Day 17 Friendship bracelets and halfway party
10Thursday 12 December 2013
Day 17 and we had wind – lot’s of it. Against that, the washing machine style seas were back. On a boat things tend to take twice as long to do as you move all over the place. When the seas really start going things take four times as long and you have to plan for it and factor it in. Cooking becomes far more difficult so you have to watch the weather and plan ahead, cook a few meals in advance.
Drive Belt v Adina Friendship Belt (before sikaflex treatment)
Overnight, Gareth and Susie had left a drive belt glued up to test on our broken electric furler in the morning. Sadly it didn’t work but they didn’t give up. During the day various models appeared, Blue Peter was being pushed to the maximum. A new very clever model then came out. Using blue 1.5mm diameter rope they formed coils and Susie sewed the coils together into a belt. It was stiff with a little stretch. Picture a friendship bracelet and that’s what it looked like. That worked for a short while. So next Sikaflex (like the sealant you use at home for the bathroom) was added to give it a rubbery surface. They branded it Mark V. The rest of us called it the Adina friendship bracelet – it worked and even better is still working! Persistence pays off.
Halfway party with Gareth, Lindsay and Neil!
The other highlight of the day was the Half Way Party hosted by Lindsay and Susie. Overnight we had luminous balloons in the cockpit and luminous tubes on the helm. At lunch time the party hats and balloons came out. A range of canapes – good old cheese and pineapple on cocktail sticks, chorizo and mini gherkins on cocktail sticks and arranged on an orange which we called a sea urchin. Various blowing of paper horns – it was jolly good fun. Not to mention bursting balloons to make Susie jump.
Overnight the wind picked up and we reefed the sails. The seas picked up and most got little sleep as bodies were tossed around.
The next few days the wind is due to pick up further. It’s also due to be right behind us so we need to work on steering deep. It’s a shame it’s too windy for the parasailor; looks like a few gybes will be needed.
As to the quiz question on who woke the skipper with the understatement “It’s not a problem but …” when the furler broke – it was Susie.
New quiz then! What date do you think we will arrive in St.Lucia? At 18:00 London time on 11th December we are 930 miles from St.Lucia. If we travel at 5 knots, we cover 120 nautical miles in a day, if we do 5.5 knots it’s 132 nautical miles, 6 knots it’s 144 miles, 6.5 knots, 156 miles, 7 knots it’s 168 miles and so on.
Mark V Adina Friendship Bracelets now on order (100% hand-made).
Susie you are so amazing. Well done on the friendship bracelet! Well done to all of you actually, it sounds like you are all making a fantastic success of this crossing. I am totally addicted to the blog and tracker and am really excited that you are over half way. Love from Liz xxx
Fortune cookie says: SV Adina will arrive at 0840hours 18th Dec London time. A crew member will feel compelled to bear some extra, extra special gifts for his family due to the most unfortunate missing of his 17th Dec flight. His loving wife, dazzled by the jewelery he bears, will be very understanding. Amen.
Woo hooooo I was right, clever Adina….always send the least likely person to get thrown overboard..sneaky!
Hmmmmm this quiz is a tough one. I am a very optimistic little chappy and seeing as the wind I sent you seems to have arrived I think you will reach your goal at 1123 on Monday 16th December (and although that means Gareth can catch his flight he should still fly his lovely wife out for a holiday…Neil is bringing Hallie….its only fair!)
And Tom shhhhhh, you said it was too windy for the parasailor-me-bob, it might hear you and leave!! I don’t know, first you want wind then there’s too much or not the right sort…. Fussy you sailors aren’t you!
Love Barnaby xxx
ps I have a boat in my bath tub now and I like it a LOT.
So how did the crew know when to book flights home??
Enjoying the stories of your journey very much. Best wishes from Hong Kong.
We raised a glass to you at our end of term social. We miss our brave adventurer friend but are glad that you are more than half way now. I especially wish I had been there to share that dolphin moment with you.Lots of love, Juliet xx
Hi Lindsay and team. Well done – Keep at it. London is foggy & cold. Barclays are pulling out of Sponsoring Boris Bikes. Developers want to get their hands on Spitalfields market – might become Heritage though. Crucial few days in the Perth Ashes test coming up. Suspect you have heard Mandela passed away. Troubles in Central Africa. Enjoy the big seas. Hope you catch at least one more fish than I managed to. Have a great Christmas in the Sun. Oscar
Great to hear you are safely past the halfway point and finally have some wind, although as always didn’t quite meet the specification requirements. Poor programme management really 🙂
Enjoying the blog and good luck for arrival prior to the 17th..
My money is on Wednesday 18th December at 10.22 London time which is sunrise in St Lucia. I know Tom will want to make a grand entrance into the harbour and is unlikely to want to arrive in the dark with no-one there to welcome Adina! Much love, Ros
I would claim that I consulted an Oracle, but the truth is that it was only the wind projections on “sailing weather”. My deduction is that with the strengthening stable wind forecasted, that you will draw alongside in St Lucia at 22.40 on 16th..
I am enjoying the blog and tracker. Hope that your hand made mk V belts hold up when being loaded during the run in and that the washing machine seas moderate.
Today Christmas jumpers were worn, boys came dressed as chimneys and decorations came down. Hooray… school’s out for Christmas. Bon Bon’s big day is tomorrow when she delights all as Mary. Will bore you with a photo on your return. I also have graduated to big school at Crossfit. Exciting times. Hope all is as windy as you want it to be. Sailing terms are so confusing. xxx S & O