Crew Blog

A guide to clothing

08 November 2007

Daffyd surfs Glasgow: Scotland with style down the waves

You may well have seen our formal outfits for arrivals and departures; many have commented positively on the impact of our charcoal breeze jackets and kilts sometimes offset by idiosyncratically bright footwear. You very rarely get more than a photographic glimpse our ocean racing sartorial elegance. Over the course of this leg our style guide has been on the move.

Initially, on leaving Salvador, the order of the day on deck was deck shoes, (singular in the case of Wan Shoo), shorts and T-shirts or bikini tops for those requiring them. We might have been on set for a Pirelli calendar shoot. A few days out, the temperature started to drop and there was an outbreak of red breeze jackets and board shorts often worn over thermal leggings, especially striking on some men. With Albatrosses, the wet and windy weather heralded the first sighting of our Henri Lloyd smocks and that even rarer bird, the dry suit.

The dry suit is an interesting garment. An all-in-one combination of a foulie jacket and salopettes – deigned to allow the wearer to work at the sharp end of the boat and cope with breaking waves without getting too wet. This is achieved by sewn-in socks with rubber gaiters at the wrists and neck. Some might pay good money for that smell of rubber. To carry on in that vein, entry to the suit is effected via a zipped opening in the back. Of necessity this is a tight zip, difficult enough to open when you’re not wearing the suit. This becomes almost impossible when you are inside it as that involves Houdini style skills coupled with Popeye arm strength. With the addition of an equally inflexible fly zip these are all of the openings. Following an exit poll of wearers, stewed prunes have been deleted from our menu lists.

As albatrosses appear, skies clear, temperatures drop and there are tales of ice in the sea, more garments are called into play. Mid layers and thermal base layers have come into service under smocks, foulies and breeze jackets. We could be auditioning for Michelin calendars.

What will we do in the real Southern Ocean??

Colin Sherriff
8 November 2007

1. paul murphy, hoylake 08 November 2007

I always knew this was going to be the fashion concious boat - do you go into wardrobe before going on watch?

2. Dee & Nick Sawyer, West wales -- Aberaeron! 09 November 2007

HI All
Nice to see a picture of you actually doing something Daffyd!!!
Seriously though --- keep up the pace and the speed. We don’t want you being caught by Durban 2010! Have appreciated your style of weather here for the last two days ---- howling gales, tons of wind and rain --- glad I’m only watching on the computer. Good Luck and keep warm!

3. Andy Cole, Worcester 09 November 2007

Dear Glasgow Crew, is it true that not everyone is delighted at the fetching sight of yellow often seen on your feet during key moments of digitised photography?
Well, as far as I’m concerned please wear what ever it takes to stay safe and very very fast....keep the pressure on all those pretenders to the throne…
All the best
Andy

4. barbara & Jon, aberaeron 10 November 2007

great photo dafs, its gone up in the yacht club for all to see!! keep the pressure on the leading boats your doing well, x

5. Llinos a'r bois, Aberaeron 10 November 2007

Faster Hughesy Boy, Faster!!!
Great action photo Dafydd.
The boys want to know whether you’ve had to fight your way through shark infested waters and Ynyr is desperate to know how many ‘proper pirates’ have you ‘sorted out’ to date?
Go Glasgow!
Cer yn ofalus Dafs,
CTBTAB.
LLINOS a’r bois xxx

6. Sam and the Thursday Night Crew, Auchterarder Scotland 10 November 2007

Come on Glasgow. had great news that Glasgow has been awarded the 2014 Commonwealth games. Next great news would be a podium position for the Glasgow boat in Durban. Remember that 3, 2, 1. You have the first two so keep going.
Hannah we will have Drew back on dry land after Durban so make him work hard for his final
run Go Glasgow go (with Style!). The Thursday night crew are waiting to hear about the adventures. Good luck

7. Rock Family, Sydney, NSW 11 November 2007

Here’s to another podium finish. Surely Glasgow winning the 2014 Commonwealth Games will keep the crew of Glasgow, Scotland with Style well and truly motivated!

To Gordon, Michaela has just written an essay about you being her personal hero for participating in this challenge and raising money for charity. Her teacher said her essay was fantastic - and we agree! She is now contemplating making a speech on your participation in the Clipper 07 08 Race for her end of year project! You are truly an inspiration to us all!

To Gordon again, many thanks for your pc from Salvador - we loved receiving it. We, the girls and Ali, have now booked our flights to Perth just after Christmas and are looking forward tremendously to seeing you in Fremantle. As Fi would say, “grand, smashin’, champion”!!!

All the best to the crew of Glasgow - keep up the great work and know that we’re all barracking for you. A well deserved rest is not too far away!

GO, GLASGOW, GO!!!!!!

Lots of love to Gordie and good luck to you all,
The Rocks xxxx

8. Gordon Ritchie, Glasgow 11 November 2007

Go Hannah and Glasgow,

Keep on going. You are well placed for another podium position . We are all right here for you in Glasgow and looking forward to seeing you all and buying you a few beers in Durban.

Go for it !

Gordon and The Glasgow Clipper Team.

9. glyn heulyn, aberaeron 11 November 2007

Good to see Daffyd doing some work.Is he the only helm in the village? Remember what the boat doctor taught you and you might still get another podium finish! Cape of Good Hope, is that further than Patches buoy?

All the best, pob hwyl
glyn

10. Robin Brunton, Glasgow 11 November 2007

Colin - that is no way to talk about my former dry suit - however I have to confess that I only tried to get into once - yes it was in the bedroom and my girlfriend was watching - she laughed so much at my antics that she rolled about and eventually fell off the bed in tears of laughter- other than that get to Durban pronto ! Robin

11. John Diffenthal, Sandhurst, Berkshire, UK 11 November 2007

This evening’s report puts you at 3rd, but I know that’s wrong because not everyone has a posted position for 18:00. I’m hoping that you are 4th, having slipped by a no doubt surprised Qingdao.

Go Glasgow ... every place now means points and points mean prizes!

Great to see that you are still fighting for every inch.

12. Lorna & Jon Darke, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan 11 November 2007

Go Glasgow Go - Try to shake Durban off your tail - looks like your towing it on the race viewer - and concentrate on Durban in front of you. Know your all tired being low on crew but keep spirits up, heads down and go for it! You know you can chase the leaders down and haven’t you all done well so far. Sail fast and safe, watch for any passing ice and hug for Siany,
Lorna & Jon.

13. Chris Goodfellow, Burnham 11 November 2007

Well done, you’ve been zipping along despite problems with the dry suit zips! A word of caution though, don’t be tempted to temperate latitutudes just yet for a change of gear to shorts etc again because the grib gives an altogether too hot and airless picture for those who cut off the corner, save the shorts for the podium!(or at least the final approach north).
Keep it down!
Regards
Chris G

14. Paul Myers, London (not for long) 12 November 2007

Hi All

Glad to see you have finally started to make your move!!
We know your best at playing catchup so show em how it’s done.
All signed off for me to return in Durban so see you all there - look forward to it

Paul

15. Andy Cole, Worcester 12 November 2007

This is definitely your time Glasgow - light head winds...fleet bunching up...perfect conditions for the boat with style to make its traditional march through the fleet.
Watch out for Ricky though, now he is in local waters I think you might need a few of those legendary stealth manoeuvres to catch him out…
All the best
Andy

16. gwenno a mol, cardiff 12 November 2007

Go go go Uncle Cab (Dafydd)!!!
I recognised you straight away at the helm (I call you Dabyd as I am still too little to get my pronounciations 100% right all the time but I am getting quite chopsy and by the time you come home I will be able to have a proper chat with you!). Mam has printed off the picture which is on our fridge. We talk about you all the time.

Note from mam- big brother, you are looking good (and the Glasgow looks alright too!!). Ceredigion and Cardiff are rooting for you and we are watching your every move. You can do it!!! And as Glyn said, Durban has got to be closer than the Patches buoy on a calm day!! Just don’t give up and motor over to Newquay club for a pint like we did! Or fall in (note to Barbara and Glyn!)

Take big care
Cariad mawr
Gwen and Mols xxxx

17. Peter & Elspeth Eggleton, Sunningdale 12 November 2007

Hi all, your comments about the clothes reminded us of a log that we have from 19th century Barque with a child (ancestor) heading back to Liverpool from Calcutta. The description in this document of the Algulas current and weather conditions were frightening and all without the benefit of dry suits!! We know you have some of the spirit of these old sailors in you - so go for that podium place again!

18. Kathy Carter, Hurley 12 November 2007

Colin I cannot believe you are waxing lyrical about clothes and sartorial elegance, all those years working with me obviously paid off. Got your PC from Salvador. One last push and you get can get a podium place, keeping a close eye.
Kathy

19. John Diffenthal, Sandhurst, Berkshire, UK 12 November 2007

Go Glasgow! In the last 12 hours you gained on everyone ahead of you and pulled away from all but one of the boats behind you - keep this up and you could make a very safe podium place for this leg.

Whatever happens it isn’t long until you hit the finish line so I am looking forward to a more detailed email about what went right and what went less well. Keep those wind Gods on your side!

20. Smokey Decla'n, of Arbroath 12 November 2007

Go Glasgow Go Go Go��..
The black bonnie clipper rules, with style.
Kevlar is the new black.....

/|
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) | \
) | \
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) | \
) G | \
____ )_____ |_____\__
~~~\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/~~~

21. Colin Bell, Hobart, Tasmania 13 November 2007

Hi all, but a special message for Gordon, aka “Blackbeard”,

I am reliably informed that the real cure for gunwhale bum, as opposed to gunnel bum, is sunlight and plenty of it! But on second thoughts, this is a family show, so stick with the cream. Colin

22. mam a dad, talybont west wales 13 November 2007

great picture on the helm dafydd. keep the pace going. you are doing fantastically well Glascow. Keep their noses to the grindstone skipper. we are with you every nautical mile of the way. cariad othiwrth mam a dad.

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