Crew Blog

Things that go bump in the night.

05 October 2007

The less experienced sailors amongst us are rapidly learning that the most predictable aspect of racing ocean going yachts is that when all is going swimmingly, the proverbial hits the fan! Three days ago it was the spinnaker wrapped around the forestays, yesterday it was the halyard trapped at the top of the mast 85 feet above the deck.

Last night we surfed majestically from dusk to dawn with nothing more to disturb us than the “plonk"of neon-green flying fish landing on the deck. Suddenly at 6.00am, with the crack of gunfire, the spinnaker guy exploded in two. To the roar of “all hands on deck!” the crew scurried across the deck to grind on winches, wrestle the spinnaker aboard and below deck, take sheets off, put sheets on, lower the spinnaker pole and raise new sails. Running through everyone’s mind was the need to put things right as quickly as possible and not lose our prized position at the head of the fleet.

After the excitement, the long painful job of making good the damage. The watch leaders and crew toil for hours below deck to repair holes in the spinnaker, replace shackles, mend the guys and find new creative ways of trying to ensure disaster can’t strike again.

The heat below deck has changed from cosseting to stifling and sleep becomes a little more elusive in the three hour night off watches. From
Mediterranean comfort, the heat on deck is causing the crew to perform the hot shoe shuffle and factor 50 and hunting the shade are the order of the day.

The latest report of Durban inching ahead as we struggled with sail damage has not disheartened us. Being ahead of the pack is in our nostrils and the recovery strategy under way. Nova Scotia has a new founded racing team on board!

Roger McSweeney

1. Jim Cronin, Bath,U.K. 05 October 2007

Come on Roger ,get your finger out.Press home your advantage.As for the weather,you think you’ve got it tough, we’ve had to put the central heating on here !
Jim
P.S. The spinnaker bit......sounds like a great bit of teamwork......well done to all !

2. Len Graves, Chelmsford 05 October 2007

Tough luck with the guy but “these things happen at sea” are we downhearted NO! Keep up the good work and don’t forget Durban may yet experience a misadventure not that we wish it on them.
From this end it all makes for exciting and entertaining reading.

3. Lucy Robinson, Bath 05 October 2007

Good job Chocolat moose is on your side or one might have suspected sabotage of the spinnaker! Waiting to hear if flying fish will be added to the list of Nova Scotia’s culinary delights. Hope to read report of Nova Scotia inching ahead soon. Well done and good luck. Lucy

4. Garth DeMont, Halifax 05 October 2007

Go Nova Scotia… you are doing a great job!!! All of the local sailors that are pulling our boats in preparation for a long cold winter are full of envy. On the other hand it is Alexander Keiths Birthday today and the party is happening everywhere. So cheersand keep up the good work. We are proud to see our provincial flag flying in second place but we were even more delighted when it was at the head of the pack. We will crack a cold one tonight and wish you luck. Maybe Alexander will have a cold keg waiting for you in Brazil.

5. Lorraine, London 06 October 2007

Come on Nova Scotia-looking good!!!Big hug to Mel. It will be cold soon enough…

6. Catherine M, London 06 October 2007

Hi Guys,

Keep up the fantastic work you are all doing. It’s hard to believe just 13 days ago we waved you off in Liverpool, and now you are dealing with hot decks, and neon flying fish. So exotic! And so impressive seeing all the photos and hearing about dealing with repairs from sails to heads! And on top of that you are right up there leading the pack! Keep it up guys, and keep posting the photos, they are great. Missing you all and seriously impressed with your achievements.

Catherine McKenna

PS Hope all feeling well and sea sickness has settled down? Haven’t heard anything so hope all is now well. Congrats to you all.

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