Crew Blog

Latin Streets

22 October 2007

Liverpool 08's Ian Tomlinson at the helm in the Doldrums as they move up into fourth place

So here we are in Salvador.

I awake at 05:02 and remind myself.

The street outside the hotel is quiet but in the distance I hear the rumble of life returning to the Latin streets.

We finished a creditable forth – something we could never have dreamed of two (or was it three) weeks ago whilst in the still waters of the Canaries. With nil wind. And there, the feeble attempts at throwing cheese at the sails failed to have any impact.

Yes, there were the low times during our journey and yes there was many an unspoken quiet moment in one’s bunk when squeezed eyes formed tiny globes of water as friends and families were missed. Yet, these eyes did the same in different mood as we crossed the finish line on the beautiful Brazilian waters and we embraced each other to celebrate an exhilarating comeback.

At one stage, the schedules placed Liverpool 08tenth out of ten and our hearts sank. The seeds of determination which had already germinated long before we left the Albert Dock grew through our veins, muscles and sinews and revived the 14 fighters on board.

We had been told that the race was 90 percent good times and 10 percent bad and indeed, during the race this may have been a fair reflection. But the human mind has the wonderful ability to supress the negative and enhance the positive and as we crossed the finish line the dark times of blown spinnakers, rough seas and chapped buttocks faded as the realisation of what we had achieved, rippled through the boat.

So now we wander through Salvador where the fascinating Portuguese Colonial architecture spreads down to the lapping Atlantic waters and the sound of Samba pervades the air. Street vendors offer mangoes, pastries and the widest array of merchandise one could ever imagine. The shops are filled with music as Neil Francis and I search for shaving foam and Sudocrem (or the South American equivalent) and one finds ones butt swinging to the Latin rhythm which beats out of the washing machine shop.

So now I have a greater challenge ahead of me - one which I doubt I will conclude. My search begins so I can tick a special box. I will tick it with my favourite pen. Or with a quill. Or with Steph´s pink and tinsel jelly pen. Or perhaps all three. My search is for the questionnaire which asks, “...Have you sailed the Atlantic?...”.

Perhaps I will never find it. Perhaps I will have to be content with recalling my story in a pub. Or in a kitchen at a party. Or perhaps I shall tell the tale quite quietly, in years to come, to my grandchildren.

But I can tick that box.

I have jumped on a big plastic boat and helped hoist and trim sails to make the wind – the wind alone – to blow us from one pin-prick on a map to another over 4,000 miles away.

Yes, I have crossed the Atlantic.

I have crossed the Atlantic.

Tick.

Ian Tomo

1. Fi Boughton, Malmesbury 22 October 2007

Liverpool 08 you should be so proud. We have had the greatest pleasure following your progress. Chris Pearce - You have now ‘Lived the Dream’ - our warmest congratulations. Tomo, although I have not met you, Mum (Helen Pearce) has and I know both she and I have enjoyed your blogs so much. Thank you for making it possible for us to join you on your journey - you enjoy that night in the pub telling your stories. The whole crew deserve to do the same.
Good Luck Liverpool on the remaining legs, even without a family member on board we will watch you every 6 hours as you conquer the oceans. Stay safe and hopefully in front.
All the best.
Fi, Steve, Tom and Hannah Boughton

2. Andy Perry, Liverpool 22 October 2007

What a wonderful blog, it brought a tear to my eye while reading it. Enjoy your time in Rio Ian and have a safe trip home to Liverpool.

3. Allan Sergeant, Liverpool 23 October 2007

Well done to the skipper and all the crew of Liverpool 08. Durban here you come. Go for it Liverpool. Good Luck on the next stage, and keep the blog rolling. Wonderful to read your thoughts.

4. John Vint, Liverpool 23 October 2007

Congratulations to all on board for a magnificent recovery. To Ian especially for the wonderfully descriptive blog. Good luck for the next leg and here’s to that SECOND tick Ian.

This is a question, if possible, to the website organisers...would it be possible to post the start date for each of the legs or at least the departure date from Salvador. Other than that thoroughly enjoying the coverage.

From the Clipper web team: Leg 2 starts from Salvador at 1500 GMT (midday local time) today, Wednesday 25 October. We are putting together a calendar for you of estimated arrival and departure dates from each port. Thanks for your comments, we love to hear what you think of the site.

5. Giles Redmayne, London 23 October 2007

Many many congratulations to you all. Good luck for stage 3 - and beyond. Look after young Mr Rogers for us all back in Blighty!

6. Aime, Mumsie & Splodgey, Wirral 23 October 2007

What good reading this latest blog is...i agree with another post that it brought a tear to the eye, no one can conquer the feeling of missing loved ones, but for you the crew of L08 continuing your journey and conquering each leg of the race with such determination that you have shown in this leg means that you can return with your heads held up so high that you can tell your story with PRIDE, and it wont matter where you tell it. May LADY LUCK & THE WINDS be with you on the next leg of the race. We will once again be glued to the pc watching your progress. Take real good care of yourselves and GO FOR IT LIVERPOOL XXXXXXXX

To Willi, hope you had a wonderful day on 19th. Take care of yourself hunny

Lots of luv
Aime, Mumsie & Splodgey
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

7. John Isaias, Sydney, Australia 23 October 2007

Go Liverpool 08!!! Great insight to what you guys have experienced so far, and it’s only 14% completed. If you managed to cross the full length of the Atlantic from north to south in no time, then Durban is only a stone’s throw away.
I especially want to wish my sister Eleni Isaias the best of luck. She has flown to Brazil to join the Liverpool 08 crew on the remaining legs of the journey.
Looking forward to seeing you all in Fremantle, Western Australia.
Cheers, John

8. lynda cornish, bury st edmunds 23 October 2007

We would echo everyone’s sentiments, well done to Liverpool 08 and best of luck for the next leg. Hope the new leggers (?) are up for it and ready to join the fray!

A special big Happy Birthday on Friday to Mr Fixit a.k.a. Water Boy, David Purchase, from all his family..Jenny, Lynda,Quentin and Hugh. We wish we could all give him a big hug! Perhaps a crew member can oblige!

9. Joy Cooke, Solihull 23 October 2007

Well Ian Tomo I’d say you’ve done more than tick a box!
To have a dream and go for it that is certainly something special.
First, second, eighth or even last place you did it. YOU SAILED THE ATLANTIC!!!!!
Good on ya.

10. Russ Crowley, Salvador 23 October 2007

Just a quick note from Salvador on the night before the start of the next leg.

All is looking good here, the boat is pretty much ready to go for tomorrow (and will be completely ready soon , everyone on board is raring to get out and into the next race and to hopefully be first into Durban in around three weeks time.

Have managed to catch up with the blogs on the site and thanks to all for your comments and best wishes: keep them coming and catch up with you again next time .

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Safe journey to Tomo, Pete and Chris (and Helen), hope you enjoy the rest of your trip[s] in Brasil - see you in Jamaica Tomo and the others, hopefully, in Liverpool.
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Yak-ee-da!

11. Sue Haslam, Chester 24 October 2007

Good Luck to you all on the next leg. Hi to new crew Eleni, Helen, Richard, Alex & Kevin, enjoy and keep up the good work, we’ll be looking out for you. Keep the blogs coming even though Tomo isn’t on board! Love Sue x

12. Doreen Jones, La Rochelle 24 October 2007

Hiya Lisa and all the crew we met at La Rochelle,I hope you,ve recharged your batterys,the battle is on again,we cant let Durban get a hat trick.LOL.I am well and truly hooked on this round the world race,ive had withdrawl symptoms while you,ve been in port,no race veiwer to check on.Well my friends may you find the wind all the way across to Durban,Bon Voyage Doreen Jones and the La Rochelle groupies

13. Doreen Jones, La Rochelle 24 October 2007

Hey Guys
how about more photos this time
Doreen xx

14. Keith Whitney, Hereford 24 October 2007

Great blog, glad I’m not the only one that shed tear when reading it. All the very best to all the crew on the next leg, will be watching and cheering you all on.

Keith and Thelma

Camilla’s parent’s lots of love

15. Rakesh, Warrington 24 October 2007

To the crew that have left at Salvador, well done! To the new crew that have joined, the best o luck to ya. Although Pete N will be leaving you at Salvador, me and my boys are hooked. We’ll be following you all the way Liverpool 08! All the very best for the next leg.....sock it to ‘em!
Rakesh, Jackie and the boys

16. jayne, wallasey 24 October 2007

Thanks for your blogs Ian during last race hope your replacement blog writer keeps us at home informed of the journey like you did good luck to you as you leave the crew and a big welcome to the newcomers aboard L08. Good Luck to all crew on the next leg let the weather and winds be with you as you head for Durban T o William glad Birthday went well lots of love Williams mum and family xx

17. cal little, Merseyside 24 October 2007

Liverpool08 wishing you luck,speed and laughs all the way, enjoy the next leg of the journey, a huge hello to the new members to the crew, keep up the good work L08 and continue writing the blogs, they are fantastic reading. Take care each and everyone of you - happy sailing xxx

18. kim dixon, liverpool 25 October 2007

And we’re off again !! lets go guys !! in my head im willing the wind picks you up and flys you across but i know you dont need that !! good luck !! great to talk to you lisa, miss you loads, love ya girlfriend xxx

19. Betty Crane, Preston 25 October 2007

Well done Peter...Can’t wait to hear all the news. Congratulations and a safe journey home.

20. matt rogers, Buckingham 26 October 2007

guys we’ve been following you and the race so closely and wish you all the best. come on liverpool 08. wish we could be in durban to welcome you onto land. big hug to you bruv. Matt, Dawn & Miles.

21. Alasdair Thomas, 27 October 2007

I am sure that the South American Spirit is keeping your souls warm as you head for the excitement and challenge of the South Atlantic and ‘The Cape’, be safe Mikey. LOL A,H & R.

22. Lin Bridges, Herefordshire 27 October 2007

Hi Mills, and all the crew of Liverpool08, reading all your news fills me with such admiration, what an adventure, send some of your sun back to this corner of the world please. How about a few photos, following your progress (wonderfull thing this technolgy eh) willing you all on safely, Mark setting off next weds to meet up with you in Aussie land. Have fun,and keep safe, big hugs, Lin.xxx

23. Marie Lou Tudor, Hereford 29 October 2007

Hi to all the crew of Liverpool08, and a big hug to Alex, have a fantastic trip and look forward to see you pictures and reading your blogs, have great fun and take care Marie-Lou xx

24. Laura Davies, Liverpool 29 October 2007

To Lisa and all the crew well done in going up three places we no you could do it. keep going the way you are and you should go further and faster hope the wind stays with you , keep safe and make sure you are all having loads fun on the way love two Lisa Pover and all the crew.
love from Laura and the rest of all the family xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

25. Les, Liverpool 29 October 2007

keep up the good work, and heres to improving on your joint 3rd position!!!

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