Crew Blog

Piling on the pressure

26 October 2007

Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper crew take the strain on a sail change

It’s day two of Race 3; some things have changed and many things are very familiar. We have left behind the cameraman and four crew and David Jack flew out to join Neeps watch for the next two legs. The banter on the rail was already different last night as we reacquainted ourselves with our headsails, changing them to respond to changes in the wind and the sail plans of the competition.

The start of this leg will be very much upwind with instructions to the helm of ‘best course to wind’ and ‘check that trim’ to the folks on the rail. This looks like an even more tactical race than the first two and it will challenge the short handed crew. We are back to life at an angle with the different challenges that throws up above and below decks.

Below deck it’s all about cooking at an angle after a week of restaurant meals. We have managed to produce three meals including the usual porridge breakfast, a hearty soup for lunch, olive bread, devilled sausages, rice, banana cake, fruit salad and countless cups of tea and coffee. We even threw in a quick (?) sail change as a variation to a routine of culinary concoction.

Above deck it’s all about maximising boat speed, keeping the power on and getting those sail changes done fast and safe. Constant checking of trim to squeeze out that extra 0.1 knot has become an obsession. We need to balance the priority of the most efficient helming with training up all of the crew to be as good as the best at each point of sail. The returning discomfort of ‘gunny bum’ has to be ignored to get as much weight as we can on the high side.

There is still time for some entertainment in this frenzy of competition with even more competitions! Hannah laid down a challenge to the on watch Neeps to hold the two-handled winch at arms length for longer than she could. First over the mark was new arrival David Jack with 5 minutes but the outright winner was Wan Shoo McLaren at 5mins 30secs. Please try this at home if you dare and let us know how you did!

Colin Sherriff

1. Helen Dingley, Gargunnock, Stirling 26 October 2007

Glad to hear you are still managing to have fun in amongst the hard work. Good to hear that Dave Jack is settling in well and we will be watching your progress daily. Keep up the good work. Best wishes to Dave from Helen, Graham and the kids.

2. Graham, Glasgow 26 October 2007

Thinking about Neeps!! Does that mean that the other watches are called Haggis & Tatties?

3. James R, London 26 October 2007

Hannah has been practising—she only got just over 4 minutes when Ed Green taught her that game last October. I won the competition that day—with 6 minutes admittedly in flat water. Still, you’ve got 30,000 more miles to practice—just don’t drop the handle over the side.

4. Paul Myers, London (unfortunately) 26 October 2007

A big hello to all my crew on Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper, hope to see you do as well without me for the next couple of legs!
I see you have moved down the fleet a little way, obviously it’s hard to chase people down from the front and you wanted to set yourselves a challenge! We all know you can do it so get out there and show them again what the black boat can do!
I WILL be returning in Australia and have my operation booked for Sunday to get fighting fit in time. Keep up the good work

Miss you all!
Paul

5. Peter Russell, Edinburgh 26 October 2007

Well done to you all on a great perfomance for the first two legs.Keep them going Gordon and watch out for those whales. I would love to say I wish I could be with you but alas in spirit only! Everyone at Macdonald Estates is routing for and Mclean is now an expert on wind,sails and everything nautical.Keep up the good work. Cheers Peter.

6. Anna, Nottingham uni 27 October 2007

Hi Dad,

Sounds like your doing a good job at readjusting to life at sea. Can’t imagine how you cook all that food when your almost horizontal! You’re probably eating nicer food than me though… students don’t seem to be particularly healthy.

Thinking of you lots and avidly watching your progress on race viewer.

Lots of love xxx

7. Sue Scott, Itaparica, Salvador 27 October 2007

Hi Guys

Was so sad to be leaving you all in Salvador but wanted to see a bit of the country. Go out and get them guys I know you can do it. You will soon get into the way of things again. All the best. Hyaccinth

8. Chris Goodfellow, Burnham 27 October 2007

Hannah you’re going well but it looks tricky on the GRIB.Hope you are weather routed but if not can I suggest you stay just east of the weather fronts passing near you, going as south east or south as you can to pick up the serious southern oceanstuff going east when you get down to the latitude of Durban. Regards Chris Goodfellow

9. Paul Myers, London (still) 28 October 2007

Hi Glasgow

Good to see you’re doing your thing and chasing down the front runners!
Hopefully these messages are now being forwarded to you so you can read them.
You will be pleased to know I have had the operation, the surgeon reckons I will be back capable of racing from Durban in rather than Australia - time will tell. Hope to see you all soon keep up the good work

Paul

10. Gordon Ritchie, Glasgow 28 October 2007

Looking forward to seeing you all in Durban and celebrating your fantasic race start. Your looking good so far so keep up the good work. We’re right behind you ! (hopefully all the other yachts will be as well....sorry) !

The Glasgow Clipper team

11. Andy Cole, Worcester 28 October 2007

Hi Paul, good to hear all went well and the surgoen thinks you will soon be back. I’ve now returned to Worcester having finally escaped the caipirinhas..bumped into Hyacinth returning from her Island at the marina (which is now very much a french affair) - sounds like she had a great time in her beach idyll. We last saw her at the airport picking up hire car keys at Fast Bob’s burger bar...!
Anyway Glasgow, if any of these do get to you keep going hard but look after each other and the Black Pearl. I really hope the weather and the grids match whatever cunning plans Captain Han has for this Leg… All the best, Andy

12. Robin Garrett, Edinburgh 29 October 2007

Well done all of you on board - for a great performance so far, but more especially for putting up with Gordon for so long! Do you still have keel haulings?

Gordon - we are in Cape Town from 17 November for a week........

13. Jeanette Forrester, Hereford 29 October 2007

Hello Glasgow crew and good on you! Great blog, Colin! It’s compelling keeping track of your progress from Blighty - most of our village are following you! Keep safe, have fun and keep those sails happy! Jeanette

14. Grant Ferguson, The highlands 29 October 2007

doesn’t surprise me that Drew Mclaren won the competition with the winch, He was always a thrawn devil and never gave in easily.

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