Crew Blog

The Daddy Bear Squall

12 October 2007

On deck this morning, lathering in the sun tan lotion as per usual ( it is the tropics after all!). No sooner than we had sunnies on and taken up positions on the rail, than the black clouds started to surround us…’bit of a squall ahead’ mentions Hannah. We had experienced a few of these the night before and therefore confidently took up our mainsheet and traveller positions. The rain started and we laughed and joked, shower gel appeared on deck in a flash and everyone was trying to get their first proper wash in nearly 2 and a half weeks completed as fast as possible, incase they we left fully lathered up without a rinse in sight….No need to worry on that front!...1 hour later we were still in the same squall…2hrs later…still in the same squall!! By now, the novelty factor is wearing a bit thin, we’ve used up all the showergel and are now soaked and beginning to get a bit cold….this is beginning to resemble Ireland more than the doldrums!

Morning squall did eventually finish and after enduring these activities we were pretty pleased with ourselves for getting through this in one piece…no sail damage, just a lot of prune-like fingers and toes running about. By dusk we were looking forward to the great things ahead like the equator crossing and the last thousand miles to Salvador.

Darkness approached and we prepared for another nights sailing. ‘I’ll just go and check the radar for that black cloud ahead’ said Lisa. …That black cloud was a 6 mile long squall heading straight for us. No sooner had we time to say the word ‘oillies’ than the heavens opened again, pouring out of the sky. Sian was sent down for ‘squall watch’, which involved sitting by the radar watching the squall unfold and reporting back every few minutes on which way it was moving and how much longer we had to endure, hopefully offering some hope to the sodden deck crew who now can’t see with the volume of water being thrown at them.

‘ It’s a bit of a Daddy Bear squall’ Sian reports ..offering little hope to the deck. ‘ Looks like another 6miles of this!’. So we prepare for yet another hour or so in squall conditions and as we get through it Sians comments begin to offer hope to us all..’You’re doing well chaps, only another 2 miles to go and there definitely isn’t another one in sight!’ Cheers from the deck who reckon they can manage another 2 miles. Everything starts to look up and thoughts move to the real possibility of that last dry pair of pants down below.

Just when we thought we had been there, done that and had the wet TShirt competition, Sian’s head appears on deck….’Oh my god..its grown a quiff!!..looks like another 5 miles to go!’

A good 4 hours later we came out of that Daddy Bear squall, all in one piece and not a dry piece of clothing between us. ‘Surely that’s it!’ the crew shouted.. We’ll just have to wait and see what tomorrow brings.

Lisa Duffin
Glasgow Clipper: Scotland with style
Aka the Black Pearl

1. Peter & Elspeth Eggleton, Sunningdale 12 October 2007

Hope you’ve all dried out by now. Lisa you’ll be very familiar with the rain from your Uganda experiences however out there in the atlantic there is no red mud to stain everything so there’s a plus! Keep up the good work

2. Sandy, Solihull 12 October 2007

Well at least you are all nice and clean now ready to enter the Court of King Neptune! (though,I understand that may change when you get there!) Looks like you are making excellent progress and to use an old expression, Glasgow is ‘lifting her skirts up and going for it!’ I suppose really is should be ‘her kilts’!’ I watch the shrinking miles to the finish with great interest. Bet you can almost smell the beer now!

Best wishes. Sandy

3. Mairi, St Augustine, Florida 12 October 2007

Sue Smith, just like a summer’s day on Royal Dornoch!!! We’re watching your progress with great enthusiasm - keeping Mum informed. Go Glasgow!!!!!

4. SARAH REYNOLDS, cardiff 12 October 2007

well at least you are all clean and fresh and ready for that long awaited beer!!! oh a bet you can taste it on your lips!!! only a few hundred miles too go, sorry to hear Daddy Bear (or was it Daddy Cool?) was so much of a nuisance but well done all, keep up good work lots of love sarah and Nan

5. Anthony Pimm, At sea as well 12 October 2007

Siany, Good luck on you squal watch, we are going through the same type of weather and not too far away from you. Good luck with the race!!! Pimms x

6. Bazz, Aberdeen 12 October 2007

Hi DAf.guy’s and gals i would like to congratulate on you efforts so far your doing fantastically well and as a nation your doing us proud get in there Scotland just off out for a wee dram thinking of you all the way hope you made a good offering at the equator so the way home you will be blessed i’m sure the god’s like whisky so i hope you offered him some of Mr Urquhart’s finest malt.Safe journey missing you all good luck.Bazz

7. Gordon Ritchie Ritchie, Glasgow 12 October 2007

Go Glasgow ... Great sailing, Media and Public interest is great back here in The City and Scotland. Just heard an update on Radio Clyde news today and interest is growing. You are all doing a great job and making us all feel very proud. Keep searching for the wind and enjoy !

Gordon and the team back in Glasgow

8. Dee & Nick Sawyer, West wales -- Aberaeron! 13 October 2007

Hi Daf
Calon Lan is out of the water and safe on land. All flags removed but the Bi-centenary lights are still flashing...... No drama’s - Operation “lift out” a success (Simon will send you the bill....) We left your bacon butty in the aft locker so the seagulls wont get it ! The new Commodore (JPJ) says that if you owe all your sailing skills to his tuition, why arent you first ?? You still have time to live up to that challenge so bare to Port so that you miss Recife and look out for the Liverpool threat astern!! Fantastic progress keep it up, and keep smiling. Love from us all at AYC. Gwyn coch, iechyd da. Rhowch gynnig arni!

9. Brian & Dru, Peterborough 13 October 2007

Just seen photo of you crossing the equator and you look as tho’ you have dried out! At least you’re all probably more acceptable company now - not so wiffy - every cloud does have a silver lining!!! Watching progress with great excitement now as Salvador gets nearer - keep up the good work.

10. John Diffenthal, Sandhurst, Berkshire, UK 13 October 2007

Go Glasgow! Saturday lunch time’s report puts you 35 nm behind Nova Scotia - go for it. It’s only about 3 more days of this before you can start propping up a bar.

11. Lynn, Usk 13 October 2007

Hi Colin and friends...so you’ve crossed the equator and from the race viewer you seem just off the beaches of South America! Don’t get too close and confuse the neon sign of the cantina for a navigation light! You are all doing fantastically and have an enthusiastic following in Wales as well as Scotland. Pob lwc i chi gyd! Hope you don’t have too many head winds going south along the coast. A third place on this leg will be a good start on which you can build on! Go for it. Lynn

12. barbara & Jon, aberaeron 13 October 2007

well done, slightly wet “Black Pearl”, Ynyr would be proud!!, Calon lan ashore in one piece!
enjoy you podium - you will get it!! fantastic achievment - love from all of aberaeron YC

13. Marine Blast.com, Scotland 13 October 2007

C’mon ma man, where the videos? I want to put them on my http://www.marineblast.com web site. It the biggest sailing video web site in the world, I want scottish voices and scottish chat by the bucket, so c’mon wee baws get the vid ooot and start sending the chat chat in to me. Oh by the way great resulkts so farr, keep it up and make us proud.

cheers Iain (Marine Blast)

14. Tod Baker, Isle of Wight 14 October 2007

Hi Lisa, Really good to see you up there with the front runners. Glad to hear your sails have come through the squalls ok. Not so lucky with Len on a tall ships recently we blew 3 out !!! Good Luck keep up the fantastic effort Best Wishes Tod

15. Emma Holden, At Work 14 October 2007

Excellent work Glasgow, I’m getting my regular fix of life on board whilst being at work with my broken toe on a sunday! it’s great to watch you guy’s hunting down Durban and Nova Scotia. We look forward to you catching them and going to the top of the leader board.
Life the photo’s you send back esp the Nepture party. Keep up the good work.

16. Dee & Nick Sawyer, West wales -- Aberaeron! 14 October 2007

We’re just getting excited now, you are doing so well and so close to the leader!!
Keep up the pace, have faith!! Everyone here in Aberaeron is willing you all on.
Daffs ------ stay cool!
Regards
Dee & Nick

17. James, Caroline and Elena, London 15 October 2007

Great going Glasgae!
Duffers, hope all is going well and that sunny skies and fair winds help you along.
We’re all thinking about you, watching your progress and having many’s a drink on your behalf, you already have quite a tab to pay!
We’ll send some dry pants to Brazil, hopefully be there when you arrive!
Loads of love and lots of luck.
Caroline, James and Elena
xxxxx

18. Jamie Standring, Detroit, Michigan, USA 15 October 2007

Go Glasgow - SECOND PLACE!!! Keep your cool guys .. . . let the rest of us lose it in excitement! Doug - Proud of you, chap! Hannah & the rest of the crew - proud of you too!

19. John Diffenthal, Sandhurst, Berkshire, UK 15 October 2007

Glasgow, you’re brilliant - that’s two reports now (midnight and 6am) which have you in second place. That’s just fantastic. Well done. I hope that you get a chance to relax when you get into port.

20. francis Murphy, hoylake 15 October 2007

Hannah you are amazing! Had a sleepless night wondering if you could catch old Blue Nose up and you have beaten them. What a feat of navigation!
Paul Murphy`s dad (joining you in Jamaica)

21. Emma Holden, At Work 15 October 2007

Excallent you are number 2. Keep up the good work!!

22. tony & norma reynolds, south wales 15 October 2007

hi all , well logged on this morning to see you are now lying 2nd !! i know you all must be dog tired and working hard to keep, or better your place ,remember no pain no gain ! Thats easy for us to say ,sat in the comfort of our homes ,but you have an army of supporters follwing your every move ,& waiting for the next sched and wishing you all the best from both sides of the border , as well as us two borders away in Wales!! Its nearly over, one last push ! well done to you all , you’ll soon be clean and smelling nice ,love to you all ,special hug for sian please, tony & norma

23. Dru, Peterborough 15 October 2007

GO ON GLASGOW - YOU CAN DO IT....

24. barbara & Jon, aberaeron 15 October 2007

well done Dafs and Glasgow into second, keep up the hard work.
Barbara and Jonathon

25. Josie G x, my desk! 15 October 2007

Sian, I am glad you are all in good spirts and know how much you were looking forward to a shower - seem like buses and that they have all passed at once! Not long now. Keep up the speedy sailing.

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