Crew Blog

The Surgery Opens

03 May 2008

Dr Rob’s medical skills were needed today to lance Dans’ infected finger. The nav station was cleared and sterilised, the instruments laid out as if this was an episode of Casualty and the patient prepared.  It was a bit worrying to see the smile on Robs’ face as he put on his rubber gloves!

This operation provided a great photo opportunity and a lot of rather morbid interest from many of the crew, some of whom quickly absented themselves when there was a danger of seeing any blood or oozing!

Both Dan and Rob were declared heroes and Dan was awarded his ‘smiling cat’ badge for being a brave patient and some Hershey’s chocolate ‘kisses’.  Rob celebrated another successful operation with his usual cuppa.

Nic continues to work on his wind catcher and it is nearly ready for its first flight which may happen tonight.  We wait with hot, bated breath to see whose bunks will be the beneficiaries of the extra stream of air.

Outside the sun continues to beat down relentlessly and the crew have very little shade to work in.  We have another passenger as another small bird has decided to hitch a lift with us - does he realise we are Panama bound?

We continue to be in 6th place - only 24 miles behind the leaders - and we are determined not to relinquish another place and are gunning to catch and overtake Qingdao and Uniquely Singapore.  Keep watching the website to see our progress.

Kate and Terry