Race 12 - Day 12
Skipper Report
08 July

Hello Team,

Well what's occurring this “Sluggish” Sunday? What are the latest revelations in the Sunday newspapers, are the English football team heroes or “also ran's” this morning? This end we are still moving, which is an added and slightly unexpected result, based on the last weather forecast we received, which is now 48 hours old. The weather forecast that we can pick up via the Sat C system is not as detailed as the ones we receive from Simon. (Morning Mr Rowell, I can empathise as I write this blog, which cannot be sent, all the work going into the forecast you prepare that we potentially cannot receive.)

Here the weather maintains its greyness, as Beanie (Sarah Bean) pointed out even the sea birds are grey. The wind continues to shift in direction and strength goes up and down every couple of minutes. The two factors make helming an area of really concentration and everyone has stepped up to the mark on that front, the crew are doing a great job keeping us heading in the right direction (well sort of) and the miles are slowly ticking down. We are also limping towards the end of the Elliot Brown Ocean Sprint, currently 1.5nm to the finishing line, no records broken on this one I feel. At this rate its looking like Wednesday into Derry- Londonderry for a shower and clearly a drop of the “black stuff”, OK then maybe two, then.

The limited communications with the outside world has had an impact on the boat, maybe it’s just my imagination but there seems to be more chatting and storytelling going on. There is definitely a feeling of isolation, in a positive way. The fact we haven't seen another vessel or aircraft for two days also adds to the feeling we are on our own. Julie commented that she didn't realise how big an ocean was or how big it could feel.

Galley-wise, the big bulk up continues, with Ray, assisted by David, produced an outstanding apple and raisin pudding this evening, complete with custard for the third consecutive night! (Which for some reason made me think of bread and butter pudding. June, my mother, makes an awesome one, think I will have to investigate the possibilities of getting some once home). However, at lunch time, an all-time low was, in my opinion, served up. We had a “parcel” again. Now let’s cut to the chase, it doesn't matter what shade in comes in, it’s a wrap. Today's wrap was allegedly chicken with “Baby Ray's” BBQ Sauce, but it tasted like tuna, well not quite right tuna. The good news Nicola has assured me that it will not be making a re-appearance on the menu between now and Liverpool.

On a serious note, I would like to thank Jayne, Nicola and their assistants, Faith and Emma, for sorting out the menus and sourcing provisions in numerous countries since I took on the boat from Airlie Beach, Australia. The meals have been brilliant and we have never run out of anything important. It is a huge job and, if got wrong, it can have a massive impact on people's experience on passage. Thank you very much ladies, it has been an outstanding job.

So here are today's GREAT Britain team stats that you can talk over, with that post luncheon glass of something. 24 hour distance run 191nm, DMG 190nm and we had 575nm DTA , meaning we have completed 80% of our passage to Ireland.

Oh, did you know? Around 80 million tons of bananas are consumed worldwide every year. One of the first records of bananas dates back to Alexander the Great's conquest of India in 327 BC.

Standing by this Channel-out