasgow: Scotland with Style has certainly been the dark clipper in this race. You’ve all given us some exciting races and long may it continue .....

Good luck

5. John Diffenthal, Sandhurst, Berkshire, UK 09 March 2008

Great racing. I’m in awe that you manage to do this kind of maintenance when you are being thrown around inside the boat. Only about 1500 miles to go now and then you’ll be able to service the sewing machine somewhere warm.

This race could be about mistakes, let’s hope that you don’t make too many.

Go Glasgow!

6. Susan Scott, Sunday afternoon in Cumbernauld 09 March 2008

Hi Guys
amd especially Lisa and Hannah for their mammoth spell at the old sail repairs. You are both stars! Watching from home as always. Love you all. Sue aka Hyacinth

7. Erica, Edinburgh 09 March 2008

Ah Lisa! What a mammoth task! I can well imagine the prospect of such a repair was grim, and am pleased the usual camaraderie (plus coffee and chocolate) saw you through. My fingers are crossed too for the hoist. I have no doubt all will be well. Sounds like you guys have been having some great surfing. Missing you all.

Erica xx

8. Caroline Fitzpatrick, Dornoch 09 March 2008

Well done Hannah and Lisa on the sail repair. Keep the chocolate coming wee Sue. Sounds like this leg has been the most challenging so far. Your back to third and chasing down NY and H&H;- got to get them before the finish so go for it. Safe sailing. Best wishes Caroline

9. Gordon Lawson, Snowy Edinburgh 10 March 2008

Lisa/Hannah
Sounds like a fantastic marathon effort from you both to complete the repair. You will need to make sure Sue replenishes her secret supplies in Hawaii.Fingers crossed for the hoisting.
Gordon

10. Peter & Elspeth Eggleton, Sunningdale 10 March 2008

From what we know of Lisa capabilities we are sure that the spinnaker will be a success an indeed probably an improvement on the old one! Keep up the good work.

11. Susan, Edinburgh 10 March 2008

Hey Stuart,

Hope you’re having a good time cruising around! How’s things on deck ? Have you had any BBQs at fun hour yet!? My email account doesn’t send replies back to your emails

Ciao for now,

Susanx

12. Brian & Dru, Peterborough 10 March 2008

What a task - don’t know how you managed to stay awake - although you look as tho’ you’re on auto pilot, Lisa. You’re doing well, so keep it up and hopefully we’ll see you on the podium again. Keep safe.

13. sian reynolds, at my desk thinking of you! 11 March 2008

Wow Girls!! Ninja effort!! x x

14. Lorna & Jon Darke, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan 11 March 2008

Hannah & Lisa - poor things, over 24 hours doing repairs - hope it pays off for you both and that you managed to get some sleep afterwards! Looking good on the race viewer at the moment just need to catch up to NY and then HH - we know, easier said than done! Fingers crossed for a podium - sail fast and as always, safe.
Lorna & Jon

15. James &Dorothy;, Coleraine N.Ireland 11 March 2008

Well done Hannah and Lisa,also the crew who kept the coffee and treats coming during the mammoth sail sewing. Position looking good, keep focused, keep safe and sail fast.
the Black Pearl can do it, Go Glasgow Go, were tracking your every move.
Love to Lisa xxx

James and Dorothy

16. sian reynolds, Very Windy Bristol!! 11 March 2008

guys im so excited - your charging down on NY & the Caravan!! Come on the Black boat!!

17. Alan + Rena, Coleraine N. Ireland 13 March 2008

We always knew you were good with the needle and thread Lisa! Well done to you and Hannah and all the crew. Coleraine is still following your progress and wishing you well. Have a good St Patrick`s Day on 17th . Cheers!
Love
Alan + Rena

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