Crew Blog

Durban and beyond on Qingdao

26 November 2007

Having had a brilliant welcome on arrival at Durban we were all delighted to spend a week in the city. It’s a great place to visit and the beers were a real treat. I’d recommend that all should spend some time there. Durban’s also known as fun city and is situated in the middle of 20 mile long sandy bay. It has a huge and very busy port with lots of industry revolving around it.

We said good bye to Linda and Klaus at the and the end of leg 2 and welcome Massimo, Martin, John, Zoe, Steve (aka Steve the Pirate), and Charlie. This is the first time that we have had a full boat and it means that we are able to do things like drop a spinnaker without waking the sleeping watch.

The race start was amazing as we motored out of Durban harbor in formation with around 200 boats following. The race start was exciting with spinnakers raised as we sailed in front of Durban seafront.

As we have a full boat the roll of Mother becomes harder. There are more mouths to feed which makes the cooking, cleaning and washing up a lot harder. Today’s mothers are a bit fed up as I write this.

Since the race start a strong gale has been blowing. The helming has been difficult but exhilarating. Other deck work is more difficult as the boat is heeled over and the sea is rough with waves flying over the deck soaking us.

Wind speed was up to 35 kts but it is starting to calm down now

The goal of leg 3 is when we reach Australia for Christmas and have a 2 week break as the boats are taken out of the water for re painting.

Hallo to all race followers and thanks for your support.

Ant kiff

1. Olivia Burgess, Home Team 27 November 2007

To Charlie and crew

Daddy

Good luck on the race. I hope that you win the race. Or if you don’t come first then you might come second place. Don’t forget if you win say this “hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray” and don’t forget the champagne, shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Love from Olivia xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Also love from Belinda and the little sister act. Watching the snippets of information on the 6 hourly updates has us on tenterhooks. Keep safe and good luck to you all. 143 44 B

2. David Paulsen, Washington, DC 28 November 2007

Thanks for the update Ant. Best of luck to all of you (and especially our friend Carrie) as you compete in this most difficult leg. Be fast, but most of all, be safe. Looks like you are off to a good start.

3. Sarah Galgey, London 28 November 2007

Dear Qingdao,

Well done to you all. We’re following your progress daily on the web and so proud. I hope our wonderful friend, Zoe, is keeping you in good spirirts - has she been the ‘mother’ yet? (she’s been to professional cookery school so I hope her galley skill are up to scratch!!!...no pressure little Miss A). We are thinking of you and hope you’re riding those waves with ease. Take Care and look after my best friend, Zoe.
With all our love Sarah and Will xx

4. Thompson, Essex 28 November 2007

Dear Charlie & all on Qingdao
We are all following you and thinking of you. With our love Wendy & David. See you in Fremantle. God speed.

5. Dave, Bolton 28 November 2007

Hey Up Martin (AKA Bigndaft),
Sounds like your getting thrown about a bit, big swells and wind, nothing your not used too!
Bet things are getting a bit smelly, being rationed to only 1 wet wipe a day to keep hygene in order, remember to start at the top and work your way down!!
Just thought I’d let you know whats happening at home.
I had a lie-in this morning, some woman woke me up knocking at the door at 11:30am to read the electric meter.
Having a steak dinner for Tea followed by a long soak in the bath hhmmmmm!!! might even have a few light ale’s and watch a film before I retire to bed for another 12hour nap.

Marcus, get that whip cracked son, don’t want them other boats dissapearing off the page, remember no pain no gain, now make this crew work we are all watching and expecting a great perfomance.
Good Luck, Dave, Lynn and Kids

6. geeemmmma, london 28 November 2007

hello qingdao and my little antipodean friend zoe…

just sending all the best you crazy boat people - hope the sea is treating you well - was slightly alarmed that someone went overboard on another boat, thought it may have been you little zoe.

dry land is same same bbh same same (i’m of VF hooray). as i speak fergus is clocking off early, tass is swearing and treefrog is er doing not much.

everyone sends their love. good luck and hold on tight!

geeeema x

7. Laura, Manchester 28 November 2007

hi dad
Missing you I have give mum the 2 boxes. I’ve had a great day at school, then drowned grandad swimming, it was fun.
I think I can see your welly in a photo please try and take one of your face next
time.
love you lots
laura xxxx Ellie sends a kiss x

8. tony burgess, newport shropshire 29 November 2007

Charlie, on H&H;we were not able to read these but in case you can it was great to be in Durban with you, the steaks at Butcher Boys well worth eating, hear you are going “south” from another source; have fun and remain safe all our love M&D;

9. meg kiff, newport pagnell 29 November 2007

hello daddy im really looking forwards to coming t Austrlia to see you at Christmas we had our school fate at lunchtime today and me, hayley and nidhi raised 10pounds! We were selling cakes that we had made for save the children.xxxxxxxlovve you lots meganxx xxx xxxx x xxx xxx xxxxx xx xxxxx

10. Olivia Burgess, Home Team 29 November 2007

Good luck daddy

ooooo
Olivia xxxxx

11. Sara and Bill Burgess, Shropshire, England 29 November 2007

Dear Charlie Burgess and all the crew of Qingdao What an adventure.. we are cheering you all the way and we hope the Roaring Forties are kind to you. We will look forward to watching your great progress and we wish you all the very best. Good luck to you all.

12. karen, ripon 30 November 2007

Hope your mega supermarket sweep paid off David and all the crew is well fed - don’t worry, mother watch, not too mant stints only another 3000 or so miles (!!) to Fremantle, just keep those sailors well fed.
Thinking of you all, be careful and safe. Lots of love to David xxx

13. Butty & Jo, Polperro, Cornwall,UK. 30 November 2007

Go Qingdao!! We have a good feeling about this leg for team Qingdao here in cold Cornwall,keep up the good work, stay safe, look forward to seeing you on that podium in fremantle!

14. Maclaren Family, PARTON 30 November 2007

Good luck Qingdao and i hope you make Aus safe and sound. nice to hear you have a full crew. chaz

15. Sara and Bill Burgess, Shropshire, England 05 December 2007

For Charlie Burgess and all the crew. Wow ... second place!! Very impressive and hope all of you are not too exhausted. Stay safe and well. Best of luck from Bill and Sara.

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