Crew Blog

The Queen comes to the Lady Qing

24 June 2008

It wasn’t an auspicious start to my birthday as there was a minor moment as I attemtped to climb out of my bunk (which happened to have a mind of its own and was bounding around due to the 36 knots of wind we were attempting to sail into) and missed the handy foothold, nearly faceplanting into the bunk opposite me. Having finally managed to dress and make it onto deck I was greeted with the news of a sail change, not what I necessarily wanted to hear at 12am. Half an hour later and definitely damper, and colder, we had the new sail up and the old one flaked on deck; by this time I had decided to follow the Queen’s example and have two birthdays. I officially postponed my birthday until it was A) sunny and B) the wind was coming from up the chuff.

The rest of the day passed fairly uneventfully, well in my dreams anyway. There were a few more trips to the foredeck one resulting in my lifejacket inadvertantly inflating as there was so much water coming over the bow it thought I had fallen in. The other, slightly unexpected trip just 20 minutes before supper time to hank on the Yankee number 1 (as the wind was finally abating). I merely faceplanted the sea as I attempted to gather the end of a sail-tie from the low side of the bow to ensure the sail didn’t make a bid for freedom before we made the change.

I did however managed to speak to my family although due to the connection and a slight state of delirium from tiredness I’m not really sure who I spoke to and what I said so I’ll send them my love now (and wish my Grandma happy birthday for today).

My second birthday was much more civilised - the wind was no longer quite on the nose and the sun was attempting and finally succeded in putting in an appearance. There was even presents, champagne and fruit & nut – a delicacy on board – brought all the way from Heathrow via NY and my parents. I was even sung happy birthday again and some other slightly less child friendly birthday songs that will be reserved for the Lady Qing’s ears only. We even had my favourite Pasta Carbonara although I’m not sure that was intentional. Amos (our e-mail providers) even gave a me a birthday prestent and the e-mail was restored to full working order so I could feel really popular with my one birthday e-mail, I maintain some got lost in the ether.

All in all it was a birthday not to forget in a hurry.

Henrietta