Crew Blog

And we’re off!

25 October 2007

Hello readers this is New York over…

Start of Leg 2. Across the Atlantic again! Flying fish were a problem on the last leg. Apparently it’s sharks on Leg 2…oh and the minor challenge of rounding the southern tip of Africa. We said au revior to Sharon, JR, Aidan and Barry, and hola to Jen, Hen and Gordon (or is it Duncan). Dave will rejoin us at a later date (Dave we miss your pearls of wisdom already). We also said a big hola to our new skipper Duggie. Seems the Scots are slowly taking over the boat. All good stuff provided you can understand them (let’s get the obligatory Scottish insults out of the way).

Unfortunately the New York crew didn’t get to see much of the delights of Salvador preferring to spend hours and hours fixing spinnakers, mending winches and clutches, emptying bilges, scrubbing, washing, wiping, victualling and obtaining Salvador’s entire supply of gaffer tape. Big thanks to friends and family support on shore, especially Ricardo. At least if we don’t do well on Leg 2 we can say it was because of the extra weight of the tape plus the fact we are carrying a tender that one of the other boats left on the pontoon. We are looking forward to several beers coming our way in Durban as a result!

We did, however, get to venture into Salvador a couple of times to marvel at Bob’s drunken attempts to juggle coconuts on a busy Salvador street. We believe this has done wonders for Clipper-Salvador relations and there are only 2 Salvadorians in hospital as a result.

Race day came around rather too quickly as we attempted to ensure everything was ship-shape. The weather gods were smiling and provided beautiful sunshine and 20 knots of wind for the start. We made it to the start buoy in the nick of time and managed to set ourselves up nicely in the middle of the pack when the gun went off. We are now settled into watches and those off watch can sleep to the comforting sound of the whir of the sewing machine as Gary and Al continue in their quest to obtain the skills necessary to join the WI when they get back. The crew are looking forward their attempts at knitting and embroidery. The opportunities are endless…

New York out…

Jen Leech

1. Jo, London 25 October 2007

Brilliant - you are at the front of the pack! I am so so very very excited! Have fun, be safe and get to Durban asap! LOL Jo x

2. Sarah, Liverpool 25 October 2007

Come on New York!!! Stop sewing and start sailing

3. keith, morpeth 25 October 2007

Hi New Yorkers,
Looks like a good start - have a safe fast sail to Durban. I hope the sharks don’t land on the deck thinking they are flying fish - Not too likely to happen at your speed. The ‘land based’ crew are loosing almost as much sleep as you as we are checking out the latest on the website much too frequently.

4. Judith, Surrey 25 October 2007

Great to hear your blog Jen - please keep writing so that those of us back on dry land can keep up with all the news. Good luck to you all on Leg 2. Hope the sharks don’t bite.
Love Judith

5. Micah, morro bay, ca 25 October 2007

Great to see NY at the number 1 spot! You have a long way to go, but you look good up there! Good luck on this leg!

6. Catherine McKenna, London 26 October 2007

Hi New Yorkers,
Catherine the Nova Scotia legger here. Just to send you congratulations on your fantastic start. Well done, you deserve the boost, and I hope the sewing skills bring on the sails and spinnakers to be ready for you to make the most of. As I posted to you before, its a long race, anything can happen.....and you have proved it can! Well done....keep up the good work, but spare a podium finish for us on Nova Scotia! Sail hard, but sail safe! Kind Regards to all, and special encouragement to your new Skipper. Catherine

7. Rob and Anne, Consett 28 October 2007

Great to see New York really sailing. Watching your progress with renewed interest. Go fast but go safe.

8. Helen Atkinson, Frimley, Surrey 29 October 2007

Speical Hi to Tony Peters - I inducted Kevin at the weekend on how to track the race on line!! We are all so proud and hope you are enjoying this experience of a lifetime!! Not long now to Australia........

All systems crashed in EMCC Saturday night so hope you are not having any technical problems too - see what your missing back home....

Anyway take care and big hug from the gang at South Central.

Come on New York!

Love

Helen A.

9. Gary and Jane, Penrith, UK 29 October 2007

Duggie,

You sly dog! You kept that quiet. So, round the world is better than a week in Slovenia? You don’t know what you missed.

Good luck and take care. We are watching.

Love
Gary and Jane

10. Gordon Reid, Fife 29 October 2007

A special hello to Gordon Reid, Spoken to Kay and Poppy and we are all pleased to see you
progressing well.
Told Archie how to monitor your progress and he is watching you.
All the best to all the crew New York.
Love Mum and Dad

11. stuart lynch, portugal 25 December 2007

well done ya nob,very proud of you.take care

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