Crew Blog

The white knuckle ride…

09 May 2008

It’s now been 18 days since I joined Liverpool 08 crew and started my journey of Legs 6 & 7. It’s been a very interesting race so far which mainly had us flying the spinnakers the whole way. We all now have elongated necks from constantly trimming the kite, making sure she was full, curling nicely and most importantly increasing the speed of the boat. I personally enjoyed trimming the kite as great patience and skill is needed. It’s also bizarrely quite therapeutic and you soon become one with the sail. I’ve have now learnt the importance of the wind direction and the effect it has on keeping the kite filled. At home the only wind that concerned me was if it was a good day to put my washing out!

Unfortunately, the second part of our journey is by motor as the race was called short at Gate 2 as there were light winds due ahead. As we have a time slot to get the fleet through the Panama Canal, we are motoring to Panama with a slight detour to Costa Rica to refuel for our onward journey. We still have watch systems in place but they are now 3 hours on 9 hours off. The time is now spent doing general maintenance work, deep cleans and victualling planning for the next race in order to save time in Panama. I am now in ´scouse watch´ with Lisa, Eleni and Jacquie. Jacquie is a nurse so she is kept very busy with all the knocks and falls of the crew. In fact we have open surgery most mornings. Lisa has a mission on this journey to improve my confidence on the helm and at any given chance she puts me straight on the wheel with words of advice ‘Don’t worry you can’t hit anything/one in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There is no traffic or pedestrians to kill,’ which fills me with great confidence.

This leads me nicely onto yesterday when the day started bright and sunny at 7am watch change. A few jobs, light breakfast, a short stop to watch 100s of dolphins (honestly 100´s all leaping out of the water. What a fabulous show they gave us). Then the crew went for a swim off the back, using the time in the water to wash their hair and have a bath! Suddenly the sky went black and very formidable. In no time at all we were in the middle of a Tropical storm. I’d say it was a hurricane personally! The thunder bolts were all over the sky, the wind was coming from every direction, lightning struck twice near the boat and Russ who was at the helm, said the first bolt nearly parted his hair in the middle it was so close, then the second bolt missed Eleni by a whisker… We lost our GPS and the computers and instruments went down. So it was over to Dave P to come to the rescue. Needless to say we are all up and running now in full working order. Just to finish about the storm, the round the worlders just treated the hurricane as if it was a drop of rain and wind! I mean I’ve never walked through the park at a 25 degree angle hanging on for dear life… When we went on watch 7 till 10pm later that night, the hurricane had died down but only to rear its ugly head again about 8.30m. So Ben, scouse watch and gringo watch all came to give a hand changing sails. Lisa yelled ‘Jo; will you be ok on the helm?’ Ooh ooh, this is playing with the big boys now. It was that or being on the bow being tossed around like a rag doll… So I got myself on the helm and held on for dear life while the other crew changed the sails and then changed them again. We did three changes in the space of 1 and a half hours and I had a white knuckle ride. When the wind gusted I thought ‘I am going to end up on the top of the mast as an extra sail if I let go of this wheel.’ When I came off watch at 11.30pm, my fingers wouldn’t open. I had held on to the wheel so tight! But by far one of the most exhilarating times of my life. Hanging out my washing will now take on a new dimension; I’ll be trimming my sheets…

All that said, we are looking forward to the next race and a good result for Liverpool. It’s not for the want of trying; we really thought we had our tactics right for this last race. Look forward to seeing Matt and Charlie and Stan in N.Y. Love to Chris and Susan. I miss you all very much especially my granddaughter Olivia Grace, Nana will have lots of stories to tell you when I came home.

Lots of love
Joan x

Message from skipper Ben:
We were in a thunderstorm and yes, lightning did strike close by, but not the boat. The static in the air caused a few cables to melt, but all is fixed now. Crew safe and sound. Big thrills were had by all, which the blog so describes. Everyone was wearing rubber boots and marigolds for safety!

1. jules brann, panama 15 May 2008

Ben, well done fair play am in panama 3 of your fellow boats are here! where are you guys! hope u make the canal hell of a thing! think i’ll miss you guys we leaving tommorrow. anyway well done good luck with the lightning
jules essex!

2. Peter Liggett, Liverpool 15 May 2008

Great to hear from you Joan. We were all wondering where you had got too.

It is as I expected, the atmosphere on the boat is electric as ever.

Getting ready to join you all in Jamaica - really getting nervous/excited now.

Safe passage through the canal and good luck for the short hop to Errol Flynn.

See you very soon, hugs all round, Peter x

3. Jane Bligh, Ibiza 15 May 2008

Sounds great fun. the marigolds too reminiscent of cleaning at home, but I’ll bet they’ll have more exciting memories in the future for you lot!!!
xjane

4. Sue Mc, Liverpool 15 May 2008

Great pic of you at the helm Joan.
Ems really envious about the dolphins.
Sounds like you are having a exciting time & no mention of sea sickness - must be a good sign!
See you on the Mersey on the 5th, the ferry tickets have arrived.
Take care, love Sue, Dave, Luke & Ems x

5. akmed, 16 May 2008

hey jo, loving the blog...sounds like your all having a ball...enjoy the experience, take lots of photos and keep everyone smiling, missing you all can’t wait to see you all...love Akmed x

6. Paul Galloway, Desk 16 May 2008

Joan, What a wonderful, exiting blog you write. I would love to be there with you as you live the dream. The Canal passage will be just as exiting and the race to Jamaica would be any ones dream. I am so pleased for you. Look after the skipper - he deserves it.
The Old Man

7. Andy Perry, Liverpool 17 May 2008

Well done Joan, knew you would get into it all in no time and that Lisa would look after you and help you stretch yourself to do things you would never dream you could do. What a memory eh! Enjoy the rest of the ride and see you in Cork. Andy P

8. Mark Hopley, Chester 19 May 2008

Dear Sue and all the team
Good luck on the next leg.
All the best

9. Locker Freight, Sunny Huyton 19 May 2008

Hello Joan
Good to hear you’re doing so well!! Sounds like you’re having a nail biting experience -keep away from the bolts of lightening will you. We want you back in one piece.
We are all so very proud of you. Can’t wait to see you. We all miss you very much.
Well, Mrs.G - everyone here in Lockers is doing Ok - just plodding on as usual. We are
a busy little crew - something like yours..... not - I don’t think anyone has a sea leg
between them here. The thought of doing what you’re doing puts a green tinge on
their faces Joan. Honest to God. Now, me - if I was 10 years older (I really me 10
stone lighter but who’s bothered) I would be along side you - what an experience you
are living. I’m so jealous.

Mr.Locker is fine - the cups of tea keep streaming in to his office. As long as he has
his tea he’s OK. Your Chris is OK. Keeping busy.

Ann is coming back from Mexico tomorrow as her flight was delayed. She will be shattered. Poor thing. I was wondering why Marie was in when I looked in the
office when I came in this morning. She told me then about Ann.

Everyone else is OK - I am off next week for four days as it’s the bank holiday weekend.
(I’m not going to Ireland this time as I want to do things in the house.) So August can’t
come quick enough. Then Debbie is off from the 30th - she is going to Egypt - God help
the camels.... enought said. (Two humps or one) She can’t wait. Beckii is going with
them. Deb will be black when she comes back.

My little treasure Annie is fine. She wants to know how many more sleeps there are
until Ireland. She is really looking forward to going.

Well, Gladys, as Debbie says, I’ll have to go and leave you to your helm and kites and
whatever. Take Care Joan. See you when you get back. Lots of love - Laura

10. emilio saracho, london 20 May 2008

Great Blog.In line with the literary reputation of the Liverpool crew. This leg is going to have a bit of everything, but seeing “100’s of dolphins” make me die with envy after the wet desert that the Pacific really is. You should all feel proud of the catch up and Ben should not stop being the Maverick strategist, one of this days is going to work, but not in the dash to Jamaica where is up to you guys to get the Plastic Boat moving half a knot faster!. Go for it.

11. Krissi Ryder, Chester 20 May 2008

Hey Mrs Haslam

Hope you are having a fabulous time - bet you can’t wait for your relax - it’s very soon.

Can’t wait to hear all about it.

lots of love

Krissi

PS) measured my first building last Friday, all 1,575 sq METERS of it with a TAPE MEASURE - they said it was Character Building!!!!!!

12. Ian Tomlinson, Jamaica ca c a ca!!! 21 May 2008

Dear all....

...so I’m ready and waiting here in Jamaica.

Have been iching to get back on the boat since I left you all in Salvador after the first leg.

Have brought my own stash of Mars Bars, Sudocrem and figs and am willing to trade when on the high seas.

Get your skates on and be here first ahead of the rabble and make sure the boat’s spick and span to save me cleaning the bilges and scrubbing the decks while in in marina.

Hugs and sloppy kisses,

Ian Tomo

13. Sharon Loftus, Liverpool 24 May 2008

Good luck to Tony Loftus joining the boat in Jamaica. Have a wonderful trip- we’ll all be following your progress back in Liverpool. Sue and John Garvey, Chris and Marg will be there to wave you in NJ.
Lots of love and squeezes
Shaz, Chris and Katie xxxx

14. Colette Cooper, Liverpool 28 May 2008

Hi Joan
Loved the photo of you at the helm - brill.
Sounds like you’re really enjoying yourself, made up for you.
Enjoy your time in New York
Wish you were here to take part in the Jospice Midnight Walk on Friday 7th June with me, lets hope the weathers better than last year…

Take care and good luck for the rest of your trip

Love n hugs

Col, Brian, Joe and Charlie xxxx

15. e-j and co, Leeds 29 May 2008

Greetings Roy and friends , Wishing you all well on your route home to liverpool. We’ll be following your progress. Good Luck. Keep safe and enjoy the blast!! Much love EJ, J, P, MM, G, & Dxxxxxx

16. Donna Fiore, Connecticut 29 May 2008

Does anyone have an idea when the Liverpool 08 arrives in New York? Would love to know. Have Ben ‘s cousin Jadee very anxious to see him there. Please advise asap.
Thanks!
Donna

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