Crew Blog

David Brown finds his sea legs

02 November 2007

You’re woken up in the middle of the night, it’s a new shift 12 till 4. I have to get my kit on as soon as possible and get to the deck before I start to feel queasy although my sea legs are starting to kick in. You announce yourself on deck to the shift before you, who are desperate for their bunks. So far the nights have been warm and dry but the sea water at night is like looking into a black hole, how the single handed sailors cope with isolation I can’t imagine but unless you’ve been sat on watch or at the helm crossing an ocean you may never understand. We have been on the same tack for 4 days, it is almost a joy to have to change sails, Yankee 1 to Yankee 2, staysail or put in a reef. The periods between evolutions give you time to talk to the other members of the crew and get an insight into where they have come from and how this experience has changed them or is changing their outlook.

You are living in a confined space, sometimes with people you have never met before (this is a great leveler), although the majority of the crew seem to be Lawyers. To single out 2 individuals: Klaus, they say he sleeps hanging up side down and that he is scared of courgettes, but we only know him as THE MACHINE, put him on the helm and he will give you 4 extra knots, he is our secret weapon; and Oscar, the young fit and fearless bowman, tall and good looking makes us all wish we were thirty years younger. Mind you, having a skipper that is able to motivate and have fun at the same time gives Qingdao the edge.

Our Halloween hour photograph shows that we can let down our green hair down every so often, the question is: can anyone recognize or name the crew members? If so then please e-mail Zoe at Clipper.

By David Brown

1. karen, ripon 06 November 2007

Well done Qingdao - you are keeping up there as with the leaders, hope you can get far enough south in time!! Great blog from David - rather worried how you know Klaus is scared of courgettes?? Wishing you all good winds and safe sailing - & lots of love to David xxx

2. Nik, Knaresborough UK 07 November 2007

Hi David from the Screenprint crew,
We are watching your progress from the comfort of our very warm office,
Just had full english breakfast after a brilliant nights sleep under my 15 tog
luxury duck down quilt.
Tonight I will toast you with a perfect temperature 1997 shiraz.
after eating my 16 ounce steak,
Keep up the good work we will be watching with interest
Nik and the gang

3. Fiona, Basingstoke 07 November 2007

Hi David from the dry and steady land of Basingstoke, Just looking at your progress and reading your fine blog! Sorry I don’t know any of the crew - well except you and I’m not sure if you’re in there under one of those lovely masks! We’re doing reports about extreme sports in school at the moment so I’m going to share your adventure with the children!
Keep up the good work Quindao and safe sailing.
Fi xxxx

4. mike.grace & james, yorks 07 November 2007

Hi Dave . Well i reckon your the good looking one on the far left (skeletor)you just never seem to lose the looks.
It seems the QINGDAO fan club is growing so keep up the good work, Good Blog Dave . Find that wind and fly . Well done to all.

5. jean, Boroughbridge 08 November 2007

Hello Qingdao and especially David, good to know you are all having fun as well as working hard. Matt is following you on the site at uni. Keep it going, you can do it. Plenty of wind here today. Anyway its great watching everything going on, so good luck and love to everyone on board. Love Mum & Dadxx

6. steve and ali, nun monkton 10 November 2007

hi david,glad to see u doing so well,keep it up,come on qingdao!!! luv and luck 2 u and the rest of the crew,stay safe and happy sailing luv steve,ali.liam,william and ruby-lou xxxxx

7. lisa, knaresborough 12 November 2007

keep up the good work . hope the wind stays strong. happy sailing . you must be the one in the middle david, the masks are really scary. lots of love lisaxxxxxxxxxx

8. Vin Bootle, Boroughbridge, N. Yorks 04 December 2007

Hello David and have just read that you are currently second ... well done to you and the crew. Hope you keep it up .... life this end seems comparatively boring !!! All the very best ... Vin Bootle and family

9. Tony Mee, Madeira uk 16 December 2007

Hi David --well done , have followed for the last few days and think its great what you are doing and a great acheivement.

Well done to you and all your crew -see you in March

Tony

10. Tony Mee, Worksop=Madeira 31 December 2007

Hi David , good luck to you and all the crew you are doing a terrific job—lets see if you can get in front --------- will keep in touch with the race
Tony

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