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Captain Jack Aubrey on deck...

After the morning's squall died down, the boat was still being shaken by
huge waves. Sleeping in the forepeak was challenging; people secured their
lee cloths in the hope that they wouldn't be flung from one bunk to the
next. Libby and Louisa took great pleasure in ensuring everything was
battened down on deck, and rode the waves at the pulpit in a true titanic
pose. Throughout the day it got calmer, and the off watch managed to catch a
couple of rays on the aft-deck.

It was an important day for Mark, the Watch Officer for Red Watch, who
turned the grand old age of 31 - Happy Birthday! We celebrated in style with
carrot cup cakes at happy hour, a handmade card and some carefully wrapped
presents. What a way to spend your birthday, in the middle of the ocean,
with good company and cake.

Birthday or not, Red Watch still had work to do on our watch between 6pm -
8pm. Lorna headed up the team of Libby, Harriott, Kirsty, Abby and Louisa up
to
the now extremely wave-stricken fore-deck. The aim being to secure the Genoa
(our largest white sail) to the rail in preparation for a racing sail
change. Picturesque, there was a beautiful pink sunset in the background.
The deck, however, was much less serene. All secured to the deck with our
safety strops, we braced ourselves as huge waves swept over the deck,
soaking our waterproofs through. One wave caught Lorna off guard, and she
looked rather startled as she spat out sea water and looked around to find
Red Watch giggling. Nevertheless, undeterred we battled the sail out of its
bag and valiantly secured it to the deck for future use. Mission
accomplished!

Mark's one birthday wish was to helm whilst listening to music that reminded
him of the sea. Just after 8, a mixture of blue and red watch congregated to
listen to the master and commander and jurassic park theme tune on deck. It
was very atmospheric as Mark got to pretend he was Captain Jack Aubrey. Epic
music at the end of an epic day!

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