Race 1 - Day 27
Crew Diary - Race 1 Day 27: Liverpool to Punta del Este
16 September
South Atlantic Times
Day started well on SS GREAT Britain today as we were treated to a fine breakfast of toast. Earlier rumours that there are illicit stashes of granola on board were strenuously denied by the waiting staff however an unnamed source said that these do exist but would only be issued in case of emergency. It is the view of this publication that only having toast is an emergency and that strenuous efforts should be made to provide choice at breakfast.
The bread was of the highest quality and provided by Messrs Ray Gibson and John Olsen – the former providing the baking expertise and the latter the management consultancy and marketing.
In other news, male grooming continues to be of the highest importance. Showers at the stern of the boat have resumed now we are downwind again and reaction to this has been favourable particularly from female crew who care deeply about the hygiene of their male colleagues. Tim ‘the Trim’ Jeffery has also taken to using selfies in order to ensure that his new beard is of the highest quality and very much in the style of Brad Pitt. For readers' information, Tim derives his nickname from his peerless ability as a sail trimmer rather than care of facial hair.
As mentioned previously in this article we are now sailing under spinnaker. As you will be aware your correspondent is a confirmed cruising sailor and therefore regards spinnakers as the work of the devil. Having experienced problems with the spinnakers when up and also when dropping on earlier occasions we decided to trick this one by twisting it around itself in the bag and therefore leaving it disorientated when hoisted. At time of going to press this would seem to be working.
Sailing under spinnaker has brought clear benefits to morale as the boat flattens out. Crew in the port bunks Simon Speirs, Spencer Bienvenue, Ian Munford, Catherine Foster, Nicola Thurlow, Pip O’Sullivan, Mark Tucker, Phil Gunn and Graham Bell no longer have to perform feats of gymnastics to enter their berths. We have, however, to report a sharp fall in the price of berths on the starboard side as a result. Also some crew have been slow to adapt and, having been used to running uphill between the low and high side, can now been seen with their heads buried in the wet locker having not accounted for the new angle of heel.
A new eating establishment is looking to make waves on CV30; Antonia Hiesgen and Ed Aldworth's All You Can Eat (until it's finished) bistro. For lunch we were treated to an Italian recipe which translates to 'fast women and slow horses' and dinner was a Mexican dish followed by peaches and condensed milk. Reaction was generally favourable and we wish both every success with their new venture (particularly if they take over my Mother Watch).
On a personal note your correspondent was keeping a diligent watch to the east this afternoon when he saw a whale jump boldly above the water around no more than 300m from the boat. It was one of a group heading north and although we could see them spouting water no more leaps were in evidence. It is a timely reminder of what a remarkable environment we are in and how fortunate we all are to witness it.
Yours taken by the lee
Jon M