Crew Blog

Quieter than the Nullabor

09 October 2007

Freshwater shower, ocean racer-style on westernaustralia2011.com

And I thought the Nullabor Plain was quiet! This mid-Atlantic ocean is really quiet!

In the last 48 hours I have seen one swallow, one unidentified black bird (definitely not an English country garden variety), four locusts (on deck), one fly in the kitchen, (I am told it is called the ‘galley’), flying fish by the thousands and one pod of dolphins. This was supposed to be a 24-hour diary but in the last 24 hours have only seen one boat, sorry, ship.

We hit (or rather it hit us) our first tropical storm today; the skipper (definitely not to be called “Captain Pugwash” at any time) decided to liven up life upstairs (I am told it is called ‘on deck’) with seven sail changes (I am told they are called ‘evolutions’) in 30 minutes. We were exhausted!! We now have our tacticians watching the radar 24/7 looking for any more storms as we progress through the Doldrums.

The only good thing to come out of the storm was a free fresh water shower for all; the supply on board of fresh water is in short supply now.

It is so hot and steamy, we all walk around in various states of undress, bras and nix for the girls with a sarong for special occasions and jox for the boys (please no jox and socks together, not a good look).

We are all looking forward to canopies and cocktails at sunset in the Tropics in true Hemmingway style. In our dreams!

Billy Hawes

1. Lucy, Dunblane, Scotland 10 October 2007

Pleased to see you getting a shower, John! Hope the winds pick up for you soon so you can continue to make progress and catch up with the leaders (unlike Liverpool FC!!!!) Good Luck! Lucy, Donald, Archie & Dugald

2. Norma laing, Blackpool 10 October 2007

Hi WA.
An Ode the the Frustrated Mariner !
Miss Dilly Doldrums a lonely young girl, who traps becalmed Tars in her long silken curls.
You’ll twist and you’ll turn to avoid her caresses, while desperatly cutting yourself from her tresses.
Don’t be afraid, she’s only playing, and hopeing you’ll think about possible staying.
But as a gentle breeze starts to blow, Dilly will relinquish you and let you all go.

Hope it doesn’t happen to you.
Norma / Grahame

3. Mick Dunne, London via Sydney 10 October 2007

Uncle Martin (alias Captain Pugwash),
We’re all watching your progress with great excitment. We hope you and your crew of pollywogs are prepared for your visit by King Neptune and his retinue as you pass through the waters of his Majestic Realm.......
Cheers, Mick, Tammy, Jack, Mark and Harry

4. Stu Robinson, Cheshire 11 October 2007

you can’t beat a good fresh shower. looks like john k is still working on his modeling poses. careful john those boxes look slightly seethrough

5. julia taylor, woodbridge, suffolk 11 October 2007

Way to go, Aussies, you’re making ground on the others now by the looks of things. Daddy looking foward to seeing you in Salvador, Billy

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