Crew Blog

Lessons learned

16 April 2008

westernaustralia2011.com's John Kimber and Trudy Willows tune their new rig

Naturally being new onboard I want to make as good an impression as possible so eager to help with whatever asked of me. Lessons are being learned very quickly.

Lesson 1 – Day 1
Cap’n; Can you sew?
Me; (thinks, John Boy’s jacket needs patching) Yes
Cap’n; Good you’re on stitching duty and hands me the sewing box
Me; (thinks) 3’ needle, awl, hammer, palm sized thimble and waxed thread is a little OTT surely?
Lesson; Hand sewing a main sail is much harder than a jacket patch, even with awl & hammer.

Lesson 2 – Days 2-5
Watch Lead 1; do you want to helm?
Me; erm, not really.
Watch Lead 2; do you want to helm?
Me, erm, I prefer not to
Watch Lead 3; do you want to helm?
Me; not really.
Watch Lead 3; Why not?
Me; have you seen the size of those waves? They’re as big as houses!
Watch Lead 3; Wendy houses perhaps! Now do you want to helm?
Lesson: They’ve all been on board seven months longer than me, they’ve seen it and done it all and are not phased by a mere water phobic newbie.

Lesson 3
Cap’n; Do you know one end of a spanner from the other?
Me; (guffaws) Yeah, ‘course
Cap’n; Good, follow me and whatever you do, don’t look behind you . . . . .

Trudy x

1. Charlie Tango, New Berry, England 16 April 2008

That’s my girl, good to see that months of sailing hasn’t changed anything, once a PM always a PM ... though looking at the photo, I’m glad you left out risks & issues. Keep those strings tight & keep remembering why you’re doing it hunny - justgiving.com/twillows

C x

2. Karen McRobert, Ashford, Kent 16 April 2008

Hello big brother Mart and all the BBB crew, sorry for such a long delay! Good to see you are all still enjoying yourselves and keeping spirits high, propably all that rum you’ve been drinking! Keep pushing on hard so that you can arrive in California in time ready for a spot of partying. Oh and by the way, thanks very much Mart, excellent surprise delivery!
And now here is for my rediculous poem to carry on our odd family tradition.....
Oii’s got a ram called Jambo, who thinks his name is rambo, his chases you in the grass and butts you up the.... but i can’t remember how this one finishes either??!!
Anyway, thinking of you all, Loads of love, Kaz, lee and walking along furniture now, Harry!

3. Kerry Newton, On the Clyde 17 April 2008

**snigger** T at least they havent threatened to put you up the mast! Guess who got volunteered to replace the three mouse chewed Halyards? Me: But I dont do heights! C: you do now! (makes mental note that someone - naming no names CHRIS NEWTON should have checked the mast BEFORE it was hoisted)

Wishing you calm seas (bit like we have today) and a safe journey

ps wheres that email addy, you know who has been fretting!

Love and Peace
Your sis Kerry and the gangxx

4. jamie lyons, Hull UK 17 April 2008

to jim and the crew on Hull & Humber. Just the same old guff as everyone else will be sending. Hull City are on the brink of promotion, I know thats what you all wanted to hear. Fantastic news eh! Oh yeah, well done guys. Seems like the fun will soon be over for a couple of you, bummer.
Bootleggers has a cold one in the fridge for you Jim.

5. Rob & Rachael Arnold, Dubai 17 April 2008

Love it!!

Wishing Jacki a very happy ‘n’ th birthday for tomorrow!!!

Rob & Rach xx

6. PETER LAWRENCE, Melbourne, Australia 17 April 2008

Keep it going there lads, only a few more days. Singapore did well nudging out NS for a first first. I’ve warned the others to watch out for the two Southerners in the next legs as the BBB can still win overall if ..... Glad the weather and tums are on the mend, even if getting cooler. Hope that mast is now highly tuned. Hi to the boys, hugs to the girls and kisses to Jude. Peter

7. Sister Sue., Aberdeenshire 17 April 2008

Could lesson 3 be : can you use a can-opener?
In advance - Happy Birthday Billy!!
Love and miss you lots, hugs to the boys xxxxxx

8. Oli Clarke, Bucklebury 18 April 2008

Happy Birthday Billy!! Can we get a picture to prove you’re still aboard?!

Good luck with getting to SC intime to be able to enjoy the break before setting off again.

Lots of luck, love and fast sailing conditions, Oli & Richxx

9. Mum & Dad, nottingham 18 April 2008

Glad you are all ok, nice to hear from youTrudy. See the weather not been too kind to you, but sure it will be better soon. Got a super pledge to add to your total and still working on it. Everyone sends their love and best wishes. Love Mum & Dad

10. Sister Sue., Aberdeenshire 18 April 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILLY!!!
Hope you have a good day! Thinking of you and will drink to you all later!!
Take care, lots of love and hugs xxxxxxx

11. Jadranka Lota, Maidenhead, UK 18 April 2008

Oh my God… I guess this is what awaits me as well. Oh kay… Bring it on! How much stugeron will I need?? )

12. Mum and Dad Silk, Tenterden Kent 18 April 2008

Hi WA..Great to see you sailing again with your new mast and sails.
I see mad the ‘Silk’ poet’s are coming out of the woodwork!
Shall we see one from big brother Ade next?
Message to Capt Silk..Are you and Mrs Silk sending semaphore signals
across the water from the BBB to Durban???
Hurry up and get to Santa Cruz Martin..at this rate you might just have time
for a quick cup of tea and a slice of cake before you leave for Panama!!
Hope everyone is well..Love and hugs to Martin
Much love
Mum and Dad xx

13. PETER LAWRENCE, Melbourne, Australia 19 April 2008

Happy birthday Billy and Jacki. We’re looking forward to renewing our visiting rites and to seeing you all in Jamaica. Enjoy the last few days before the quick turnaround. Peter XX

14. Eileen, Santa Cruz 20 April 2008

Hi all - sorry for the silence, but you are always on my mind guys. I’m glad to hear you are making better progress. Sounds like there have been loads of birthday parties I have missed - John boy (Man), Jacki and Billy. Bet you had cake and a ball celebrating each one.

Get yourselves here - Santa Cruz marina is so cute! I hope to be there for your arrival - as long as information is forthcoming about your whereabouts.

Lots of Love
Eileenxx

15. MANDY MACKY, adelaide 21 April 2008

saw you on the ‘sailing news’ last night, Lyn. Interesting clip about the BBB and its adventures. Sent to me from Hong Kong. I’ll keep it in case you ever want to see it. Hope all going well for everyone. Have fun in Santa Cruz!

16. Paul, Melbournish 21 April 2008

Good to hear you might be in SC for enough time for a beer. Ok, a Coors Lite perhaps, but it is still a beer. I think. Special hi to my ex-roomy-who-isnt-called-Eileen-(splitter) and the other Harley riding legger - is this sailing lark as advertised in the brochure ?

17. Des & Mel, London 21 April 2008

Nearly there. Dont worry about missing all the parties in Santa Cruz. I understand they have not been all that anyway. Have you thought of cutting south and heading straight to Panama? I here the night life there is much better. Come on Judy - no more excuses time to get on with it now.

18. Anne Williams, WA 22 April 2008

So good to hear you are in time for the next race! Enjoy the short time back on land - at least you shouldn’t lose your sea legs its such a short visit! Have fun and relax relax relax while you can. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Billy and Jacks.Who made Billy’s cake?!
Lots of love and hugs to you all xxxxxx

19. Chrissy, Australia 22 April 2008

BBB, I can see you guys are almost there. I have been hard at it here willing you forward. The method I am employing is a bath tub full of water, plastic sailing toy some chanting and blowing, is it working ? I have also been playing some Xavier Rudd in your honor. Alls well here, albeit cold. Not used to this cold weather nonsence just bought ugg boats and proudly sport them to the shops. Now try to have some version of rest in Santa Cruz, oh maybe pop into Orange County Choppers and see if they can turn that tragic rust bucket of a bike you are storing in the cheese locker into something more blinging !

20. PETER LAWRENCE, Melbourne, Australia 22 April 2008

Nearly there so keep rowing together. Enjoy the two days and nights of land, have a good rest, wash and relax. That secret “.......” will be just the special weapon to win the next few legs, so guard it well. And who was Saint Cruz?? Peter

21. Mick Dunne, London via Sydney 22 April 2008

Uncle Martin,
Well done. Only a few more miles and you’ll be in Santa Cruz and back in the race. We have been watching your progress ever since that disastrous morning when the rig came down. What an awesome achievement to get yourself to Midway (twice), then to Hawaii, repaired and to SC to rejoin the race. I bet everyone on the BBB remembers these legs in 20 years time when the rest of the crews have forgotten them!!
Cheers,
Mick, Tam and the Boys

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