Crew Blog

Clipper Circus comes to Town

17 April 2008

Hey y’all

Greetings from off the coast of California, we are 300 miles out, sunny it ain’t, as skies are grey, cold winds blow and rain is about.

We have just heard Uniquely Singapore have won the race, so congratulations to them. Funny old thing ocean racing, we had a duel with them for a couple of days, holding them off successfully, whilst we got within 2 miles of second place. Then they went north, and we went into a wind hole and parked up.

Anyway, we will arrive in Santa Cruz probably Friday, where we will share the wharf with sea lions, who sunbathe underneath. Those of you who have seen these guys in action know how noisy they can be, so they will challenge the crews to compete on the decibel front. At least we may escape the telling off received in Hawaii for disturbing the peace.

At this time of year sea lion cubs are abandoned by their Mothers (Dad having got off as soon as the heaving and grunting had subsided) never to return! The poor little mites, actually they weigh 300 lbs, form into pods and teach one another to swim and forage for food. I actually feel slightly less guilty now about leaving my month old son on the dockside to attend the race, but not much.

It is our intention to create an adoption scheme, with each boat providing a stable loving environment for a cub. We can teach him to take charge of the snake pit, a strange submerged world where all the ropes go back to, that nobody pretends to understand. It will be filled with water to make him feel at home, and he can entertain us by balancing a winch handle on his nose during those long waits when the management are deciding on another reef.

When we get to the finish they can live in the Albert Dock, and become another attraction in the European Capital Of Culture, win win situation.

Think I’m getting cabin fever.

Love to all at home

Cal (Graham Calvert)

1. Luotao, 18 April 2008

I had watched Clipper by TV.It is very intresting and exciting! I like it! If there is chance,I would joned it. So good luck! QingDao!

2. Charlie Burgess, London 21 April 2008

Sailing the sothern ocean seems a life away now!
Wish I was there with you all and wishing you a wonderful time in California. Good luck in the next leg - I can feel a podium position in my blood!
Charlie

3. Gary and Stef, Crouch End, London 21 April 2008

Hi Carlo and Vee, Looks like its all going well! Hope your both in a good shape for the next few months! We’re thinking about you always. All the best Gary and Stef xxxx

4. megkiff, miltonkeynes 23 April 2008

hello daddy i dont belive you saw a whale!!!! or a beaver! or a big black friendly dog!!! bye bye love megan

5. Tatty, SF 25 April 2008

Go Qingdao...go go go!!!! Best of luck for this leg.

6. MAUREEN KIFF, Pembrokeshire 26 April 2008

Pole psition this morning Qingdao Fantastic Keep it up the best boat captain and crew in a wonderful fleet Love to all especially Ant from his Mum

7. Becka P-C, milton keynes 27 April 2008

hi dad! (julian p-c)
hope your having a wicked time. big yellow are going to sponsor a duck for the duck race! hopefully you will definatly be back in time. missing you loads and loads!
GO QUINGDAO!!!
hope all the crew are still having a brill time!
love becka p-c x

8. Carol Lard, Santa Cruz, CA 28 April 2008

Go Qingdao!!! Sitting here in the Santa Cruz mountains, sipping on some wine, looking out to the seas and seeing ya’ll sailing down the coast of CA/MX. You are winners, no matter what the final stats are. Best to all of you. If you’re ever back in S.Cruz, you have a home base.

Take care.

p.s. Steve, got your photo with your E.Fudd hat. You be stylin’!!! Will forward same when I return from my visit to Virginia in late May.

9. kristin, Idaho 18 May 2008

Hey guys! My friends and I had a nice time chatting with you all in Santa Cruz. Hope you are having a great time and a save journey!

Page 1 of 1 pages