Crew Blog

From Glasgow’s own Nora Batty

26 April 2008

Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper's Hannah keeps an eye on the wind at the start of Race 9

New arrivals found the Black Pearl prominent in Santa Cruz harbour where we were treated like family. On Sunday over 100 people paid an impromptu visit to look over Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper. We received many gifts including chocolates, cakes and even freshly picked home grown Californian lemons!
When we put to sea we were cheered on by hundreds at the quayside and a flotilla of club members who came to cheer us on at the start.

The race to Panama started at 1pm and we headed off, in the lead, and started our run down to Panama with an 8.8 knot wind which rose to 29 knots later in the evening. We ran up the heavyweight spinnaker but later decided to take it down as it was getting dark and the wind getting stronger. Being a well run racing machine a good deal of planning went into the careful hauling down and repacking of the sail.

In the best tradition of Robert Burns, ‘the best laid plans of mice and men often gang aglay’, everything that could go wrong did! The descending sail, half inflated, wrapped itself firstly around the inner forestay and staysail halyard and then took a fatal like to the spinnaker and Yankee halyards. Meanwhile the wind had risen to 34 knots and Dafydd was fighting with a surfing helm doing 13.5 knots and of course this was all in the dark! It took from 7.30pm to 1.30am and the heroic efforts of our three trapeze specialists Greg (with a few French expletives I had never heard before), Clare who was hanging on upside down on a 15 degree pitching mast and Hannah with a complete dictionary of French and English expletives, who finally managed to recover the sail but only after the halyards were cut up the top of the mast! Needless to say they will not be applying to Chipperfield circus for a career change.

We are now opposite Long Beach close to the 60 mile bank heading south in absolutely clear weather with a 19 knot wind off our beam and the renegade spinny up and working, eating lots of home baked cakes and I am seeking advice from the girls how to get the wrinkles out of my tights!!

Martyn

1. Caroline Fitzpatrick, dornoch 28 April 2008

Hi Glasgow crew - great to see you are second and managing to stay there even when things go wrong on board. Watching your position as usual twice daily - it’s become a ritual. What will I do when the racing finishes. Have a great trip and safe sailing. Best wishes Caroline

2. John Diffenthal, Sandhurst, Berkshire, UK 28 April 2008

“… and of course all this was in the dark ...” You haven’t got the hang of this at all, have you? Where’s the challenge in doing it in daylight?

Amazing stuff - no surprise that the expletives dictionaries got a good workout.

Sail safe and fast and see if you can make keep ahead of Durban and New York.

Go Glasgow!

3. Lorna & Jon Darke, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan 28 April 2008

Hi Hannah and crew of Black Pearl! Great to hear from you after your break in Santa Cruz but sorry about all the night work you had to undertake! Looking good at the moment though even with the mishap - 2nd place and in front of NY! Please carry on doing your utmost as always - the yellow penant calls!
Sail very fast and safe, as always and GO GLASGOW GO!!
Lorna & Jon

4. Andy Cole, Worcester 28 April 2008

A blog at last!
Still its delay matters not , given the brilliant job done in dealing with the wrap followed by the competitive light wind sailing achieved for the last few scheds.
The sailing comes first and so far so good - keep it going!
All the best
Andy

5. Erica, Edinburgh 28 April 2008

Go Glasgow Go! Great to read the blog and delighted you got the spinny down in one piece! Keep up the excellent pace and do what you do best in light airs…

6. Ros, Euan & Gemma, Edinburgh 28 April 2008

Fantastic race with lots of excitement for the crew. Euan thinks you’re doing so well because his dad has rejoined the boat - could he be right?! Safe sailing and enjoy the thrill of it all.

7. Duncan McKeeve, Toronto Canada 29 April 2008

Well Glasgow, you are doing Scotland with style and pride. You are a leading crew and proved that during the spinaker upset you can still make a strong comeback.
Hanna, now that you are in the lead you must “go Lassie go” and the crew must
“all go together”. Keep up the excellent seamanship and sail safe.

8. Steve Ballantyne(Leg 4), Bloddy Working! :( 29 April 2008

At last a BLOG !!

Don’t forget us jealous land-lubbers who need a regular fix - expecially when you are leading. Great news you all kept the spinny in one piece - we cannot afford any more penalties.

Safe sailing & see most of you in Cork (I hope). Special regards to the ‘old gits’

Slainte, Stevie B (The single-handed sailor)

9. barbara & Jon, aberaeron 29 April 2008

sounds like your enjoying your helming Dafs!, misssed you at the launching supper on Saturday night, Calon lan will be heading for Patches on Saturday, keep safe, number 1 spot suits you all.

all thoughts with you

Barbara, Jon, x

10. Anne Armstrong, Ampthill,Bedford 29 April 2008

Hi Jeanette, Glad to see you are doing so well in this lap. Our hearts are pumping in anticipation of your effort, keep it up. You may be there in the flesh but we are there in spirit to boost your energy and direct your purpose. Wow ambition realised. Brilliant!!
Thinking of you constantly if not with envy certainly with pride. Love Anne xxx

11. Ingrid Reynolds, London in the pouring rain 29 April 2008

Great to see you maintaining the lead. Keep it up and stay happy! Very jealous working long hours in very wet London.

12. Majella, Kevin and Kieran, Herefordshire 30 April 2008

Hi Janette,
We are keeping track of your progress and cheering you all the way . Great to see that you are in the lead. Wishing you a strong tail wind to take you all the way to the finish line. Love from all of us in Tarringtonxxxxxx

13. jon Brunton, Sarnia, Ontario 30 April 2008

There was an accountant from Glasgow
Who off to the sea he did go
To charter his way and sails to rig
He thought this was the only gig
To sail with the crew on a beautiful day
Only to find they sent out a May � Day
Wet through with the rain, hail and snow
A bottle of red wine he wished would flow
Up early, down late, with nowt on his plate
Oh how he wished for a beautiful date
On hearing his plight, his brother�s they did go
To meet in the Big Apple, wouldn�t you know?
To wish him HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY,� that old
But nothings to good for Robin I�m told
So back to Canada set the 3 musketeers
To celebrate in style with Good Canadian Beer

Happy Birthday, Robin.
From your much younger brother and family

Page 1 of 1 pages