What a difference 48 hours makes. Very early morning of the 27th saw Rona
roaring along in gusty breeze with not one but two reefs in. Dodging the
waves that came crashing over the bow became a sport for the night watches
in the cockpit. Someone was having too much fun and 'accidently' left the
hatch open and ended up involving the sleeping watches. A red card was
definitely in order!
The boat was jumping over the waves and heeled over at about 25 degrees
consistently all morning. When Mother Watch grasped the opportunity to pop
their heads up on deck they were forgiven for asking if we were in the
Solent. There wasn't a speck of blue sky in sight, the clouds were low and
grey and Red Watch were in full oillies yet still soaked to the bone. That's
what happens when you do a sail change with ocean waves that a desperate to
join you on deck. Chris and Len positioned themselves strategically in the
cockpit behind two wave breakers. Poor Libby and Harry just needed a break
from the waves. When the heavens opened it definitely felt more like the
approach to Blighty than Bermuda.
During this spell the boat covered a serious amount of distance and nothing
would have been more perfect than to keep going and get to Bermuda faster.
But sadly the wind can't be caught and just like the weatherman predicted at
12 o'clock in the afternoon it slipped through our fingers. Rona gave a sigh
of relief as she slowed down and leveled off. OK, maybe the sigh was from
mother watch. The engine was kicked into gear and we have been motoring
steadily ever since. The arrival time bets have been crossed off one by one
as the clock keeps ticking.
Our aim today is to get Rona to Bermuda looking Bermutiful (get it?). All
hands have been on deck, quite literally I had a sponge in mine, to get Rona
looking spick and span. Windows have been cleaned, lines pulled from the
lazarette, fenders retrieved from the bilges and the sail locker delicately
rearranged. Even the crew had compulsory showers last night. We left land as
women, became salty sea dogs and must now wash it all off and become ladies
once more.
At midday a collection of white shapes could be seen on the horizon. Land
Ahoy! Bermuda! Life! Just in time for Mr Mate to win the $21 prize money
from our bets. After weeks travelling across an Ocean, arguably one of the
most remote places on Planet Earth, the crew are anxious to catch up on news
and get back into civilisation. Let's hope civilisation is ready for us!
roaring along in gusty breeze with not one but two reefs in. Dodging the
waves that came crashing over the bow became a sport for the night watches
in the cockpit. Someone was having too much fun and 'accidently' left the
hatch open and ended up involving the sleeping watches. A red card was
definitely in order!
The boat was jumping over the waves and heeled over at about 25 degrees
consistently all morning. When Mother Watch grasped the opportunity to pop
their heads up on deck they were forgiven for asking if we were in the
Solent. There wasn't a speck of blue sky in sight, the clouds were low and
grey and Red Watch were in full oillies yet still soaked to the bone. That's
what happens when you do a sail change with ocean waves that a desperate to
join you on deck. Chris and Len positioned themselves strategically in the
cockpit behind two wave breakers. Poor Libby and Harry just needed a break
from the waves. When the heavens opened it definitely felt more like the
approach to Blighty than Bermuda.
During this spell the boat covered a serious amount of distance and nothing
would have been more perfect than to keep going and get to Bermuda faster.
But sadly the wind can't be caught and just like the weatherman predicted at
12 o'clock in the afternoon it slipped through our fingers. Rona gave a sigh
of relief as she slowed down and leveled off. OK, maybe the sigh was from
mother watch. The engine was kicked into gear and we have been motoring
steadily ever since. The arrival time bets have been crossed off one by one
as the clock keeps ticking.
Our aim today is to get Rona to Bermuda looking Bermutiful (get it?). All
hands have been on deck, quite literally I had a sponge in mine, to get Rona
looking spick and span. Windows have been cleaned, lines pulled from the
lazarette, fenders retrieved from the bilges and the sail locker delicately
rearranged. Even the crew had compulsory showers last night. We left land as
women, became salty sea dogs and must now wash it all off and become ladies
once more.
At midday a collection of white shapes could be seen on the horizon. Land
Ahoy! Bermuda! Life! Just in time for Mr Mate to win the $21 prize money
from our bets. After weeks travelling across an Ocean, arguably one of the
most remote places on Planet Earth, the crew are anxious to catch up on news
and get back into civilisation. Let's hope civilisation is ready for us!
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