| 
Day
Two 12th - May
Noon Position 19º 29'N 61º 25'W, Course 050 degrees
true, Speed (average) 5.5 knots. Distance run last 24hours
140 Nm.
General - We departed knowing that the weather
is due to be poor until Monday, when we expect 15 knots of
wind to come in. Therefore we have carried an extra 200 litres
of fuel to accommodate the running of the engine for three
days, this will get us to the area of wind and mean that we
have full fuel tanks. Ushomi does not carry enough fuel to
motor across the Atlantic, so we are reliant on good old-fashioned
sail power. To use the engine and hence a chunk of our fuel
at the beginning of a trip is not ideal, but you have to leave
at some point. So far we have managed to sail for the most
part, a definite bonus on what we expected. As regards us,
we are settling in to the trip and all hoping for a fast passage.
It takes a few days for us all to settle in to become accustomed
to the routines.
Non Smokers Corner Day 2 -
kjwhflhiwjeflkhjdasuhgdfolujeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
eeeeeekak
Hi, this is Rod with a bit of an update from
the motley crews’ point of view, the weather is fantastic,
unfortunately that means that the boat is roasting hot most
of the time as it's difficult to have the hatches open at
sea(!). We just made a quick snack lunch of beans on toast
and the 2 chefs (Me and John) are knackered. We saw a small
tornado (waterspout) this morning about 2 miles off our starboard
side, although thankfully it collapsed after 5 minutes. For
the most part the winds have been great and we are cracking
along at 6 or 7 knots. Just checked the chart and we are now
in ocean depths of 4.5 kilometres, so its nice to know that
land isn't far away. Lots of love to everyone at work (as
was), the kids Nicola, Gemma and Matthew, and particularly
to my gorgeous wife Rebecca. xxxxxx.
Everything
is fine from my (John) point of view although I have
to say that the fore peak cabin is an exciting place to be
in a squall at 0100 with my fellow chef (!) at the helm. My
own fault for not stowing things properly but boy when you
get clobbered by a pair of dividers, then a compass and then
a pack of Yachtmaster books you certainly know it. The watch
system means I have until 1500 today to do a few things -
wash a shirt or two etc. Anyway hope all friends reading this
and keeping up with our progress are well and will begin to
enjoy the daily up dates. Now for today's question - we have
loads of cans of peas and carrots, peas, and carrots ( if
you want to know why ask the kipper as he did some fancy deal
with some people who abandoned a trip - why he didn't get
the Kobe beef I do not know!) - anyway we chefs need an innovative
recipe please - all ideas gratefully accepted. ( Editor: can
anyone save them from beans on toast all the way?)
Day
Three - 13th May
Noon Position 20º 42’N 059º 55’ W Course
050 degrees true, Speed (Average) 5 knots. Distance run last
24hours 120 NM, Total distance run 260 NM.
General - Hot. The weather is as expected
and we are motoring a lot now, BUT we are getting quite a
bit of sailing in, this is a bonus to our plans. Officially
crew moral is excellent. The kipper cooked an absolutely delightful
meal of mince beef, mashed spuds and peas last night, everyone
believes that this will be the meal of the trip. Talking of
food, thanks to Mel at Straits sailing for the carrot recipe,
we are intending to publish at a later date. Strange things
in the Night - Last night we sighted strange lights in the
night sky, we are investigating and will update as we can.
Rod
here, just come up from using the heads below, something
I ate last night must have upset my stomach !, looking forward
to carrot El suprise though as it can only be an improvement,
thankfully our skipper is a good sailor if somewhat challenged
in the culinary department. Also happy to report that, in
my opinion, the lights in the sky were more to do with tobacco
deprivation than aliens, although we will continue to observe.
Just completed an emergency situation practice where we worked
through a scenario that entailed us having collided with a
white whale, I hope there is only coincidence that I had been
sunbathing on the deck a few minutes earlier. Hoping to find
out what happened in the FA Cup final, perhaps Matthew will
send an email. Lots of love to my three beautiful girls.
Mark:
Well I am back after a day of mal de mer; luckily not too
bad. You will recall I wrote successful people surrounded
me. This is proving to be a godsend although after latest
briefing on the life raft I am unsure again. You see; success
= heavyweight =ballast=stability. So the two heavyweights
bunk forward, which at night is great the boat is on even
keel. During the day we all sit in the stern and I can't see
the bows clearly and get a bollocking for not keeping an eye
on the tell tales. Meantime I need to sort out seating arrangements
for the life raft!!! It is a beautiful day, music is being
played, no much wildlife apart from the gunge found as we
scrubbed the boat. Had a delicious lunch, although my mango
waqs frowned upon by our resident carnivore which is another
good reason to get the seating in the life raft sorted.
John here, and I would like to thank the
kipper for confirming that we are a moral crew - I see no
reason to question that! We are settling into a regime of
sleep/watch/cook and clean - which was fine until we started
on astro navigation as well today - I guess it will sink in
eventually. I think that last nights meal will go down in
history - brilliant optimisation of various cans. Who is cooking
tonight I wonder and what will it be? Its good to be making
progress towards the Azores - only 17 or so days to go!!

John
Day Four - 14th May
Noon Position 22º 7’N 58º W. Course 050º
true, Speed (Average) 6 knots. Distance run last 24hours 141
NM. Total distance run 401 NM.
General Tactics - There are many ways to
sail to the Azores from the Caribbean, but two are the most
common. The first and more traditional route is to sail up
to Bermuda which is due North of the East Caribbean, once
at Bermuda (pronounced in nautical circles as Bermuda) turn
right and head for the Azores. The second route is the rhumb
line and is basically direct from the Caribbean to the Azores.
The difference in routes is that the Bermuda route is approx.
3000Nm whilst the Rhumb line route is approx. 2200 NM. This
is the point where all those persons with GSC math’s
ask "why sail the longer route", to which I say
"bloody good question", the answer is simple "weather".
The route via Bermuda typically gets better winds and therefore
better passage times than the rhumb line route. The ARC which
is an Atlantic rally even stop for a week in Bermadu, meaning
they sail literally directly east in good winds, or should
do. We on Ushomi like the fashion guru's we are have opted
for the rhumb line route, reason - the weather looks perfect
for it and so far so good, we are averaging good speeds and
know that in the back half of the trip can get good wind,
the first half or more importantly the first week will decide
the trip, so far we are ahead of our set goals BUT there is
a long way to go.
Non Smokers Corner - Day 4 - Getting better
but having seriously bad moments, only spent 4 hours tied
to the mast yesterday. If anyone can fly a fag to the above
position DO IT NOW.
Foody
Corner – kipper’s loaf - excellent (voted
best homemade loaf of the trip so far - 25% voting turnout)
See photo below (loaf is on the right).
Rod (?) - I have to interrupt this self congratulatory
prose at this point to inform our discerning readers that
the 'loaf' (although I think the trades descriptions people
would present an argument that in order to be a loaf, it should
look and taste like one) was examined by the rest of the crew
and declared unfit for human consumption and tossed over the
side, when last seen was still bobbing up and down, left curiously
undisturbed by the marine population also. On the good news
front, my son emailed me to say that the Super Reds once again
lifted the FA Cup although the Hammers gave us a good run
for it. This, combined with great sailing overnight in good
winds and a perfect moonlit night has put me in such a good
mood that I am going to ignore the jibes of my shipmates regarding
my eating habits - I have eaten everything that they have,
although admittedly with my eyes shut and whilst quietly chanting
to myself 'its only to survive, its only to survive'. Also
on the news front, I saw a whale leap up out of the water
this morning perhaps a mile away from the boat, however it
steadfastly refused to do it again once I had my camera. As
always, love to my fabulous Rebecca and hi to everyone else.

Rod & Loaf
Day
5 - 15th May
Noon Position 23º 6’N 56º 33’W. Course
050º true, speed (average) 4 knots, distance run last
24hours 100 NM, total distance to date 503 NM
General - A strange 24 hours, after having
a cracking day we then had a day of no wind, and we have therefore
been using the extra diesel we brought. So a day of only 100
NM and an average of 4 knots BUT we have just turned the engine
off and are ghosting along at 4.5 Knots, flat seas, silence:
wonderful. The important thing to bear in mind is that our
plan accepted for light winds, it is the winds in 4 days that
we are chasing.
Entertainment
- Yesterday saw the first Ushomi swimming gala, water
was warm, shore was 500NM away and the bottom 5.5 Kilometers
beneath us. I dropped a coin and Rod was gone in a flash.
Also yesterday afternoon we played hide and seek for an hour
(see photo), good game but failed to find everyone.
UFO
Corner - the strange lights reported earlier have
re-appeared, they are moving erratically and seem to follow
the boat. Referring to Professor Kookies book on extra terrestrials
am slightly worried we may be abducted for strange and exotic
experiments. Rod claims to have been abducted before and said
that it was quite a pleasant experience.
John here - I have to say that the swimming
gala was great fun - with the boat only doing 2 knots and
people throwing themselves off the back Kamikaze style. Only
swimming back to the ladder on the stern took some doing (can
you swim at 2 knots??!!) and luckily the kipper thought to
put out a few yards of rope to help us navigate back to the
boat - Food last night did consist of some carrots and peas
and the kipper really is now coming into his own with the
various styles of cuisine that he can turn his hand to. Last
night he re heated the carrots and the peas and served them
with a butter knob, Mmmmm! Brilliant and talented the crew
have convinced Andy that the "Kipper in the Kitchen -
Cooking for Yachties" book needs to be released on line
soon (any wayward recipes to the kipper please for inclusion)
- Today's question: is there a boat anywhere with a Michelin
star? How do we go about getting one on Ushomi? What can you
say when he tells you he is to branch out into sweet and sour
peas, peas in beer batter (don’t ask me where the beer
is!) and even pea and carrot soup with posh croutons (God,
he knows how to live it up - posh croutons!). Well that’s
all from the galley. Elsewhere, the crew is fine and the days
pass wishing the wind would blow more and then, when we play
cards in the afternoon, we moan like buggery when the cards
are blown off into the sea!
Cheesemaker all at Sea - We have had a good
day and night sail followed by a very poor one. Something
do to with wind, the heavyweights say. They are now onto steering
by the stars, Astro - something they call it. Mind you, we
seem to do best in the late afternoon. Swimming in the Atlantic
was interesting watching a rope snake under your feet and
knowing if you missed then it was "man overboard"
concentrates the mind. Mal de mer seems to have passed, credit
to the two chefs. I even managed to do lunch today. I see
many parallels with cheese maturation as with trimming sails
as we constantly search for wind and therefore speed; so we
move cheese around the cellar to the best mould growth and
taste profile. There is always something do to be scrubbing
her - the boat - down, coiling ropes, etc. Clothes washing
is an interesting but v. necessary chore and I have been putting
clothes into ma bucket and treading them: seems to work; not
too much21st century there. We are now having a bet when we
will arrive, which is encouraging!
Rod
here, don’t believe all this stuff about exciting
swimming: dived in and realised we were swimming in 5.5 kilometers
of water which is similar to dangling your feet out of an
aeroplane at nearly 20,000 feet!, Also remembered that I had
seen whales less than 3 hours ago and suddenly wondered if
they were still around. Very quickly got back on the boat
and thought: ‘Blow that for a game of soldiers’.
Seem to have managed to break my toe over the last 24 hours,
it could have been any one of 5 occasions when I stubbed my
foot and wondered again where I had put my shoes. The hide
and seek game was interesting for about 5 minutes, but was
rather spoiled by the fact that the rules only allowed us
to hide on deck. Worrying thing is that the skipper still
couldn't find us. Andy has started to teach John and I Celestial
Navigation (that thing with a sextant), now totally confused
and wondering more and more whether golf may be a better idea.
As always, love to my Rebecca and hi to everyone else. Big
sloppy kisses for N, G & M. (Don’t worry son, yours
is just a handshake really).
Hide
& Seek
Day
6 - 16th May
Noon Position 24º 7’N 54.5ºW.
Course 055º true, distance run last 24hours 120 NM, total
distance run 600 Nm (total distance run is from the log and
does not account for current). J love you A . E-mails from
Stan and Gerry (veterans from November 05)- thanks guys, see
you in November 06.
General - A good last 24hours, we are starting
to get some better winds, all the more to carry us faster
BUT still safely. Some onboard news, Mark has started to trim
the sails every two minutes, as a result boat speed is always
good whilst sailing and the others are taking up the mantle.
By the Azores every man and jack onboard will be getting places
on Whitbread boats. Mark is now known as 'Tommy Trimmer'.
Rod has started to threaten anyone who goes near his toe,
though earlier he claimed to have a broken foot, it was pointed
out that only the digit was broken and he rightfully pointed
out that the digit is on the extremity of the foot. John claims
to be sleeping well in the forepeak, all of us trying to work
out how to change this.
Non Smokers Corner - Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
getting easier and the guys are helping. Missing certain cigarettes
(with Tea etc). Basically the test will be in the Azores so
I am mentally preparing whilst time is on my side. Would I
do this again on an Atlantic passage - NO, but glad to be
at the minute. (does that make sense?). Mark starting to look
like a B&H.
Watchkeeping - At sea we need to have people
alert twenty-four hours per day, to do this we have split
into a watchkeeping system. There being four of us we have
opted for a one in three system with the skipper out of watches.
Therefore Rod will be on at 0700 until 1100, then John will
be on 1100 until 1500, Mark then from 1500 until 1900, all
these 'day' watches are 4 hours duration. At 1900 Rod is back
on until 2200, John from 2200 until 0100, then Mark from 0100
until 0400, Rod is back on from 0400 until 0700. This is the
end of the night watches and John has the first day watch,
this ensures rotation and that no one has the same watches
day after day. As the Kipper I am basically on call whenever
needed, as time passes people tune in to the boat and gain
in experience, confidence and knowledge, therefore I am needed
less. The times when two people are needed is when reefing
the sails and when a squall is spotted heading our way, just
in case. We are now at the point where I will start to take
the 2200 until 0100 watch for the next three days, this means
that the person who should have had it gets a full afternoon
and night off (1500 until 0700).
Cheesemaker at sea - mixed spells here, no
wind so noisy motoring as I sleep next to engine. We do 3-hour
watches at night each and 4 hours during day, with our insect
like skipper dancing around like a dervisher not missing a
trick or tweak on the sail. It is fun to play with the "set"
of the sails and see if I can improve our speed. Thus I am
invariably fiddling; those reading this from the dairy will
recognise the syndrome!! Managed to make lunch yesterday,
well make is a bit heavy, more like open a tin or two, slice
up some bread John made; Offered some pimento to our resident
carnivore who nearly had apoplectic shock. Andy (skip) thank
god eats anything and we are managing some level of control
over him with the thought of a very expensive cigar hidden
on the boat (he having eschewed the dread weed for the voyage)!
Had some lovely Moon rises and fantastic clear views on the
stars. Amazing how much floating rubbish there is out here.
Rod here - just doing my update whilst juggling
the lunch preparation with the imminent arrival of my first
loaf, it smells right and looks right so I am already 2 points
up on the skippers offering of a few days ago. Lunch today
will consist of anything in the fresh food fridge that doesn't
smell too bad. Yes, we are at that point of the voyage when
food declared good as recently as yesterday is being tossed
over the side with increasing regularity (don't panic, only
stuff that rots down or will be eaten by the little fishes,
everything else is bagged and stowed in the anchor locker).
So lunch today will be my first loaf, accompanied by egg mayonnaise
that only smells a little bit whiffy. Sad to report a distinct
lack of sympathy for my broken bone - I had expected no night
watches and only light reading duties but this heartless lot
don't seem to care. Good winds today and we are cruising along
in a light swell and making good speed - this is definitely
what I signed up for. As always, lots of love to my kids,
N, G & M - I hear the wedding dress looks terrific and
is guaranteed to have me blubbing in seconds, and finally
big hugs and kisses to the gorgeous Rebecca.
John's turn - Had a great night watch all
under sail, moon nearly full and borrowed Rod's ipod and listened
to some of his favourites (felt like I was rummaging through
his private drawers though!). Some of the crew think they
can sing - which is a shame really as it is actually like
a cats’ chorus when Carni and Kipper do a duet! And
who the hell is this Sandy person?? And who did she leave?
Have to say Rod's bread was excellent - so Kip now has to
outdo that with something called Christmas bread - we shall
see - watch out for more on that in Galley corner tomorrow.
Supper tonight (would be Jackie’s favourite!! this one)
- Spinach and cream cheese lasagne - but had to agree with
Rod that he can have beans on toast if he bombs out and can't
take the veg, cheese and pasta - all on his favourites list
I understand!! (Our thoughts go out to Rebecca and family
- how do you cater for this man?!!) About to finish my midday
watch and then off all the way through till 0700 tomorrow
-- I shall sleep well I am sure and can’t imagine why
the Kip would want to change that! Hope all are well and love
to Anne and will talk to you later.

Mark
the Cheese
Day
7 - 17th May
Noon Position 25º 43’N 54ºW.
Course 020º true, Speed (Average) 5 knots. Distance run
last 24hours 100 NM. Total distance run 705 NM (total distance
run is from the log and does not account for current). J coming
to you A.
General - We have put a little north into
our track over the last 24 hours to get into better wind,
so far so good. A problem with offshore sailing is the lack
of outside help and chandlers. Last night when we were slipping
into night watches we started to get poor suction on the water
pump, this supplies shower water etc so we value it quite
highly. I decided to sort the problem in daylight, turned
the pump off and went to bed. This morning I went to start
the generator and the high temperature trip cut in, now this
supplies power for the batteries and more importantly power
to the water maker which allows us unlimited water. No problem
I carry spare parts and stripped the relevant parts of the
generator to fit the new part. The damaged part was last changed
prior to leaving Antigua during pre trip maintenance and I
remember using the last part I had, BUT I ordered replacement
spares and stored them. When it came to fit the new part,
the new part was different and did not fit, BUGGER. Therefore
from seven this morning until midday and beyond we have been
cannibalising bits from pumps and making the cooling pump
on the generator work. As I write the generator is merrily
humming away in the back ground, BUT FOR HOW LONG. Do not
worry if we lose the generator we have back up systems for
back up systems on here. As to the poor old water pump with
poor suction from last night, that got bumped below the generator
repair and I am seeing to it now, or at least after this cup
of tea.
UFO Watch - Professor Kookie describes that the aliens
we have above us are probably friendly and only want to observe
and play with us. Rod was definitely on watch on his own last
night but he claims that for at least half an hour something
was there, in the cockpit, playing with him. As a precaution
we now wear ARPs (Alien Rainwave Protectors) on our heads
to stop the aliens from reading our minds. (see photo)
John
here - how did I get suckered in to wearing a tin
foil Brain Protector? Andy's bread was very Christmassy, rose
like Lazarus and unfortunately hasn’t been eaten - only
because we are feasting on other delights, pretzels and olives
and of course spinach and cream cheese pie, (or Baked beans
if you are Carni!). The wind is picking up today (nothing
to do with yesterday’s delights I assure you) and we
are sailing in heavier seas and stronger winds generally -
making life in the fore peak pretty bouncy and sleep difficult
- indeed Carni and I are likening it to being on the big dipper
in Blackpool. Yesterday Kipper went up the mast to do some
work and pics will follow. Mark was daft enough to have a
go too. The rest of us said "non". More news from
the poop deck tomorrow. Love to Anne
Hi,
this is Rod. As the guys have said we have had a
busy 24 hours with Andy doing the vast majority of the work
and the rest of us encouraging him on by saying things like
'Urry up, I want a shower'. This really seems to motivate
him as he always waves his hand in an animated fashion and
says things that I have never heard before but I am sure are
Yachties goodwill phrases. The sea is just what we landlubbers
expect the middle of the Atlantic to be like, long swells
of 10 or 12 feet and 15 to 20 knots of wind. As John says,
when I lie in my bunk on the starboard (right) side forward
then, everytime we bounce off the top of a wave you get a
short period of weightlessness. This is like one of those
rides at the pleasure beach in Blackpool, the problem is it
goes on for hours at a time. Still, this is what we signed
up for! It is my turn to have a night off tonight, in other
words having done the 1.00am to 4.00am watch this morning,
and the 11.00am till 3.00pm watch this afternoon, I can ‘relax’
in my bunk till 7.00am tomorrow, what joy. Rebecca - love
you to bits.

Alien Protection.JPG
Day
8 - 18th May
Noon Position 27º 53’N 52º
5’W. Course 45º true, speed (avg.) 7knots (cooking
on gas). Distance run last 24 hours 180NM. Total distance
run 881Nm (total distance run is from the log and does not
account for current). Wind Force 5 (19knots) Direction SE.
One week at sea. J Bed bad for 1, good for 2 Ax
General - The last twenty four hours has seen us entering
the high system that should carry us for the next week or
so, hopefully all the way into Horta, our original plan seems
to be working and we are pretty chuffed that we are now sailing
well. If our plans work then you will see our daily mileage
a lot higher over the next week in comparison with the first
week. The other good point is that our position is such that
the wind is veering all the time, this means that the wind
direction is moving clockwise i.e. from ENE to ESE and so
on. The changing wind direction gives us a more comfortable
and faster ride, so instead of banging into it as we are at
present we will soon (later today) be going with it. Cool.
Bits that do and bits that don't - The latest 'bit' to have
an identity crisis is the water maker, having checked it all
through it turns out that the capacitor on the lift pump has
blown, question "is this in my list of spares to carry"
answer "it is now". So, though not necessary the
water maker is what allows us the luxury of not managing water
and showering in fresh water daily. Therefore after some thought
I realised that the aircon fan units are fitted with capacitors
and I have spare of those, though not the same size capacitor
who cares, if it works. Guess what - we now have a water maker
again and Ushomi really is a fully functional death star.
The
reason to tell you all this, ocean sailing is not just the
sailing but the care and nurturing of the vessel and all onboard,
a kind of self sufficiency, requiring teamwork and lots of
effort (not to mention the pixies that help at night).
John (et al) look forward to the "cool"
- the ride is quite rough but we are making great progress
and agree its worth it. Andy has been very busy fixing the
generator, the water pump and now the water maker. Seems at
sea everything can go wrong and its all fixable. Today we
caught our first fish a Dorada - see pic, I have filleted
it and cleaned it and Carni is really looking forwards to
supper! (beans again no doubt!!) - anyway we have decided
that whoever guesses its correct length will win a "Ushomi"
T Shirt - so guesses by return e mail please - winner will
be announced tomorrow. Back to me astro navigation now!
Rod here, not much to report today - with
the boat banging about a bit in the heavier seas we are spending
most of our time either in our bunks or on deck in the cockpit,
reading or just chatting. Still no further sign of aliens
but we KNOW they are out there. The gutting and cleaning of
the fish was a highlight (sic) of the day and led our Cheesemaker
to volunteer some organic groundbait so no update from him
today but to all his nearest and dearest he is ok and says
hello. Rebecca, love you lots, speak soon.

How BIG is this fish?
Day
9 - 19th May
Noon Position 29º29’N 49º
60’W. Course 50º true. Speed (Average) 6 knots.
Distance run last 24hours 150 NM. Total distance run 1031
NM (total distance run is from the log and does not account
for current). Wind Force F4 (15knots) direction SE. J pizza
for the cat LAx
General - Another good 24 hours, the motion
is better, people are sleeping and we are cracking along,
not setting any records, BUT moving at a good pace and making
bigger steps towards the Azores. Mark the Cheese is up and
about again and at present studying Navigation theory, Rod
and John are studying Astro theory/practical and I am basically
trying to confuse/distract/and generally disrupt events, cool.
'Oxby's Grand Housy Housy', (see photo) Each day a number
will be issued on the website, simply tick off the boxes and
when you have a line or a FULL HOUSE shout 'housy housy'.
To enter, names to us or David and we will issue numbers as
per the bingo cards we have, then track the daily balls and
dare to win - BIG PRIZES, FUN FOR THE FAMILY, TOP BANANA.
First Prize are the Kippers favourite sailing shorts, they
are severely ripped and will have approx. 15,000 NM under
their belt (options: washed or unwashed). (All items kindly
donated by Chris Horatio Columbus Oxby (potential Laundry
Officer).
Cheesemaker back at sea: well what a day
or so; all started because I got ideas above my station and
decided to go up the mast. That started because Andy had exhorted
us in our daily perambulation, all of 116ft circuit, to observe.
So I observed a deck lamping hanging a bit askew, so the bosun's
chair was called for and delusions of grandeur took over as
I looked down on the crew from a very superior height. This
was a bit foolhardy as they had me by the proverbials - the
rope that held me up. Next mistake was to break a vow that
I would not eat tuna again after reading about the horrific
no. of Albatrosses being killed by the long line fishing that
goes on the S Atlantic. I had some tuna for lunch; tea time
and I was on my knees. No more needs to be said. Rod &
John have been great taking over extra watches and even hanging
out my washing to dry. Washing is done in a bucket on the
floor of the cockpit and is a must other things gets quite
poofy. Many thanks to R & J for their support. I saw a
softer side to our Skippy as he also put me at ease. Whenever
I am unwell in circumstances beyond my control, I just shut
down my system and go quiet for along as it takes; but to
do that on a small boat is a bit of an imposition on the others,
what with watches and duties to perform. Meantime our appropriately
named Skippy (Spiderman) has been heroic and as well as being
up the mast and higher than I went he has to clean seaweed
from our genie; change an impeller; drill some holes to firm
something up. Fixed up Rod’s bunk, he has a waterbed;
I have a diesel bed. Skippy as ever never sits still, I swear
it is all on the revolting blackest PG tips tea you have ever
seen. John and I are holding out on our gentler teas, blackberry
etc. I have found Camomile excellent and even made ginger
with a slice of ginger. What I have seen of the Ocean during
the last few days is quite awesome or in Skippy’s words
f...........ng awesome. Changes of colour, wind direction
which alters the swell we sail through; endless stars at night.
Today we are sailing almost parallel to the swell, which is
fine. It is when we start corkscrewing then it gets uncomfortable.
Beautifully elegant little birds/gull type that literally
float inches above the waves. Lovely sunshine; what more could
we ask for - just brilliant, Mark.
Hi, this is Rod, fresh from a night of no
watches and 11 hours in my bunk. What great fun at the bingo
today, just waiting for 1 more number for my first line and
a win of 2 unboiled, not very fresh eggs. Judging by some
of the smells coming from the cockpit today my fellow sailors
have already won some and cracked em open! With rough seas
the last few days I have used the opportunity this morning
to catch up on my laundry, we look like an old Hong Kong junk
sailing around the middle of the Atlantic, although I think
the extra cloth acreage provided by my T shirts is making
the boat go up to a knot faster. We passed the 1000 nautical
miles travelled at 0710 this morning, a significant milestone
to us and we expect to pass the half way point to the Azores
sometime tonight, so we are as far from land as its possible
to be - unless of course you count the stuff 6 kilometres
away (straight down). I hear that Don and Stella have joined
the site watchers - hi guys, big kiss for Caitlin x. It’s
definitely getting a bit cooler at night now, almost at the
point of wearing long pants but the dawns and sunsets are
fantastic, with the night sky providing lots of entertainment
with lightning shows, more stars than you ever see from land,
fantastic moonlight, its all very moving. OK, off for 40 winks
now as I have 2 night watches tonight 7pm till 10pm, then
4am till 7am. Rebecca, as always thinking of you and love
you. Rod xxxxx.

Housey Housey
Day
10 - 20th May
Noon Position 30º53’N 48º11’W.
Course 45º true, speed (average) 5 knots. Distance run
last 24hours 125NM, total distance run 1160 NM (total distance
run is from the log and does not account for current). Wind
Force F3/4 (10 - 15knots) Direction SE. JLYAAx
General - Distance wise we are half way to
the Azores (having completed 9 days) but we are getting into
better weather all the time and expect the second half to
pass quicker than the first half. Wind has veered around (moved
clockwise) and is now on our stbd quarter, that is the wind
is behind us. We have therefore hoisted the asymmetric spinnaker
and are galloping along at 6.7 knots. The last 24 hours has
been good though not as good as we hoped, we managed to find
a bit of a hole in the wind and hence had to settle for a
125 NM day, BUT the boat motion is fantastic and we are all
in good spirits.
Non Smoking Corner - Feeling good, two days
ago I knew that in the Azores I would mug the first person
I see for a cigarette, now I am not so sure, Mark has been
briefing me on overcoming triggers that I attach with the
evil weed, the only problem for me is that breathing seems
to be a trigger.
UFO Corner - More lights spotted in the night
sky and strange things have started to occur onboard. The
Kipper and John have had a bout of alien induced flatulence
but it seems to have passed now.
Cheesemaker on the rise - Unfortunately Skippy
and John found a packet of dried apricots; as you can imagine
as well having an on board water maker; we now have our own
wind machines!! much to Rod and my chagrin. So Apricots certainly
off the shopping list in the Azores. Another amazing day at
sea; wind weakened a bit so those moments surfing the waves
are few and far between hence the asymmetric sail to give
us a lift. Although I secretly believe that all these "evolutions"
(tasks in non-naval English) seem to arrive just as us three
crew are settling down to read or just beginning to look idle
and now a new evolution. They have now eaten all the cheeses
apart from the goat cheese and we seem to be getting fulsome
praise, which is a credit to all at home, considering the
chiller has a life of its own and temp and humidity were very
high when I arrived in Antigua. Poor Skippy and cigarettes,
we have threaten to tie him to the boat when we hit the Azores;
it will be difficult for him; anybody got an interesting incentive
or indeed penalty should he falter?????
Hi, this is Rod, and to all those cheese
makers in the North East, your cheeses look fantastic, but
have you considered the market for a nice mild cheddar ???
- I have mentioned it to Mark but I don't think he is taking
me seriously. All this sailing certainly changes ones life,
I was showering this morning, leaning forward at 20 degrees
just to stay upright and wondering if I will ever re-adapt
to life on terra firma. My legs and arms have several bruises
(not to mention again my broken toe, sorry Matt I will try
to be more manly) and cooking a meal with the kitchen moving
around constantly brings burns and bruises to areas previously
untouched. Having said all of that, we have been blessed with
good weather so far from the point of view of 'big seas'.
The winds have been either light or ideal at 15 knots (ish),
only for about 36 hours have we had rougher weather and winds
of about 20 - 25 knots. However, we are only one third of
the way through the entire trip, although about half way to
the Azores, and are not counting our chickens yet. On the
Alien front, we are beginning to suspect that our skipper
Andy, who keeps offering to do the 10pm to 1am watch each
night, has a rendezvous with someone who gives him ideas each
day for 'on board bingo' and 'guess the length of John's Dorada'
competitions. These kinds of ideas can not be emanating from
a normal human mind. Also I think they are infusing him with
experimental gases as some of the whiffs we are getting are
definitely not of this world - we will monitor the situation
and report accordingly. As its the weekend, thoughts inevitably
turn to home matters and with the football season over, Cricket
not really going yet and Rugby a bit thin on the ground, I
am glad I am at sea. Love and best wishes to all, especially
all my friends at Telent and ex Marconi (good luck A&K),
big hugs and kisses to N,G&M and lots of love to Rebecca.
R xxxx.

Rod John Mark
Day
11 - 21st May
Noon Position 32º19’N 46º30’W.
Course 50º true. Speed (avg.) 5.6 knots. Distance run
last 24hours 135NM. Total distance run 1275 NM. Distance to
Horta (in Faial) Azores 975 NM. Wind Force F2/3 (5-10 knots)
direction SSW. J MUL Ax.
General - Where has the wind gone, we are
motoring and looking for wind. The last 24hrs saw the high
pressure system to the East of us develop and hence we have
been overtaken by an area of low wind, fear not. We expect
to get back into winds of 15 knots ish later tonight/tomorrow
and that should give us a great spinnaker run to the Azores,
that's the theory. Before you decide to sack me as tactico
and weatherman you must realise EVERYONE is stuck in this
hole, there is no wind to the East or West. As you know, we
stocked up with surplus diesel prior to leaving, this is allowing
us to maintain a semi decent daily mileage. We are sailing
as we can and expect to be doing lots of Asymmetric Spinnaker
work from here to the Azores. For me it is a pleasure to sail
with people who want to put the effort in. It is too easy
to sit back and let things trundle on. The effort in flying
the kite (spinnaker) gives us an extra 1-2 knots in light
winds, this is 24-48 miles per day or approx. 210 miles per
week (that makes the difference of a day and a half extra
per week). The guys onboard are 110%, what more can anyone
ask.
Astro Corner - What is astro navigation,
why should we bother when we have GPS, it is too much like
hard work. These are a few comments banded about regards astronav.
But what is it? Astro is the ability to measure an angle between
the sun and horizon, planet and horizon, or moon and horizon
and then to calculate, using a bit of spherical trigonometry,
a clock and some books, our position on the earth’s
surface. The last big, big step forward for Astro was when
Harrison designed and built the first chronometer, back in
the days of proper warships that were made of wood. But why?
The Mediterranean fleet under the command of Admiral Cloudsley
Shovel had been relieved and was on its way back to England.
A seaman claimed that they were too far North East and in
danger of hitting the Scilly Isles, he was promptly hanged
- as seamen were not allowed to have knowledge of Navigation
(it prevented mutiny). In thick fog the Mediterranean fleet
piled into the Scilly isles at a loss of 1600 souls, Admiral
Cloudsley Shovel managed to crawl ashore, half drowned but
alive. A local hag saw him and promptly finished him off with
a rock and stole his possessions, or so the story goes. The
Admiralty were spurred into action and offered a prize for
the person who came up with the answer to acquiring longitude
at sea. Latitude we can get daily as the sun passes overhead,
no clock needed, but longitude was the key to an exact position.
Harrison eventually won the prize, today the chronometers
cost £5.00 in Woolies (a Casio does the job) but other
than that we are using the same sun, stars and planets as
dear old Nelly on the Victory in 1805. So for me Astro is
a thing of beauty, shooting Dubhe, Betelgeuse, Balletrix and
company. To navigate using this method must be more fulfilling
than getting some numbers off a GPS.
John here - very interesting kipper- thanks
to your excellent teaching skills I am delighted to report
that I was able to get to within 8 miles of our GPS recorded
latitude using sextant and tables so I guess its sinking in
(we’ll say nothing about your calculation on this one
occasion shall we!!??) Last night was the clearest for a few
days and I was on the early watch which meant a very big sky
full of stars and planets - quite scary how small we all are
in the scheme of things. We have seen the occasional other
yacht and a couple of big container ships - but largely we
are on our own out in the ocean. So now we are less than 1000
miles from Azores - so its nice to think that we could be
there for next Sunday - lunch and a beer on dry land without
a sloping table and salt and pepper flying around the cockpit
will be cool. Skippy is cooking Sunday dinner - promises us
rack of ribs, roasties, sprouts carrots and peas of course!
- he is a very capable sailing skipper in my book!! fingers
crossed for dinner. We are now all hoping for some wind -
whilst we are making good progress (135 miles yesterday )a
lot of this is on the engine and we do like the sails up when
we can - so hopefully we will come into wind within the next
24 hours and make progress.
Rod here, this astro navigation background
is very interesting, and it is fascinating to understand the
background, however the skipper is a bit brassed off today
because astro is a relatively inexact science, but accurate
to within a few miles in experienced hands. John got to an
accuracy of 8 miles today, I got 13 and the skipper got.......well
lets say more than either of us. I got 2 miles the other day
but apparently this was ‘lucky’! It is amazing
how time passes by on a trip like this, obviously the watch
system throws everyone's body clocks all over the place but
generally we are all up and about by 9.00am. A cup of tea
and a chat, followed by cleaning the boat and astro navigation
lessons brings us to lunchtime when we generally have a sandwich
using a loaf that one of us has baked that morning. After
lunch we do this web update, download any emails from family
and friends (which are fantastic to receive, keep em coming)
and maybe have a nap if your watch rota allows. We try to
get inner prepared and eaten before dusk, which gets earlier
as we trek east, so then we can have a cup of tea and chat
before night watches kick in. We invariably are saying 'where
did the day go' it even makes the Caribbean pace of life seem
hectic. Tonight is my night off which is great, but unfortunately
means it is time to catch up on my housekeeping, wash my clothes,
bedding, towels catch up on my diary, charge ipod, camera,
sat phone.... gosh life is hectic. As ever, love to all family
and friends and Rebecca. I am thinking of you and miss you
loads.

John
with sextant
Day
12 – 22nd May
Noon Position – to follow! Course 50º
true, speed (avg.) Distance run last 24hours 120 NM, Total
distance run 1400 NM. Distance to Horta (in Faial) Azores
860 NM Wind Force F2/3 (5-10 knots) Direction WSW. J IW2BWUT
Ax
General – Hmmpphh. Lots of motoring,
we are not short of diesel but long periods under engine are
slightly depressing, we are, after all, on a yacht. But needs
must. So what is happening. There is a huge high to the east
of us, the winds are anti-cyclonic (going clockwise around
the centre of the high) and we have been skirting around this
high. Now wind speed is directly proportional to the pressure
gradient within a system, like a walking map the closer the
contours are together the steeper the hill. At present we
have very little change in pressure in our whole area and
hence little wind. BUT, there is a low in the north east that
is moving in our direction, this should 'squeeze' the high
and bring about a higher differential in the pressure, i.e.
more wind. We are expecting this later today/tonight.
Non Smokers Corner - I am happy to report
that Mark the cheese (aka Tommy Trimmer) no longer looks like
a Capstan full strength. I am now finding that I am not thinking
of cigarettes and am confident that I will be able to resist
the urge to smoke in the Azores. The temple that is my body
is now being fed on preserved Apricot. Summer Breeze - I have
had comms from Colin on Summer Breeze; they left Saint Martins
24 hours after us and although his report lacks a lat and
long he appears to be 24 hours behind us. Quite amazing when
you look at the distance we have travelled.
Rod's bit now - not much to report because
as Andy said, we have got no chuffin wind !!!, we are in the
middle of the Atlantic and the wave heights would do little
to disturb the beach at Morecambe. That does not mean we are
looking for big waves, just a bit of breeze. Whilst all this
is happening (or not happening) the weather map shows a large
low over the UK so I am sure you guys are getting all the
breeze we want. On the amazing side of life, yesterday evening
we were sat in the cockpit having a cup of tea and a chat
when Mark spotted two whales about 200 feet from the boat
just ambling along in the opposite direction to us. Now, our
boat is 50 feet long and they were bigger than us!! ... just
a truly amazing sight and they were clearly not interested
in us at all (thank God, because every sea survival story
I have read begins with 'The boat had been hit by a whale....').
Every 10 seconds or so we could see a spout of water from
each of them as they gently swam along. It's easy to become
blasé about some of the amazing things we have seen
on this trip, but that did just stagger this Liverpool lad.
We also spotted a number of items in the water that we thought
were condoms. This produced some ribald comments about the
fact that with no wind someone ahead of us had found a way
of filling their time. When the count of these things had
got passed 10 and we looked more closely, only to find they
were some form of fish with a bladder that the creature could
expand to allow it to float near (or at) the surface. Where
is David Attenborough when you need him? Just for practice,
we raised the asymmetric sail a few minutes ago, only to watch
it collapse through lack of wind and have to stow it again!!!
- depressing. All my love to N, G&M and especially to
the gorgeous Rebecca; am thinking of you and love you. Rod
Cheesemaker at Sea - well we just had one
of those moments we all dread. We have explained something
with great confidence even panache; indeed we are the master
of the moment and our pupils attend to us with open eyed wonder
as they absorb our knowledge and clarity of explanation and
expect the subsequent action to unfold as planned... Well,
we had to change over to the alternative diesel tank to keep
the engine going and of course this in our esteemed skip’s
inexhaustible wisdom is a very very very straightforward procedure.
Oh dear, an hour later, twice engine covers orf on and orf
and on, bleeding diesel we got them going again. So our dear
skip has the proverbial egg on his face. (I have sympathy
with him as I used to have to bleed similar engines and they
can be fickle; indeed at times I even had to light fires under
them to get the diesel to run after v cold frosts). It has
been a boring 24 hours except for the whales. We seem to wallowing
with a cross swell coming from behind and no wind. It even
rained on my watch at 0400hrs a sure sign we are heading toward
northern latitudes. Even Rod our resident minstrel has gone
quiet on us. John stoic as ever sits solidly observing all
whilst Rod and I minister to our wounded skipper and do evolutions
with the asymmetric sail. Fingers crossed for some good wind
in the next 12 hours otherwise I can foresee the dreaded PG
tips being back on my drinking menu.

Mark 'n Mast
Day
13 – 23rd May
Noon Position 34º42N 42º36’W.
Course 65º true, seed 4.8(Ave.). Distance run last 24hours
115 NM, Total distance run 1500 NM. Distance to Horta (in
Faial) Azores 720 NM. Wind Force F2/3 (5-10 knots) Direction
WSW (last 24hrs) now Southerly F4/5 and steady. J ILUsoMitH
Ax
General - Turned off the engine at 1800 last
night and quietly ghosted through the night at 4 knots, waiting
for the wind that we expected sometime in the early hours.
We are now in southerly winds Force 4/5, the boat movement
is slight and we are comfortably sailing at 7-8 knots. The
wind is here at last and we should keep it for the next four
days, this should put us close to the Azores. We are looking
at an arrival on Sunday, though Saturday (16 days) is on the
cards IF conditions remain the same, we shall see. But we
are now heading direct for Faial. Weather - You will no doubt
be quite bored with my daily weather updates. The big question
is where does all this information come from. We have two
main sources of weather when ocean sailing, these are satellite
telephone and weather fax. The sat phone enables me to download
electronic weather charts from Meteo France straight to the
computer, this system is absolutely brilliant and is basically
what the big boys and girls of offshore racing are using (Conrad
Humphries, Ellen Macarthur, etc). The weather now is obvious,
the weather in 3-4 days that guides the boat, as in where
do
we want to be in 3-4 days. Therefore we are planning 3-4 days
in the future, in some cases where do we want to be in 6-7
days. Using sat phones for weather means we can get tailor
made forecasts, specifically to suit ourselves. The weather
fax (see photo) basically picks up weather charts (synoptic
charts) and written information (radio teletype) from the
air waves using an aerial. It is similar to Radio's 1, 2,
3, and 4, the information is sent out as a radio signal, we
tune our weather fax to the frequency and hence receive the
signal. Signals are sent out from all over the world, places
such as Boston, Northwood, Offenbach, Halifax, etc. At present
I am receiving weather from the German Marine Meteorological
Service every day at 0525GMT. The third source of weather
is instinct, based on experience, we all do this, how often
have you heard people say "feels like rain later".
UFO Update (see photo) More lights at night,
more strange goings on. Our weather fax has started to receive
alien messages, we are studying these (using our ABPs for
safety) and will get back to you. No one abducted in last
24hr period. E-Mail from Mel at Straits Sailing (god bless
her) - "There has been a tidal wave in Gibraltar this
weekend - no one was hurt but they are mounting an enquiry
as it seems the cause was a large, hard, white object that
someone had tried to pass off as a loaf of bread being thrown
into the Atlantic. The only thing I have to say is the thing
got here a lot quicker than you all did!"
John here, it is great to be sailing again.
The last 36 hours were somewhat frustrating being under engine
and attempts to get the bigger sails up didn't last long as
the winds failed us time and time again. So fingers crossed
that we are now on a roll. Hope is that we are having steak
chips and beers on Saturday night in Horta. Worst case seems
to be a breakfast blow-out on Monday. The "bread tarts"
are currently doing their thing in the galley (see pic) -
its similar to the Fanny and Jonny show sans the capability
- and big debate between the two is should they add an egg
(our last one) and a spoonful of honey to create something
suitable for Tiffin this afternoon. Time will tell. Anyway,
Andy had the choice of making bread or teaching high level
Astro Nav - Bread it is then Andy. Now we have to operate
on the German weather forecast (Ute will be amused I am sure)
- that well known nearly landlocked hinterland with a great
history as a seafaring nation that is so well disposed to
the British and we get weather from them! - Love to all and
see you soonest.
Cheesemaker sailing - at last we have found
the wind that Andy has been forecasting. last two days were
tedious added to which exhaust fumes (when engine was running!)
coming back over the stern due to astern winds was not very
pleasant. But now we are creaming along doing what we all
came to do; sail an excellent boat across the Atlantic. Skip
now really bullish about our arrival time in Horta and already
talking about departure date. The really important news today
is singularly twofold. John announced he needed another hole
put in his trouser belt and Rod announced he needed a belt.
This of course will have a bearing on the boat's trim but
as we are depleting our stores, fuel etc I suppose a bit of
ballast has to go as well. Andy, you will be pleased to hear,
is putting on weight and I am saying nothing. Starting to
get my head around getting my two certs, day skipper and coastal
whilst Rod & John are doing the Astro thing with a sextant
and the sun, which I enjoy listening in on. Looks like a great
sail today. Mark
Rod here: I get to go last today because
I was making a lunch for everyone that I have to admit I couldn't
eat very much of as it was a spaghetti with tomato based sauce
(I say tomato based coz it had lots of green bits in it) and
those who know me will know why it went largely untouched,
on the bright side my shorts are getting decidedly big for
me. I know a lot has already been said by the guys about the
wind, it is a subject that dominates our lives on a trip like
this - if the wind doesn't blow we sit still (or use the engine,
but we don't have sufficient fuel for the trip), if it blows
too hard we end up reducing the size of the sails (reefing)
and sail slower than we do in medium winds, which is what
we now have today. Ideal winds for this boat are in the range
of 15 - 20 knots, and as I write we have 16.4 knots and are
travelling along at a speed of 7 knots. To put that in context,
the last few days have been winds of 6 to 8 knots, which is
not really enough to move the boat, so we motored along. The
other favourite subject at the moment between John and I is
the first beer in the Azores - after 2.5 weeks on a dry boat,
it will be very welcome.
As Mark doesn't drink and Andy associates a beer with a cigarette,
they tend to ignore our meanderings - but it keeps us amused!
Getting to grips with astro nav, or at least with the maths
involved, still struggling a bit with some of the more advanced
principles but am confident of getting there. No big nature
updates today as the whale watch had a zero day and no new
fish to report. Sat on deck after sunset yesterday with Andy
and could clearly identify a few of the planets, particularly
Mars which is distinctly red to the naked eye out here. Also
spotted and tracked a satellite through the sky which I had
never seen before. As always, love to my wife Rebecca and
my kids N,G&M. Hi to everyone else. Rod.

Weather
fax UFO protection

Master
bakers
Day
14 - 23rd May
Noon Position: 35º33’N 39º36’W.
Course 70º true, speed 6.6 knots(Ave.), distance last
24 hrs 160 NM, total 1670 NM. Distance to Horta (in Faial)
Azores 550 NM, wind: F5 S (last 24hrs). J IMUMEDAx
General - We happy few. The wind is here
and we are trucking, I will even go as far as to say it was
worth the wait. Ushomi is sailing well and life onboard is
comfortable, there is some movement but not enough to interfere
with daily life. It looks like we will have wind to carry
us all the way to Faial.
Time Zones - The world is round and therefore everywhere
has midday at a different time. The sun comes up over our
sceptred isle at 1200 noon. 4 hours later the sun has travelled
over the Atlantic and it is now noon in Antigua. Obviously
the Antiguans want their noon to be at 12 o'clock as this
is the middle of the day, hence we have time zones. Earth
is round and there are 360 degrees in a circle; on each day
there are 24 hours. Therefore the sun moves 15 degrees in
one hour (360 degrees divided by 24 hours = 15 degrees). Greenwich
is adopted as the 0º meridian; 7.5 degrees either side
of Greenwich marks the line between our time zone (TZ 0000)
and the next either side. Therefore heading west from Greenwich,
at 7.5 degrees west you move into TZ +0100, this means you
add one hour to local time to find Greenwich mean time (or
as it is politically relabeled UT for Universal Time). Moving
a further 15 degrees west brings you to 22.5 degrees west
and the next time zone (TZ +0200) and so on. We are at TZ
+0300 and tomorrow will be going to TZ +0200. Due to our position
at present dawn is at 0330 and sunset at 2000. After much
discussion John and Rod in the front of the boat have decided
to stay in +0300. Mark and myself are shifting to +0200, this
means that if you walk from the bow at 1300 you will arrive
in the stern at 1400, therefore it takes one hour to walk
50 feet. John also has a sweepstake running for our arrival
time in Horta. We think he is manipulating Time Zones to ensure
a favourable outcome. (Ed. Are they Mad?)
Rod here, quiet at the back - questions will
be asked shortly - if you understood the above you are a sick
person, if you didn't don't worry it just means we change
our clocks every few days. It gets even worse when you start
doing navigation with a sextant you have to work out the time
where you are to the minute and second - very confusing to
be at UK time less 3 hours 26 minutes and 42 seconds. The
winds continue to be favourable and we are shooting along
with a reef in our mainsail but a full foresail and we are
getting some great sailing. It is amazing the difference in
the mood of the boat, which is much more upbeat when we are
sailing rather than motoring with no wind. Dieticians corner
- help, I am getting sick of pasta!!! We seem to have an endless
supply of the stuff so I plan to chuck it all over the side
during my next middle of the night watch, so that we can revert
to our emergency rations of baked beans on toast - lovely.
Back up plan, perhaps the aliens will like the stuff and take
it as a peace offering (probably start an intergalactic war).
Everyone is looking forward to arriving in Horta for different
reasons. Andy is looking forward to getting spares so he can
play with the boat to his heart’s content. We are all
looking forward to getting laundry done properly, you can
only get things half clean by washing them in a bucket (ordinarily
the bin). John and I are still discussing our first beer at
length. But I guess for all of us arriving in Horta marks
a big achievement of sailing 2300 miles from one tiny island
to another tiny island and not getting lost, drowned, run
over by big ships or eaten by big fish!. As ever, love to
Rebecca, N, G&M (I couldn't think of names for my kids,
so gave them letters instead) and hi to all friends. Rod.

How
deep is it? (5km)
Day
15 - 24th May
Noon Position 36º32’N 36º34’W.
Course 70º true. Ave. speed 7.0 knots. Distance run last
23hours 160 NM. Total distance run 1835 NM. Distance to Horta
(in Faial) Azores 397 NM. Wind F5/6 South (last 24hrs). Food
for thought - we are now slightly North of the straits of
Gibraltar. J atNYareWMinMDAx
General - Another good days mileage, we also
moved forward to TZ+0200 last night so our last days run is
only actually 23 hours. We now have two reefs in the main
and two reefs in the Genoa, in the night we put the second
reef in the mainsail, more for comfort than necessity. Before
reefing we were travelling at 7.5 knots, after the reef 7(ish)
knots, so we have given up a little speed for comfort and
safety, a good trade off. On the maintenance and defect front
the generator impeller has finally failed, the repair lasted
well and nearly got us in. The implications of the failure
are that we cannot make water and we cannot charge the 24
volt battery banks, BUT we are close enough to the Azores
not to have to make water or charge the 24 volt banks. What
we have onboard should see us into Horta without any significant
change in our routine, so showers are still warm, plentiful
and cool, the only change is that I have turned the freezer
off, so Carni should be happy with meals to come. Replacement
stores have already been ordered in the Azores (David contacted
them Monday), so all going well we can repair and proceed.
UFO Corner – A strange glow was seen
coming from the Generator in the night, could the failure
be connected with our alien host. At the same time a strange
mist emanated from the kippers cabin through the dark hours.
John here: we made great progress these last
few days and are looking to get into Horta on day 16 - which
we will do if the wind holds and we think it will. AstroNav
is getting done and we are getting better at it - we don’t
really need it with GPS etc to track but were the electrics
to fail we could find our way home still using astro. On the
food front we hid the fish in with a load of potato, called
them fish and potato cakes and Rod ate two! Well he can’t
have B/beans every day. Apricot Andy has given up the dried
fruits due to oxygen deficiency in the Atlantic that caused
a massive depression and now he's looking for alternatives
to assist in warding off the cigarette dependency - silver
helmets didn’t work and nor did the bingo idea. So we
are now thinking of rolling up a kitchen towel, filling it
with tealeaves and letting him drag on that.
Cheesemaker bouncing about: it has been an invigorating
48 hours, with today’s seas as I write this highest
at up to 30ft top to bottom. Ushomi rides these beautifully
it is just the roll that can get stomach churning. Saw two
schools of dolphins: one at 0500hrs and then another 0700.
Very graceful and by the size of them a family based with
little and small ones. Diving and jumping all over. Our progress
is now on target for Skippy original prediction; that of course
is why he is the skipper.... I try to do my studies but find
reading and concentrating difficult. Shortage of sleep does
not help although the irritating metronome type squeak seems
to have gone which is great. Looking forward to Horta and
getting my hair cut.

Mer Pass(?)
Day
16 - 26th May.
Noon position 37º 26’ N 33º
51’ W. Course 75º true, speed ave. 6.0 knots. Distance
run last 23 hours 140 NM. Total distance run 1995 NM (we changed
clocks again last night to get into time with the Azores.)
Distance to Horta (in Faial) Azores 257 NM. Wind F6/7 South
(last 24hrs). Now abating, at present South F4. J IWLUA Ax.
General: strange days, a good days run BUT
a horrible day’s run. Yesterday was overcast and grey,
our first grey day. We were expecting the low system passing
to the north to give us slightly more wind and cloudy weather
but expecting it and liking it are two different beasts. Although
the wind picked up a bit it was never uncomfortable, just
a nuisance. The sea played its part as well and for the first
time we have had waves slapping into the cockpit, making the
cockpit not a good place to relax. Therefore we all spent
the day moping around, feeling sorry for ourselves, and generally
wishing for it to pass. As expected today has seen the clouds
clearing slightly, the sun has poked its head out and we are
all happy bunnies again. Joy - day in history - I have just
received an e-mail from my Dad, Mick. This is no special event
I hear you say BUT it is the first e-mail he has ever sent.
So now he is equipped to follow my rantings as I sail the
globe, is that good or bad? By the way mate, thanks, you do
not realise how important e-mails are to us, love Andy. Another
day to come very soon (Monday 30th May) is that my Sister
Sara, brother in law Sean, nephew Joss and niece Alex are
emigrating to New Zealand, due to being on the wrong side
of the Atlantic I have not seen them since September and managed
to miss their leaving party. Obviously by the time I get to
Spain they will be setting up home in NZ. Sean and I happened
to join the Royal Navy on the same day, we became mates, we
joined the submarine service, he met Sarah at a family party
and the rest is history. Therefore guys I promise to call
on Sunday, I am so sorry that I have not seen you but you
all know that my love is out there with you. I'm going to
miss not having a big sis around and who am I going to spin
dits with now mate. Joss, remember you do not support the
All Blacks and Alex, beware of young NZ boys (in a year or
two).
Cheesemaker rolling along: well we had a
an exciting early hours after my watch: Rod and Andy had to
bring in the final reef as the wind got to gusting 30 knots
(near gale) which was making sailing (and sleeping) uncomfortable
for all. Yesterday was a crappy day all-round, we were all
tired, we are moving clocks forward an hour a day as we approach
Horta in the Azores. Trouble once we know land is within a
measurable amount - say two days - we just want to get there
and start imagining hot showers, croissants and decent coffee
as starters; then the brain moves onto a meal and I have to
say that I would follow our carnivore's example and have a
steak. So trying to stay in the moment and on board here is
the objective today. Studying going a pace but will little
fresh air in saloon I find being "inside" a bit
uncomfortable in these waves. The pills also make me sleepy
and not able to concentrate easily, which is nothing new!!!
Saw more dolphins. Nights have been a bit clouded over and
sunsets not so spectacular.
Hi, Rod here: to our regular readers who
noticed I did not contribute to yesterdays update, sincere
apologies. The human psychological effects of a trip like
this are interesting. In normal everyday life, if things are
a bit slow or the weather is awful, we go off and find something
else to do to give us a lift. As the guys have already said,
yesterday was poor weather, uncomfortable boat motion, boring
because we couldn't do our normal things like astro navigation
(no sun to look at through a sextant), but there is no ability
to go and do other things, so one tends to become a bit morose
and introverted. So when it was time to do yesterday’s
update, it was easier to skip it on the basis of nothing new
to say - again apologies. We are forecasting arriving in Horta
(Azores) sometime early Sunday morning, and leaving sometime
early Tuesday morning so there is lots to do whilst we are
there with not much time to do it. We need to re-provision
the boat, particularly with fresh foods (our vegetable stock
is a little rotten by now and we spend most of our time after
peeling a potato cutting all the bad bits out), we need to
get spares and conduct repairs to a few bits of the boat,
refuel, eat, drink (a bit) and sleep an entire night without
getting up to do a watch, and without the boat moving through
30 degree angles. Nature watch - we are regularly getting
dolphins surrounding the boat now, particularly at dawn and
dusk. They are amazing as they swim along with the boat and
then surge forward to leap across the bow of the boat just
in time to avoid getting run down. They seem to enjoy it and
almost line up one after the other to have a go. Dieticians
corner - we keep finding more pasta - Help!!!. As always,
lots of love to my beautiful Rebecca and to N, G & M.
Love you all and will phone you from Horta.

Dolphins
approaching Azores
Day
17 - 27th May (TZ +0100)
Noon 38º 6’N 30º 34’
W. Course 74º true, ave. speed 6.9 knots. Distance run
last 24hours 165 NM. Total distance run 2151 NM. Distance
to Horta (in Faial) Azores 95 NM. Wind F4 SE. J LNIDTweWTA
Ax
General - Another stunning days sail, the
wind is now dropping off as expected and we are ghosting along
in flat waters at 5 knots. Rod has a 10p bet with John regarding
what time we will sight land, he isn't too chuffed with the
reduced boat speed as it looks like he will be 10p down. We
expect to be in Horta in the early hours tomorrow, around
0400-0600. That will mean a trip of 16.5 days, which is far
quicker than any of us dared to hope for, (we have now completed
16 days and are starting our 17th day). In the night we sighted
two yachts, one astern and one to stbd, we are all tracking
each other and the bearings and distances have now remained
the same for the last 12 hours, looks like we may be fighting
for the last berth in the marina. Kippers desire - when we
berth Ushomi we will obviously fall out of sea going watches,
this will be the first time in 16/17 days that no one is being
latish in the cockpit. There will be a few tasks before we
relax, wash and fold and bag the mainsail, wash the foresail,
wash the decks (with a hose and sudso), clean, Hoover and
wipe down internal cabins and get the laundry in (yes there
is a Sunday service). This should all be done and complete
by 12 ish. The boat looks after us so we look after the boat.
Then I think I am going to go ashore, phone Jane, do e-mails,
and then go to bed for an unmolested, long sleep. Wake me
with tea sometime late the next morning!
Foodie Corner - Due to the fact that Rod
has been eating food that he would normally pass on we are
going to treat him for lunch, Bacon, Sausage, Mashed Potato,
Alphabet Spaghetti, Baked Beans in Tomato sauce and of course,
a little haddock.
Rod here: I may be a little paranoid but
I am now convinced we have slowed down so that I lose my bet!!!
- it could be a nautical conspiracy (actually the wind has
died down to 10 knots but the conspiracy theory is much better
sport). My iPod is now on duty for most of the night as both
John and Andy have become converts, particularly of the video
section with Sheryl Crowe singing 'The first cut is the deepest'
- no idea why. Our biggest problem now is keeping it charged
sufficiently and we have reverted to the solar charger, isn't
technology wonderful.
Nature watch - Whilst on watch from 1.00am to 4.00am
last night with a very clear sky I saw my first meteor shower
- very cool, and then this morning saw a load of dolphins
in a feeding frenzy just near the boat, very David Attenborough.
2nd Foodie Corner - Last night we did an inventory
of our fresh vegetables, and discovered we didn't have any!!!
All the potatoes, carrots and turnips went over the side (completely
rotten, memo to self - don't buy fresh veg in St Maarten again),
and in fact the only survivors were about 6 huge onions, typical.
It is quite possible that I will be stood outside the first
available cafe in Horta tomorrow morning at 6.00am waiting
for it to open before putting in an order for 4 breakfasts,
all of which will be for me. Must go now, I smell land - and
the riches of winning a bet. Love to my lovely Rebecca will
phone from Horta. I hope N & G have manageable hangovers.
Rod.
Cheesemaker at Sea: well I have plotting
bearings, measuring distances all in the excitement of getting
close to land. I am to be entrusted with bringing Ushomi into
Horta, and it is likely to be in the early hours so it could
be just night. If that it is the case then I must know the
difference between red and green lights plus 2 second flashes
or 5 second flashes, other wise a harbour wall might just
appear at the wrong moment!! Just done my 1st VHF call to
a container ship that came by; as it turned out heading for
Puerto Rico. Bit nerve-wracking getting the protocols and
procedure correct. Just for the record "over and OUT"
is bad form. Over being sufficient. More dolphins today. We
have had one boat ahead and one astern for the last 12 hours.
I think we are winning against the one astern but lost to
the one ahead. So this time tomorrow 1300 hours we should
be in Horta eating a sit down lunch with no movement under
us.
And finally John here: can honestly say that
there is no real conspiracy to ensure we spot land later than
sooner but one has to put it down to good judgement - I am
also fully expecting to win the total numbers of days at sea
bet and also Black Maria too. Rod I feel for - he is so desperate
to see land first he is about to go up the mast - after all
that cholesterol for lunch we are talking him out of it for
his own good. Anyway as you can tell we are all looking forward
to terra firma in a few hours time. Meanwhile chores at sea
continue and the sail trimming must be maintained - with yachts
fore and aft we do not want to lose any ground so Tommy the
trimmer has his work cut out. The wildlife has been good too.
Dolphins in great numbers and last night a flock of petrels
following the boat for a few miles and playing with the boat
as the sun goes down just like the dolphins do. Looking out
for land ahead!

Rod's
vigil
Day
17 (still) - 28th May (TZ +0000)
Alongside Horta Marina, Faial, the Azores. Distance travelled
2231 NM. Total time St Maarten - Horta - 16 Days and 18 hours,
blooming good trip. J - SMyD - Ax
General - Here we are feet dry on European Turf,
or at least European owned (Portugal) Turf. Sorry for the
delay with this but we have been busy rubbing, stowing, tidying,
getting laundry off, and generally putting a bit back into
Ushomi. We are all absolutely exhausted and the thought of
a good night’s sleep is a tonic in itself, whether we
can all actually sleep all through depends to be seen. We
are looking at leaving Tuesday am, that is if we can get a
few bits and pieces tomorrow. Rod has gorged on unhealthy
food and we have all stretched our legs on terra firma. John
is snoring up fwd and Mark is currently doing a bit of Egyptian
PT in the port aft cabin and I am here attempting to write
something interesting (and failing). But it is good to be
here, it means we are a lot closer to home and our loved ones.
John writes: nice to be on land. Sunday in
Horta was relatively quiet and Rod and I held out till 12
hr 09 mins 17 secs before we had our first beer in 17 days
- we managed to then hold out till 12 hr 10mins 17 secs before
we had only our 2nd beer in 17 days. The afternoon meant a
well-deserved sleep and then dinner on a non-sloping table
was a nice change. We all went carnivore for the evening and
writing this on Monday morning I think the sleep and food
(we had been without fresh veg for several days as Carni reported)
has refreshed us all and we are going about getting the boat
repaired (nothing serious that a few impellers and blocks
won't solve). The lads from Summer Breeze arrived on Sunday
too and it was good to catch up with them all. "Scotland"
didn't even try to give up the smokes, Pete tried and after
his cigars ran out on day 6 was cadging smokes off Scotland
the rest of the trip (so well done Andy for staying the course!).
Ushomi also wins the fishing contest with the monster from
the deep we showed you the other day. SB claims to have been
smashed on two rods concurrently (regular fishermen will recognise
this as a post event rationalisation and realisation: that
one line had caught the other) - and they didn't record even
a sprat - sorry guys you either produce the goods or concede
defeat. Some of the SB guys have been good boys and done their
astro work so the Admiral on their boat is happy with some
and less so with others! Back on Ushomi we will bet on anything
- so despite Carni loosing substantially (pride not dosh -
don't worry Becca you still have the house!!) on the timing
of the first sighting of land he double or quitted on which
side of the boat would be alongside in Horta - which muggins
here forgot was at stake as I put the starboard side alongside
the harbour wall (with I might add consummate skill that had
the guys from the Uruguay wishing they could "kiss"
the dock so sweetly). So all square on the betting front.
Rod and I are skippering the 1000 miles passage back to Soto
with Andy acting as owners’ rep and first mate. So we've
sent the first mate off to get some blocks and other shippy
things we need. Later he will be swabbing the deck and packing
up the dinghy while the skippers have a cuppa - in our new
mugs we are buying later I hope - on the poop deck. Seriously
though we are getting the boat ready and thereafter we will
be making sure we get back in to Soto for around the 7th/8th
June all in good shape. About to get the provisions from the
supermarket for the next passage - no onions needed - in fact
if anyone wants some we seem to have a lot left thanks to
Carni! He's been very good though he tells us and has indeed
eaten most of what we have produced - but he does seem always
to have his eyes firmly shut and a peg on his nose at dinner
times. So we will leave Horta about 0900 tomorrow bound for
San Miguel. A 24 hour passage before striking out to Spain.
Finally I report that Mark has just splashed out 3 euros on
a haircut – mmm - very smart - nice when it gets finished
mate!!
Rod here: most of the above is true, the
regret factor of losing the first major bet was a difficult
thing to live with. My depression lasted all of 60 seconds
until I came up with the double or quits wheeze - easily sold
to a man on the high of just having won 10p, yes guys the
bet had been 10p, I know it was rash but I am seeking counselling.
That said, the overall bet of the passage had been over how
long the trip would take from the Caribbean to the Azores.
Yours truly had been very confident on 18 days, with my fellow
buccaneers surrounding me with bets ranging from 17 to 19
days (half-day increments were allowed). However, thanks to
our Rhumb line routing and good winds over the last 4 or 5
days we achieved an actual time of 16.75 days. Strangely,
5 days out our wily skipper decided to 'buy' a second guess
of 16.5 days and turned out a worthy winner. However Jane,
don't go ordering a villa in the sun on the strength of the
win - the scale is not much more than the 10p bet, but could
get you half a lager on a sunny day in Soto. It has been great
to be on dry land, not so much because of the sailing, but
more because it gives us a chance to reorder our lives and
ourselves. Within half an hour of docking yesterday, a very
enterprising local businessman drove his van down the jetty
and parked beside us. On the side of his van were the words
'Laundry Service'. With incredible speed we all went below
and stripped all dirty washing from our cabins, all our bedding,
towels, clothing we were wearing, everything went into a big
pile of bin bags and then over the side into the back of his
van. 6 hours later it was back, clean, dry and unsmelly -
fantastic. Also having an upright, unmoving, boat has enabled
us to clean everything down. Obviously on a trip like this
everything is caked in salt so when you touch ropes or decking
you end up with sticky smelly hands. So lots of fresh water
yesterday hosing everything down, and today we will concentrate
on cleaning below decks. Small details, but you wouldn't believe
the improvement it makes to our daily existence. Finally of
course, we get a stable boat to carry out our minor repairs
that everyone is mucking in with. Also managed to speak with
my wife and kids via my mobile rather than the satellite phone.
That cheered me up no end, as having a proper conversation
is much easier when sitting at a bar table rather than sitting
on the deck of the boat getting soaked as the waves bounce
over the boat. Must go, lots to do if we are to set off again
tomorrow. As always love to Rebecca and the kiddiewinks. Rod
Andy back again: no alien events other than
there being a large earth radio receiving station on the hill
above the marina, this has interfered with the weather fax
and leads us to believe that there is more to the 'innocent'
Azores than meets the eye. Think on, our sightings and molestations
have increased as the trip went on and our distance to the
Azores decreased. We showed Summer Breeze our alien technology
brain wave protectors and Colin sat stunned for 10 minutes
in silence (I think he realises he should have thought of
this). Anyway the mood on Ushomi and Summer Breeze is upbeat.
Things are happening and we are all digging out, SB has damage
to Mainsail and Genoa which is being fixed as we write, I
am happy to report to the Bosses, that so far all are sails
are intact and working well. In fact Ushomi is once again
a fully functioning 'DEATH STAR'. Talking of which we have
all being practicing our Jedi mind controls (these are not
the Droids we are looking for...).
Cheesemaker at the grass: the sight of green
fields makes me wants to take my shoes off and walk in the
fields; to touch to feel mother earth, it is very powerful
than even a council grass cutting machine was not safe! Am
going to take a taxi up the hill and walk through some fields,
see cows and sheep close up; strange it is almost visceral;
I suppose not unusual for an ex-farmer and somebody who has
essentially worked with his hands. I am trying to be sensitive
and the carnivores are drilling our chopping board with no
sensitivity at all! Rod and I had a good breakfast eschewing
the chips, strange how they pale so quickly. I was never one
for greens and salads but last night the sight of lettuce
and tomatoes was great. So I dug in - as Andy would say. I
had my hair cut today for princely sum of £2 which better
than John's posh one for £20 in the Caribbean. The hair
dresser spoke little English and when I sat down she brandished
the sort of electric shears I remember as being school barbers
- oops poor choice - survival instinct kicked in and after
a bit of gesticulation I was able to convince her I felt like
a sheep about to be shorn!! This I think got to her sense
of pride and professionalism and either I was going to have
my ears clipped or she would do a decent job, which she did
the latter. It has a strange feel to this place, transient
probably best describes it; like us; on our journey; here
today gone tomorrow........................

Alongside Horta, Faial

The Pontoon artwork!
Day
18 & 19
Position
- Horta, Faial, Azores
Update: did I say that Ushomi is now a fully
functional Death Star? She nearly is would be better. The
Generator impeller problems were resolved or so we thought.
On stripping the pump in order to find out why the problems
were occurring I found damage in the water cooling pump, this
left two options, Sail or get a new part. After investigation
we found a new pump could be here Wednesday 31st, after a
team discussion and calls to David in Spain it was decided
to carry out a full repair and sail on Wednesday afternoon/evening.
So the bottom line is that we sail 30 hours later than thought,
BUT it turns out that the weather is better if we delay and
we should still get to Sotogrande pretty much as expected.
We also have the opportunity to rest and explore Faial. So
far we have been busy putting some love into Ushomi and to
be honest the extra time is good for minds and bodies, after
two nights in port we are still not quite caught up with sleep.
We have met a variety of people on different boats and the
passage times for the crossing from the Caribbean have varied
from 7.5 days to 26 days, so our 16.75 (we count decimals)
days is a good effort. The couple taking 26 days swear that
they were at sea for 18 days, somewhere they lost 8 days,
it makes you wonder as the standard reported time for Alien
abductions is 7-9 days. We are about to embark on Voyage of
Discovery, we are being driven to a hopefully deaf Volcano
for a walk and some sightseeing and Mark 'The Big Cheese'
has somehow organised for us to visit/break into the local
cheese makers’ gaff. John, Rod and Myself have asked
for sensible and intelligent questions to ask Mr and Mrs Cheesemaker.
This is in an attempt not to embarrass Mark. We have also
promised to behave, comb our hair and wash our faces before
our visit. News on the visit to follow.
Cheesemaker on tour: funny thing about us
"cheesies" we seem to smell each other from a far.
It is friendly fraternity just a pity not got anything to
bring. It is such a beautiful island could easily fall in
love with. If this was in West Highlands with its climate
it would be a no brainer as Andy would put so simply. I am
starting to get the vernacular ... I have found a whaling
museum that I am going to visit am tomorrow. Educating these
carnivorous philistines is an up hill struggle, but it is
clearly my "purpose" on this part of life's journey!!
Really nice to have fresh salads again.
Day
20
Position - Horta - still
Bad news hombres, the bit from Lisbon, he no come.
Whata mistaka to maka. Apparently the flight was absolutely
toppers and there was no room for extra cargo (we seem to
be extra not normal), good news, it will be here at 1600 tomorrow
(1st June) we dearly hope and pray it will. We have been led
to believe that the specific reason the part was not loaded
was that there was a large cheese order made late yesterday,
by a visiting group of yachtsmen at the cheese factory ! We
are all pretty peeved off but have accepted that we are powerless
to do anything and God obviously did not want us to leave
today. To all those waiting for us all I can say is that we
are doing everything we can to go and we all miss you dearly,
if you were here you would see that in an instant. You will
all obviously be on tenterhooks reference our day trip yesterday.
I will let the others go into that but I will divulge that
Cheese, Volcanoes and Cheese played major parts. For me it
was a tophole day and it was a real tonic to get away and
relax, even if it was for only a few hours.
Cheesemaker at home: time is standing still here
a bit as we vacillate about leaving or not; of course it is
not really in our hands as Andy explains above. In a way we
are ready and keen to go, indeed home, but maybe we will get
better wind through this enforced delay. The trip yesterday
was a great success, the driver helpful and well informed.
The lady at the cheese factory was charming and was a mine
of information about prices, costs etc. They use about 10
times as much milk as we do, making a sort of washed curd
standardised fat cheese and making a lot of butter as well.
The whey being fed back to the animals; quite self-sufficient.
The whole price for the cheese made my eyes water with pain
and the cost of milk is high; so they are squeezed at both
ends although it is a farmers cooperative like Long Clawson
and clearly very important to economy. Cows are just milked
in the fields and the milk collected in collection points
around the island. The visit and walks to the extinct volcanoes
were illuminating about the power of nature on land. A whole
new section of the island was created in 1958. Today I wandered
off to the old whaling factory which was fascinating. Almost
Dickensian, it was a highly efficient production line requiring
a whale to arrive daily at 8am; with or without their consent!
Although I expressed my views about Tuna before I felt no
revulsion for what the factory did, (it stopped in 1974).
It employed 30 people in each 2 hour shift in the factory.
The harpooning was still being done by hand spear and the
whale spotting being done by binoculars from the look outs
around the coast. Today the whale continues to provide much
needed revenue with plenty of boats available for "Whale
Spotting". (My Robertson ancestors had a whaling fleet
in Dundee in the mid-1800's so I suppose I was just that bit
extra curious.) Rod kindly bought the Sunday Times and so
we have caught up a bit of the latest at home, though don't
think we have missed much; of course the earthquake in Indonesia
is close to people here as Azores sits on THE major fault
in the mid Atlantic. I think we are putting weight again,
good food and not much work so we need a taxing sail and a
quick flight home to show off our new found svelte torso's.
Sparky (Andy) has fixed lights, which means we might now see
what we are cooking instead of just taking it on faith from
the chef of the day! And Rod (our self-styled plumber) has
put up the most beautiful paper towel holder, which I am reliably
informed is self-leveling. What more can a self-respecting
galley want!
John says: it was pretty good yesterday up
in the volcanoes. We saw three and even walked to the top
of one and round the rim! Anyway, tradition has it here in
Horta that crossing boats leave a painting on the dock to
celebrate and record the event and the dockside is covered
in these paintings which range from the obscure and pathetic
to the most artistic and grandiose. You couldn't do it in
England without getting arrested for posting graffiti. Anyway
with all the time in the world today due to all this downtime
we have I was motivated to turn my hand to leaving Ushomi's
mark on the island - you can see the picture tomorrow as today's
limit of 2 pics is taken up already - sorry for that. Even
if I say so myself I was quite pleased with how it turned
out. Nice to chill yesterday and this morning - but then very
disappointing news that having waited for the delivery today
it won’t arrive and that we can't leave for yet another
24 hrs -- still not much we can say beyond wait and hope it
arrives tomorrow. Hopefully we can still get home around the
8th/9th June seems to be the consensus based on the weather
we are seeing forecasted. We may do a half day bike trip in
the morning to see some more of the island and help with the
fitness side as it is surprising how inactive you become on
a boat. That apart not a lot to report today.
Rod
here: bringing up the rear today. Enough has been
said about the disappointment of not leaving today, we are
all really enjoying the trip and the sailing but this hanging
about is getting everybody a wee bit frustrated and we are
all keen to return the boat to Spain and jet off to our loved
ones. We decided to use our enforced day of rest yesterday
as just that - a rest day, so off we went on a guided tour
of the island. It’s amazing how places like this in
the middle of nowhere have a fully developed industry and
community: Although our guide explained to us that most of
the youngsters who go off to university in Lisbon fail to
return which is obviously damaging to the long term future
of the islands. The people at the cheese factory were extremely
courteous, but somewhat mystified that four English Yachties
had turned up and wanted to see their factory (I suspect not
many people ask to go!!), in fact our guide did a bit of a
double take when Mark told her how keen we all were see it,
so I later quietly asked her how many people before us she
had taken and, after some demanding mental arithmetic, she
confirmed it was none. The visits to the volcanoes were also
interesting, but by the time we got back we were all a bit
knackered again. So we had dinner on the boat and strolled
up to Peter's Sports Bar for a bit of the stuff that makes
you feel like you are back at sea again. Today we have been
busily preparing the boat again (we only found out our part
wouldn't come in at noon) so water tanks have been filled,
new lights installed, more minor broken bits repaired, the
tender has been thoroughly cleaned and restowed, and the boat
is clean, so when our part arrives we can spend an hour fitting
it and go. The weather debate is on again, the majority of
people we talk to are saying later is better for the trip
from a wind point of view. There is apparently a Low coming
in which could provide bigger waves and strong winds on the
passage to Spain, so the decision is do we take a course to
avoid it, wait till it passes and ride the back of it, or
just go for a direct line and put up with it. Whatever we
do will be the safe option, we are here for pleasure not trying
to break world records or win races, and keen as we are to
get home, we want the boat and us to have a good passage.
So, to my family, you can be sure that I will be home as quick
as I can. I love you and am thinking of you lots. Now off
to Peters bar for a cold beer. Sayonara

Cheesy business!

On
top of a Volcano
Day
21 - 2nd June (TZ +0000)
Noon 38º 26ºN 26º 59’W.
Course 90º true, ave. speed 7 knots, distance run since
2000 last night 106 NM, Total distance run 2357 NM. Distance
to Sotogrande, Spain 1050. Wind Force F6 SE. J I'm coming
my love Ax
General: well after some delays we have got under
way and at present are blitzing slightly off course towards
Europe, Hussah! We are slightly north of track due to wind
direction, this should change over the next few days. For
the first time we are doing a bit of bouncy sailing, bow up,
bang, bow down, though it is easing a little bit as we move
on. There is a big depression west of the Azores, it is slowly
moving to cover the island group and then staying stationary
for a few days, so the further you get East from the Azores
the better. We are of the opinion that boats still in Horta
now will probably remain until Tuesday or Wednesday. The other
big indicator was the quantity of boats leaving yesterday,
a lot more than other days. So we are well and expecting good
mileage for two more days, then it looks as if we will be
depending on Mr Volvo again - we shall see. More to come tomorrow
John's Artwork at Horta pontoon
Day
22 - 3rd June (TZ +0000)
Noon 38º 20’N 24º 35’
W. Course 100º true, ave. speed 7 knots, distance run
last 24 hours 115 NM, total distance run 2469 NM, distance
to Sotogrande, Spain 990NM, Wind F4 NNE. J 1WkaWwillbTAx
General - A funny 24 hours have passed, as
you may have surmised from the briefness of yesterday’s
dit, we were a bit busy. Indeed we have burst out of the Azores
for a very good reason: there is a big depression coming and
it has sat itself above the west Island group (Faial). Therefore
we believe that as predicted anyone in Horta is being battered
and will not be going anywhere for a while. We have not had
it too bad, but we have been tired with the continual effort
required to sail in moderate conditions. Overnight the wind
died away and we had to motor, although noisy this allowed
us all to sleep and recuperate. At this time we are scudding
along at 7.5 knots in a beautiful force 4 wind, shame we know
it is to drop away later. It is wonderful to be on our way
again, Horta was great but unfortunately the people we love
are not there.
Rod here: fresh from a very long sleep (by our standard)
of 6 hours. I am the only member of the crew who has a single
bed. All the way across from the Caribbean to here we have
been on a starboard tack, that means that when the boat is
heeled over I am being rolled out of my bed on to the floor.
Then last night the wind shifted and we went onto the other
(port) tack and I am being rolled into my bed and against
the side of the boat - heaven, and 6 hours sleep. As Andy
said we had a bit of the kind of sailing we signed up for
in the last 24 hours which gave us a bit of a bumpy ride,
however the biggest inconvenience is that we got very wet.
That is ok except that it is impossible to dry things out
here at the moment, particularly our oilskins. So when you
put them back on for the next watch, the dry clothes you have
put on get wet as well. The temperature is quite cool considering
we are on the same latitude as Southern Spain - more like
a nice mild autumn day in the UK, so drying things on the
rail as we did between the Caribbean and the Azores is not
an option. We are hoping for things to get a bit warmer as
we get nearer to the Portuguese coast, perhaps next Wednesday
or Thursday. If we can’t get any washing and drying
done, make sure you are not sat next to me on the plane home
next weekend! We have covered 240 miles since leaving Faial
and we can still see the island of San Miguel off our starboard
side, which shows the extent of the Azorean islands next stop
Spain. As always, I send my love to my lovely Rebecca - I
miss you and am thinking of you, and hello to my kids N, G
& M looking forward to seeing you soon. xxxxx
John here: it’s certainly good to be back under
sail again and making progress home - we have got 20% of this
passage completed the e.t.a. Spain seems like its next Saturday
all things being as we expect and if I can get a flight back
then I shall look forwards to seeing Anne et al and to a Sunday
roast and pint of Ringwood best down the J'OG - have they
sold the Crown yet? So we are settling down to a nice sail
today and then expect there will be some lighter winds before
we face all that the Straits can throw at us Easterly before
we get home. See you next week.
Day
23 - 4th June (TZ +0000)
Noon 38º 14’ N 21º 36’ W. Course
90º true (best course to wind), ave. speed 6.2 knots,
distance run last 24 hours 150 NM, total distance run 2619
NM: to Sotogrande, Spain 820NM, Wind F4/5 ESE. J LYmyD,KtheBWAx.
General: a bumpy night, good boat speed and generally
good direction but on the whole we are laying down the miles.
Last night was spent beating in 30 knot winds, we have been
in these winds before so no problem BUT, the wind was on the
nose so it means that the boat rides up and up, then comes
down and slaps the water with a bang. So far so good, the
problem for the crew is that the innocent slap is also like
a drum being beaten, we the crew are inside said drum, say
no more. The guys forward in Business class also get advanced
classes in weightlessness, similar to Thunder mountain, Alton
Towers and Blackpool Pleasure Beach all thrown together, but
the ride doesn't stop. Cool! To venture into the cockpit in
these lovely conditions requires some preparation, from being
shook I first put on clean underwear, as Mother always insisted.
Next comes thermal leggings and vest (I have been in tropics
for 6 months, this is cold for me), then sailing trousers
and a standard T-shirt. Next is a fleece top and a body warmer
on top of that, then foul weather gear, first leggings and
then jacket. The whole ensemble is then topped off with a
natty hat and sexy breathable boots and I am ready to go.
Toilet stops require some advance notice and forward planning.
One note on our kit, sailing gear nowadays is breathable,
this means that the fabric stops water getting in BUT allows
moisture from our bodies to ventilate out, this means we do
not sweat as mariners through the ages always have in this
kit, its brill. Someone once said that in these conditions
we are outside of our comfort zone not outside the safety
zone - I think this is a brilliant description. And may I
say we have a bloody good team on here. Given the choice to
change, I would change no one. Note on the trip - tomorrow
night (four days out of Horta) we expect to be half way BUT
the wind is dying so we are looking at a Saturday finish,
in time for the England game (I do not watch football but
some do, I understand).
Equipment Corner - We do have some minor
defects to report but nothing really bad. The generator fresh
water cooling system has a very small leak, this requires
topping the fresh water cooling every day, I believe that,
although a different system to the sea water cooling system,
the leak is a direct result of our earlier problems. The other
problem is the control head for the Autopilot (called George).
George is the fifth person on board. He steers the boat for
us and basically gives us an easy life. George failed yesterday
and I immediately stripped the control head, after an hour
I got him working again but in the night we lost the ability
to alter course, therefore we are sailing towards Gibraltar
and the only way to change course is to turn George off and
adjust course manually, we do not know if George will then
come back on, so we are leaving well alone at present. To
those who worry, the most common failure on a sailing vessel
is the Autopilot. Summer Breeze does not have the battery
capacity to use Autopilot when sailing so they have manually
steered all the way from St Maarten. The problem with George
appears to be a loose connection. When we have more stable
weather and a drier boat I think we can effect a full repair.
To those who ask how these faults affect us, they wear us
down and do depress us, as we get one sorted there seems to
be another waiting in the wings, BUT that is ocean sailing
and we have not had any serious breakdowns as yet (touch wood).
Believe it or not we are actually doing quite well.
John here: well, I never did like the rides
at Alton Towers etc but Andy is right it’s bloody uncomfortable.
In fact Rod and I think we can now sleep anywhere just about
and the lesson is get first choice of berth next time - (stern
cabins are sweet by comparison the Cheesemaker can testify
to that!). We are eating ok despite the swell and boat movement
and a somewhat hot under the collar Rod delivered pork, potatoes
and peas on time and to budget last night - we needed that
to lift the spirits! Rod sends his sleepy apologies to those
awaiting an update from him but thinks catching up on sleep
is today’s main objective! This morning sails are luffing
(flapping) as we get too close to the wind. But without the
ability to change course, due to George playing up, we have
been selecting every sail combination and trim known to man
to try to get at least a course and speed that enables just
a degree of comfort to those down below. Rod, sleeping, suggests
we might be halfway successful although I suspect he would
rather be on deck. I think sailing is just like golf - once
in a round I can sweetly hit the ball where and how planned
as all the muscles, and stance and swing, and conditions conspire
to ensure success - every other shot stinks. Same here every
so often it is perfect - good wind, all the bits of the boat
working properly and in unison and the helm just needing the
occasional tweak - we look forwards to the return of those
days! That’s all for now love to all and looking forward
to seeing Riggers at the weekend!

Night
watch!
Day
24 - 5th June (TZ +0000)
Noon 38º 17’ N 19º 11’
W. Course 90º true (best course to wind), ave. speed
5 kn., distance run last 24 hours 120 nm, total distance run
2760 nm, distance to Sotogrande, Spain 700nm, wind F4 ESE.
J SatNWwilBTA Ax
General - Sun is shining and the world looks
a nice place. As you may have gathered we have had an interesting
few days, we are now out of the low pressure system and heading
into the high pressure system to the east of us, this means
good weather, not necessarily for sailing but for gardens
and the beach. We are all catching up on sleep and planning
a big boogie out (cleaning session) on Ushomi tomorrow, so
all is good. Saturday is looking good for Sotogrande, we will
see. Bits that do and Bits that don't - Equipment again, with
the weather we have been through we have seen a few system
failures, boats are boats and they will break. The genoa (the
big sail at the front) tore it's shackle to bits and hence
down came, the swivel unit and halyard (the rope that pulls
the sail up) are now stuck at the top of the mast and yours
truly has got to go up and retrieve it. At the same time the
Facnor furlex track has repeated last years failure and has
sheared, we are familiar with this fault so it is not huge.
The Autopilot (Autohelm ST7000) or George for short has given
up the ghost, investigation shows water ingress to the control
head, so in a nutshell we are steering the old way, by hand.
Good news, the generator is good, and we are charging batteries,
making water, etc. As for me, I am moving between happiness
and depression, happy to be moving on and depressed when another
part of my baby breaks, plus we are still tired.
Non Smokers Corner - I must confess that
in Horta I failed miserably, I have informed Jane and she
has understood. But you will be happy to know that I am once
again a temple and have been since Horta, Jane will be waiting
ashore in Soto for me and will hopefully give me the incentive
to continue. Big point to note though, I am not suffering
through lack of smoking as I did after leaving St Martins.
Alien Watch - Rod has conclusive proof, read
his ditty below.
Rod here: straight in to the alien watch,
Stan - who travelled from Sotogrande to the Canaries last
November on Ushomi, was due to travel back from Horta to Sotogrande
with us this trip but was unable to make it due to work commitments.
The other morning I took this picture (attached) as I came
on watch, the only thing we can think of to explain it is
that the aliens didn't know he was unable to make it and had
replaced him to spy on our highly developed intellects as
we sail along. Or is Stan actually a member of an advanced
species able to beam himself about at will? Investigations
continue and we will report soon. On a more mundane level,
regular readers will be aware of my delight the other night
that after almost 4 weeks at sea we had gone onto a port tack
which rolled me into my bed as the boat heeled over and therefore
allowed me to sleep. Well, my delight was short lived, 6 hours
in fact, and we have been back on a starboard tack ever since,
still the feet on the bed whilst the head is on the floor
sleeping position is something it is possible to get used
to. I mentioned the other day the difficulty of drying clothes
during some of the heavier weather we had been having: We
have moved on from that now, due to waves breaking over the
boat on a regular basis we get small leaks through the hatches
in each of the cabins. In my case, the water comes through
the hatch, runs into a joint of 2 pieces of wood, then runs
aft down the cabin until it reaches the bulkhead (wall), whereupon
it runs down onto my bed and the bottom 18 inches of my bed
are now soaking wet. Naturally this compounds the fact that
things are generally damp in this kind of weather, and going
to bed has become something of a damper experience - roll
on dry land. Despite breakages and rough weather, and the
alien sightings, this has been a fantastic trip on a great
boat with a good skipper and good company - an experience
I wouldn't have missed for the world and I am thoroughly enjoying
it (now that the rain has stopped). Rebecca tells me that
new friends like Philip and Karen, as well as much older friends
and family, read these updates regularly. I hope that you
have all found them at least a little interesting and that
they have portrayed some of the fantastic experiences we have
had on the trip, I promise to be boring on the subject for
months once I am back home. Speaking of home, we now believe
we will arrive in Sotogrande sometime between Friday lunchtime
and Saturday lunchtime so it looks as though I will be flying
home on Saturday night - can't wait! As always, lots of love
to Rebecca who I think of and miss constantly, and lots of
love to the kids and all friends, old and new. Rod.

Stan
the Alien!
Day
25 - 6th June (TZ +0000)
Noon 38º 16’ N 16º 35’
W. Course 90º true (best course to wind), ave. speed
5.5 kn, distance run last 24 hours 130 nm, total distance
run 2890 nm, distance to Sotogrande, Spain 553, wind F3 ESE.
J IDofYLN Ax
General - We are tootling along, neither
at great or slow speed, wind is expected to come tonight,
morale is good and the sun shineth. Ushomi is getting some
serious love (possibly too much off Mark, we're only slightly
worried) and we think everything is smelling more girly and
less blokey, Jane will no doubt be the judge of that when
she steps onboard at Sotogrande. Also for the first time since
November our official nearest bail out port is on mainland
Europe, second nearest is Madeira. Now, some of you may be
wondering what the hell has been going on since leaving Horta,
now that we are fully out of it I will spin the dit. As you
know we were delayed in leaving due to parts for the generator.
Whilst waiting a Low, the same Low that gave us good winds
before arriving in Horta, it intensified and headed direct
for Faial, the forecast being that winds of 30 knots would
be felt and more importantly the Low would become stationary
over the western Azores islands (Peço and Faial). The
marina staff started to become concerned about the security
of the vessels at anchor and those tied up on the outside
of the marina wall (as we were), damage was expected to some
vessels (memories of Norwegian John’s boat disaster
in a Tenerife marina in November spring to mind). Also once
the Low was in and stationary, movement from the marina would
become impossible. We therefore elected to hotfoot it ASAP,
as did about a quarter of the boats in the marina. The first
night was uneventful. It was Friday when the system came in:
we were approx. 60nm from Faial and we were caught in a 62
kn blow. This is what we think sheered the forestay furling;
that in itself was no problem as we were deep reefed. Rod
and me were on watch and it quickly passed. The following
night and day though not overly windy was very bumpy and sleep,
as you know, was a luxury, our two business class passengers
had a rare old time. The Low has now pretty much dissipated,
though still in it we are seeing winds moving onto the starboard
beam (right side of boat at 90º) at 10-15 knots, this
will give us some beautiful sailing, pretty much up to the
Straits we hope.
Entertainment: due to good weather we have
had a repeat of last years highly successful 'River Dance
Off', the Irish Dancing competition that sets the boys from
the men (see photo), winner to be announced. John announces
the winner of the guess the length of the only fish caught
to be Cheesemaker’s son, Julian - nearest guess and
father receives the T-shirt on his behalf from Skipper Andy.
See photo. Looking forward to getting back now and Riggers
has set us a steep target that we hope to attain. Nice sunny
day for a change and just about to start the nominations for
the Ushomi Oscar awards. Categories include: Daftest comment
award: "That's a funny shape light out there, I don't
know that one". Reply: "its the fff..ing Moon you
nit" seems to be the fore runner in this category. The
Ushomi "Twa! in a hat" award, Winner's Best meal
award, Winner's worst meal, The Rip Van Winkle longest sleep
award and finally The Sheryl Crow award for the shortest act
of indecency with an electronic device. Current favourite
to win the most awards is Skippy at Evens and the Cheesemaker
close behind at 2/1 although all leading actors are expected
to be close or thereabouts with John and Rod expected to make
a showing later.
Cheesemaker back: amazing what we have been
up to these last few days, the 1st 2/3 passed in a blur. Unfortunately
we ran into some testing weather fairly soon after leaving
Horta so my well laid plan to go without pills for the last
leg failed. Good naturedly the others filled in for me, although
at times I suspect they want to fill me in! Despite monitoring
the above weather from a horizontal position I could still
feel the urgency and immediacy of it as my bunk/cabin (steerage)
is directly below the cockpit where most of the expletives
emanate from. Also all the winches are there which make noises
right across the audible spectrum so even me being hard of
hearing there is no escape. The latest instrument of torture
they have found for me is the bilge pump, which must be just
inches from my head and has a high pitched whine that is simply
just awful. Boys will be boys when they find a new toy. As
they say above, they are awfully blokish and proud of it!
Few dolphins to brighten our day and curiously no other shipping
for 4 days. Are we are the same planet as the rest of them?
Just shows what a big wide-open space we are in. Strange not
so spectacular sunsets this side of Azores; more to do with
meteorology, so my new knowledge tells me, rather than geography;
It is actually quite amazing the amount of knowledge one needs
to have absorbed and have to hand to be able to interpret
nature's signs. Certainly one trip across the "pond"
is just an inkling. It is a relief we are over half way on
this leg and there is much cogitation on flights home. Fingers
crossed and we may be back to Soto late Fri E - Sat. So late
Sat flights to UK look a real possibility.
Andy Back: you may have seen the “Twa!
in a Hat” nomination above. If he is happy to, I invite
Chris Horatio Columbus Oxby to give you all an explanation
of the 'Brotherhood of the Hat' (send it out and I will send
it on Chris), by the way in the T-shirt presentation I am
wearing the 'Sacred Hat'. At present the cheese maker is making
good boat speed and bragging of it, but we are pointing at
Ireland!
And finally Rod gets his turn to say hello:
we are having a great day cleaning the boat and completing
repairs to the sail (which we have just finished and, as the
skipper would say, "we are a fully functional death star"
again). Although whilst we were fixing it the winds died completely
so we rolled it away and are motoring - but it is now there
when we need it. Due to our lack of an Autopilot since yesterday,
we have reverted to good old-fashioned helming of the boat.
The competitive nature of all of us is coming to the surface
as each helmsman attempts to get the best course and speed
of the day - Mark is very proud of his ability in the sail
trimming category, even if direction sometimes comes a not
very close second consideration! During the 'Big Blow' that
Andy referred to earlier (or does 'Great Wind' sound better)
which lasted less than 2 hours, we saw some amazing sea conditions
with huge waves - difficult to estimate accurately. But I
would put them in the 'very big' category: the wind was blowing
the tops completely off the waves and they became horizontal
rain which was blowing directly into our faces. On these pages
over the last 4 weeks we have tried to give in insight into
some of the amazing things we have seen, most of them absolutely
beautiful, lightening storms, starry skies, Whales, Dolphins.
In fact most could be described as little glimpses of Heaven
but the 'Big Blow' was a definite glimpse of the other place!
However, today our jobs are done, the sun is shining, moods
are good and my cabin is finally drying, so all is well in
our world and we are getting closer to home, fantastic. As
always all my love to the gorgeous Rebecca and big kisses
for the kids. Rod

River
Dance Off!

The
"Hat" & T Shirt
Day
26 - 7th June (TZ +0000)
Noon 37º 47’ N 13º 34’
W. Course 110º true, ave. speed 6.5 kn, distance run
last 24 hours 160nm, total distance run 2663nm, distance to
Sotogrande, Spain 416nm, wind F5 S. J EDILyouMaM Ax
General: do you remember the Rod Hull song,
we are sailing, or was it another Rod, well we is and it's
great. For the first time in nearly two weeks we are experiencing
those winds and seas that sailors talk and dream about, in
fact we don't talk of them openly, just quietly in the dark
corner of dark bars, and then in a pretty dark way. Our Low
is failing and we are experiencing slowly falling winds. BUT
we expect to be able to sail well all through tomorrow, there
has been talk of getting the Spinnaker out also. The Spi (for
short) is a big down wind sail. We must have the wind on the
back half of the boat to fly it. Imagine standing in a field
on a windy day, if you can feel breeze on your face then the
wind is too far forward, if the wind is ruffling your hair
and not your nose then get the Spi out. Morale is steadily
rising there is a danger of Ushomi becoming a happy ship,
shall have to let the Cat out of the Bag, so to speak. Which
neatly leads me nicely into some sayings we use. ‘Let
the cat out of the bag’, when a man was due to be flogged.
The first he would know for sure that it was a flogging was
when the Cat o Nine Tails was taken out of the bag it was
kept in, hence ‘let the cat out of the bag’. ‘Cocked
up’; when we cock up it is a singular mistake, all cocked
up is many mistakes. On old sailing ships the yards (the bits
of wood that lift the sails) were traditionally set at 90º
to the mast (squared away) in harbour, this looked tidy and
was the Royal Naval way of doing business. If a yard was not
at 90º it was not squared and hence it was cocked up,
if all yards were not square then everything was cocked up.
Not a Naval one, but the use of ‘give it the full 9
yards’, a first world war trenches saying, the length
of a belt of ammunition for the Vickers machine gun was 9
yards, hence when desperate and Jerry is coming strong give
it everything. We have had some e-mails from last years gang,
Jerry (ex US Navy Captain who promoted himself to cleaning
officer), Stan (emergency room surgeon) who lives in Belgium,
talks like Poirot with swearing thrown in and claims to be
watching us. Big Tony, who married Lynne in Antigua and is
now working for Tradewinds Sailing in the BVI's and this week
sailing in Bequia in the St Vincent Grenadines (it is not
big, or clever, and we are not jealous). Anyway, feet will
be dry in a few days, guys, thanks for the mail.
Rod here - Well here we are shooting towards
Southern Spain at a rate of knots (literally). The winds have
increased into the 20+ knot area and we still have no Autopilot.
It is one of the few casualties of our trip - we think water
got into the control head in the 'Big Blow' so we have moved
to 2 man watches, 4 hours on - 4 hours off. That way one person
is behind the helm (steering wheel) and the other can keep
a lookout for ships and other yachts as well as trimming sails
and generally keeping the conversation going. It is a good
and proven watch system, but is flippin tiring. During night
watches you get out of bed 20 minutes before to put your many
layers of clothing on, plus oilskins and lifejackets, then
at the end of the watch it takes just as long to take it all
off again. Add to that using the loo and having a cup of tea
and the opportunity for sleep between each watch comes to
about 3 hours. However, the stronger winds we have are coming
from just in front of us so the boat sails are tightly wound
in and we are doing
what is referred to as 'beating', sailing into the wind heels
the boat over and gets waves pounding the decks - very spectacular
when seen from the shore or on TV, a bit uncomfortable lying
in your bed on the boat. As I write the wind is shifting to
90º (i.e. over the side) which is referred to as a 'beam
reach' just as fast for the boat but also flatter and more
comfortable (but not often shown on telly as its a bit un-splashy.
I think I am beginning to get this sailing lark! Over the
past few days or so we have been regularly visited by fly-pasts
of a swallow like bird we refer to as Boris. Ttoday during
the early morning watch he finally plucked up the courage
to land on the boat (see photo). He tried a few test landings,
then quickly flew off again and seemed to be testing our reaction
to him. When he realised we were not going to harm him he
got braver and even allowed John to lightly touchy him. He
also settled himself into the companionway at one point and
was quite undisturbed as we stepped past him to go down below.
He eventually flew down into the saloon and found a comfortable
spot where he slept for an hour before coming back up top
and flew away. Well, it fascinated us, but then we have been
at sea for a long time. Less than 3 reasonable days sailing
to go now, so it still is odds on for a triumphant return
home on Saturday - can't wait. Rebecca, I love you and am
missing you, see you soon.

Boris
the bird (Identification please?)
Day
27 - 8th June (TZ -0100 same as UK)
Noon 36º 57’ N 10º 32’
W. Course 105º true, ave. speed knots 6.1kn, distance
run last 24 hours 15nm, total distance run 3211nm, distance
to Sotogrande, Spain 273nm, ETA Sotogrande Saturday morning/noon,
wind F4 S. J 2MNthenWwillBT Ax
General: another good day’s sailing,
and as a special treat to Rod we are expecting to go onto
port tack later tonight/tomorrow, so he can finish the trip
in comfort. A massive milestone to come tonight, the first
sighting of mainland Europe, when we pass under Cap St Vincent
we will have crossed the Atlantic. Weather is looking at ghosting
us respectfully and quietly along at 5-6 knots, a beautiful
way to be finishing, if the wind keeps. We may be under engine
later but the wind is due back tonight/tomorrow. We are even
possibly looking at the Spinnaker tomorrow! Coolio Daddio.
UFO Corner - (Rod) It’s confirmed,
the alien has made contact and confirmed he has had a hand
in our trip and has been using an old body he found (see photo
titled Stan the alien) that he thought no-one would miss!
However, in detecting no appreciable intelligence on the boat
he has gone on to look for better pickings in the Brussels
Home for the Bewildered, good luck and bon voyage alien friend,
hope to see you in November. Summer Breeze - we have had comms
from Colin et al and SB is due into Villamoura, Portugal tonight:
she will depart tomorrow and there is every chance that we
will transit the straits together. SB left Horta Wednesday
a.m. (we left Thursday p.m.) she sailed onto Sao Miguel (Ponta
Del Garda) and departed Friday morning in front of the low
system (same tactics as everyone else - get out of dodge).
We passed Sao Miguel Friday evening and have followed SB since.
When you think that we left St Martin within 24 hours of each
other, have carried out our separate plans and will probably
dock within 6 hours of each other after sailing 3600nm, it
is quite incredible. Keep in mind that we have not contrived
to arrive together, that is how it has unfolded. SB also has
a broken Autopilot. We are not gloating, merely pointing out
that it is not uncommon, I can be honest in saying that I
would never wish breakage or gear failure on anyone.
Equipment Corner: apart from the Autopilot,
everything has been good for over 72 hours now, we are making
water, charging batteries, heating water and then showering
in said water. The freezer freezes, the fridge refrigerates
and for some reason the home cinema, though working perfectly
is not getting much use this trip. Think about it, we use
a substantial amount of diesel to run the generator, this
enables us to desalinate sea water into fresh water, this
we heat and then shower in, we then pump the shower water
into the sea and suck it back in to desalinate!
John here: pleased to say we are within a
spit of sighting mainland Europe any hour now - we are under
engine power as the forecast wind drop has materialised and
we are now steadily motoring at 5 knots with a very light
following breeze. We are all looking forward to being home
for the weekend and I can’t wait to see Anne et al on
Saturday evening night and I guess a day of catching up on
Sunday and then all the other chores the rest of the week!
It will be nice to be in dry clothes on terra firma again
and after being away in total 74 days there will be a lot
of catching up to do but thanks to good neighbour Andrew the
grass is not in need of a cut! Thanks mate! So back to the
sailing and I will be taking over my 4 hour watch at 1500
- followed by a few hours sleep and hopefully a light or two
in the distance when I get up!
Cheesemaker sunning: today blissfully is
relatively calm, so a bit of washing and whipping to keep
the body and soul in order followed by the boat. Getting the
windows open throughout the boat is a big plus too. We seem
so close but not far, nearest land (Cap St Vincent) is only
about 60 miles. The next excitement seems to be THE STRAITS,
which everybody talks about in awe. Apparently a sea version
of Piccadilly Circus before congestion charges. WE will be
going thro' at night so it will be like Blackpool illuminations
as well. We have to decipher all the red, white and green
lights, which could be boats/ships heading at us, away or
going around in circles; plus winking buoys: and that's just
on the sea. On land will be the illuminations and further
winking lights of green, red, and white. I am looking forward
to it.
Kipper again: I do feel the need to explain
that whipping is the art of tying off rope ends in a seamanlike
manner, or I think that is what he means. The Straits are
an incredible waterway, connecting the Med to the Atlantic,
Europe to Africa, once the end of the known world and known
as the 'Pillars of Hercules' by the Greeks. As we sail down
we will have Tangier (Morocco) on the right and Gibraltar
on the left. Here Europe and Africa are only 10 miles apart,
to think three continents, America, Africa and Europe in one
month, all by boat. Super Coolio. The Straits, due to their
position, have the second largest flow of maritime traffic
in the world, only the Straits of Dover has more traffic,
a busy and fun night to come, but that is for tomorrow.
Rod here: all that needs to be said about
the rest of the trip has been said by the guys above, so for
me it’s just thoughts of home and what comes next. My
beautiful eldest daughter gets married in 15 days, so I guess
I need to start thinking about that Father of the Bride speech
(my children are all convinced I will be in tears during most
of the wedding anyway - I will, but only because of the bill).
Then next month, my best mate Derek and I are going on a golfing
break (if he has remembered to finalise it!). Maybe a bit
more sailing with Rebecca in August and possibly back down
to Gibraltar in September to take my Yachtmaster exam - crikey
what a gruelling schedule, oh and I suppose during the breaks
I need to think about getting a new job (possibly). We are
all chomping at the bit to finish now, the trip has been great
but I suspect that when we sight land tonight the trip will
be over psychologically and the next 2 days until we fly home
Saturday night will pass pretty slowly, still its been a blast.
Love to Rebecca as always, home in 2 days. Rod.

Big
John
Day
28 - 9th June (TZ -0200 same as Spain)
Noon 36º 27’ N 8º W. Course
105º true, ave. speed 6.1kn, distance run last 24 hours
135nm, total distance run 3446nm, distance to Sotogrande,
Spain 145nm, ETA Sotogrande Saturday noon +/- 1.75 hrs, Wind
F3 Variable, J Tis1TRWnotG,ILU Ax
General - At present under motor, but hoping
for wind to carry us on. There is not a lot to say about the
weather, there is virtually none. Absolutely tons of shipping
about, ship spotters eat your heart out, I spotted 22 Maersks
and one ULCC (Ultra large crude carrier), before breakfast.
Just before dark a Portuguese warship came over and gave us
the once over. Whilst merchant ships run to a budget and travel
direct, warships go where the urge takes them (obviously had
a lady officer of the watch who saw us olden Adonis's and
wanted a closer look). At present looking for either a Nimitz
class carrier or a Trafalgar class submarine running on the
roof to get a full set. We are now under spinnaker and ghosting
along at 6 knots, not a bad way to sail. We are looking to
enter the Straits around dawn, so with the rising sun on our
bow we will re-enter the 'known world' and tie up in Soto
around noon -1400 ish. As a reminder of a month ago, today’s
photo is of us all (with Pete from Summer Breeze in background)
cooling off in Jimmy’s Bar in St Martens. This photo
was taken two hours before we left St Martens.
Cheesemaker: it has a sense of being tantalisingly
close and yet still over 100 miles to go as we approach the
Straits now. As Andy says above so many ships to look at carrying
goods all over the world, who knows one of them might even
being carrying a Brink burn to New York. Very hot today. Now
trying to make the boat ship shape for our arrival, stains
to be washed down and things put away. It could be a bit of
rush for our flights tomorrow. I understand there is to be
a final blog tomorrow so I leave my farewell and expressions
of gratitude till then. It is just not suffice to say that
It has been a memorable, exhilarating and not to be missed
experience, because it has been much much more; I am sure
a lot which I will only comprehend as the future unfolds.
Rod here: just a short one today as our main
order of business in the last 24 hours has been to avoid big
ships. Last night at the end of my watch at midnight I handed
the boat over to John with 10 large ships around us, 5 coming
out of the Mediterranean through the Straits and 5 going in,
and all going along at 4 or 5 times our speed. As graceful
and elegant as this fabulous yacht is, it does make you feel
like you are travelling the M1 on a push bike whilst the big
lorries are hurtling past you. We are also winding down on
our food stores: dinner tonight is a mix of anything still
left in the fridge, although we still have stacks of tins
of things, sweet corn, green beans, broccoli, sprouts...funny
really, I wonder why we still have all those? Looking forward
to getting into the Straits proper, we are getting all this
shipping coming from all over the world into the funnel of
the Straits and yet we still haven't seen land this side of
the ocean, hoping that will happen during my night watch of
11pm to 1am. Love to all, see you very soon.

St Maarten pre-departure ..
Day
29
Position: @ 2 pm Sat 10th June Ushomi berthed
in Sotogrande. A photo will follow in a day or two. Kipper
and crew were met with Cava and best Spanish Sirloin steak
barbecued and served with some wonderful salads.
Dits:
The crew were full of their final comments prepared as they
motored up to Sotogrande from Europa Point and allegedly transmitted
by the Kipper for entry on this web site. It is probable,
we gather, that their dits may have included at last one or
two truthful comments about the Kipper (sometimes know as
Capt. Bligh). Whatever - no final report has been received
here. You may be forced to the conclusion that the Kipper
has censored them! We shall find out and update later. All
the crew have the e-mail address of mission control and stated
their intention to provide feedback.
Stan
the Alien: the following message was received from
outer space this morning:
"Message
to USHOMI CREW: Probably when I am writing this words you
are stoned drank in the Irish pub in Soto, or sleeping in
your bed or in the airplane which will bring you back home.
Anyway,I hope David will transfer my very sincere CONGRATULATION
to all of you for what you done.I followed your passage daily
on a net and now I will miss it a lot.Congratulation to Andy,who
supported you (and to the crew for supporting Andy). Congratulation
for your good mood ,humor and skill. I hope to see you on
board of USHOMI at the end of this year or in this time next
year,but in any case I am waiting,Andy for you and Jane in
July. All the best
Cheers Stan"
Final
reports:
Day
29 - 10th June (TZ -0200 same as Spain, no more to do)
Position: Sotogrande, alongside Rogers House,
Spain
Course 105º true, ave. speed 6.1 kn, total distance run
3466 nm, distance to Sotogrande, Spain 000 nm. We are here.
Crossed the Atlantic, transited the Straits, abducted and
experimented on by aliens and we haven't been scared once.
Our first proper sight of land was not Cap St Vincent, mist/cloud
denied us that, first land was Tarifa, the entrance to the
straits at 0700 this morning, coolio.
Kippers Swansong: the lads think I am great,
they told me this. The Alien Stan even likes me! For me it
will be a shame for our team to move on, if given a choice
of replacing anyone I would jump at a total crew change. Seriously
though, once again I have been blessed with a great team,
every person brought something different to the party. John
and Rod came with some intensive recent experience, this was
evident from day one, thanks Mel, Eric and Colin. Mark came
with less experience but has turned out to be a natural helmsman
and instinctive trimmer, anyone who knows me know I do not
say such things easily. John and Rod are both from big business
backgrounds and I can honestly say that I have been the student
as much as any one on this trip, Rod has helped me see more
light and less dark. John has explained better man management
techniques (though shouting does work). Rod has also introduced
us to IPODs and Music Videos, our lives are changed. Rod’s
other great part is his singing, even though he has been rejected
by various working men's clubs I am sure that he will get
his stage one day, maybe not an audience though, Goo Sandy,
Goo Sandy. I think my biggest compliment is that with these
guys on watch, I slept soundly. Anyway - thanks guys, the
pleasure has really been mine, good effort and good result.
Andy
Cheesemaker: well the end of a momentous
voyage. Over the last years I have had a variety of paths
to take but they were mostly on Terra Firma or cloud cuckoo
land; but this journey across an ocean with a bunch of unknown
blokes has been the biggest challenge and one which I could
not walk away from. To go onto 50sq metres and be only there
day in and day out has been strange as never once did I want
to walk away. It has been at times a steep learning curve
and at others just plain sailing. They have carried me without
moaning. At times they balled me out for being incompetent
or forgetting something I have just been told - those who
know me will recognise that one. Being on Ushomi has forced
me to listen better as all our lives depend on it. Faults
and shortcomings cannot be hidden long in such an intense
world and all of them in their own way have been kind in their
corrections. Andy led and shepherded us expecting the highest
standards, and has given me the chance to raise mine. Rod’s
sense of humour is large, loud, infectious and inspiring and
John moves about with the serenity of fly fisherman about
to cast a fly and last but not least Ushomi, herself has not
let us down indeed has given us a safe and sure passage. It
has been fun, challenging at moments, daunting and I am grateful
to the owners for allowing me the opportunity and Andy, John
and Rod for tolerating my quirky ways.
Final word from Rod: the plaudits have all been said
so I will not laboriously repeat them, it has been fantastic
and an experience I will remember for the rest of my life.
The guys have been terrific and for four blokes who are all
individuals in their own right to get along as well as we
have for a total time of 34 days in a 50 sq. metre area without
killing each other is testimony to them all. Of course there
have been spats, particularly during rough weather or in long
periods of watchkeeping or low sleep because of the boat movement,
but temperatures raised quickly have been cooled equally quickly
and no grudges were held. So, I am grateful to the guys for
putting up with my jokes, my wingeing and my eating habits.
It’s been cool, but I have missed my wife and children
lots and am looking forward to some time with them. Sayonara.
And finally, John here: I have only had one
complaint about snoring - so clearly I don't - although the
door did get banged shut! I have enjoyed the adventure tremendously
and seen a few strange things and eaten a few oddities too.
As has been said a few minor downs here and there and that's
not surprising when you put 4 people together and bang them
into a "big brother" boat especially 4 people who
are all used to doing what they want to! But we come away
from it all firm friends and a great team I have learnt a
lot and will take away a few new ideas too. I will thank all
the guys (seems we are all dudes these days) for their support
and guidance and responsiveness. On the Oscar front the Cheesemaker
has almost swept the board so well done Mark! Only exception
was the Sheryl Crow award - unanimously awarded to the trip’s
skipper - well done Andy - now behave! I can see Sotogrande
from here byee..!!
(Caution:
this report may have been edited. Ed.)
|
|
home | boat | crew
| cruises | diary
| news | archive
| booking

|
| |
| 
Day
1 - 11th May 2006
Position, 18º 5'N 62º 53'W Distance to go - Bloody miles
Speed 5.5 Knots Wind F3 ESE
The time has come the Walrus said....... to leave the Caribbean.
Once again Ushomi is dashing off to parts unknown. We have sailed
from St Martin and are making passage for the Azores. There are
four of us onboard, I am Andrew the literary genius
of a kipper from the last trip. Today is also day one of my non
smoking campaign, in the Atlantic with no fags, share my joy as
day by day the temple that is my body gets cleaner. Enough said
meet the boys:
John Werrett -- on a grande aventura. I am the
good looking one in the photo! 50 years old and a few months ago
declared myself disinterested in corporate life after 30 plus years
in banking and computers and as a result I find myself aboard Ushomi
with 3 other odd fellows for a trip of a lifetime - or un grande
aventura as Jolanda my erste while Spanish teacher called it. I
joined the boat a few days ago after spending 5 weeks on Summer
Breeze going round the Caribbean and covering 1200 miles with the
guys on that boat. We had a good time and learnt a lot and now I
feel ready (if also challenged) by the trip ahead.
Mark Robertson --
Somehow Matty took a wrong turn on his way to work and here I am
sailing towards the Azores. When Roger suggested I should do this
trip, typically with anything out of the ordinary and with my usual
minimum thought I said yes. Over the intervening period I did have
a degree of vacillation. (Matty is the sprite that lurks in the
buildings at makemerich farm, where for the last ten years a great
team and I have continued to put Northumberland Cheese Company on
the map - so to speak.). So I am here sailing with a bunch of very
sensible and successful people on a voyage of a lifetime brought
down to "earth" by the majesty of the sea. We are in a
beautiful and very well prepared boat, skippered by Andy whose latest
escapade is to take up smoking camomile, which I prefer to drink
see you soon. Mark (kippers note, as Mark is a fabricator of cheeses
he has volunteered to run Cheesy Corner and a Cheese for the day
competitions).
Rod Smith -- also on a grand adventure (I don’t
do the foreign lingo thing !)
Like John I am recently discontinued from corporate life and having
a ball doing the things I have never had time to do before. Until
recently was a senior member of the Marconi management team were
I had a great and enjoyable 15 years. I am the unofficial entertainment
officer on the trip and hope to keep you interested as we run our
'Strictly Come Sailing' programme, a twist on a well proven format
where someone can be voted off the boat each week until we find
our best solo sailor!. I am hoping to get all the way across without
eating some of the very strange foods brought on board by my companions
- these guys eat VERY healthy food!. Talking of health, I have also
been given the name of 'Nursy' because I am the only one who bothered
to bring cream for mosquito bites suffered in St Maarten, so more
from my surgery as the trip progresses.

Kipper & Crew
The
Re-Fit
The
owners decided to equip the boat with a 24v system better to fuel
air-con, watermakers, (hairdryers), breadmakers, etc. This took
longer than expected - almost complete when the boat left for the
Caribbean.
To
the Caribbean
The
boat left Sotogrande for the Canaries with skipper Andrew and 5
crew at 4 p.m. on 1st Nov 2005. Apart from the Skipper, aboard were:
Gerry, ex. US Navy Captain, whose boyhood dream has always been
to sail the Atlantic in a small boat, Tony from Wales and Kevin
from Ireland, both seeking their fast track Ocean Yacht Master qualifications,
Stan the Belgian surgeon and Nowegian Marius looking for for miles
for Ocean Yacht Master. They joined on Friday and helped final preparation
of the boat, provisioning and stowage. In addition to fresh produce
the boat was stocked with the gourmet revolutionary new Look What
We Found food (LWWF) from UK to provide quality comfort food on
the trip.
Transat
Day 1:
Passage
though the Straits was slow - no wind and with an adverse current
reducing speed to 3 knots. Stood on 15 nm beyond Tarifa for a straight
cut across the separation zone and picked up a 25 knot wind overnight
which saw them flying. The recorder showed the Autohelm with the
top speed of 12.2 knots, Kevin second at 12.0 and Skipper last at
11.7! They dined on LWWF Sausage Cassoulet and could not believe
how easily gourmet food could be cooked and served while afloat
- some converts there. Breakfast this morning was scrambled egg
and bacon. Morale is good.
Transat
Day 2:
Andy's
e-mail: "now 60 nm NW of Al Jadida Morocco. ETA 200 nm from
mainland Europe at 5 p.m. today at present speed. Wind F1 - engine
earning keep. Course 240ºT - wind due tomorrow. Breadmaker
failed: bread not rising - could yeast be dead? Sun sights at noon
within 10 nm of actual. Morale good and all working well except
God's wind machine. Tall ship 4 nm off port bow, otherwise sea is
ours. Talk tomorrow".
Transat
Day 3:
Andy
mail: "last night the wind came, 35knots for a while &
most of the night at 30. Broad reach
at 8-9knots. Position at 1500LT 33deg00N 012deg09W, still on stbd
tack with good track down to lanzarotte on one broad reach on port
tack, tactics seem to have paid off with wind, so far. We are on
for a 200 mile + day today, boat a bit bumpy and everyone finding
it hard to get comfortable, not a lot we can do. Wind at present
F6 and the sea is settling from last nights blow, but not a lot.
Morale good, boat good, as am I".
Transat
Day 4:
"All
well, going swiftly, 1600 today position 29º57'N 12º42'W,
wind F7 still, sea 4-5 metres, speed over ground 9 knots average.
Looking to make Punto Calero, Lanzarotte dawn tommorow. Everyone
in good spirits though a little tired from three days of heavy
weather. Spotted a yacht under bare poles and went to investigate,
it was a 30 ft sloop weathering it out with drogues out, turned
out to be a single hander, he was fine and we scudded on at 9
knots. Dinner tonight Sausage, Mash and baked beans (with much
salt). Will ring in port ".
Transat
Day 5:
0400
- alongside Lanzarotte, Puerto Calero. Summer Breeze already in
- hats off. (Summer Breeze is sailing in company). Basically we
have all had a heavy three days with a steady force 7. Extremely
tired and happy to be in port, though richer for the experience,
steak tonight. Basically the plan was to head out into the Atlantic
and catch a broad reach into the canaries, also being closer to
the center of the high we would have less wind than the rhumb line
route (direct). After discussion with Summer Breeze they sailed
the rhumb line route under headsail alone, we on the other hand
had the main up with 2 reefs and 60% genoa. Our maximum recorded
speed through the water was 15.9 knots, our best days run was 220
nm and the day before was 205 nm, two 200+ days, quite an achievement
for the boat and crew, and myself. Our total trip was 780nm against
Summer Breeze's 620nm, proving that the rhumb line route, although
giving slower boat speed was the fastest in this instance. As to
Ushomi, everyone is more than happy with the boat, the heavy conditions
have proved the vessel and given us great confidence as well as
a strong team to cross the Atlantic with. Kevin managed to completely
fill the cockpit with water, whilst the skipper was catnapping in
it (skippers don't sleep, they catnap), Kevin's greatest achievement
was to take the helm in relatively stable conditions and magic the
mother of all waves from nowhere within 5 minutes and basically
get everyone and everything wet. Tony (the elected professional
fisherman and professor of marine biology) managed to catch the
sum total of zero fish. In his favour, conditions only permitted
fishing for one day, Tony is another tea lover so a man I can respect,
he also got a mere pass with the sextant to within 3 miles of latitude
(skipper 14 miles!). Stan the doctor of Polish origin now residing
in Belgium, proved to be a brilliant person to have on a boat, he
has taught us a few sayings that will stay with us for a long time.
He has now departed and is flying home, as planned - a shame he
is away. Marius had a spate of mal de mer, but fought it and stood
his watch, quite an impressive thing to do. We had planned to do
intensive theory on the way down but somehow it didn't fit it in.
Gerry, who has regaled us with stories of his days in the US Navy,
proved a strong crew, always attentive on watch and the first to
dive in to clean up down below (dishes, pots and pans for six are
not an easy thing to clean in a force seven). He was a Captain in
the US Navy and I am very happy to have him along for the full ride
to the other side. David will log off now, sorry the emails have
been short but conditions have been pretty rough. Andy
Note from Gerry:
"So far it has been a very happy experience for this former
naval person who in his career had just two years aboard ship. I
couldn't have been given better companions. The skipper is a great
instructor and I look forward to making an increasing contribution
aboard". gfw
Note from Tony:
"A fantastic few days with a great bunch of guys; tough conditions,
great morale, expertly skippered".
Transat
Day 6 - Late News!:
Position
28º48'N 14º05'W, speed 8.5 knots, wind F5. Scudding along
after a few days in Lanzarotte, rested and watered we are on course
for San Sebastian in La Gomera, we should arrive tomorrow pm. La
Gomera is in the west of the Canary islands and is a stunning place,
not sold out to tourism as with some. It is from San Sebastian that
Columbus sailed, the Church of our Lady of the Assumption, is where
they took their final mass before sailing. Treading in historical
footsteps. We have just had our first bite with the fishing gear,
it has scared us witless as we managed to hook a big ugly looking
Marlin - it bust the line in the end. When it jumped we estimate
it to have been bigger than me, easily (fishermen's stories!). We
have now found our smallest lure and are trying that. Kevin is skippering
the passage to La Gomera as one of his 60 mile+ trips that he is
required to do for his YM ticket. Tight Lines, Andy (Huh!) Marius
from Norway and Stan, the Polish doctor practising in Belgium, left
the boat to fly home. Both were adding sea miles to their logs towards
RYA Ocean Yachtmaster qualifications. Gerry, Tony, Kevin and skipper
Andy enjoyed an R&R (rest & recreation) day in Puerto Calero.
The web site proves its worth: Summer Breeze's owner did not even
know she had arrived safely until he read it here! Tomorrow, Tuesday,
they set sail for Gomera, the jumping off point for the crossing
and also the final departure point for Christopher Columbus on his
first voyage. Gomera is a UNESCO world heritage site because of
its wealth of indigenous flora.
Transat
Days 7/8/9:
Days
7/ 8/ 9 upto and inc today 10/11/05 - Day seven saw Ushomi leaving
Puerto Calero bound for San Sebastion De La Gomera. Light winds,
a good boat, a strong crew - Brilliant. Kevin skippered the passage
and as normal managed to stir up the wind gods, but that was only
the start. Kevin decided that fishing was boring and opted to change
the lure, he choose a small one that at the time looked innocent
enough. Five minutes later the line started to run, a fish was on,
Kevin disapeared to make tea and Tony, watched apprehensively by
the skipper, increased the drag on the reel. When the drag was at
maximum and the rod was bent ninety degrees the line was still running.
Andy started to back away from the rod and looked for something
to do in the bow when a 8-9 foot marlin exited the water 100 yards
behind the boat (my immediate reaction was to stare in horror at
the water behind us). Luckily the line broke at this point and the
marlin, now considerably annoyed, escaped. Through that night we
all stayed well in the cockpit, just in case. The Marlin incident
is embedded in our minds, so much so that Gerry has written this
"Ode to a Marlin":
Just within minutes of putting
on a different and deeper running lure, Tony heard the line zinging
off the reel. Tony gradually adjusted the reel drag to it's maximum
strength, but the line kept running. The rod bent at it's tip to
near ninety degrees as pressure was given to whatever it was on
the line's far end. But even Tony's superior fishing skills could
not overcome the fighting mad, sail finned eight foot marlin, That
rose from the water and into the air, breaking the 100 pound line.
The fish had gone but the thrill of the experience remains amidst
all onboard.
Day
8 saw us arrive in San Sebastian De La Gomera, but not before the
the winds returned to their, now normal 35-40 knots. San Sebastian
is a truly good spot, so much so it is packed, we are rafted up
in the entrance. To date we have had some good hard sailing and
are all looking forward to the trade winds. Marius has left (and
then there were four - Miss Marples eat your heart out) as planned
and Gerry, Tony, Kevin and I are getting ready for a Sat departure.
Ushomi has proved herself not to be lacking, slight damage to the
two mainsails and these are being repaired, but that is heavy weather
sailing for you.
Transat
Day 11: Sat 12/11/05
Alongside
San Sebastian De La Gomera, still. An interesting few days but we
have paid up and will slip and proceed tommorow am. Summer Breeze
left their raft (boats moored alonside each other)
yesterday to take a berth, they had engine problems and resorted
to sail in order to get the engine sorted. Whilst sailing in the
bay outside the marina they got caught by a severe gust and ended
up with damage to main and genoa, thay are busy sewing at the minute.
As with all things you deal with it. Gavin has asked for
a mention and aims to out fish big Tony - high stakes. Ushomi is
pretty much ready to sail, Tony is finishing off the last of the
mainsail
repairs with a unique stitch called a 'homeward bounder', I have
now set the freezer fully to work and Gerry and Kevin are last minute
shopping.
Transat
Day 12: 5 nautical miles sw of San Sebastian, speed 6 knots,
210 degrees(ish). Well, at sea again, but this time our next shore
line will be the longest. Personal note to Mum, - We will never
be more than three miles from land (beneath us!), love you, Andy.
We
were due to sail early, I urged everyone to have an early night
and to be fresh this morning, so we all went out and got drunk,
but we feel damn good for it. A bit of a phsycological point but
often people will lie awake all night worrying about what tommorow
brings, a few beers and we sleep like babies. The main reason for
our late departure was the fact that we went to the Church of Our
Lady of the Assumption for our final blessing, and it was
shut.
We went for a coffee to await the opening and then discovered that
we were going to the wrong church. Armed with good local knowledge
we found the right church and I sat in Columbus' seat ( I know this
because his name was etched in the back of the seat infront). A
few things in life bring out the emotions, this was one of them.
We
are having a cracking little sail under yankee alone, about five
boats all left at the same time, lots of fog horns and cheering,
lots of new friends on other boats cheering us out. One big Norwegian
schooner threw Kevin some swedish chewing tobacco (Swedish Match
Tobacco), it landed short in the sea, the guy then dived off the
boat retrieved the package, jumped in their rib and haired after
us to hand it over.Summer
Breeze worked their hearts out repairing the sails and transmission,
Ann insisted on winching the genoa to the top on her own, gained
a hernia and mucho respecto. There has been much speculation about
what happened when she was changing berths. Last night, after a
few beers it came out that Gavin was drying his Ki Koi (a sarong
in other words) on the main sail lines. When the engine transmission
failed the main was deployed and the offending
Ki Koi snarled up the main sail lines, Gavin denies that this is
true, claiming that the tear in it was allready there, we will never
know the truth, sarongs may be comfortable, but gents there is a
time and place. Just heard Summer Breeze has slipped and is on her
way. Whilst
in San Sebastion a 20 foot boat tied up alongside us. There were
two Swedish guys onboard looking slightly bedraggled, they had no
electrics onboard ( by design) and two buckets, one for the anchor
and one for the washing. It was a partricularly blowy night and
we asked what the hell they had been doing being at sea in such
conditions. They replied that they hadn't checked the weather and
were sailing between islands because "thar wash a partii', it has
become the standard excuse for leaving port.
Note
from Tony
I
wish I'd done 'Domestic Science' at school; it would surely have
stood me in good stead when it came to repairing the main sail (knit
one, pearl one?) and I'm sure the curriculum would also have covered
manouvering maverick shopping trolleys through the narrow streets
of a 'jumping' town on a friday night! And by the way, why is it
than whenever a gang of guys get together an element of competition
emerges within a matter of seconds: 'My trolley's faster
than yours' or, 'I've got the four-wheel drive version and I'll
get up this hill before you'.. Finally,
Gerry is cooking tonight. It will be the first time he's ever cooked
anything in his life and when I asked him what we were going to
have he responded, 'Chicken Suprise'. That sounded great but I'm
deeply worried now... he's just opened a tin of Birds Custard powder!!!
Note
from Gerry
Why
does everyone keep calling the captain: "Bligh"?
Transat
Day 13:
Position
26deg26.8N 018deg09.8W Speed 4 Knots Course 200 degrees true Made
120Nm in last 24 hours which is good as the wind is very light.
Lots of south in our course to get us down to the trade winds.
Transat
Day 14:
Position
25deg27.5N 020deg.86W Speed 5.5 knots Course 250 degrees true
We
are at present still getting down to the trade winds - the reason
for heading west as much as we are is that there is more wind
out here. It seems to be working as the whole area forecast
shows light winds but we are moving along quite well. We are
all settling into the routine of offshore sailing: routine,
routine, routine. Yesterday saw the first laundry day, on completion
all water tanks were topped back up to full status (with the
watermaker). Tony cooked Shepherds Pie and on completion watched
K19.
Transat
Day 15:
Position
24 deg 32.02N 021deg48.94 W speed 5 knots course 240 degrees
true. Last nights dinner - meatballs with mashed potato, last
nights film - Master and Commander. Day 15 brings a settling
of the boat, we have slipped into a slightly different watchbill
and are all nearly tuned into life afloat. The biggest aids
with offshore sailing for any period of time are to (a) forget
about arriving, live day by day and (b) strive to have a routine.
We have adopted a 1in 3 watchbill so we are basically 3 hours
on and 6 hours off, this leads to it's own problems ie too much
rest and hence boredom and hence wishing the trip would end.
Therefore the days routine is thus, night hours those off watch
sleep, next watch on is standby to help those on watch (if extra
hands are needed). Morning watch is cleaning and house keeping,
here the
galley,
heads, saloon and cockpit are fully cleaned. This only takes
about 2 hours. 10/11 am ish is emails, weather routing and looking
to see if we have got our tactics right. Also this time to take
a morning sun sight and check the times for the meridian pass
of the sun. After this, but before lunch is exercise time, not
Physical but ships emergencies, from fires to soggy tea bags
we practice and discuss what to do. 1300 (1 pm) is lunch which
is normally sandwiches. Afternoon is theory, books, snooze,
afternoon sun sight etc 1600 whoever is on watch prepares dinner,
which is served at 1800ish. After dinner is normally a social
time cumulating in the evenings film/cards/books etc. Then bed
and night watches. Simple but it works. But do not forget that
we are sailing a yacht 24 hours/day as well. Tomorow we will
disclose our tactics (or lack of them).
Transat
Day 16:
Position 23º2'N 23º20'W, Course 240T, Wind F3 NNE,
6 knots, 32ºC, cloud 25% cumulus. Yesterday
afternoon saw our first fish, we do not know what it
was but are eating it this pm. It was 2 feet in length and
generally yellow, Tony spotted a picture of it in one of the
sailing magazines about the ARC so general concensus is that
it is edible, since then we have had one other bite, so to
date a total of 2 missed bites and one fish in the bag. At
noon today we first hoisted the asymetric spinaker, until
now we have suffered under genoa alone. The reason is that
we have had very changeable winds mainly astern of us, hence
negating the mainsail unless we sailed from broad reach to
broad reach. I used that tactic from Sotogrande to La Colera
in the Canaries and Summer Breeze got there before us by using
genoa alone. The winds upto now have been very fickle and
have given us a lot work with Gybing and general sail trim,
too much to go into in detail apart from it was tedious. Today,
as previously mentioned, is our first sail change upto the
assymetric. The reason for delaying the change is due again
to the fickleness of the wind and a desire to keep the best
down wind sail in tact for the tradewinds where it will pay
in spades (we do not carry a symetrical spinacker). Although
not in the trades yet the wind has settled and we are at last
seeing some good, steady movement. It has basically been a
very slow passage upto now. I have deliberately not used the
engine as I have a feeling that the fuel may be useful later.
At readers' request our crew are going to introduce themselves.
Today, to start is Jerry: Hello Readers, We're well on our
way with the asymetrical having gone up in anticipation of
the easterly trade winds. Back in La Gomera some Summer Breeze
crew members asked why I was doing this transatlantic. My
first reaction was "wouldn't anyone"? I tell others
that retirement involves engaging in youthful fantasies and
I guess that's what I'm engaged in. Just think! Following
the route of Columbus in a vessel only a bit smaller (if I
recall his ship's size correctly). And, being aboard Ushomi
with Kevin, Tony and especially Andy is truly good fortune
and opportunity to learn. The experience brings back memories
of crossings of Atlantic and Pacific on U.S. Navy ships hearing
the the sea noises and watching the bow waves and ship's wake.
Each time on deck provides a new panorama. Jerry Weigle, CAPT,
JAGC, USN (Retired)
Editor's
note: just so you know the depression Ushomi had been skirting
South turned into Tropical Storm Delta. As such full details of
the storm can be found on the following website: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov.
It is now centred on 25ºN and is tracking SSE, although as
you can see on the web site it is forecast to head North over
the weekend. Ushomi is at 18º (see below) and so out of the
immediate danger area.
Transat
Day 17:
Position
22º11'N 24º53'W. Course 250 T, 5.5 knots, wind F2-3
NNE. Asymetric spinnaker on starboard tack,no gybe's intended
or conducted in last 24 hours. Last night we ate our first big
yellow fish. Personally I wanted to keep it as a pet but was
out voted, it proved to be a stunning meal, prepared by our
resident fisherman and swearing chef 'big Tony' ; later Tony
will be doing his cooking afloat slot with useful tips and recipes
for budding chefs. Kevin has devised a means of scrunching (technical
word) photos to send and be put on the web site, excuse the
quality but we have to reduce them right down in order to send
on sat com. Photo's below - Jerry's incredible custard (useful
for hitting big fish and sealing joints), skipper attempting
to eat Jerrys incredible custard and ...

Kevin
with an Ugly fish (below).

Tony
Cooking Corner (Eat your heart out, Keith Floyd):
Yellow
Fish Dish
Any
respectable Chef will tell you that fresh ingredients are the
pre-requisite for great cooking so naturally, the first step
in this recipe: CATCH YOUR FISH! This only took us four days
and put us somewhere (?) off the coast of Africa, but was worth
the effort. Clean, gut and cut into 8 'man-size' fillets. Marinate
for 24 hours in fresh lemon juice, olive oil, a handful of dried
oregano and a sprinkling of black pepper. (Chef's tip; put fish
and marinade in a sealed tupperware container, refrigerate and
turn at three hour intervals, or at every watch change). When
you're ready to cook, take each individual fillet, dust with
a sprinkling of wholegrain breadmaking flour and seal in a pan
coated with a film of the finest virgin olive oil. When you've
treated each fillet in this way, transfer to a baking tray and
place on the top shelf of a hot oven (if its gimballed, oscillating
through 90 degrees and generally trying to throw it's contents
out over your feet at every opportunity, this adds authenticity).
Bake for just 15 minutes (or until you smell burning), remove
and serve immediately with a wedge of lemon. This astounding
dish was served with 'Baked Mediterranean Vegetables' consisting
of mixed peppers, onions, tomatoes and garlic coated generously
in the finest olive oil, a touch of balsamic vinegar, dried
basil and baked for 40 minutes, emerging deliciously crisp and
flavoursome. The dish was completed by adding a generous helping
of 'Uncle Ben's' finest long grain rice..... 'al-dente' of course.
The chef was pleased with his efforts but the Sommelier is up
for Court Martial on account of there being no suitable accompanying
wine....
(Editorial
note: Overnight,
fishing expert readers of the web site, Chris and Roger, variously
identified the yellow fish as: Finnan Haddock, Smoked Cod, (a
big) Kipper, (Chris) and, probably more accurately, Dorada (or
Gitlhead Bream) (Roger). If the latter: beautiful eating!)
Our
days are embedded in routine now, Astro navigation takes up
a good chunk of the day, as do Andy's interesting 11am chats
on the boat safety etc, attendance is not great but can improve.
Boat fact, due to the fact that we have a water maker we can
make fresh water from the sea, of all the kit onboard this is
a biggie for comfort. A normal boat doing this trip will have
1.5 Litres for drinking and 2 litres for washing per person
per day, that means no fresh water showers and limited laundry.
We on the other hand are showering and running the laundry every
other day. The only stipulation is that we fill the tanks every
day and log the meter reading, this means that should the water
maker fail we can monitor water consumption and resort to the
'normal' method. Ushomi carries 750 litres of water in three
tanks, and 200 litres in bottles, only one tank is ever in use
and average daily water consumption is 115 litres, it takes
the water maker 45 minutes to replenish this amount. Joke received
from Joss Doggett (Andy's Nephew) ' Man goes to the Zoo and
there is only one dog there, it's a shitzu.
Transat
Day 18:
Editor,
how is the web site looking? Have you any suggestions? Also
is there too much content? Are you having to chop any bits out?
Have you had any feedback on the site? The days report has turned
into a fun part of the day and definitely helps morale. Tonight
is a Look What We Found night, will report tomorrow. Andy .
Position
21º16'N 27º4'W, 6.5 knots, course 250º, wind
10 k T NNE. Asymetric,T 35ºC (hot). We are now about
300Nm NNW of the Cap Verdes and starting to head more west,
we are still above the trade winds butnow is the time to go
according to my weather report (the old adage is sail south
from the Canaries until the butter melts then go west. Basically
a great past 24 hours, good progress, lets hope it keeps up.
Fish to date Tony 3 Kevin 1 Andy 1 Gerry - room to improve.
Hot News - Norwegian John (Andy & Jane's friend), in his
brand new Jeaneau 50, has broken out of the med and is heading
to Tenerife, will update as it comes in. Still no news on
Summer Breeze.

"The
last couple of days the winds have been lacking some but picked
up during the night. It's interesting that the
winds have consistently been from the northeast, off either
the port or starboard quarter. I'd expected that we'd
be tacking occasionally. I'd also expected that the temps
would be uncomfortable. The sleeping is quite good.
Andy has a good ship's routine that sets parts of the day
for different activities and the organization sure contributes
to an interesting and pleasant voyage. The evenings toward
dusk are fantastic and sunsets and sunrises each an extraordinary
experience. Jerry"
Plot
progress:
To
create your very own chart of the Atlantic follow the instructions
below. 1/ Take a piece of A4 paper, lie it sideways in front
of you 2/ In the top right hand corner draw a small (1cm diameter)
circle and label it Gibraltar 3/ Measure 5cm along the top from
the right hand corner and then 5cm down, draw a small circle
(1cm diameter) and label it 'Canaries' 4/Repeat 3/ but measure
10cm along and 10cm down and label it 'Cap Verdes' 5/From the
Cap Verdes measure 20cm directly across (going left), draw a
small (1cm diameter) circle and label it Caribbean' YOU
NOW HAVE A BASIC PASSAGE CHART!
Part
B Africa
1/
Measure 8.5cm down the right hand page from the top right
corner, then measure across 5cm, put a small X. Starting on
the edge of the paper just below Gibraltar (but not touching)
draw a line from the edge of the paper to X. You have now
drawn the atlantic coast of Morroco. 2/From X measure 2.5cm
straight down and mark X again. Join the two X's. This i the
atlantic coast of Mauritania. 3/From the second X draw a line
at 45 degrees (ish) to run off the right hand edge of the
page. (Senegal) YOU
NOW HAVE THE WESTERN BULGE OF AFRICA (round off the corners
as you see fit)
Part
C South America
1/From
the bottom left hand corner measure 12 cm along the bottom
of the page and mark Y. From the bottom Left hand corner measure
9.5cm (should be just below carribean) and mark Z. Join Y
and Z together. You now have, from the bottom, Brazil, Guyane,
Suriname, Guyana and Venezuela at the top. YOU NOW HAVE THE
EASTERN COAST OF SOUTH AMERICA Use
1cm is approx 100 nautical miles. I will give co-ordinates
daily.
Top
Tip: make the coast lines a bit bumpy, colour the land green,
the sea blue and add a few trees for authenticity.
Noon
position 20º31'N 28º58'W, speed 5.2 knots, course
245ºT. Temp 38ºC (v hot). Position
on Andy's Chart. Draw a line from Cap Verdes to the Caribean,
from the Cape Verdes measure 1cm along and 2cm up. Thats
us, 19 cm to go. Last days run 125 Nm (or 1.25cm), averaging
just over 5 knots/hour. Fish to date, all the same variety
(Dorado), BUT yesterday, just before dinner we got a good
bite, it took the line fast and bent the rod,Andy (in his
inexperience) braked the line too much and the fish was
gone. Andy banned from Rod. Tactics
so far and for the future - the line between the Cape Verdes
and the Caribean is along the North Easterly Trade winds,
this means that the wind should be constantly behind us
slightly on the starboard (right) side of the vessel, a
very nice point of sail. The trades are also constant, hence
the reason everyone comes down here to cross the atlantic.
So on your chart the trades are blowing from right to left
with a slight downward angle. Theory good so far. The trades
are set up by a very simple thing, the sun. The sun heats
the air at the equator (the equator being closest to the
sun, hencehigh temperatures (sahara etc). Heat rises (as
every school boy knows) as the relatively hot air rises
it becomes less dense and cools down it now wants to drop
but is being pushed up by the newer rising hot air under
it (like a fountain). As with a fountain the air falls to
the side, some north, some south. This air descends, and
then is sucked back into the equator to take the place of
the rising newly heated air, and up it goes again, and so
on. The clever amongst you will point out that the air in
the north would therefore head south to the equator not
North East, as the trades are. This is caused by a thing
called Coriolis Effect , the earth is spinning on a north
south axis (same as a school globe), it spins in an east
direction (Great Britain is actually hurtling towards Russia)
and therefore deflects the falling air, hence the North
Easterly trades. We are just coming into the trades and
a big atlantic low is hovering above the trade winds, the
strength of it is such that it hasovercome the trades and
is about to reverse the wind direction, possibly for the
next 4-6 days, so much for theory. So on with foul weather
gear and get to it. One note, we purposefully
have crept well under the depression and will not see heavy
winds, just that the wind will be on the nose instead of
the bum. It always seems to happen to me !!!!!!!!
With
Tony, a brilliant chef, Kevin, a nearly brilliant chef
and Jerry, enthusiastic and incredible custard, I am daunted
when it comes to my time to cook. Last night was such
a night. As you may know we are carrying Roger's 'Look
What we Found' food range. Now this is not a plug, I have
been asked to report on how the food goes with boats and
sailing. Please note that thefood has brought mixed views
from the crew and myself. The biggie being it's easy to
do in a blow, but it's always better to have homemade
food, plus a lot of people take great pleasure in preparing
a good meal. So armed with 5 packets of Shaun Richardsons
Citrus Braised Herdwick Mutton I set sail as they say.
I boiled up some potatoes and some runner beans, mashed
the spuds and bunged the bagged the food into a pan and
heated through, (not as per instructed in the microwave
or boil in the bag). Served on plates with negative garnish.
The general comments were very good, even Kevin saying
if he had not known what it was he would have thought
it was homemade. Unfortunately the bags, due to their
longetivity and toughness, are kept in the bilges and
it has kind of become known as 'Look what we found in
the bilges' (sorry Roger). Unfortunately the best meal
to date is still Big Tony's Dorada, smoked Cod etc, but
we caught that and it was our first fish.
Laundry
Officers Report
The
laundry is well and good, statistics show that Jerry has
sent in 12 pairs of underpants (Calvin Klein Jockey), Tony
8 pairs (Marks and Spencers Boxers), Kevin 7 pairs (Tesco
Savers baggy fit). The skipper is yet to send anything and
thinks his pair will last the trip. Jerry has reported the
loss of a sock, it is grey, Kalvin Clein and ankle height,
anyone seeing such a sock please let us know.
Astro
Navigators Section (by Tony)
For
a couple of days now I've been concerned that many of you
reading these reports will be under the impression that
we're on a pleasure cruise, soaking up the sun, dining extravagantly
on a range of freshly caught fish and generally 'taking
it easy', so it's time to set the record straight... Kevin
and I awake each morning and over the course of the ensuing
twelve hours are faced with solving a number of puzzles
involving Azimuths, PZX triangles, Greenwich HourAngles,
Local Hour Angles and celestial bodies. To assist with this(?)
we're supplied with an impeneterable volume entitled 'Sight
Reduction Tables', an Almanac and a contraption used by
ancient mariners, known as a sextant. You'll have seen Russel
Crowe wielding one expertly in a force 9 gale in 'Master
and Commander' .Oh, I nearly forgot; any chance of solving
any of these puzzles would be impossible without the trusty
Casio digital watch purchased for the princely sum of £10
specifically for this voyage, from Argos (Thanks Lynn!)
We have a number of reference sources (apart from Andy)
to assist us and I thought it might be educational, informative
(if not downright entertaining!) to share with you a paragraph
from one of these volumes. Extracted
from 'Simple Navigation By The Sun' written by David Smith
and first published in 1974 (Reprinted in 1980) 'The
Versine Formula (and the versine is merely the trigonometrical
function (1- Cos 0), is a general one for all spherical
triangles but applied to the PZX triangle which is already
familiar: Versine ZXX= Versine P x Sin PZ x Sin PX +Versine
(PZ : PX), where the symbol just means subtract the smaller
from the greater. Or, in other words: Versine Zenith Distance
= Versine LHA Sin Co-Lat Sin Co-Dec + Versine (Co-Lat +
Co-Dec).' So,
there you have it. This extract from page 67 of a 182 page
'simple' guide is just one example of the words of wisdom
currently shedding immense light on a dark subject (unless
it's a noon sight, when of course it's not dark at all).
Author
unknown (but possibly Kevin - see text) I
have to report that Kevin (Mechanical engineer, young,
tall, good looking, single) is currently leading the battle
of the astro navigators having managed to use a Sun-Run-Sun
combined with a Meridian Pass to fix our position to within
11 miles yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SHurely
ShoMe MISHtake?Pic
of the day

Jerry's
emergency hole repair custard
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY JANE - LOVE YOU - ANDY
Noon
position 20º25'N 30º57'W, Course 270º
T, port tack, wind on the beam force 4, present boat speed
(last 4 hours) avge 8 knots (yahoo!). Last 24 hours run
105 Nm (worst yet), but read tactics below. Cloud cover
100%, humidity 75%. Boat heeled at 10º and pretty stable.
Position on Andy's chart from the Cap Verdes-Caribean line
measure 2cm along and then 2cm up. That's us (last 24hrs
run 1cm) Top Tip ( from Sean Doggett) I have received information
that www.mapquest
< http://www.mapquest
> is working but instead of west put
our longtitude as a negative (ie todays position will read
N20º24.4' -30º57'W, I think).
(Editorial
comment: advice from on high: best Net map to plot positions
on is that provided by US National Hurricane Centre. You
can print an Atlantic chart with lat & long at this
site
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/AT_Track_chart.pdf)
Tactics (Andy) - After yesterday's brief ditty on
the trade winds you will realise that the winds are not
behaving as they should. That's sailing and you deal with
it. However yesterday there was a big wind hole (an area
of no wind) just north of us increasing in size. Two possible
outcomes: 1. The hole moved over us and we would sit still
for possibly two days(disaster) or 2. We get the hell out
of it with a dodge (easy said, hard to do). The Atlantic
low (I referred to yesterday) has wind and, as I said, now
is the time to head west. What I didn't add was that it
was an attempt to swop systems and get into the edges of
the low, so rather than sedate sailing with lots of south
in our course, we opted to try for more interesting and
faster sailing (really the only option). We were always
going to end up in the low, just a question of when. All
yesterday was tedious, then at 0300 (3 o'clock this am,
Mum), with Kevin, THE WIND GURU, on watch the wind started
to come, slowly at first, but increasing. We are now barrelling
along in 16 knots of wind averaging 8 knots of boat speed;
Ushomi has been given her head at last and is sailing beautifully.
We will probably ride the bottom of the low for 4 days and
also we intend get some south into our course (not too much)
so as to give us a good angle of attack to the wind in 2
days. After that who knows.
Crew
Comment (Jerry) - Andy has appointed me as sanitation
and personal hygiene officer in addition to my duties in
providing American style cooking menus that I obtained from
the head chef at the Salvation Army Men's Shelter, Detroit,
Michigan, especially for this passage. An example
of the latter was my version of English custard prepared
last week. As personal hygiene
officer I have required all crew members (excepting myself)
to trim their heads bald. I'm sure you'll understand this
requirement. One of my sanitation officer duties is
the daily cleaning of the heads. Andy has promised
that if I do a good job, in another week he'll issue
me a brush. I enjoy these collateral duties immensely.
(Andy forced me to put in this last sentence) Jerry
(Editor: Is this where the earlier Capt. Bligh comment comes
from?)
Sleeping
at Sea (Andy) - This is a subject close to any sailor's
heart, a rested sailor is a coiled spring, ready to leap
into action, a tired sailor is more like a shock absorber
on a particularly bad 1950's landrover used in the Desert,
heavily. Traditionally, the skipper has a berth near to
the Nav station, this is usually picked for comfort and
quietness but the reason given is it's proximity to the
nerve centre in case of emergency. The mate normally takes
the second best cot and so on, with the last in the queue
getting the sail locker in the bows. Motion in the stern
is the most comfortable whereas in a good beat the bow cot
can resemble a monkey cage, deck head one minute, bed the
next. At first it may seem difficult to sleep but eventually
everyone will attain a level of tiredness where sleep comes.
On Ushomi I have somehow messed up and Tony and Jerry have
the aft cabins, Kevin the stateroom up near the front and
I am in the bunkspace. It does not offer the space of the
other cabins but I have managed to make a nest and take
refuge there in times of despair. TOP TIP - When joining
a yacht for the first time. While everyone else is shaking
hands and introducing themselves dive down below, check
out the 2nd best berth (skipper will have the best), drop
your bags on it and defend it with a will.

Sanitation
on Ushomi(!)
Transat
Day 21:
It's
Banging Mr Potter!
Noon position: 19º39'N 33º26'W. Speed
6 knots (but we have slowed a bit), Force 5, course
180ºT, cloud cover (someone saw some blue a while
back), wave height 4 meters, water on deck and Kevin
(lots), sails: main 2 reefs, yankee. Last day's run
150Nm (best since Canaries- remember that the distance
run is measured from noon till noon in a straight line,
we often cover more miles through the water but it is
the day's distance that counts). Today's picture was
taken in calmer times, before the Canaries. Stan and
Marius you will no doubt remember it (Editor: possibly
Johnny Depp's Pirate ship?).
Tactics: (Skipper) as expected we have wind,
too much of it now, life is full of extremes. The wind
is veering (the direction is going from 200º to
205º and so on). What this means to us is the following:
we have had a bumpy old night on port tack with a course
being pushed from south of west up to north of west,
this is known as a header as it is deflecting us from
our desired course, we rode with the header until 1000
this morning and tacked (put the bow through the wind
on the sails onto the port (left) side of the boat,
our course (as you cannot sail directly into the wind)
is now due south. This will do two things: i. on the
last tack we were sailing towards the centre of the
low, and hence if we stood on the wind would increase,
by tacking we are heading away from the low and will
get lower winds, ii. as we progress the wind will continue
to veer, BUT instead of heading us (see header above)
we will now in position to be lifted, this is where
you can follow the wind shift to your advantage i.e.
as we get lifted we will get more and more west in our
course, which is where we want to go. Do not forget
that the south course at present is not to our disadvantage
as Antigua is still below our latitude. Yesterday, I
mentioned deliberately sailing west for the low to get
wind, this was an absolute necessity as to remain where
we were would have meant 1-2 days wallowing, followed
by what is happening now; net result: lose two days.
We are having a bumpy ride as mentioned, and I believe
it will be so for a few days to come. Everyone is talking
about how everyone describes trade wind sailing as idyllic,
spinnakers for 17 days etc. This is how it normally
is, I suppose we aren't a normal crew.
Laundry Officers Report: (Jerry) Shut until further
notice. (Editor: Is Capt. Bligh gagging him?)
Watchkeeping: (Skipper?) as you are aware the
vessel is sailing 24hours a day, we cannot anchor and
there are no ports to go to, we therefore need a system
that will maintain vigilance at all times and also allow
the crew to rest. There are many watchkeeping systems
but we have opted for a one in three system. So basically,
starting at seven in the morning. One person (a) on
watch for 4 hours, 1100 (b) on watch for 4hrs, 1500
(c) on watch for 4hrs. We are now at 7 pm and shift
to 3 hr watches: so 1900: (a) back on watch for 3 hours,
2200 (b) back on watch for 3 hrs, 0100 (c) back on watch
for 3 hrs, 0400 (a) back on watch for 3 hours, 0700
(b) on watch for 4 hours and then revert to day watches.
So once every three nights one person will get all night
in bed (0100 - 0700). Also the system ensures that watches
rotate, that each person has a different watch each
night. It takes the human body about three to four days
to settle to a new sleep pattern, those early days see
everyone settling and sleeping lots, now we are mainly
sleeping during the night hours and catching a short
nap in the day.
Note
from Tony:
We carry a sail wardrobe that allows us to optimise
our sails to the variety of conditions we're likely
to face. ie, if we're running with the wind behind us
in light wind conditions, we can fly the asymetric spinnaker,
a light fabric sail that is perfectly suited to the
conditions. Yesterday, as the wind increased and it
became obvious that we were going to be in for an extended
period of beating (sailing as close to the direction
of the wind as possible), it was clear that the best
headsail for us to use was the 'Yankee', a sail with
a high clew (rear end), designed for these conditions.
Unfortunately, at the time, we were flying the largest,
heaviest sail in our wardrobe, a 140% Genoa. So, in
a force 4 wind and a building sea (2 metre waves) 'on
the nose' I raced to adopt the bowman position. This
involves sitting on the pulpit rail (overhanging the
bow, but facing the stern of the boat) hauling the genoa
down the forestay track, unshackling the foot and the
head, folding and stowing, prior to unfolding the Yankee,
shackling it to the furling gear and guiding it up the
forestay track. Sounds simple, eh? Let me add into the
equation a boat that's pitching through an arc of 10-12
feet and shipping water in copious quantities over my
shoulders! Fortunately, at these latitudes, it's warm
water! But, the highlight of the manouvre was undoubtedly
Kevin's efffort to prevent the Genoa from ending up
in the water as the wind attempted to lift the sail
off the deck; he decided to lay down on it at strategic
intervals whilst Andy and I tried desperately to fold
the sail...needless to say, he was always kneeling/lying
on the wrong bit!! Anyway the ensuing 24 hours has proved
that the Yankee was definitely the right choice and
was worth the soaking we all endured to get it aloft!
(additional from Andy: it is worth noting that throughout
a sail change one of the main players is the 'piano
player' in the cockpit, this job is to organise, release
and haul the relevant sheets and halyards throughout
the manouvre, called the piano player because all the
jammers that take the tension of the halyards resemble
the keys on a piano, and are just as difficult to learn.
Our Piano man is Jerry and if he don't release the right
one the sail don't come down, and another will.
Note
From Kevin: Beating across the Atlantic, isn't what
was expected but its great to have some good winds.
My fore-cabin (aka sail locker) is a bit like Alton
Towers / Funderland and Mammoth mountain all together.
With these waves it's pitching and rolling about 15
feet all the time and in any direction. It's a bit pot
luck, putting contact lens in... On the plus side, I
spend lots of time relaxing and levitating. When we
go down a wave I levitate towards the coachroof, when
we hit the trough of the wave I levitate back down to
the bunk. All good fun, I have packed the forecabin
bunk with the Asymmetrical spinnaker, so I should be
well wedged in tonight.

Johhny
Depp's Frigate?
Transat
Day 22:
Position
18º17'N 33º52'W, Course 210ºT, average speed 5.5
knots, hot and humid, very wet up top. Wave height average 5 meters
max 8 meters. Waves - breaking across the bow and continuing the
length of the boat. Sails - Yankee, Morale - high but tired. TOP
TIP 'wunderground.com' shows the weather around us using satelite
imagery. Thanks Kurt
General
situation:
At
present things are pretty much as described yesterday, we are still
plugging along under the low, the waves are generally better but
there are still big waves waiting to get you unawares. We have all
had a few drenchings. As I said we are hoping to get back into better
winds, it basically gets slightly better as each day passes, We
do not expect trade winds for at least five days, that is not to
say we won't have pleasant times. Light winds and flat seas are
what we want.
The
Mainsail In the early hours damage was spotted to the luff of
the mainsail, this is the area of the sail that slides up and down
the mast. Repairs are pretty straightforward, it is the same problem
as we had to repair in San Sebastian but lower down. The original
repair is holding well. We are therefore sat in the saloon having
a craft fair convention and swopping sewing techniques, Kevin prefers
to introduce sequins, while Tony prefers ribbons.
Wet
Clothes - At present we are all wet but not cold, the routine
is to stand watch, come off watch and get your wet clothes somewhere
where they may dry, or if not going to bed change into dry stuff.
It is important to keep your bed dry, this is refuge, all beds
are dry and will remain so. When you get up it is on with wet
clothing and go on watch, why put wet clothing on when we all
have dry ? If we get all our clothing wet we have nothing dry
to wear and until the weather and sea abate we cannot dry anything.
Sorry today is short but we are a bit busy and a bit tired - BUT
HAVING A BLOODY GOOD TIME!
Position
17º22'N 34º21'W Speed 5 knots, course 270ºT.
Lumpy and Bumpy and Wet (my salt encrusted underwear is no laughing
matter). Our last two days course has been dictated more by weather
and sea state than anything else, we are heading west and the Depression
East. We have lost some ground over the last two days, especially
due to the main repair, but we are well placed and chugging on.
News
on the Mainsail: yesterday we started out tired and spotted
a problem with the mainsail, the easy answer would be to totally
ignore it. Unfortunately this was not an option so at 0600 yesterday
we took down the main. There then followed a busy day of sewing,
first repair the bolt rope, then strengthen it. By 1800 (6 oclock
Mum) the main was ready but then the shackle
on the traveller failed (the traveller holds the line that controls
the boom, that holds and controls the mainsail, an essential bit
of kit). We then set to, in darkness, stripping the traveller and
fitting a new shackle, this only took 3 hours against my dread of
12 hours (the problem is the traveller is held together by stainless
bolts into Alluminium, not a happy combination).
So, by 2100 (9 oclock Mum) the main was up and away we went. Hussahhhhhhhh.
At this stage, having started tired we were all pretty exhausted
but still found energy to burst into hysterics when Tony got a head
to foot drenching on the helm. This morning the wind picked up and
we took down the main due to sea and wind state. The motion is now
quite comfortable.
Tropical
Revolving Storm Delta: Well, we are now sailing under Not an
Atlantic Depression BUT Tropical Revolving Storm 'Delta', it's been
given a name, cool. We have had a few days of totally non trade
wind sailing as you may have gathered, Just a point I want to make
out, this is not normal for this passage, if it were, I would be
tucked up in my bed in my Jim Jams with Jane (Editor: from what
Jane said, he may be a touch optimistic!). But we all do daft things
in life, the problem is I keep coming back and doing it again. They
say that what sets us apart from animals is our ability to learn
from our experiences, I am applying for an intensive course in Landscape
Gardening (in Birmingham).
What
is it like: (All of you who have sailed through a TRS skip this
bit). The weather is changeable, the wind direction will alter by
30-40 degrees in an instant, squalls full of wind and rain are frequent,
one way to describe a squall is a typical warm front in the UK,
this is what brings wind and rain, BUT in a frontal system as you
get in the UK there is a warm front followed by a cold front. In
our part of the atlantic there are basically no fronts (hence it
is not a frontal system). The squalls can be seen for miles and
under each is rain, wind, thunderand lightening, we take all the
normal precautions. At night it is similar to a fantastic light
show, there are thunderstorms going on everywhere you look, some
near, some far with every kind of lightening in the book, Fork,
Sheet etc. Once through a squall the wind usually drops and a calm
period follows, this can be deceiving and prompt the shaking out
of more sail, we keep the sail to a minimum which reduces speed
but increases comfort and more importantly, when the squalls hit
we are prepared.
Skippers
note on the crew: they are tired, looking forward to good
sleep YET still dig deep when called upon, ability is one thing
but to give 110% all heart is quite another.
Laundry
Officers Report: Anyone seeking a hardworking, clean and presentable
man to do laundry and domestic chores please contact L/O S/Y Ushomi,
Somewhere in the Atlantic.
Kevin's
Shower: Today Kevin Showered! He was confused by the Shower
Gel and asked it's meaning, but otherwise the evolution went well.

Sunrise
Position:
17º15'N 35º44'W, Course 270ºT, Boat speed 5 knots
average, swell average in night 7 meters, max 15 meters, wind now
F4 and the sun has been out but another squall is about to hit.
General:
We are plodding on, not making terrific distance 80Nm per day for
last 3 days but we are going in the right direction and conditions
are improving all the time, and the barometer is rising. TRS Delta
is pretty stationary but looks to heading north west over the weekend.
The reason we are not making big distances is due to the sea state,
it is confused, big swell with breakers on some and is basically
stopping the boat in her tracks. Also we have been under reduced
sail for the last three days, again due to the sea state. This gives
us a tolerable ride in the boat and ensures that we the crew and
Ushomi arrives in one piece. Our main problem has been the main
sail, this we are repairing as required and the damage is due more
to a fault in the design of the sail than conditions, in Antigua
I can get it professionally repaired and hey presto, as good as
new.
Laundry
Officers Report - There is no report but see advert below:
Situations
Vacant - Wanted, clean, well behaved man/woman to carry out duties
as Laundry Officer on Yacht carrying out sailing duties in idyllic
tropical conditions, apply to S/Y Ushomi, somewhere in the Atlantic.
Time
Zones: We are in time zone +0200, this means that if we add
2 hours to our (local) time we will get GMT (greenwich mean time),
Britain is at present in GMT. Why? Basically as we move west the
sun comes to us later and later than you get it in Britain, therefore
if we kept GMT on the boat we would be having lunch at 1400, not
so bad. But when we are 7 hours behind Britain we will be having
lunch as the sun sets, and so on. Therefore to keep lunch time when
the sun is high in the sky we adjust our clocks. Basically every
time zone is 15º apart, and there are 24 time zones (24 hours
in the day). Basic maths tell us that there are 360º in a circle
(360 divided by 24 = 15). The Greenwich Meridian is in the middle
of time zone 0000, so heading west 7.7º takes us to +0100,
a further 15º (22.5º longtitude) takes us to +0200. We
will go into +0300 at 37.5 ºWest. Easy ! (Editor: clear as
mud?)

Bending
on sail
Position:
17º41'N 37º34'W, course 270ºT, speed 4 knots ,Blue
sky, Wind F6, Swell still shitty
General
- Get west young man! Sill the same, we are directly below TRS Delta
and expect it to start moving East later today (away from us). David
in Spain is tracking TRS Delta and updating us. We also have weather
routing onboard and track the weather daily, thus we know where
we do not want to be. Conditions are getting better daily, though
we will be beating for a few days more, the big factor is not wind
now, it is sea state. Basically the sea is stirred up and we are
trying to go against it, this makes for wet sailing, hence the hatches
are kept shut to keep water out BUT the boat can only stay shut
up for so long before it gets a bit smelly, couple that with 85%
humidity and you have a rare brew. I have moved out of the bunkspace
as it is getting a bit too hot in there and am now kipping in the
saloon. We are having a clothes wash day tommorow, washing is no
problem, drying it is. Also the slightest bit of work has you sweating
from every pore. Tommorow we ventilate and wash (we hope). Morale
is good but we are all tired and look forward to flatter seas, no
more, just flatter seas.
Dog
Bowl Dining - See today's picture, in any sort of vessel a must
is the trusty dog bowl. Not a dog bowl for a terrier, but one for
a rotweiler. Any sort of food can be prepared and pleasantly displayed
in a range of colours or for the affluent stainless steel bowls.
Bowls can also be customised with your name such as Rex, Fido, etc.
To purchase, go to your nearest pet shop or if money is tight ask
at the local dog centre, they are sure to have some unfit for the
dogs and will gladly give them away.

Dog
bowl food!
Transat
Day 26:
Position:
18º24'N 39º27'W,Course 280ºT, Speed 6 Knots, Wind
F3-4/ WSW
(ROB,
thanks for e-mail, hope Dartmouth good, say Hi Shirley, Andy)
General:
At long last we are departing company with TRS Delta, last night
saw thunderstorms way back in our wake (behind us Mum) and clear
sky's ahead, this morning brought a sudden outbreak of moral,
which is being stamped out as we speak. Jerry commented that someone
had relit the light at the end of the tunnel, but I pointed out
that this was false due to the fact that an extra light would
cost fuel. Why some may ask are we heading slightly north when
we want to be heading slightly south in our course, the answer
is wind direction. At present we
are
beating (in the Trades !!!!!) and have two choices, head predominantly
south or predominantly west (with alittle north in it). We choose
west because it is largly in the right direction and also the
wind is backing later (going around to South), as the wind alters
so can we alter our course.
Historic
Stuff: Whilst we have spent the last week being beasted
we have not been idle, todate the following has been done. Mainsail
down, restitch bolt rope, put back up. Mainsail down, restitch
a different bit of bolt rope, put back up (both times the main
was took off and into the saloon. Bilge system blocked due to
foreign objects (bits paper etc), Manual and Electrical systems
cleaned through, ships bilges cleaned through. Then last night,
just as we knew that today would be laundry day (the first chance
in a week) the water maker decided to stop working - hence no
showers, no laundry (bear in mind the boat has been shut up for
a week and is now smelly, mouldy and in need of cleaning, the
cabins are seriously in need of sanitation and the bedding is
walking on it's own). Serious do do. Then (no names mentioned)
due
to a huge team effort the water maker was fixed, reset to work
and hey presto the bedding is laundered. So we have been busy
as well as smelly. (Editor: their advert has brought in the first
response: "I have solved the wet clothes, washing / drying
problem. Sail naked. Can I have the laundry job please?"
- have readers no sense of propriety - for goodness sake!)
Foodie
Stuff: This column is back by popular request from Catherine.
What do you do in a storm, are Canápes suitable. I would
suggest that whilst nice the following (provided by our Gourmet
Chef Big Tony) maybe better. SPAM, sliced into burger size slices
and thrown in the oven, boil and mash some spuds, baked beans
to add sauce and away you go. Serve in Large dog bowls with spoons.
Job Done

Tony
battles another Dorada!
Transat
Day 27:
Position:
18º42'N 41º43'W, Speed 5.5 Kn avge last 24 hrs, Course
270ºT, wind F4 SW, Sails Main and Yankee (due to occasional
squalls, still), sea state avge but improving all the time.
General:
We are starting to power on, we banged out a 135Nm day yesterday
from noon to noon in the right direction to boot. The wind is backing,
as mentioned yesterday, very slowly and looks to be staying steady,
in a few days we should get the Trades at last to carry us the last
4/5 days. We are all well and morale is high, too high.
Twitchers
Corner: Today's sighting was of that rare and wonderful winged
wonder Fregata Magnificens or as the uneducated will instantly know
it the Magnificent Frigate Bird. Our beauty was 40 inches in length.
Metalic Black with scaly wing coverts due to it's light margins
of feathers, with a transfixing deeply forked tail. Our male had
a white breast with pink legs. These
fellows normally spend their day on the wing and takes food from
the sea's surface. It has made my day I'll tell you.
Laundry
Assistant Recruitment: We have had one applicant (M-J) who suggests
we cut workload by sailing naked, she (yes, a girl) wants to start
immediately, ship's meeting to discuss this pm, watch this space.
Jerry's
Laundry: Jerry's Chinos were laundered accidentally with a red
pair of under pants. Needless to say they came out pink. He is now
dressed in pink sailing trousers, wears his one KC sock (see first
LO's report) and a neckerchief, he refuses to speak to us and pretends
he is doing the ARC.
Jerry
here: I told Andy that now I'll have some class and be
a style setter. The boat sails beautifully along under all
circumstances and with Andy and crew I'm very comfortable and confident.
We've been through what I regard as some trying times and
I continue to be impressed by Andy's concern for the well being
of boat and crew and his outstanding seamanship. At this point in
passage items that we could have had more of are turning up, i.e,
orange juice, ketchup and stuff like that. Fortunately I have
ample head cleaning supplies.

Kev's
feet! (Editor: is this kind of detail not
info overload?)
Transat
Day 28:
Posn:18º14'
43º37'W, Speed 4.5 Knots, Course 230ºT, approx. 1566 nm
from Gomera and 990 nm to go. We cannot seem to shake off the bad
weather, we are ok though and the squall (see below) appears to
have been a one off. All is well at this end, still looking at 7th.
Hot
News - TRS Delta: we are in communication with a couple of yachts
(Tony & Ginny & Norwegian John (NWJ) in the Canaries. NWJ
reports that Santa Cruz is full of yachts waiting to leave for the
Atlantic, they are all bottled up due to TRS Delta. Tony (www.About
Yachting.com) had been in the Cap Verdes for a week and sailed yesterday,
he has had computer problems and has lost all his e-mail addresses,
he asks that everyone who has been in contact with him to send a
very short e-mail so he can get your addresses. Anyway Tony reports
that most of the ARC went into the Cap Verdes to get out of Delta.
Jane (in Spain) reports that the Atlantic rowing race from the Canaries
has been delayed due to, yes, you've got it, Delta.
LTRS
(Little Tropical Revolving Storm): Doris and our night/morning
with it. It started in the night. At 0400 I took the watch
from Kevin, who reported that rain was on the way, it was showing
on the radar. For the next 2 hours the wind shifted constantly though
stayed steady at F3. At 0600 the wind rapidly increased to 40 knots,
the mainsail had two reefs in and the yankee was half rolled away
prior to this. The wind came totally unexpected, we have had similar
squalls all through TRS Delta, but nothing to equal this. The rain
was lashing down and visibility was down to about 1/2 mile, when
the wind again increased to 60 Knots, at this point I could no longer
helm the boat as the rudder was having no effect, full lock and
nothing, attempts to reef would have been more dangerous to sails
and crew. I hoved the boat to and called the next on watch,
there was nothing we could do now but sit it out. The rain increased
until visibility was down to about 2 boat lengths. After approx
10 minutes at 60 knots the wind subsided to 30 knots and we could
start laying a course, the wind gradually died away. We then stood
on hoping for (of all things) more wind (just a little more). We
carried out a set of rounds for damage and there was none, the main
held well, says a lot for our repairs. In honour of the squall,
though not officially recognised, we have upgraded it to a little
tropical revolving storm and named her Doris. Altogether a very
strange night, totally out of the ordinary and definitely not Trade
wind sailing, no more of those please.
General
- Have my enrolment forms for the landscape gardening course arrived
yet? (Editor: not just yet - 2nd class mail). Progress, until this
morning we were hoofing along in 15 knots of wind, due to this mornings
shennanigans we only made 110 Nm over the last 24 hours (we lost
about 5 hours of progress). We are on course, morale is good and
Ushomi ploughs on.
Situations
Vacant - Laundry Officer - We have yet another applicant,
please see cv:
CHRISTOPHER
HORATIO COLUMBUS OXBY
Education:
11+ Cycling Proficciency Test Spellin NVQ's - Brick
laying and Global Corporate Finance (built me own barbecue and changed
some Euro's in Benidorm) Also, been on 3 or 4 Residential Basket
Weaving Courses. Employment: 1976 - 1977 LAUNDRY OPERATIVE reason
for leaving - Some mix up with family cat. - Well, how was I supposed
to know young Tiddles slept in the laundry basket?? Tried to cover
the incident up and lay him out on the garden to look like Natural
Causes, but when you've had a moggy on Colourfast Cottons with a
Short Spin, his hair tends to go a bit curly. Also he smelled "April
Fresh" so that was that. 1983
- 1998 - Looking for work (wore out 3 bicycles) 2002 - 2004 Higher
edication "at Her Majesty's pleasure" - Studied Bricklaying, how
to rob cars, and small time money laundring. Having
read your good advice and handy hints re dining on the high seas,
I thought it would make good sense to equip myself with a dog bowl
in readiness for my new career. Sadly, the dog had not quite finished
with it, and so I will not now be able to start until after Christmas,
when they take the bandages off. PS:
Will you be sending a helicopter for me, or should I row out ?
Fishy
Tales - There is a bit of a fishing competition between Summer
Breeze and ourselves. We have been informed that SB is winning,
we actually dispute that as we have not been reporting every fish,
many we are returning (interestingly every fish has been a Dorada.
Anyway,the competion is now at an end, yesterday we hooked a gert
big un and landed it. Jerry took the initial actions when the line
zinged away and fought bravely. When Ushomi started to go backwards
we knew that we were into a big un. Tony took the rod and by the
steely glint in his eyes you could tell that this was 'mano el mano',
low down and personal. The fish (yellow as it happens) cleared the
water near the stern and a gasp was heard from all, huge doesn't
even get close. Kevin, with no thought for his own safety, grabbed
the freshly baked loaf we were eating and dived headlong into the
boiling mass of water astern of us. After 2 minutes Kevin re-appeared
wrapped around the behemouth and started to beat it with the soggy
loaf (whole grain). The fish soon capitulated and all four of us
dragged it into the boat. Jerry was armed with the whisky: a shot
in the gills kills all fish. Unfortunately he had a few in his own
gills and slipped and dosed the fish with 1/2 litre of JW red label.
Needless to say tonight we are having marinated Dorada. (see todays
picture for proof).

(Editor:
it's the loaf beating bit I have trouble with).
Transat
Day 29:
Position
17º31'N 45º07'W, Course 245ºT, Speed last 24hrs:
4 knots (due to furling repair), now 6 Knots, sea state (maybe
swim at lunch), cloud: thinning all the time, Wind F3 SW, approx.
nm: from Gomera: 1900ish, from Sotogrande: 2900ish, to Antigua:
900 ish.
General
We have now passed from one weather system into another, this
is bringing light winds and a change in direction, that is the
wind is backing (going from Westerly around to Southerly and eventualy
all the way to the NE Trades (a few more days yet), any of you
plotting our progress may notice that we are using up lots of
the atlantic and not going in a straight line,the reason is the
wind. We are now putting south into our course to get the top
of the developing trade winds, to stay where we are would mean
a further two days before the trades get up to us, as allways
we do what the wind dictates, much the same as the sailors of
old (except we have a bread maker, water maker, running water
(H&C), heads(toilets), DVD with home cinema, Sat Coms, freezer,
fridge, generator, microwave, coffee perculator, games machine,
weather routing, washing machine, etc). Ventilate
or Die of Asphixiation About three days ago we thought we
were into the better weather, but Neptune and the rain gods decided
against, with matresses up top and hatches open it started to
rain, then the sea picked up, only a little, but enough to send
water over the bow and onto our nearly dry kit. I opened my hatch
(in the bunkspace) and nearly had it smelling of lily of the sea
when we got goffered and a full bore of water came through, back
to square one. Yesterday in desperation Kevin aired all his kit,
just as he was getting it in a wave broke on the bow and his bedding
was drenched, he had a soggy night. Today we are ventilating again
and complaining of the sun and heat (we are unused to it). Maybe
a swim at lunch.
Situations
Vacant - Laundry Officer: The closing date for applications
has passed. The team are assesing all CV's,applicants may be
requested, at short notice, to attend an interview, that is
all.
Book
Club Extract from 'Attention all Shipping' by Charlie Connelly
- a Man's journey around the area's of the radio 4 shipping
forecast - Until as recently as 1992 alcohol was strictly rationed
in the Faeroes, something that according tofolklore dates back
to the seventeenth century. Apparently
unscrupulous Danes would come over to the islands, get farmers
drunk and take advantage of their inebriation to have them sign
documents handing over their land, so the sale of alcohol was
banned outright. Eventually you could apply to the government
to buy alcoholic drink but, and this is a stroke of genius by
the Faeroese authorities, you could only apply if your taxes
were all paid up to date. It was the Faeroese equivalent of
the Inland Revenue taking over Oddbins and only handing over
a bottle of Jacobs Creek on presentation of your latest P60.
But you couldn't have it straight away: the booze would arrive
by boat from Denmark every three months and the country would
grind to a halt for days afterwards, leaving the streets full
of prostrate, pie-eyed, pissed up but paid-up Faeroese.

Transat
Day 30:
Posn
16º46'N 46º34'W, Course 245ºT, Speed now 5.7 Knots,
avge last 24hrs 4.5 knots, wind F1 (using engine), temperature
(reads 48ºC but this is wrong), humidity 85%. Last night's
film 'Clear and Present Danger', pre-dinner watching was the 'Office'.
A gourmet dinner was prepared and cooked by Andrew and consisted
of Snorkers (sausages) lying besides a bed of mashed potatoes
with egg and baked beans skillfully mounted on top to give the
impression of 'Windsor castle at sunset'. Lunch today is courtesy
of Tony and is 'Potatas Bravas' (Flowery
potatoes,
cooked with with olive oil, onions, paprika, cayeen pepper, cumin
and a a dash of chilli) with Chorizo lightly fried in olive oil.
(He may be creative but bangers and mash take some beating)
Hot
News - Norwegian John reported that TRS Delta hit Tenerife,
the marina in Santa Cruz was devastated on Monday. He said: "Tennerife
was hit by hurricane force winds from DELTA. We were in Santa
Cruz marina when all hell let loose, within 30 minutes the marina
was wrecked. The pontoon we were on lost 11 of it finger pontoons
but stayed attached to the harbour wall, the pontoon over from
us broke up completely. I was third from the end on our pontoon
the two boats outside me disapeared, finger pontoons, cleats and
all (basically the entire boat and pontoon was blown away), the
finger pontoons we were on broke and capsised as did the 7 finger
pontoons inside us.
General
- Fortunately Ushomi is great, no wind, engine on and expecting
wind tonight or tommorow that should give us fair passage all
the way to Antigua. The boat smells of lily of the Atlantic (I
moved back into the bunkspace last night with hatch open all night).
The UK governing body for natural disasters and epidemics have
given us the all clear, so it's back to films, breadmakers, perculated
coffee and Thai massages.
Situations
Vacant - Laundry Officer - We are quite amazed by the rucous
that our dirty smalls are causing - the following are e-mails
between Mary Jo (naked LO) and Chris Horatio Columbus Oxby (Chris
is a balloonist by the way)
Mary
Jo - " I have just successfully laundered a teenager's
rugby kit, fresh from the soggy playing fields of Ilkley, adjacent
Ilkley Moor - I claim the position. Oxby doesn't know how to turn
the machine on and besides, how can he attend an interview at
short notice when travelling by balloon?"
Chris
HC Oxby - "To Turn The Machine On: 1:
Stand in Front of it in your best clingy lycra shorts
2:Rub
your hand through your greasy hair and thrust out your pelvis:
3:
say "I Luuurve You, Baaby!"
How
hard can it be ?
Mary
Jo - "And you can add that I look much better than Oxby
naked! "
At
this point I feel our employment officer Tony must continue
- all applicants will obviously be required to present themselves
before the formal Assessment Board: for such a key position,
we anticipate that applicants should allow two days on site.
(Site to be advised when we figure out where we are, precisely).
In addition to the formal Board, psychometric testing, key skills
testing (no exemptions, proxies or equivalents accepted) an
energetic rendition by the candidate of the Laundryman's song
will be a non-negotiable feature of the recruitment process.
To enable candidates to prepare fully, the Board has decided
(exceptionally in this case) to make the full version of the
Laundryman's song available for candidates to practice, refine
and 'characterise' prior to their performance before the Board.
With absolutely no apology whatsoever to Michael Palin or any
of the Monty Python team we publish below the full version of
the Laundryman's song, set to the tune of the Lumberjack song
and clearly best delivered in the key of 'E':
I'm
a Laundryman and I'm OK
I
drink all night and I wash all day
I
dress in women's clothing
Suspenders
and a bra
I
wish I was a girly, just like my dear Papa
Now
these 4 chaps with filthy clothes
Need
Persil, Daz or Bold
Their
needs are my concern alright
I
don't need to be told
There's
shirts and towels and shorts and socks
Suspenders
and a bra (?)
We
don't know who these belong to
But
Kev said 'Oh la la'
I'm
a Laundryman and I'm OK
I
drink all night and I wash all day
I
dress in women's clothing
Suspenders
and a bra
I
wish I was a girly, just like my dear Papa
The
mood is gay, the guys are sound (Editor, shouldn't that be the
other way around?)
The
shirts are colour fast
I'm
proud to do my duty
But
don't know how long I'll last
Washing
powder harms my hands
I
yearn for mother's Dreft
So
when the clothes are drying
They
all hang to the left
I'm
a Laundryman and I'm OK
I
drink all night and I wash all day
I
dress in women's clothing
Suspenders
and a bra
I
wish I was a girly, just like my dear Papa
With
new machines, I cannot cope
Which
knob do I turn?
I
love to sweat and rub instead
Blisters
I must earn
Twice
daily I will do a load
The
lads seem really pleased
I'm
proud to serve and be their slave
When
tension I have eased
I'm
a Laundryman and I'm OK
I
drink all night and I wash all day
I
dress in women's clothing
Suspenders
and a bra
I
wish I was a girly, just like my dear Papa
It
goes without saying that the full force of the law will be brought
to bear on anyone attempting to plagiarise, publicly perform
or record this work. All rights reserved, Intellectual property
rights protected, etc, etc .

Sunset
Transat
Day31:
Position
16º10'N 48º24'W, Course 270ºT, speed 5 knots (expect
better later), wind F2 (expect better soon), temperature hot,
humidity 85%, about 720 nm out.
General
- We are now south of Antigua's latitude and are heading due
west, the trades are slowly coming, wind direction is just about
there but little wind. When the trades kick in fully we will be
in a good position to use main and asymetric spinnaker to scud in,
basically we have stopped zig zagging around and are pointing pretty
much where we want to go.
Laundry
Officer - Vacancy - All applicants are requested to answer the
following questions and submit the completed forms to S/Y Ushomi,
somewhere in the Pacific. Note neatness and grammar will count:
1
Explain what the letters 'ON/OFF' stand for.
2
What direction of spin is used in the Northern hemisphere?
3
The order 'ABANDON SHIP' is given and the washing machine is on
a
900RPM
spin, with the lid locked. Explain your actions.
4
What lingerie is needed to create 'Salmon Pink' sailing trousers?
5
Boyle stated - "The square root of the capacity of the drum divided
by
Pie
is directly proportional to.............". Finish this Law.
6
Explain 'SOCK PHENOMENA".
7
What water is preferred and why (1) Hard, (2) Soft, (3) Ganges,
(4) Bilge?
8
How do you wash a 130 Square meter spinnaker in a 5.5Kg machine?
9
What PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is recommended to wash
skipper's smalls?
10
On what day did God say "Let there be Spin"?
(Editor:
this correspondence has become somewhat manic - see below)
Astro
Corner - How do we know where we are. The traditional way is
with a sextant, tables and watch. When Admiral Sir Cloudsley Shovell
drove half the Mediteranean fleet (returning to Britain) into the
Isles of Scilly, killing 1600 souls, including himself the Admiralty
offered a prize for the person to solve the longtitude problem,
latitude is not a problem as no time piece is needed. The Vikings
measured latitude using Polaris and a marked string. (Quick diversion
- Admiral Shovell managed to get ashore, half drowned but alive,
wherupon a local woman is said to have killed him and robbed his
body). The problem was simple, if a ship could tell accurate time
it could work out longtitude and get a position. Many solutions
were put forward, one involving having two dogs of the same litter,
one being carried onboard ship and
the other kept at greenwich. At noon each day the dog at Greenwich
would be hurt, the dog onboard ship would immediately yelp and hence
give the noon time at Greenwich, this method failed somehow. There
appeared two serious contenders, the first were the Royal Astronomers,
a serious and influential group who started to plot and measure
the stars movements in the heavens. The second contender was a man
called Harrison, he was a clockmaker and set about building a chronometer
(out of wood!) that could handle the rigours of life at sea. Harrison
eventually won the prize and the longtitude problem was solved,
(Apologies, I have cut the story short by a huge margin, read 'Longtitude'
for the full dit). What we use nowadays is basically the same as
all those years ago, except the chronometers are now Casio's costing
£10.00. An important note is that all the data gathered by
the Royal Astronomers plays a massive part in astro nav, although
Harrison solved the Longtitude problem, the Astronomers gave us
the information to use not onlythe Sun, but the Stars and Planets.
This morning at 0550 I stood alone on watch and watched the horizon
get brighter, with both horizon and stars visible I pulled Betelgeuse,
Arcturus, Capella, Dubhe and Sirius down to the horizon, these bodies,
unimaginably distant, gave me a position that proved to be within
7Nm, in thousands of miles of Ocean that isn't bad. Who said life
is boring at sea.
Boredom
and Sanity - The mental health of the crew has been questioned.
I would like to point out that we are fine and dandy. Boredom is
a big bringer of insanity, to overcome this we organise afternoon
social events, things to distract us from the rigours of life afloat.
For example today we have had a Irish Dancing 'RIVER DANCE OFF',
the winner has not yet been decided on but see todays picture to
get an idea of the action.

River
Dance Off
Transat
Day 32:
Finally,
trade wind sailing. It's banging Mr Potter!
Position
16º23'N 51ºW, avge speed last 16 hours: 7.5 knots, course
275ºT, last 24 hours run
160
Nm (best since Canaries), dist to go 650Nm, temperature hot, humidity
85% Wind F4, NNE
General
- Yesterday, at approx 1900, the wind picked up and stayed with
us, with full Genoa and full main we soon saw 8/9s on the log. Due
to only one person on watch at a time we put a reef in the main
for the night hours and on we went. We have no course alterations
to make, a good final leg for the trip. Kevin and I went for a swim
yesterday afternoon, we decided that 5000 metres of water was a
bit deep so waited until we had 4000 metres underneath us, I am
sure I could see the bottom. The sea water was like bathwater, cool
bathwater but absolutely beautiful.
(Editor:
another Fisherman's tale?) After swimming, we put the shark
lures back on the fishing lines and sailed on. This morning we
hooked and caught a small Dorada. While getting it in Kevin stated
that the fish had tried at one point to make a run for it, which
surprised us as the reel was on a high setting for such a small
fish. On inspection the Dorada had teeth marks on it's flank that
were still bleeding ie very fresh, the teeth marks were about
one and a half inches apart. (Editor: could it be Jaws?)
Summer
Breeze - Like us Summer Breeze have had a busy trip, Gavin sent
an e-mail this morning and they were at 43º 35' W at 21:00
GMT on 2nd Dec. 1042 miles to go. They have been fishless for three
days, though it appears that they have caught more fish than us
we have had the bigger and more demanding fish, we therefore claim
the trophy. You have all seen the photographic evidence (photo's
never lie). (Editor: they don't know this yet but one their rivals
(Champagne Traveller) is also claiming the prize).
Jerry
here: There really are north easterly trade winds.
I was pretty much convinced that they were putting me on.
And it is also true that the butter does melt in these climes. I
have to brag a little since I am the proud recipient of the award
for the cleanest heads in the fleet. The recognition means a lot
to me personally since it was acheived without a brush. Almost
like
doing Everest without oxygen I think. This is something that
I've long strived for and is a fitting cap to a memorable voyage.
Mythical
Trades - One outcome of the trip to date is everyone thinks
that the trade winds are mythical and are basically flukey and prone
to disappearing at the drop of a hat. We have sailed for three weeks
and only now are running WITH the wind. What we now have is a beautiful
experience. I will try to explain but will no doubt fall well short.
The boat is sailing
free
and fast, ie we are ploughing the field, the motion is a regular
port to stbd and back again roll, not uncomfortable and such that
the coffee perculator and bread maker can be used, cups can be put
down and remain still. Normal everyday tasks can be carried out,
bliss. When beating into the wind the boat pitches up at the bow
and then comes down, with the
occasional
bang; on a run there is none of that, just the gentle hiss of water
running down the hull. Sunbathing on deck, out of the cockpit, is
a safe and dry reality. The biggest plus, and this is where satellite
communications may be a negative, is that all problems are ashore
and forgotten
for the moment. Books can be read at leisure and generally people
chill out, relax and enjoy ocean sailing. Long live the trades and
all who sail in them.

Dolphins
are back!
Transat
Day 33:
Time
Zone now GMT - 4 hours
Posn:
17ºN 54ºW, distance run last 24hrs 170Nm, course 275ºT,
speed now 7knots, wind NNE F4, Cloud Cover 10%, Cloud Type - Fairweather
Cumulus (little fluffy white clouds), temp hot, humidity 85%.
General
- we are having good sailing but are now starting to complain that
it is getting boring (it has been suggested that we turn around
and go banging into the trades), can't please some people. We are
making slight course alterations as necessary to keep the sail angle
good and will probably have to Jibe at some point, otherwise we
are basically looking good. We expect to get to Antigua Wednesday
am, we will probably have to wait for dawn to enter, Jolly Harbour
is unknown to me and a few hours waiting for the sun is not a bad
thing, like cars, more accidents happen within sight of the destination.
Today we saw a ship, the first sign of human existence for about
two weeks, we called it up to check communications were good and
an Indian gentleman replyed, with the enthusiasm of a man dragged
from his tea, toast and tandori, we confirmed comms and asked for
the football results, "Bombay 7 : Rangoon 2" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
came the reply, obviously a cup match, armed with the sport for
the weekend we tootled on our way. This afternoons sporting event
is Rugby, all comers are welcome
kick off at 1400 LT on the fordeck, rig shorts and singlet, non
marking deckshoes and lifejackets.
Laundry
Officers Vacancy - The 'lucky applicant will be notified shortly.
Bookings
- Any person knowing the telephone number for the 'Mad Mongoose
Hostelry', Jolly Harbour, Antigua, please book floor space for 4,
under table 6 on the 7th December.
Photo
- Another from our time in TRS Delta, the sheet is airing and
is hanging vertically, it's the boat that is not.

Transat
Day 34:
Position
- 17º15'N 56º40'W, last 24 hour run 165Nm, speed now 6.5
knots, distance to go 299Nm, weather - tropical squall just
passed/is passing over, boat shut up Kevin uptop (dripping). Wind
NE F5, hot and humid.
General
- Roly Poly, heading West, Antigua somewhere out there. Another
Dorada this morning, autopsy by Andy (under Tony's supervision)
- cause of death: alcohol poisoning (the state of fish these days
is a disgrace).
Laundry
Officer Vacancy - A late reply to the has been submitted, no
further applications will be accepted :-
1
Explain what the letters 'ONOFF' stand for - it is an anagram of
"FOON/F" which is the sound emitted from an experienced laundry
officer as he skilfully deals with the sticky problem of the Skippers
Smalls.
2
What direction of spin is used in the Northern hemisphere - Spin
in the Northern Hemisphere is usually directed at the poor buggers
who have just had another 8 stealth taxes shoved firmly up their
bottom, and then told they cannot now get off the treadmill until
they are 67, which in South Yorks is about 18 months after their
predicted life expectancy.
3
The order 'ABANDON SHIP' is given and the washing machine is on
a 900 rpm spin, with the lid locked. Explain your actions. This
is a family website, and therefore I cannot possibly comment.
4
What lingerie is needed to create 'Salmon Pink' sailing trousers.
- Split-Crotch Santa Suit
5
Boyle stated - "The square root of the capacity of the drum divided
by Pi is directly proportional to - how big the pie actually is."
6
Explain 'SOCK PHENOMENA' - Sock Phenomena is a small plant like
mollusc that grows in Gentlemen's hosiery and if not checked can
get underneath and cause Barnacles.
7
What water is preferred and why (1) Hard, (2) Soft, (3) Ganges,
(4) Bilge? (2) Soft because it will take shit from all sides and
never answer back.
8
How do you wash a 130 Square meter spinnaker in a 5.5Kg machine?
Give it to "The Wife" and let her sort it out .
9
What PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is recommended to wash
the skipper's smalls - a Royal Navy Frigate and a 20 mile exclusion
zone, then see 1) above.
10
On what day did God say "Let there be Spin" The day Labour got into
power.
Jerry
and a Hotel - Jerry has disclosed that he plans to move into
the luxurious realms of a hotel when we get lines ashore, he has
been seen packing his bags and all discussions involve room service,
mini bars and a BATH. As Skipper and having Sat Com I have volunteered
to sort and book a hotel, to that end I have got him good rates
in the "Bob Marley shelter for lost
Mariners". To give him credit he has invited us all to share the
bath, this has brought some serious thoughts to the fore. Namely,
we cannot all bathe at the same time so it was decided we would
go up to Jerry's room at hourly intervals. Kevin then suggested
that a line of men queueing up to go to Jerry's room (after he has
spent 5 weeks at sea) would seem a bit odd and attract comment from
fellow residents. The subject is still being discussed!

Transat
Day 35:
Posn
-17º 13'N 59º 44'W, Course 265ºT, 24hr run 175 Nm,
speed now 8 knots, distance to run 125 Nm, wind F4 NE, Cloud 10%,
Hot and Humid.
General
- Another day another dollar, Ushomi is eating up miles with little
effort. To say we are not talking about Antigua would be a lie BUT
it does make time slow down. We are all in fine spirits and morale
is high, ergo flogging will continue until morale improves. The
astro navigation competition is reaching a head, will Antigua be
our land fall or will we see a man in a smock chewing a straw stood
next to a sign saying "Penzance welcomes careful drivers", did I
ever mention that Astro can be a hit and miss, I actually took a
sight of what I believed to be Venus and it refused to compute on
paper, Kevin suggested it could have been BA1583 bound for Barbados.
Statistics
- Since leaving La Gomera we have used 560 tea bags (Jerry drinks
coffee), eaten 15 tins of fruit, caught 19 fish (eaten 5 returned
the rest), used 2403 litres of water (thanks to the watermaker),
individually kept 69 hours of watches, on average slept for 6 hours
per day (though Kevin takes an afternoon nap), eaten 12 tins of
baked beans, sailed 3074 nautical miles, Books read (Tony 8, Jerry
6, Andy 6, Kevin .75(yet to finish the lady bird book of sailing).
Repaired Mainsail 4 times. Worst days run 75Nm. Best days run (last
24hrs) 175Nm (though 220Nm best since Gibraltar). Days since leaving
Sotgrande 35, Days since leavingLa Gomera (last land) 23 days, socks
lost?
Revision
in Command Structure - to enhance the personal self esteem
of the occupant of the billet, as well as give the billet its proper
importance in the chain of command, the laundry officer billet is
being transferred to the Sanitation and Personal Hygiene Department.
In the chain of command the laundry officer (LO) will report directly
to the Sanitation/Personal Hygiene Officer. (SPHO) Successful
applicants for the laundry officer billet will be designated as
Laundry Officer Assistant Designate and otherwise termed the Sanitation/Hygienist
in Training. His/Her acronym will be (LOADS**T) (Does he not
understand that his is a family site for goodness sake!)).(With
effect immediately) Captn Weigle USN (Rtd) .
Philosophy:
When is the Atlantic not the Atlantic? Many people ask what it
is like to be offshore on a yacht, to many the thought of being
over a week from land is not a joyous one. Basically as has allreday
been stated routine is everything, give people structure and they
settle in, secondly, the boat is home as against home being thousands
of miles away. Mentally most people do not imagine themselves
in the middle of a vast stretch of water. They only see the horizon
and look and think no further hence the Atlantic becomes no more
than mid English channel. Being able to forget about arriving
is a huge bonus - counting days just drags things out. E-mails
on this trip have been a constant source of joy, you would not
believe how many hours goes into the drivel we write. I have not
had e-mail at sea before and think that the weather routing alone
is fantastic, having contact with loved ones is a massive bonus.
Many people would say that part of the joy of ocean sailing is
the lack of communication with the outside world, me: I think
it's great. So, to finish off, the Atlantic is not the Atlantic
when we stop thinking about it. As Mum says: "all things come
to pass, good and bad". Fortunately, this 'thing' is good and
the memories will only get better with age.

Transat
Day 36:
The
Last Day:
Noon
Position - In The Dog watch Tavern, Jolly Harbour, Antigua, No Sails,
No speed, No Course, Lines Ashore.
What
a trip, already we are planning the next! As we berthed Ushomi a
couple of kindly gents assisted us with shore lines. Kevin berthed
the boat well and as I stepped ashore one of the kindly gentlemen
said "Colin didn't tell me you were doing the crossing". Now that
is the start of a long story........( I can be a bit boring BUT
please read this bit).
Kevin
and Tony have been doing an 18 week fast track (zero to hero)
sailing course, with Colin, the Principal of Straits Sailing in
Gibraltar. Colin basically gave us the lads as crew, one to help
me and two for them to build experience on a 'boring tradewind
passage" to the Caribbean. Now I have always been a bit outspoken
and admit I am not a fan of the fast track idea, experience is
gained with time and experience, 18 weeks is neither. Also the
two were to do their yachtmaster exam in Antigua, after a suitable
rest, with an appointed examiner ... namely, our kindly gent.
Back step a bit..... when Tony and Kevin joined Ushomi she was
still full of tools dust and mayhem. They asked what they could
do and I replied that they could sort the sails and deck. Now
the difference between a sailor and a seaman is that a seaman
is professional in all aspects afloat, a sailor can sail,
hence a seaman is a man of the sea. Now the two lads set to and
with no requests or questions hoisted sails and and started to
go through Ushomi's sail locker. That period was a bit dificult
for them both as they wanted to leave, to sail and there I was
getting them to sort sails and tidy Roger's (Co-owner with berth)
garden. When we sailed I appointed Kevin and Tony as watchleaders,
on the trip to the Canaries the boat saw some strong winds and
did some amazing heavy weather sailing, they both changed my view
on the fast track system. In La Gomera work was carried out without
question and new skills were learnt, by all, Tony became the sail
repair guru and Kevin became the sail master. The Atlantic passage,
I will not recount, it is on the website, but needless to say
every man and jack on the boat could be counted on. Kevin somehow
whistled up wind slept in the most uncomfortable part of the boat
for head winds, the bow and leapt about the boat with a passion,
ever ready. Tony was steady, I really can't say better, he was
there out of his pit in the best of squalls before being called,
now that is really saying something, most people
go deeper in their pits (bed) and hope they will not be needed.
When no one wanted to cook he turned to and created some amazing
meals in totally hostile conditions. Anyway, the kindly gent is
the Yachtmaster Examiner. After the initial greetings he said
"Andy because of the time on passage I really need to do your
(Kevin and Tony's) Yachtmaster Exams tomorrow, how about I join
you on Ushomi at 1000." "Of course", we said! So, after
a long and interesting passage, the lads are doing their YM exam
tommorow at 1000 (1500 English time). They will pass I am sure
and when they do, I will be chuffed to bits. Why? Because they
have earned it and deserved it. Please wish them well. I have
not forgotten the "Sanitation Officer" he was actually self appointed
(honest). He may not forgive me for this (sorry Jerry). Jerry
is over 70 and is an incredible man. Being ex US navy he has access
to USN privileges, flights, PX etc. He once decided to see if
he could fly around the World using 'space available' seats with
the US Airforce'. He set out and got to somewhere in the Middle
East. From there he could not get the one link he needed. Rather
than face a wait of two weeks he got a bucket seat home. He got
back three days after leaving (I am sure that he only popped out
for a bag of sugar). I asked him (with regards to Jerry's seniority
as a CAPN USN RTD) if he wanted to stand out of night watches
and stand day watches only, he readily agreed. As a typical seaman
(refer to my earlier paragraph) he then appointed himself Officer
'Jobs No One Has Thought about'. Every morning at 5.30 a.m. he
rose and joined the morning watchkeeper. At 0800 he then started
to clean, namely the heads (toilets), galley (kitchen) and cockpit,
(we were not idle as the watchkeeper at this time was down to
clean. BUT we only cleaned every three days due to the watch system).
Jerry was pivotal in the cleanliness on Ushomi. Now, you may think:
"Cleaning is menial", but it is essential, shitty and no one wants
to do it. You clean a head on a boat with 35 degrees of heel and
say it is menial. As was said at the begining, everyone brings
something to the party. Jerry as mentioned earlier ran the cockpit,
namely the piano, during sail changes and evolutions, I will not
repeat myself but this is not easy. Out of all of us, for me,
Jerry fought the toughest battle on the trip and showed us all
how to do it. I hope to cross the Atlantic when I am his age.
He has stated that he is looking at Kilimanjaro next!!!!!! Would
I have made any changes to the crew 'YESSSSS ....' I would have
kept Stan and Marius for the crossing, on the way to the Canaries
we made a good team, we miss Stan's humour. Humour is essential
and he actually was a good watchkeeper (for a doctor .. Stan is
chartering a yacht in the Carib in January... be in touch we are
here). Stan you left behind tablets for yeast infections (we tried
it in the bread machine). Marius learnt a lot and he assumed the
position of ships photographer (e-mail them), I admit to having
a word with him reference taking photos when hands were needed
BUT he was seasick and dug deep to keep his watch when he could
have stayed in bed. Thanks (big thanks) to David our weather router
(no small task with out of season TRS's) and the editor of the
website, my spelling and grammar are atrocious. Also thanks to
Colin at Straits Sailing Gibraltar, he gave me a grand couple
of crew, whom he taught. All in all I consider myself very
fortunate, good guys and no muppets. Anyway, if I have bored you,
I apologise. This ditty is my thanks to the guys who helped sail
Ushomi, we did it in style, a 220 nm day run are not common (my
first in a monohull). In the words of the 101st Airborne "Currahee"
(See the DVD Band of Brothers) Andy .

(Editor:
well, they finally made it today at 1 p.m. GMT - interim report
and pic below - full update to follow later - if publishable after
celebration).
Position
- Alongside Customs and Immigration Berth Jolly Harbour, Antigua

The
Survivors!
Stop
Press:
The
RYA Yachtmaster Exam lasted from 10 am to 7.30 pm on Day 37. Both
Kevin and Tony passed - congtaulations to them. So ends the Transat
saga. A bit of R&R for all concerned and then some much needed
repairs before the first Owner cruise. Skipper's wife Jane arrived
last night with a two metre pole with which to repair the furling
gear and some new stainless steel slides for the head of the mainsail.
Antigua to BVIs
General - After her arrival in Antigua Ushomi underwent a heavy
cleaning and maintenance program, four men in a boat can start to
smell and it rubs off on the boat. Jane joined and unfortunately
Jerry, Kevin and Tony departed. Tony's fiancé Lynn flew out
and they were married on the dock of the bay in Jolly Harbour, very
Otis Reading, I,m sure he would approve. With the boat ready and
Frank and Carole due to arrive the next part of our odyssey was
due to begin. Our initial impressions were very good, from the beaches
to the island to the people, talk to them and they will talk back.
An important note to take onboard is that the Blue water Rally boats
that were in Jolly Harbour stayed in their own groups, to the point
of blanking out the locals, possibly due to them being a little
worried. This is totally the wrong attitude, caution is needed,
but by being friendly and open we have had some great help, information
and new friends and to date (touch wood) no bad episodes. Antigua
- Antigua was discovered by Christopher Columbus (is this a relatin
to Chris Columbus Oxby (Laundry officer candidate?)) in 1493, the
name derives from the Church of Santa Maria la Antigua in Seville.
The Spanish being generous people abandoned the island because it
was waterless and guess who walked in - the English in 1632 (I suppose
it took us a bit longer to get here). Under English rule the island
became a stronghold and with it's easily defensible harbours became
the stronghold of the English Leeward Isles Squadron. From here
the story is oft told, colonists had land cleared for plantations
and slavery supplied the workers from Africa. Introduction of slavery
ethnically divided the island and with the abolition of slavery
in 1834 saw the land being divided into small holdings. Antigua.
became an associate state of the commonwealth in 1967 and gained
independence in 1981.
That's the blurb, but
what of our ditties from the island, we were tied up in Jolly Harbour
on the west side of the island, the marina has been built for tourism
and is what most people see in their minds eye when conjuring up
the Caribbean. Of the bars and restaurants there is the Dog Watch
Tavern. Tony and Kevin decided to eat in the Dog Watch and came
to the desert menu. They asked Claudine their waitress (who sings
to, strokes and hugs all customers) what a dirty dick .She replied
that it was banana with two scoops of ice cream strategically placed.
Kevin ordered and with a sly grin and a deep West Indian accent
she told him " you will be getting in touch with your feminine
side, Man". Kevin and Tony's Big day out - I was due to get
Jane from the airport and Kevin, Tony and Myself left in good time
to get a bus to St Johns and then me a taxi to the airport. In St
Johns we found it was Hero's Day! and everywhere was shut, all with
the exception of a small Bar in the ferry port. Tony went straight
for a pina colada and Kevin and myself a beer apiece. Next round
Kevin switched to Pina Colada and the girl behind the bar began
another mixer full. Tony asked where we could get food and the girl
tried to give us directions to a Kentucky fried chicken, she soon
gave up and told her brother to go and get a bargain bucket for
us, needless to say KFC was shut. After an hour I needed to make
tracks to the airport, but not before the girl behind the bar, getting
bored with making so many pina coladas, had decided to save time
and serve the lads pina coladas in pints. I was offered a lift to
the airport by one of the guys at the bar, he had been tinkering
with the engine and had it running so it seemed a good idea. He
came from around the bar and could hardly walk, his left leg was
in plaster and he adopted a hop to get to the car, laughs echoed
from the bar as we burnt some good rubber leaving, with reggae blasting
out at 675 dB. Our one legged driver had mastered the driving thing
so well he returned and offered to take Tony and Kevin to the Recreational
Ground (Antigua's Cricketing Hallowed Turf) where there was a game
on. At the ground the lads blagged their way in to find it full
of Antiguans, Reggae Music and Ganga. The air was thick with burning
pot and everyone seemed to be having a party, the game, which turned
out to be Football was secondary to the party in the stands. With
the music belting out a team member or two would occasionally stop
playing and dance to a specifically good song, the game would continue
around them. Everyone they met were great, maybe stoned, but friendly
and took to calling them Red Necks. A spectator, obviously not happy
with the music on the PA system brought his car into the ground,
on the roof were two speakers that were bigger than the car. He
drove around and over the ground blasting out alternative music
choices, by the team players 50% seemed in favour of the new music.
After a while our intrepid duo found DJ Kenny, Kevin stated that
he was loosing his dancers, to which he was told that it was trial
mixes he was playing for a competition, Kev thought they were electrical
faults and feedback. Kenny recognising that fans were important
invited the two to a fashion gig he was doing in St Johns, acceptance
was immediate. As roadies Kev and Tony sauntered down the high street
with DJ Kenny and were warned that whilst walking it may take time
as everyone would stop him due to his popularity and fan base. Needless
to say the trio had an unmolested and quick trip down the high street.
At the 'gig' security was tight and our duo were refused entry,
DJ Kenny jumped in and blagged them in stating that they were his
'Sound Engineers', the fashion show was a roaring success, on display
were next years school uniforms for primary children. At eight o'clock
(p.m.) a tired and pina colada'd out Kev and Tony returned to the
sanity of Jolly Harbour. Note - I will explore St Kitts and St Martins
later and hence the lack of local knowledge and ditties.
Antigua Onwards
Frank, Carol, Jane and Myself left Antigua on the 22nd December
and set a course for St Kitts for a night at anchor. Passing through
the Narrows between St Kitts and Nevis in the black of night was
interesting, mainly because the pilot recommends people with no
local knowledge not to attempt this at night due to the shoals and
rocks. We have tons of local knowledge, but unfortunately for the
Mediterranean. The passage was straightforward and left us wondering
what market of sailor the pilot caters for. We anchored in Whitehouse
bay and had a calm relaxing night at anchor. In the morning we sailed
on for St Martins, leaving St Kitts unexplored, mainly because we
wanted to crack on for the British Virgin Islands. Dutch St Martins
- Spanish Town (Virgin Gorda BVI)- St Martins is a big stop in the
Caribbean, due mainly to it's Tax status, big marina facilities
and excellent chandler's. We all decided that we had not yet found
our vision of the Caribbean and stayed mainly due to it being Christmas
eve. We did not really explore St Martins, again due to the desire
to crack on for the BVI's. Christmas night saw us departing St Martins
for a night passage to Virgin Gorda, the night was uneventful and
at 11 am we arrived in the BVI's. At last on the morning of Boxing
Day we have found our Caribbean. See next dit for the BVIs and our
visit to Ricky (Virgin) Branson for cocktails and subsequent removal
by security.
The Virgin Islands to St Lucia:
On Boxing Day morning Ushomi sailed into the British Virgin Islands
and up Sir Francis Drake’s passage to finally moor off Spanish
Town in Virgin Gorda. The BVI’s, as they are known, are still
a British Colony and aspects of colonial life are evident all over.
The islands have been British since 1672 and were given a constitution
in 1773, giving the islands some degree of self-governance. Initial
impressions excellent: close your eyes and picture the Caribbean,
the picture you see in your minds eye will be that which presented
itself to us, narrow beaches bordered with palms and sea, the sand
is coral based so is fine and totally different to Europe. Also
the names are straight out of a good pirate film, Privateer Bay,
Deadman Point, Black Point, Dead Chest Island, Gallows Bay and so
on. The Baths is an area of beach to the West of Virgin Gorda and
is a popular spot. Not only do you have the beach but large boulders,
some 20 feet in height, are scattered as if a giant bored with his
marbles has moved on. Ushomi spent two nights off Spanish Town allowing
us some maintenance and exploring, on the North of Virgin Gorda
is Gorda Sound, a huge bay fringed with islands, one being Necker,
Richard Branson’s (Ricky to his mates) Island. In Gorda Sound
is Leverick Bay, with a unloading ‘store’ for Pussers
Rum, well worth a visit. On 28th December we sailed around the North
of the islands to Tortola and an anchorage named Cane Garden. By
now perfect beaches and stunning settings were getting slightly
tedious. I found myself longing for the odd gas terminal, but alas
paradise has no warts. In Cane Garden we went ashore for a meal
and found ourselves treated to a reggae band, the band (no connection
to DJ Kenny) had their own entourage of dancers who made us all
re-believe in ourselves as dancers. Apparently the trick is to be
as stationary as possible and throw out some well thought out arm
movements now and then. An example is the shirt lift, with the right
arm reach over your neck and lift the collar of your T-shirt, for
the advanced combine this manoeuvre with a salute whenever the Lion
of Zion is mentioned - a seriously cool night. With New Year in
the offing we were advised to ship ourselves over to another island
named Jost Van Dyke and prepare for Foxy’s. Foxy’s started
as two freezers buried in the sand and a guy named ‘Foxy’
with serious ideas about parties, we heard stories of heady nights
with ladies spraying themselves with beer and such like. Frank and
myself agreed Foxy’s sounded just right so on the 29th December
we settled the pick (anchor) in Great Bay and wondered what to expect.
Foxy’s has grown, the bar is planks on sand and the atmosphere
is so laid back it’s horizontal, a T-shirt shop (in shack)
is next to the bar to provide that essential souvenir. Each day
Foxy takes the stage and addresses his congregation something like
this:
"You
white people call me coloured, but when I am born I am black, when
I am scared I am Black, when I am envious I am black, when I am
angry I am black, in the sun I am black and when I die I stay black.
You on the other hand are born pink, when scared you go white, when
envious you go green, when angry you go purple, in the sun you go
red and when you die you go black. AND YOU HAVE THE CHEEK TO CALL
ME COLOURED".
New Year’s Eve morning saw about a hundred boats in the bay,
all riding at anchor. Some strange anchoring methods were witnessed
but nothing prepared us for what was to come. Each hour saw boats
coming from all directions and by six in the evening there must
have been a thousand yachts and cruisers anchored in a bay less
than a half mile wide, an incredible sight. With music pumping (all
tastes catered for – Reggae) we set ashore at 11pm and took
a walk, looking out across the bay was a sight that I will never
forget, a thousand (or so) boats with anchor lights on winking across
the bay. Foxy’s was mobbed and ferries continued to disgorge
foot passengers from Tortola, about four thousand people partied
away the night, the island populace set up impromptu bars in any
available space and on it went, my only regret, not seeing it twenty
years ago when the two freezers were Foxy’s.
New Years Day saw us lifting the Pig (Carole’s new name for
the anchor having misheard me say pick) and sailing South below
Tortola and onto Norma Island, supposedly the inspiration for Treasure
Island. Another beautiful location and still no gas terminals. The
bar ashore is known as Billy Bones Bar and on it goes, little to
no habitation, no litter, just us tourists and the sun and sand.
Are you getting the picture, this is the BVI’s; period. On
the 2nd of January we sailed into Road Town and took a marina berth
to prepare for our slog south to St Lucia, Grenadines and then to
Tobago. Road Town is the main port in Tortola, and hence the main
port for the BVI’s. A busy area with shops, chandlers and
communications, our first since St Martins. Road Town is good but
the BVI’s is about the anchorages and bays. One lesson we
learned is price: provision in St Martins and sail to the BVI’s
needed nothing. Paradise has a price.
The sail to St Lucia lasted three days and gave us the opportunity
to view most of the East Caribbean, from 15 nautical miles, in particular
Montseratt and Martinique seemed to take forever to pass, so much
so we wondered if we were sailing around and around them. We sailed
into Rodney Bay in St Lucia and took a marina berth and a day’s
rest. More to follow…
St Lucia
You guessed it, another island discovered by Columbus, but this
time during his fourth voyage in 1502. He must have clocked up some
air miles with all his holidays out here, possibly with Mr Branson.
The Caribs resisted colonisation until the 17th century and remained
masters of the island until signing a treaty with French, this put
St Lucia square in the sights of the British and the island changed
hands 14 times until in 1814, after the Napoleonic Wars it finally
stayed British. St Lucia became an associated member of the commonwealth
in 1967 and gained independence on the 22nd February 1979.
On the evening of the
6th of January we sailed into Rodney bay, St Lucia. After a three-day
passage we were ready for land and the comforts of a marina again.
Rodney bay marina is an excellent spot it is totally sheltered,
clean, boasts excellent facilities (Chandler’s, Shops, Communications
etc), it was great to be able to e-mail and use phones easily again.
We are learning that a huge part of Caribbean sailing is local knowledge,
more so than other areas of the world, certain islands are good
for stores, some good for fast gas refills, even to the point of
some islands being good for lamb others for beef! We all decided
to explore the island so booked a taxi/excursion and with total
disregard for our own safety (we took no bag meals) set off south
in an air conditioned taxi and a knowledgeable driver. Soon we passed
the oil terminals; the sight was magical, lots and lots of massive
oil containers, not quite gas terminals but close. We were on a
scenic trip though and headed on south to the Tropical rain forests,
in amongst all of this majestically sit the Deux Pitons. The Deux
Pitons, two huge volcanic mounds that dominate the southern skyline
of the island were fantastic and apparently only take two hours
to walk/climb/crawl. The Pitons are named 'Grand Piton' and 'Petit
Piton' and the St Lucian flag denotes the two pitons, one inside
the other. St Lucia has an active volcano that last erupted 230
years ago give or take, bearing in mind that active volcanoes erupt
every 200years on average! Guess where the highlight of our tour
was to take us, the sulphur springs, caused by, yes you have guessed
it, the volcano. The first thing you notice when you drive into
a volcano, is the huge sign saying 'Welcome to the Caribbean’s
Only drive in Volcano', see the picture for proof. The second thing
you notice is the smell of Sulphur, this not only keeps the mosquitoes
at bay, but also everything and everyone else with a heartbeat,
quite an incredible sight, and no Burger Bars. Another good stop
was the gardens and baths near to the sulphur springs, these gardens
are private and have taken tourism onboard seriously. Our driver
told us to attach ourselves to the back of a tour group and he would
see us at the other side, we were automatically included in the
group which turned out to be from a passing cruise liner. The guide
took her role seriously, and when she asked if everyone was enjoying
themselves we all knew better than to even dream of answering in
the negative. To be fair her tour was informative and interesting,
but the group was quite big. At one point it started to rain quite
heavily and we all attempted to shelter under a small cover, too
many people and not enough cover. Jane gleefully told everyone to
stop being daft as we were in a rain forest whilst I started to
nudge children and grannies out of the shelter to give me some room.
The gardens were spectacular and I will go back, but not attached
to a large group. Our excursion gave us a chance to see some of
the bays and anchorages from above, one in particular that caught
our eye was Marigot Bay, it is known as a hurricane hole, and you
can see why. The bay is steep sided and has a very small entrance,
plus it is absolutely beautiful. A definite place to anchor in the
future. Another is Soufriere bay, not so good shelter but sat at
the base of the Deux Pitons. The view from a boat must be fantastic.
All in all we gave St Lucia a big thumbs up. Each island we have
visited so far has it's own charm, each is different and each has
it's good and bad sides. We spent three enjoyable days in St Lucia,
and having completed some more maintenance we set sail for a night
passage to the Grenadines and the Tobago Cays.
The Grenadines
In the South of the East Caribbean lie the Grenadines, St Vincent
to the north and Grenada to the south with islands scattered between
the two. The Grenadines are split into the St Vincent Grenadines
and the Grenada Grenadines, two different governing bodies, two
different flags and one amazing collection of anchorages. Ushomi
sailed from St Lucia and through the night sailed past St Vincent,
Bequia, Mustique and into Canuan, a sleepy bay with one hotel and
a Moorings base (the sailing charter people). The wind had increased
and the sea was a bit lumpy. When picking up a mooring we asked
the boat boy when the wind would abate, he stated that these were
the Christmas winds and were normal for January and February. As
usual we had to get to the airport for Customs and immigration,
the boat boy stated that he was the taxi man, as well as lobster
salesman, mooring tax collector and general handy man. Canuan is
a pretty island, worth a visit and typical of the Grenadines, open
to tourism but not sold out, no high rises, and definitely no rushing.
At the airport we presented ourselves to the customs officer who
gave me a chair, a full pen and the paperwork (work being the key
word). We then said that we were intending to depart for Tobago
the following day and would it be possible to clear out as well
as in! He gave me a chair, a now half-full pen and some familiar
paperwork. We paid our dues for entering and he then told us that
we would have to pay the same amount again for clearing out, we
haggled unsuccessfully and he gave us a warm smile as our pockets
lightened a second time. Ashore in Canuan lies a beautiful hotel,
some houses, a police station and no gas terminals, I am starting
to wonder what they all cook with! The island is stunning and well
worth dropping in, the anchorage is well protected and a good, easy
entrance. In the morning we slipped and sailed to the Tobago Cays,
planning a brief two hour stop before cracking on for a night passage
to Tobago. The Cays are one of God’s good bits, he must have
been well chuffed when he made them, a bit similar to that feeling
when you get the windshield on an air fix model plane without covering
it in glue! When we anchored it rained, almost as if God was a bit
miffed at our trespassing. Rain came down by the bucket load, but
a major point to note is that it is warm. The Tobago Cays are truly
stunning, a collection of five small islands lost in a mass of coral,
the waters are crystal clear, reefs are everywhere and there are
still lots of fish. Ashore there is nothing, just palm trees and
sand, unspoilt paradise. After an all too quick two hours we lifted
the pig and sailed into the sunset, bound for Tobago or Tobagee
as us vagrants of the sea call it. On reaching the Atlantic side
of the Grenadines we settled for the night in 30 knot winds and
a slightly lumpy sea, Ushomi was moving around a bit and it looked
like a bumpy old passage. We saw a squall on the radar and attempted
to go around it, it was not to be and we soon encountered torrential
rains, 45 knot winds and a very bumpy sea. Ushomi was well stowed
but still we found the odd object flying across the boat and the
squall was intensifying. After more squalls of similar intensity
the decision was made to turn around and head back to the Grenadines,
not lightly made but sensible. At midnight we anchored in Saline
Bay in Mayreau. In the morning we motored to Union and Frank and
Carol made plans to fly onto Tobago. Things in the Caribbean do
not go always to plan, and on the next day we were informed that
the fire engine was broken and the normal flights could not land.
Bookings were made with a small private plane, piloted we suspect
by an ex Vietnam fighter jock. Things in the Caribbean do not go
always to plan, and on the next day the pilot announced that the
winds were too much for flying! Erica's, a local agent for all things,
arranged a ferry from Palm Island to Grenada and then a flight from
Grenada to Tobago. Problem! How to get from Union to Palm Island:
answer Fast Water Taxi. The last we saw of Frank and Carole they
were hurtling out of Union in a force 6/7 with the rain lashing
down in an open home built power boat appropriately called: 'OCEAN
PANIC'
Grenadines
With Frank and Carole somewhere in the Atlantic on ‘Ocean
Panic’, Ushomi departed Union and sailed to Bequia to meet
Roger, Eileen, Mack and Cynthia. During the next two weeks Ushomi
sailed the Grenadines and then headed north to Guadaloupe, the French
Caribbean. With weather of all descriptions, some dodgy flights
and more ferries the trip rapidly resembled ‘Six go Mad in
the Caribbean’. Some stunning sights, brilliant sailing and
a great crowd, what more could you want.
17th-30th January
Bequia-----Mustique------Mayreau-----Tobago Cays-----Bequia-----St
Vincent-----St Lucia-----Dominica------Les Saintes-----Guadeloupe
Bequia is a beautiful island, in the north of
the St Vincent Grenadines, it boasts a huge bay where a multitude
of vessels can anchor in good shelter. Stores are on hand and boat-boys
hare about selling everything from temporary moorings to batteries
with only ½ hour life in them. It was here that Jane and
I awaited the arrival of Roger, Eileen, Mack and Cynthia on the
17th of January. We received an e-mail from David informing us that
Roger and co were in St Martins and could not get a flight to Bequia,
could we sort something at our end. A day spent organising flights
to St Lucia, then a smaller aircraft to St Vincent and then the
ferry to Bequia ensued. Eventually plans were made, tickets purchased
and all was good in the world. The ferry into Bequia was supposed
to Dock at 12:30, at 08:30 with a face full of shaving foam I heard
a knock on the hull and a familiar voice shout “we are here”;
as said before things in the Caribbean never go to plan.
Mustique On the morning of the 19th of January
we set sail for Mustique. Stories about Mustique abound all over
the world for it is here that Princess Margaret had a holiday pad,
the rich and famous partied and a man called Basil built a bar (the
only bar) and charged exorbitant rates to said rich and famous.
The pilots describe Britannia Bay as the only real anchorage and
at times a bit lumpy, obviously their idea of a bit and mine aren’t
quite the same, though to be fair it was windy. As has to be done
by all who visit, we motored ashore and went for drinks and a meal
at Basil’s. It turned out that evening there was a Blues Festival
in the Bar, for once instead of missing an event by a day we were
bang on time, totally unexpected and totally good. The acts covered
all types of music, ‘rhythm’ and ‘blues’
and bar none the music was excellent, high class musicians doing
what they love, and having a part expenses paid trip three weeks
in idyllic settings. The musicians were not rich and basically explained
that they worked their nuts off in the year to afford the time to
come out here. The festival is now ten years strong and deserves
at least another ten.
Mayreau The 20th saw us heading further south
to Mayreau and Salt Whistle Bay, only 5 nautical miles from the
Tobago Cays. The sailing was swift and before my bread had baked
we were fetching up into a small cove to anchor, but what a spot.
Salt Whistle Bay is the kind of place where, though being small,
travel agents salivate, a truly beautiful spot, sand, palm trees
and not a gas terminal in sight! We swam ashore the men attempting
to look fit and the ladies emerging similar to Ursula whatsher name
in Doctor No. Had a beer and delicious fruit cocktails at the bar
of the Salt Whistle Bay Beach Hotel (a small quiet complex of small
thatched roof huts hidden amongst the beach side palm trees). To
put this bay into my league of spots, it is tops so far, 10 out
10.

Back on
Ushomi we encountered a boat boy called Yellow Man, possibly the
only white boat boy in the Caribbean, unfortunately he had no duff
batteries but lots of lobsters. Taking Roger and Mack to cages he
keeps in the bay for the lobsters he asked what kind of size lobster
they had in mind and how many! Yellow Man then proceeded to jump
into the lobster cage and wrestle lobsters, sort of a cross between
Tarzan and Crocodile Dundee with a Caribbean accent, what people
do for money. Roger and Mack returned to Ushomi with Yellow Man
and three of the largest specimens of lobster known to man, the
lobsters were wild, though so would I be if I realised I was the
main course. It didn’t end there though, discarding his macho
hat and donning his Delia pinny he offered, free of charge, to prepare
and cook the lobsters, what a guy. The lobster was great that evening,
then the next day for lunch, that evening for dinner and the next
curried.

Tobago Cays At 0930 we lifted the pig (Carole
speak for pick, which is Andrew speak for anchor) and sailed the
short distance to the famed Tobago Cays, the astute amongst you
will realise that the Cays (as they are known) is not in Tobago
but by Mayreau! The Cays are a spectacular part of the Grenadines,
of all the islands the Tobago Cays are probably the best known.
Five islands form the cays, namely Petit Rameau, Petit Bateau, Jamesby,
Baradal and Petit Tabac. It was on Petit Tabac where Captain Jack
Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean) was marooned by his mutinous
crew on the Black Pearl, we failed to find a rum cache and Keira
Knightly though. The Caribbean islands run North to South: to the
West the Caribbean Sea, to the East the Atlantic with easy rollers
coming ashore; normally you anchor on the West side of the islands
to escape the North East trade winds and the swell. In the Cays
you are protected from the Atlantic swell by a series of reefs that
encompass the islands, this is what makes the Cays unique, you sit
facing the Atlantic with the five small islands around you. Not
a place to be on a windy day, but with good weather it is excellent.

To walk
the islands takes a short time and the snorkelling is excellent,
there is a group/school/shoal? of about 20 turtles on the east side
of Baradal that is well worth a watch. Here we met up with the coolest
boatboy in the Caribbean –a charming rogue of a rasta called
Harris who owns “Ocean Panic” the water taxi that rescued
Frank and Carol from Union. Better than the Cays in daylight is
the Cays at night, riding at anchor, no light pollution the stars
are stunning, pin pricks of light on a jet black blanket, Rigel,
Arcturus, Betelgeuse, Shedar to name a few. In my league of spots
the Tobago Cays comes a close second to Salt Whistle Bay, (the lobsters
won the day).
Bequia again On the 22nd January we sailed from
the Cays and laid a course for Bequia, the reason being to leave
the Grenadines and start exploring the islands north of the Grenadines,
St Lucia, Dominica, Isles Saints and Guadaloupe. We sailed from
Bequia on the 24th after an abortive attempt to leave on the 23rd,
problems with the Genoa resulted in some mast work and many delays.
St Vincent We sailed up to St Vincent with the
new “yankee” (it pointed at least 10 pts better than
the big genny!) and picked up a mooring buoy courtesy of a boatboy!
in Wallilabou Bay.
Wallilabou Bay is a bay, but not just any bay,
it was here that the ‘Pirates of the Carribean’ was
filmed, or at least part of it. In the film the bay is known as
Port Royal and it is here that Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp)
first steps ashore in the beginning of the film. An opening shot
shows an arch of rock with pirates hanging under it, that rock is
on the north side of the entrance. The set has been left as it was
on the last day of shooting, so it is possible to wonder around
and take it all in. The only downside is that the set is slowly
falling into ruin, some work has been done to keep it in its former
glory, but unfortunately not enough, here’s hoping someone
takes it in hand. A restaurant that was made over for the film is
still there and the owners have had the set work rendered to maintain
it. The food was delicious and seriously worth a stop.

St Lucia Ushomi sailed north across the St Vincent
– St Lucia passage, it started out quite bumpy and wet but
the seas eased and Ushomi was soon flying along to St Lucia, but
not before we had all had a few drenchings; our specific destination
being a hurricane hole called Marigot bay. A hurricane hole is exactly
what it suggests, a well sheltered bay that gives protection from
wind in literally any direction. Once anchored we found ourselves
in an idyllic spot (am I starting to use the word idyllic too much?).
Roger, Eileen, Mack and Cynthia found a bar come restaurant called
Doolittles in the Marigot Bay Beach Resort, (the bay was the setting
for the film Dr Doolittle) and suggested that any one wanting to
hole up in a hotel room near the boat in St Lucia could use this
place, prices are good and the food and service excellent.
Night sail to Dominica Our next sail was planned
as a night passage covering 90 nautical miles to Dominica, skipping
past Martinique. The sailing was perfect, to start, good winds and
flat seas. Once in the lee of Martinique we desperately tried to
sail but lost the wind due to the island being in the way, on engine
for an hour we plodded North. Yachts seem to come alive when sailing
but once you kick the Donkey (Stan speak for starting the engine)
something seems to depart, the tranquillity, the motion, who knows
but it is not a patch on sailing. Once clear of Martinique we turned
off the engine and set the sails, joy. Ushomi was banging along
at a good 8 knots, a bit bumpy but sailing well. For most this was
their first taste of lengthy sailing at night, everyone seemed to
enjoy the experience of sailing with the stars as companions.
Dominica On the morning of the 27th of January
we anchored in Prince Rupert Bay in Dominica, we had our own official
boat boy and Indian river guide, more of that to come. Because we
had a full afternoon to explore a trip into the rain forests was
quickly organised. The local guides have organised themselves into
an officially recognised group, each have ID cards and will produce
them on request. There is a cat burglar in the vicinity who is apparently
very good at his chosen profession, the pilot recommends checking
to see if he is detention or not, if not be careful when leaving
yachts unattended. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on who
you are he is presently locked up so we were safe. One plus of the
organised guides/boat-boys is that they organise security each evening,
so there is always a boat buzzing around keeping an eye out for
‘Collin the Cat’. The trip into the interior, with our
guide Stratford, was spectacular. “Stunning”, seems
a bit of a tame description for the trip .It was a nature walk to
end all nature walks. Tasting as we walked 20 mins up to a refreshing
waterfall, we had lemongrass, coconuts, starfruit, pineapples, coffee
beans, coca beans, bananas, white grapefruit, limes, dashin, avocado,
papayas, mango, thyme, cinnamon, ginger, breadfruit, mandarins,
nutmeg, plantain, carob and succulent raw sugar cane. What a snack!
We all decided that this was another highlight of the whole adventure.
We also took a trip up the Indian river, this is described as a
mini Amazon delta, a slight exaggeration but hey in for a penny.
I mentioned the Indian river guides, the boat boys used to take
people up the river using engine driven boats, this caused erosion,
damage and noisy fast trips. The guides have now banned motors in
the river and oars are the order of the day, also they go up the
river at the end of each day and collect any litter, cut back bushes
as required and basically maintain the environment. Due to the diligence
of the guides the river is unspoilt and a beautiful trip lasting
two hours.
Isle des Saintes We sailed to Isles des Saintes
on the 28th, part of the Guadaloupe islands and very French. We
entered into the main bay and were amazed at the amount of vessels
already anchored, finding a spot we set the pig and the men tootled
ashore to find a means of booking flights to St Martin. The French
Caribbean is very, very French, as Jane said it’s like Paris
without the Eiffel tower. Isle Saintes is quaint, with picket fences,
manicured squares (or triangle in one case) and only two cars to
use the islands two miles of track. The airstrip serving the island
is in a valley between two big hills, with hills in front and behind.
Planes coming in to land bank around the hills straight into the
valley and then have to get onto the runway fast, quite an interesting
or terrifying experience depending on whether you are in the plane
or watching from the ground. Flights proved impossible to organise
so we decided to head back to Ushomi and make for Guadaloupe proper
in the morning. That night we experienced heavy swell on the beam
and Ushomi rocked and rolled all night long, so much so that at
7am the next morning we were under way and beating to Guadaloupe.
Guadeloupe Just before entering Guadaloupe the
fishing rod bent and line started to scream off the reel, a yellow
finned tuna had taken a shine to our lure, dinner sorted. We motored
into Point de Pitre on the afternoon of the 29th January and Roger
and Mack cut away to organise flights for the following day. The
French islands in the Caribbean are part of France, as we had colonies
that were under the umbrella of the UK the French actually made
the islands part of France, therefore the people all have French
passports. The patisseries are a source of joy for Jane and the
chandleries and shops are European, they even have a Carrefour.
On the morning of the 30th we waved goodbye as Roger, Eileen, Mack
and Cynthia departed by taxi for the airport. It has been a fantastic
two weeks and Ushomi is set for Antigua for a deserved maintenance
period.
Final Note On the 30th we flew back up to St Martin
on Air Caraibes and spent our last night in the relative luxury
of Mary’s Boon Plantation Inn a lovely small inn on the beach
at Simpson Bay and just next to the main runway. It was a great
way to finish a fantastic adventure and gave us time to digest all
the wonderful experiences we had during our time on Ushomi. Much
discussion took place about favourite islands, each being geographically
and culturally quite unique and all very spectacular.
Antigua
Explored
Tim and Sarah, son and daughter in law of co-owners Roger and Eileen,
joined Ushomi after her maintenance period in Jolly harbour, Antigua.
The agenda was not max sailing but max beach, no children (though
Sarah spent most of the time missing them), some exploring, some
more beach, retail therapy, and a bit more beach. With that on the
plate we sailed the Southern side of Antigua and sampled the delights
of English Harbour, Nelsons Dockyard, Nonsuch Bay and Green Island.
At the end we returned to Jolly Harbour and did a bit more beach,
job done.

Crew person Sarah
Tim and Sarah arrived on the 22nd of February and our first night
was a meal at Denis’s bar and restaurant, a short ride from
Jolly Harbour. Denis is the owner/chef/entertainer/ and head decorator,
he is a bit like Lenny Henry on speed and always gives good Caribbean
food with good Caribbean friendship, all at stupidly cheap prices.
Denis has a menu, but forget that, he will tell you what is on that
day, we have had nothing but praise for this place and it is a great
place to start a Caribbean holiday. The first full day was taken
up at Jolly Beach and Castaways bar, the sand is made up from broken
coral and hence is white and does not burn ones tootsie’s
as does the sand in the Med. A brilliant way to round off a day
is to make use of the happy hour at sunset and watch the sun slowly
sink into the sea with Montseratt and Nevis islands either side.
A great pastime is to look for the flash of green that fills the
top part of the sun as it disappears, this phenomenon happens only
at low latitudes i.e. the tropics and is only seen occasionally,
but what an excuse for a sundowner.
The 24th saw us departing Jolly Harbour bound for English Harbour
and Nelsons dockyard, to get there we had a choice of the long roundabout
route or the passage between Irish bank, Fryes shoal, and Goat channel.
The shorter route was opted for and with the best pink Muppet on
the fishing line we tootled on our way on a gorgeous beam reaches;
who said the Caribbean isn’t paradise? English harbour was
the home of the Leeward Islands squadron of the Royal Navy and is
an excellently protected anchorage, if you close your eyes you can
almost picture the fleet sailing over to Guadaloupe, drubbing the
French and sailing back for tea and tiffin. The Royal Navy departed
and abandoned Antigua in 1889 and there the story would have ended.
In the 1950’s Captain Nicholson RN retired started the first
moves to restore the dockyard. Since then the Nelsons Dockyard National
Park have taken up the mantel and the results are fantastic. The
Admiral’s house, the old workshops, the stables and officer
quarters have all been restored and put to use as a museum, bars,
restaurants, sail makers, riggers shops and the like. Nelsons Dockyard
is alive and kicking, not admittedly with old warships, but with
yachts, gin palaces and the odd J class to boot. Hussah! A walk
around Nelsons Dockyard is a must, it does get busy with tourists
who are bussed in (why do Americans think everything is polystyrene)
but it does not really affect the ambience. Tim and Sarah meanwhile
checked out the beach off the anchorage. When anchoring we always
try to scout out the anchorage first, normally people anchor quite
deep, so we normally get Ushomi within swimming distance of a bar
and restaurant. The reports from the beach and lunch restaurant
were positive, but it was noted that Tim and Sarah had used an hotel’s
sunbeds. Does this constitute theft, illegal possession etc. Basically
a big thumbs up for English Harbour.

Nelson's Dockyard

English Harbour
Our
next destination was Green Island; this is on the Southeast corner
of Antigua and a mere seven miles from English harbour. In the lee
of Green Island lies Rickets bay, a totally deserted anchorage fringed
with sandy beach and palm trees; to many the most beautiful anchorage
in Antigua with room for just five yachts! Pass through the channel
between Green Island and Antigua and you enter Nonsuch bay. The
anchorage here faces the Atlantic Ocean and is protected by a huge
reef that stretches from Antigua to Green Island, the whole of this
area is excellent for snorkelling, bar-b-q’s, and general
chilling out. We spent a day in Rickets Bay and late in the afternoon
had a great sail back to English harbour and our now favourite anchorage.
Nonsuch gets it’s name from the first ship that anchored here,
the Nonsuch, in the year dot, somewhere between Columbus discovering
Antigua and now. On the sail to English Harbour Tim got into a decent
Barracuda, these must be the worlds nastiest looking fish, a bit
like a Pike but bigger.

Tim's Barracuda
No
visit to Antigua can pass without a few life experiences, two of
these are to take a bus trip and visit St Johns, the capital. The
buses are all licensed to be buses, but are privately owned, therefore
the driver takes the fare and pockets it, then pays a license fee
annually to the government. There are no timetables but each bus
has a specific route, this means that there may be ten or so buses
on a route, they go backwards and forwards attempting to overtake
each over and therefore get the punters in before the competition.
There are bus stops but if you are walking by the side of the road
a bus will normally stop to see if you require transport. To stop
a bus is easy, you just shout ‘Bus Stop’! Due to the
bus driver’s earnings being directly proportional to the number
of passengers moved in a day, the buses are the fastest things on
four wheels in Antigua. We are sure that the drivers have police
courses in tactical driving and then go to Herr Schummakers School
for Formula One to complete their education. The second must in
Antigua is St Johns, this is not only the Capital but is the cruise
liner port, this has created two distinct flavours, one being downtown
St Johns, wooden shops and a bustling but laid back sort of place
and the other the Heritage Centre. The Heritage centre is built
around the cruise liner terminal and is geared up to remove as many
dollars from the tourist pocket in as short a time as possible.
The buildings are new and impressive and the shops range from Ralph
Lauren to Chanel to Flea markets, haggling is the order of the day
and the locals are great. The ladies will divert you into their
shops and explain the virtues of miniature steel drums for your
children and tee shirts that tell the world that Antigua is ‘Grate
Mon’. The selling is not hard, but fun and you can always
plead poverty. The high end of the scale of shops are the named
boutiques, these sell the cheaper than England expensive stuff,
the staff are not pushy and exactly as you would find in any high
street. Leaving the heritage centre takes you back to Main Street
and St Johns proper, this is fun and worth a walk, with again some
good shops. Sarah proved to be a match for any of the shopkeepers,
these skills only being beaten by her ability to remove large denomination
notes from Tim’s pockets.
Another day in English harbour, and we were unfortunately looking
at returning to Jolly Harbour for another week of maintenance, but
not before Tim and Sarah sampled the delights of Jolly Beach and
another trip to Denis’s. On the passage back, off Cades reef
I spotted a whale, about 35 feet in length it blew twice and then
disappeared, unfortunately I was the only one to see it so could
not share the experience. On further enquiries in Jolly Harbour
I was told that the whales are now on the move and sightings occur
regularly from now on, also I was informed that mine was an infant
and not ‘A reallllllly big one mon’.
Anrigua,
Nevis, St Kitts and Jolly Harbour:
While waiting
for the arrival of our guests (see below), Andy and Jane took us
for a walk to the next door Falmouth Harbour where we were delighted
to find the Tall Ship: Tenacious. Second officer Steve kindly gave
us a guided tour of this amazing vessel. Steve had been Andy's (sadistic)
yachtmaster examiner and Jane had worked for Steve when serving
in the Navy. Tenacious is owned by the Jubilee Sailing Trust which
sets out to offer disabled people Tall Ship sailing experience.
She was recently built in wood with just a few strengthening metal
bits. The Jubilee Sailing Trust and Tenacious are well displayed
on their website: http://www.jst.org.uk.
Chris & Shirley, guests of David & Pat, arrived from Florida
on 8th March and joined the boat in Nelson’s Dockyard, English
Harbour, Antigua, where Ushomi lay stern-to complete with passarelle
and the Laundry Lady from heaven (Ushomi’s washing machine
needs TLC not available in Windies). On night one, Andy dispatched
us to research a famous restaurant and art gallery overlooking Nonsuch
Bay: Harmony Hall. Unfortunately it was a windy night and the plastic
curtaining, to protect diners from the wind, shut out what must
be fabulous views.
Andy and Jane discovered an exclusive club in Antigua. For ex. Royal
Navy/Royal Marine personnel there exists the possibility of joining
the Royal Naval Tot Club of Antigua and Barbuda. Qualification is,
firstly, to attend the nightly 6 p.m. gathering of the club in and
around English and Falmouth Harbours. Two of the 5 aims of the club
are to: “signal the nominal end of the working day at 1800
hrs local time by a gathering of like-minded individuals who make
up the membership. Secondly, to carry on a revered tradition, sadly
ended in 1970, by consuming half a gill of the nearest equivalent
to the rum issued to the Royal Navy (i.e. Pusser’s Blue Label)!
This initiation is followed by an oral examination of candidates
(which many fail) by respected full members at Tot 6 and if successful
Tot 7 secures membership. The prize is to be the only organisation
in the world outside the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Royal Navy
permitted to fly the White Ensign as a burgee. Needless to say swots,
Andy & Jane, passed the oral with the highest ever marks and
are now fully fledged members. The RM author of this ditty was not
able to complete his Tots due to unavoidable medical circumstances
– see below.
Chris and Shirley attended one of the Tots but, being Anglo-American,
failed in their duty to attend more. They may make up for this next
year. A day or two later we sailed under Yankee alone to Nevis arriving
after nightfall and terrifying a tall ship which we think feared
a pirate attack. Meanwhile, we crept into Pinney’s Beach and
eventually dropped the hook. It was alarmimg how few wore an anchor
light!
We awoke next morning, after an air-conditioned night, to a breathtaking
view of Nevis and St Kitts. Some swam from the boat. Chris may have
made an illegal landing on Pinney’s Beach but we want to kept
quiet about this. By the way, in case I forgot, Chris caught and
landed a (puny) Yellow Fin Tuna on the way over from Antigua to
Nevis.

Andy gutted,
filleted it and stored it in the Fridge where unfortunately if languished
too long and went off!
We sailed from Nevis later that morning, after being warned off
by Capt. Ahab who was leaving at the same time but had no engine,
and arrived in St Kitts, Basseterre Marina, notorious for its fishing
Pelicans. We even saw a Pelican dive and catch a large fish right
beside the boat but were not quick enough to catch it on camera.
St Kitts has begun to be spoiled by Cruise ships but there are amazing
sights to be seen. We hired a friendly taxi driver and toured the
island. Memorable views were: the Amerindian Rock carvings possibly
dating back to 2,500 BC.

Brimstone Fort never taken (and extremely unlikely ever to be so),

Dieppe
Bay which in a Southerly Hurricane provides a precarious Hurricane
Hole bounded by reefs and the Island itself, the Rain Forest, the
Batik fabric factory: 19 different processes to achieve one garment,

and the
Rawlings Plantation Hotel where we lunched.

We so enjoyed St Kitts that we stayed on and Chris & Shirley
flew back from St Kitts to Antigua to catch their return flights
to Florida. We also met an engaging Welshman, John, who invited
others and us to a drink aboard his new Bavaria 49. This finished
up (don’t ask) with an Irish SingSong: The Wild Rover, the
Black Velvet Band, etc. We staggered back and were lucky not to
fall in.
Next day we set off for Jolly Harbour, Antigua, with wind on the
nose, pounding the whole way. The only relief was our sighting of
a humpback whale and calf just before the Narrows between St Kitts
and Nevis. The Skipper, trying to get this owner to Coastal Skipper
exam level, denied him use of GPS and Echo sounder. We suspect he
is a descendant of Le Marquise de Sade – he also seems keen
to carry out surgical operations at sea as well! His Father hopefully
visits next Xmas and we plan skillful interrogation. En route we
caught a real Yellow Fin Tuna weighing about 28lbs. Despite photographic
evidence to the contrary,

my friends
insist that it is: a) a Pilchard held close to the camera lens,
b) photographic enhancement, c) purchased from the local Fish Market.
Jane also hooked a big fish which stopped the boat and broke the
200lb breaking strain swivel – the one that got away!. We
made a spectacular landfall much to the surprise of this owner whose
passage plan it was and moored up at the fuel dock overnight. Next
morning we moved to a proper stern-to berth and erected the passarelle
for ladies disembarkation.
Thereafter things went fuzzy. This owner ignored the very sensible
advice of his wife, Pat, Jane and Andrew, to see a Doctor believing
things would get better – as men do. After four days this
resulted in emergency admission to an Antiguan hospital with a 106ºF
temperature and walking unconscious. Five days in intensive care,
ice packs and a truly thorough medical investigation got this person
back on his feet and on the boat after a short three day convalescence
in the Jolly Beach Resort. If you must be ill in the Caribbean choose
Antigua where Dr Kelvin Charles is the man to see:

Andy & Jane, as we left them, were busy planning for more guests,
a visit from Jane’s Mum and some essential maintenance before
the return journey to Sotogrande via the Azores.
home
| boat | crew
| cruises | diary
| news | archive
| booking
|
|