Crew Blog

Only 287 to go… come on!

27 March 2008

A day of action was kick-started with a glorious sunrise, ending with the clearest of horizons, a sure sign of cooler airs ahead. Productive would be an understatement of how the day unfolded, some of us fixing stuff whilst others got stuck into the bilges. For John Boy and Lou it was a day of Tag; 2,500 photos completed over the past week and only a handful to go.

Its been 30 days since we left China and the smell of land is long overdue; hopefully only one more day of peace on this seemingly empty ocean. On Friday we party.

Martin Silk, skipper westernaustralia2011.com

FROM THE CLIPPER WEB TEAM - the distance to finish was reported at 0600 GMT 27 March.

1800 GMT 27 March: 195 to go - conditions not so good now

Our first night of real chop and slamming for those in business class; for me I get the bilge alarm to listen to instead. But what the hell, less than 200 to go and we can put up with anything the boat can put up with! Still averaging close to 8 knots so still hoping for a morning arrival.

1. Rick Palmer, Perth Western Australia 28 March 2008

Keeping the chin up under the circumstances you have been dealing with is a victory in itself. Good on yo all. Hawaii offers a lot of rewards for the efforts you’ve put in. I hope you have a great time there and good luck with the rest of the Pacific.
Cheers
Rick

2. Jadranka Lota, Maidenhead,Uk 28 March 2008

Maaarty… Are we there yet?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

3. PETER LAWRENCE, Melbourne, Australia 28 March 2008

Nearly there .... Jude and Sharon left Sydney today and hoping to be in Oahu before you get there. Alot of work ahead with the mast and rigging but sure enough RnR in Honolulu to make all the set backs worth it. Enjoy your much deserved stay and hope all goes well to ensure the 10 boats all leave together. Await photos of arrival and the celebrations. Peter

4. Pigeon, Manchester,UK 28 March 2008

Good luck with the final push, hope spirits are high and that you are now swathed in floral garlands. A very happy, if belated, birthday to our lovely louise. We hope you are having a beautiful birthday in the sun, wish we were with you (not really I get sea sick and she’s an agrophobic big fat land lubber). Missing you loads, lots of love Fanny and St Gilliano xxx

5. Val and Alan BENNETT, suffolk UK 28 March 2008

We await your arrival in “Oahu"- with fingers crossed for an uneventful passage.
Hope it’s ‘Rock-a-Hula Baby’ in Hawaii very soon, enjoy! We look forward to seeing Lou, Skipper and Crew in Santa Cruz. We’re departing from Terminal 5 Heathrow which has just opened and isn’t functioning properly yet- a third of flights cancelled, so it looks a bit dodgy (and you thought you had problems) Best Wishes V&A;

6. andi, Stirling 28 March 2008

YAY!!!! WOOH!!! So glad you’ve made it!!!!! Good on you BBB crew, you’ve had an almost farcical last leg at times mixed with some real magic at Midway. Looking forward to you setting off WITH all other 9 yachts (hope hope hope) and having a racing leg with no major hitches.Enjoy the party (well you probably already are!!!). Love andi xxxxxxxx

7. Philip Booth, Ashford, East Kent 28 March 2008

Hi Martin and crew,

Must be a relief after that marathon leg. All the best for a swift pitstop and get back into the thick of it.

Phil, Jo, Aisha and Harvey

8. Anne Williams, Perth, WA 29 March 2008

You’re there!! I bet you can hardly believe it! Great news. Enjoy your break in Honolulu and fingers crossed that all repairs are able to be completed so that the full fleet races to Santa Cruz together. So pleased that Judy and Sharon there to add their enthusiasm and hard work too! Looking forward to videos! Anne xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

9. wilfred, australia 29 March 2008

Well guyes You made it , if you’ve got through that lot , you can get through the rest i’m sure, just keep a coo l head , and get on with the job at hand , best of luck guyes , were thinking of you all the way

10. Stuart, Cheshire 29 March 2008

Very well done making it to Hawaii, I waited there for you for a week then had to return to UK, see you in Santa Cruz.

11. Evelyn Ettridge, Arlington, Virginia 03 April 2008

I want to express my gratitude to God, the race director, the skillful skippers and their crews, and all others who contributed to the safe arrival in Hawaii of the Durban 2010 and Beyond and the westernaustralia2011.com. I am grateful as well for the massive precautionary work now being undertaken on the other boats before the race restarts. My prayers will be intensified for the safety of all to the finish in July.

12. Justin Silk, Dusseldorf 05 April 2008

Sounds like not too long before you’re on the way to Santa Cruz. Get the sails up high and you’ll soon be flying along at 70 or 80 knots - you’ll catch the others up in no time! Might be a bit rough down below, so cooks, don’t fill the gin to the top of the glass whilst you’re pan frying the fois gras. Shocking start to “spring” in Germany - it’s forecast to reach the dizzy heights of 4 degrees tomorrow, bit of sleet thrown in for good measure. Definite pub weather - that’s where I’m off to now to drink a beer and finish that poem. Where was I....."Oi’s got a woolly pig, Oi’s keep it in a bucket, now it’s got a woolly piglet..............” See you in New York and good luck to all onboard BBB! Justin Silk.

13. Barbara Dunne, New York 07 April 2008

Hi Martin,

Have arrived in NY and staying with Sean and Kim and the boys. Hopefully you will get to see them all when you get to NY later in the year. Continue to follow your sagas and wish you and the crew well. Smooth sailing for the rest of the trip.

love Mick and Barb

14. Mum & Dad Silk, Tenterden Kent 08 April 2008

Hi WA..Lots of work going on..Looks like you will soon be on your way once more.
It will be great when you get your new mast and sails and get the BBB sailing again
you’ll be in Santa Cruz before you know it. Good luck to you all on this leg.
Love Mum and Dad xx PS.Love and lots of hugs to Martin xx
I like Justin’s poem..I know a poem about a woolly pig..is it the same one?
Oi’s got a woolly pig..Oi’s keep it in a bucket
Now it’s got a woolly piglet..and Oi’s called it Daisy-muppet
Young Daisy’s got a sister..Oi’s called it Maisie-loo
Me bucket’s full of woolly pigs..Oi’s...................
(can’t remember how that line goes though!!)

15. andi, stirling 08 April 2008

hallo BBB crew; hope your mast gets fixed superquick and you catch up at santa cruz with the rest of the fleet. Still gutted for you all that you’re not racing but you WILL be in 2 weeks time! Even tho mum’s racing with the NY now and then coming home, i will be cheering you on all the way to the finish! Keep that team spirit up!!!

andi xxxxxxx

ps hope someone finishes “woolly pig”! I have a line buts its too rude to type