Crew Blog

Boat maintenance before Hawaii

15 March 2008

Mr Onions, our Brummie thought that this leg would be a nice cruise and yes indeed that’s what it has turned into. After almost three weeks of racing we heard the devastating news regarding Durban 2010 and Beyond. We were all gutted that the race was over (just when we started to catch up!) but relieved to learn that everyone on Durban was safe.

And here we are, cruising the last 750 nm in sunny weather nursing our boats to the safety of Honolulu – except our skipper, who hasn’t quite caught up with cruising yet and still keeps trimming sails whenever on deck. Boat maintenance is part of our cruising mode and life rafts get checked, pole pits cleaned, all lines checked etc. The list is long and we slowly work our way through it. The more we get done on sea the more time we get off in Hawaii - tempting.

My first three weeks on Liverpool 08 have been interesting ones. I’m naturally a listener and observer but these weeks have taught me to look for new things, listen to new sounds. I live at #13 which is the furthest lower bunk on the starboard side. As we’ve been on port tack for 90% of the race I’ve spent my private hours app. 10 inches from the sea listening to the water masses to flow by as the bow splits the waves. You listen to the sounds of the boat and start to notice when something is wrong. You also start to feel the motions of the hull and seriously by combining these you can usually tell who’s helming even though you are not on deck. One of the great feelings was the other night when half asleep in my bunk I sensed the boat levelling and was talking to myself to bear away J Last night I was woken up by metal parts landing on my face and was sure that it’s our mast that is now coming down. Luckily it was just spare parts from Dave’s lockers above my bunk – our engineer loves his tools and gadgets so much that he sleeps with them.

Even though the days at sea have been great with this superb bunch of people I’m looking forward to have a few days off in Hawaii. It’s time for rest, proper shower & bed and some hula hula. All needed before the next race.

It’s my brother’s 42nd birthday in four days. Happy Birthday Bro, hope it’s a sunny, snowy winter day in Sarvisalo !

Hely

1. Russ Crowley, Phuket, Thailand 18 March 2008

Well done to you all guys. A pity to hear the race was cut short but pleased to hear you’re getting the jobs done to enable maximum rest time in Hawaii.
Dived with Santana Gus, Hin Muang and Hin Daeng and Manta’s to boot!!
Russ

2. Alex, Still in Oxfordshire 19 March 2008

Hi Guys - Well done to you all - shame about the abandoment of the current race but hey ho there still a rake of points to be had - Enjoy the “hula hula” of Hawaii - Now crack on - its about time we had another podium finish - Enjoy - Lex & Ems x

3. Jane Bligh, Ibiza 19 March 2008

This is a quick note for Emilio. We read with interest the story of your life! I hope someone on board Liverpool 08 can translate the article and be proud to be part of your new life, already full of adventure. Brillant! Well done. And best wishes for the future. xjane

4. cal little, Merseyside 19 March 2008

to will and all the crew on liverpool 08, happy easter and have a brilliant break, wills easter egg is here and waiting but cant guarantee lewis wont have eaten it by then! love and miss you, cal and kirsten xxx

5. susan benson, liverpool 20 March 2008

hello lisa pover,looking like a natural,still proud of ya hun,glad to know your all still doing great stay focused liverpool,you are all doing us very proud back home in liverpool,take care.
lots of love from lisa povers auntie su &cousin;sian leajo xxx

6. Roy Stevens, Lytham St Annes 20 March 2008

Dear Ben and Crew,
Enjoy your prolonged stay in Hawaii. What a place to have an enforced stay.
Happy Easter,
Roy

7. charlotte ritchie, UK 21 March 2008

Happy Easter to all on board. Wishing you all lots of good luck and happy days, charlotte

8. Kevin Carty, Tipperary 22 March 2008

Hi Andy Perry!
Happy Easter ! - Following progress with interest! You go girl! Kevin

9. susan benson, liverpool 25 March 2008

hey liverpool hear your in 5th place BRILLIANT, BY THE WAY A HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL, LISA POVER YOUR WILL SENDS HIS LOVE,HES REALLY FUNNY IM GETTING ON WELL WITH HIM, HE LOVES HIS BACON ON TOAST,HES GETTING SPOILT AT OUR PLACE,LOL,HAVING A LAUGH WITH HIM,HOPE YOUR ALL OK AND HAVING A BALL,BUT WORKING HARD TOO, TAKE CARE LISA AND ALL THE CREW ON LIVERPOOL STILL DOING US ALL PROUD,LOTS OF WISHES LOVE AUNTIE SU & COUSIN SIAN LEAJO XXX

10. Paul Galloway, desk 27 March 2008

I think that your skipper is spoiling you with parties, fishing trips and the like. Well you deserve it guys you have worked incredibly hard in what have often been tough conditions to bring Liverpool08 safely to harbour. I know that Mikey’s injury was hard for him to handle and the support of his shipmates carried him through.What a team you are. We all salute you for what you have achieved. Enjoy Hawaii and a well deserved rest.

The Old Man

11. Jane Bligh, Ibiza 28 March 2008

Can we have some blog from you, Liverpool 08. As there is no racing at the moment to keep us hooked, it would be fun to hear from some of you on board. xjane

12. Lisa White, London 28 March 2008

Well done everyone. I would just like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Eleni for Sunday. Can you please pass on my birthday wishes and love. Can somebody from the crew give Eleni a big kiss on my behalf.... Many thanks.

Take care all
Lisa x

13. Linda, Andy and Lola Noble, Perth, Western Australia 31 March 2008

Sounds like you are all having a fantastic time. Good job guys and GO Liverpool 08!!!

Please also send my birthday wishes and kisses to our gorgeous friend Eleni, Happy Birthday darling for Sunday, I sent a text but not sure if it got to you. We were thinking of you and wished we could give you a birthday hug. Hope you celebrated in some way. Lots of love to you Eleni and good luck and safe journey. Lola send a big kiss to her Aunty Eleni.

Love
Linda, Andy and Lola xxx

14. susan benson, liverpool 31 March 2008

HI LISA POVER
HOPE YOUR HAVING A FAB TIME NOT FAR NOW GUYS SOON BE HOME FOR THE GIGANTIC ROARS AND CHEERS OF ALL US PROUD SCOUSERS TO WELCOME YOU ALL HOME, YOUR ALL STILL DOING US REALLY PROUD, FOLLOWING EVERY MINUTE,,DOING GREAT WISH I WAS THERE,,,,,........>>>>ENVIOUS,,, KEEP UP THE FAB WORK, PROUD OF YOU LISA POVER.
LOTS OF LOUVE N STUFF FROM AUNTIE SU COUSIN SIAN LEAJO xx
P.S WILLIAM SAID THEY MISSED YOUR CALL, HE IS A GREAT LAD DEAD FUNNY, GOT ME MAKING HIM BACON BUTTIES EVERYDAY, LOL

15. Aime, Mumsie & Baby A, Sunny Seacombe! 02 April 2008

Hi to all on L08

William, hope you enjoyed your surprise! You just have no idea how hard it was to keep my big gob shut xxxx Cant wait to see the photos its sounded like Amy had a wonderful time there too.
Take care everyone and Good Luck on your way to Santa Cruz
BRING IT ON LIVERPOOL
luv
Aime, Mumsie & Baby A
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

16. Peter Day, Liverpool 03 April 2008

Hi everybody,

I hope you are all well and apologies for lack of communication from me. I have been hectic as usual. I have been in touch with JP recently and also Joan who is about to join you, in fact she may have already arrived by now, Hope you have a great race to the next destination and that you have better luck. Really rotten for you all for the race to be stopped when it was and just as you were catching up too. Great shame about the point deduction too. So all in all I wish you much better for the next one. You are all working extremely hard and doing so very well/ I do wish that I was there with you all but I will at least catch up with some of you when you return to Liverpool in a few months time. Sadly I can confirm that I am not going to be able to meet up with you at Cork in June / July but I am thinking about you all very much as is everyone else I’m sure.

Lisa and everyone else who knows me, hi to you all. Please try and remember that I will produce a dvd disc with the images I took last year available to those that would like one and don’t forget it’s free. Anyone wishing to purchase any prints this can be done and please remember that any prints sold, all monies from print sales after print costs, will be donated to the chosen charity of the Liverpool 08 Clipper Crew. I do not wish to gain from this financially. My purpose is to help you raise funds for the charities.

Right must dash am away to visit my mum in Hertfordshire and will be back on Sunday night. Good luck everybody and take care.

Peter Day - your photographer

Liverpool.

17. Ana Malumbres, Madrid 03 April 2008

Hi Emilio,
What a wonderful experience!!!! I hope things are going as expected.
A big kiss, Ana

18. Roy Stevens, work at Blackpool 04 April 2008

Dear Ben And Crew,
Good luck on your sail to Sant Cruz.
Stay safe,
Roy

19. Tony Loftus, Liverpool 06 April 2008

Good Luck on this leg Team - I know you will do us proud. Apply your new-found Hawaiian surfing balance skills to the boat under spinaker - may stop any broaches!

20. Abbie Onions, willenhall west midlands England 06 April 2008

Hi uncle Bun glad to hear your ok. Finally managed to find you and your team. Looks as if your having a good time. What jobs have you had to do on the yach? Hope your not the ships cook they’ll all die of food poisoning. You look a bit windswept on the photo. Have you seen any nice places yet? Now i know how to find you i’ll keep intouch.

Love Abbie, Ben, Sal and stu xxxx

21. Maria Blake, Liverpool 06 April 2008

Best wishes to all the crew from the children at St. Paul’s school, Liverpool. Hope you received the Easter cards we sent you, we are all cheering you on.

22. Jane Bligh, Ibiza 07 April 2008

Good luck for this leg Liverpool 08. We’ll be watching and praying and nail biting and shouting. Those leaders need taking down a couple of pegs. xjane

23. Russ Crowley, Los Angeles 08 April 2008

Good going so far Liverpool! Keep pushing hard and don’t let those foreigners get away (Jocks and Yanks that is). As for the rest, just leave them behind

Looking forward to rejoining in two weeks and just arrived in LA [and kn**’d]!

Good luck.

24. JAYNE BRUCE, LIVERPOOL 28 April 2008

Good luck for this leg Liverpool.

Love from Locker Freight XX

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