Crew Blog

The stars were bright, Fernando

13 October 2007

After the excitement of crossing the Equator and our ten minute party we have packed away the tiaras and set about our normal routine. Pumping bilges, renewing water supplies with the water maker, daily bread making, cleaning and keeping Nova Scotia “ship shape and Bristol fashion”.

We passed through the Atol de Rocas and Arquipelago to Fernando - a collection of coral cays and islets close to the most easterly point of Brazil - we didn’t get to see them, but this was a significant milestone in our race plan.  Abba’s Fernando played loud and long that day - “there was something in the air that night, the stars were bright, Fernando…”

The race to Brazil is certainly now on and we have become a very competitive team.  Again, we’ve gained on Durban 2010 and Beyond who are tantalisingly 42 miles ahead. We are keeping close watch on Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper who had a great 12 hours. We are using every crew member to keep our focus on optimum course/speed and have adjusted our watch system.

We are now living at a constant 30 degree angle making life challenging. Those of us in starboard bunks have to manoeuvre ourselves down into our bunks whilst those on the port side have to scramble up into their bunks which are set at a sharp angle so they don’t fall out of bed! Simple tasks like cleaning teeth are now an art form - needing to try to predict the impact of the next wave to ensure the sink target is reached. Despite all of these difficulties the race remains a tremendous experience for us all and an opportunity of a lifetime.

Kate and Robin