Crew Blog

Busy, busy, busy!

21 May 2008

Uniquely Singapore enters the Mira Flores Lock

Looking at our most recent blogs, I just realized that the last one was five days ago. With the Panama stop-over being so short the shopping, sightseeing and partying took precedence over informing our followers what we are up to.

Panama City is bizarre mixture of ultramodern but often only partially finished skyscrapers and a historic part that has partially fallen down and in parts has being lovingly restored with much work to be done. A few of us went to the Canal Museum which was great preparation for the canal transit, putting into perspective what was achieved 100 years ago.

The rest of the ‘old Panama’ was what one would expect from a Latin American City, i.e. vibrant life, music in the streets, colourful buses and mostly smiling people.

The canal transit was an amazing experience being lifted up and down tens of meters with the help of a simple physical principle. On the canal itself we encountered in short succession a massive Panamanian submarine followed by the Walt Disney Cruise Ship 12 or more stories high.

Our descend into the Atlantic was then delayed by a nine hour wait in the lake just in front of the locks rafted up with Glasgow and New York Clipper, which was a great opportunity to meet and chat across boats.

We spent the next two days in the Shelter Bay Marina with the best shower facilities that I have seen and a friendly restaurant and bar that was at times totally overrun by our consumption of beer and food.

The Marina was once part of the American presence in the Canal. Some of the housing was being restored for local people’s occupation.

After a night of motoring to find wind, our race to Jamaica was started with a Le Mans start style, which was a near perfect line up of all 10 Clipper yachts 100 miles off shore and a most impressive sight but only for us.

The racing is tight to the finish with at least 8 boats in with a chance for a podium position.

On a sad note we lost two crew members for the race to Jamaica. They decided for personal reasons to leave early. The remaining crew was surprised about this decision but was strengthened in theirs resolve to stay focused on the next race ahead. We thank them for their contribution to the race from Santa Cruz to Panama and wish them all the best for the future.

So long
Jurgen
c

1. Sarah, Edinburgh 24 May 2008

Well, US you are off again (or very nearly). Due to your recent form I’m sure you’re going to have a brilliant race to NYC. Keep pushing!! GO GET ‘EM. Hello to G.

2. Hannahh, Basingstoke UK 24 May 2008

hello uncle baz. (: i currently have control over your computer, but i’ve drastically reduced my online spending time, so it’s all good. i have a life now. not just my myspace. i keep trying to get mother to actually give me the website so i can write to you more often, but mum keeps forgetting, and then i forget to ask for her to ask angy. bit of a chain reaction, ehh?? I’ve just completed my english literature exam on tuesday, which I took early. I wrote solidly for almost two hours. I’m aiming for an A hopefully, but I’d be happy with a B, but depending on what i do get, I may choose to retake it next year. I do want to leave school with some high GCSE’s after all. (; I went to Naomi house, a place for terminally ill children, to represent the school, as this guy from Razorlight was promoting his new solo album which is released monday. A lot of press were there, and I summoned the courage to go and ask Allen Sinclair, one of the well known reporters from the BBC, if the BBC could offer me any work experience. Apparently I have to be expected an A* in english language, which I am anyway, go through at least one interview up in London, and I’d also have to give them a piece of media work, which is extrememly handy, as we’re starting a piece of media coursework soon, so if i work hard and aim for an A* in this piece of coursework, I should be able to send it to the BBC in an attachment, as Allen Sinclair gave me an email address to contact them on. (; The only down side is that I’d only be able to work there for the day, and I’d have to be extremely good at what I’m doing, and prove intelligent, as there’s a lot of other people fighting for the same place as me. I can’t have a proper work experience placement at the BBC as I’m not at university yet. Also, I spoke to a lady from Kestrel FM who said they could offer me work experience, which is great, as I’d like to go on as a Radio Presenter, for the BBC. (; A couple of weeks ago I also worked at Queen mary’s central studio (the drama studio) on work experience, during two weeks of school. It was really interesting, I worked the lighting for a preformance in the evening, and I also got to join in on a few A-level drama classes. I’ve come to the desicion I definately want to go to QMC for college. I’ve got an open day on the 1st of july which should be good.
I’m not sure if I’m supposed to be telling you this or not, but we’ve got you a ticket to go and see Enter Shikari with us, which is actually quite cool.
I may of I may not see you in Liverpool, but i’m sure i’ll speak to you soon after. And anyway, you’ll definately be hearing from me again soon.
xxxx

3. Dal, Singapore 26 May 2008

Oo! It is so close! Keep going U S! You are doing so well. Enjoy the race.

Page 1 of 1 pages