Crew Blog

Invasion of the flying fish

05 January 2008

Day five of the fifth race, and we’ve sailed more days downwind then our entire time in the Southern Ocean! Nearly. On one day, the sea swell was just as high - goes to show, no one can really predict the weather. The crew has settled back into the watch system and life aboard is getting warmer as we approach Indonesia. No more oilies or mid layers, all clothing replaced with shorts and t-shirts and even bikinis (although some of the guys should re-think their attire).

We have five new leggers: motor mouth Graham, a scouser with rapid fire jokes; Postman Phil; Angie, the accountant; Joseph (who’s had the entire musical of Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat sung to him) and Kay, the much needed psychiatrist. We also have Xinmin onboard, working as a media representative, filming our daily lives. 

The wildlife is not as varied as in the Southern Ocean. No sign of dolphins, whales, sharks or porpoises. However, there have been schools of flying fish, skimming along the sea like little white missiles. Hundreds flocking into an invasion force approaching the Lady Qing from all sides. Two of them even managed to board; one diving through the hatch startling Vee as she was quietly sewing in the saloon. The other made a more stealthy approach, coming in from the forepeak hatch and hiding under Yankee 1. Both were eventually ejected and the invasion force was successfully repelled.

A quick thank you from all on Qingdao to Bruno, at the Singleton Beach Café (next door to Mandra), for our great menu over the first couple of days.

Pirate Steve