Crew Blog

Qingdao’s week in Liverpool

15 September 2007

Qingdao’s week started with a bang, arriving in Liverpool on Saturday with the rest of the fleet. Moored at the head of the fleet (as is fitting), she has been a hive of activity as her crew industriously prepare for race start.
With jobs ranging from patching sails, running new lines and servicing equipment, to diagnosing recalcitrant generators, Qingdao clipper has kept everyone busy. Word has it that excellent views of Albert dock can be obtained from the top of Qingdao’s mast! Under the able guidance of skipper Marcus Cholerton-Brown (nicknamed The Badger), everything has been declared ship-shape for race start on Sunday. Victualling the boat in order to feed 15 hungry people for nearly a week has also been a challenge, with long life food arriving in a seemingly never-ending stream.
Even with all this hard work going on, the crew have been able to sample some of the local sights & delicacies of Albert Dock and Liverpool itself. Befitting the boats main sponsor, the entire crew enjoyed a sumptuous repast in Chinatown on Thursday night, as well as a few Tsing-Tao beers from her home port.
The first leg sees fifteen crew on board, comprising nine round-the-worlders, five leggers and of course the skip. Crew come from all over the world – Germany, China and Australia to name but a few. All are looking forward to the first race to La Rochelle with keen anticipation. A small amount of nerves are to be expected, but these will no doubt settle down quickly once the race gets under way. The whole crew is looking forward to finding out their watches later in the week - and of course the all-important bunk allocation. Team morale is high, as new friendships are formed and renewed from training over a hot cuppa or three while re-whipping lines for the umpteenth time!

1. Keith and Jackie, New York 15 September 2007

Good luck Marcus - YOU OLD SEA DOG! - and all the crew of Qingdao. Have fun and Marcus make sure you keep them golden! Love Keith, Jackie, Josh and Georgie

2. sarah king, san diego, usa 15 September 2007

Gary hope you had a very happy birthday today, 15th, we will be watching from afar you and your crews travels. Enjoy it all and good luck to you all have a safe trip and look forward to finding you all and buying you a beer when you hit USA shores. Love Sarahx

3. xinmin yan, Beijing, China 17 September 2007

Guys

Wish you the best! I will be following up all the news about how you are doing. and see you soon in Australia!

4. Liz White, Hong Kong 17 September 2007

Good Luck Marcus and the Qingdao crew! Some fizz was toasted last night to your safe journey as you waited for the off!! Will be thinking of you all. Have an amazing trip. Take care. Liz x

5. Steve Pang, bath 17 September 2007

Good luck everyone, sail safe and fast. I’ll see you in Durban. Pirate.

6. Simon Wright, Brisbane, Australia 17 September 2007

Hi Andrew and Team!
Go for it, I will be watching your progress with great interest! Simon

7. Tatty, HK 17 September 2007

Best of luck everyone! Trim tirm trim....and keep in mind that the way to the skipper’s heart is through his stomach!!! Love Tattyx

8. kay Thomas, UK 17 September 2007

Hope you’re all feeling fine and enjoying every moment. We’re following the little blobs on the map with great excitement and looking forward to some photos and blogs. I can see work is going to suffer over the next few months!
Kay

9. Butty & Jo, Polperro, Cornwall,UK. 17 September 2007

BLACKBADGER....We are in fact, going to France. ALL...France? PERCY...But Marcus, surely France has already been discovered - By the French, for a start? BLACKBADGER....Precisely. Its a trick - We just camp down in the dordogne for ten months, get a good sun tan, come home, pretend we’ve been round the world, and get all the glory.......PERCY....So you don’t know the way to france EITHER!!!

10. Lisa and Russell Thatcher, UK 17 September 2007

What a fantastic weekend!!!!What a fantastic crew!!!! It was great to meet you all and see you in action both on the dance floor and on Qingdao .( Russell and i are still suffering! ) Thank God we’ve got 10 months until the homecoming party!
And How proud were we to see my lttle bruv sailling out into the mersey on his adventure of a lifetime. We are totally hooked. Following your dream whilst you live every exciting high and low of it. Have fun and enjoy but, stay off the shots!
love lisa,Russell,Daniel Luke and Laura xxxxxxxxxxxx

11. ClipperViewer, 17 September 2007

Speed: 25 (if the race viewer is accurate) - great work, keep it up!

12. Jules & Jackie, Glasgow 17 September 2007

Hi Christian
Have been following your progress all day on the website- very exciting for us, how is it going for you? Thought of you and all the crew battling through the wind & darkness as we fell gratefully into bed after having driven back to Glasgow last night. Saw the Glasgow boat’s support team’s 4x4 at Tebay Services on the way back up & took a photo.
We all had a fabulous week-end in Liverpool- very different.
Thanks & take care
Mum & Jules xx

13. Charlie Russell, London 19 September 2007

Oscar Soldier and team...happy circumnavigation, may the winds be fair and guide you all without hiccup. best of luck, Charlie x

14. The Lamports, Ely Cambridgeshire 23 September 2007

Hi Bridget pleased to see you and your crew were first out of La Rochelle and Bay of Biscay. Wishing you and crew mates a safe crossing to Salvador. Keep smiling! Got great photos of Liverpool weekend. Take care
Love the Lamports x

15. Nicky & Dave, Liverpool Lake 30 September 2007

Chris

hope all’s well on your current leg - but notice from the web you seem to be taking an alternative course to the other lippers - hope thats intentional.......

Love

N&D;Liverpool

16. Jen, Neil, Al, Pauline and all the weans, Glasgow 30 September 2007

Christian, fancy a drink? Sitting here having dinner in Glasgow and thinking of you being buffeted on the high seas. We’re having a toast to you and thinking of you often. Especially when we’re at work. Catch up soon (with rest of boats!), lots of love as ever, J N A P C K R and J xxxxxx

Page 1 of 1 pages