Day 18 Rolling Around
5Friday 13 December 2013
So we’ve got pots of wind now – sadly it’s right from astern of us so we are having to gybe (zig-zag) along our planned line to St.Lucia. That’ll mean a day or more extra to get to St.Lucia (factor that into your quiz answer from yesterday). At the moment the waves are too rolly and all over the place to risk going wing-on-wing (one sail to the one side, one sail on a pole to the other side). That said, we are going to give it a try today once the sea calms a bit. Everyone is trying hard to remain upbeat, it is becoming a little trying, we still have a while to go yet, but we know the rum will be waiting!
As mentioned the seas are rolly and spin the boat left, right and centre, cork screwing her around. It’s hard to sleep and there are certainly some black baggy eyes around. It was ‘Scrub the Crew Day Episode IV’ and Lindsay having just enjoyed hers also got treated to a seawater shower courtesy of a wave! Double shower – lucky girl.
We’re getting to a state where we are wondering if we should wear helmets as things go flying. The chart table is a dangerous place to sit as it gets items from the deck dropped on it through the side hatch – so far it’s had a Go-Pro camera, a kindle and a potato land on it!
The sad news of the day is that the Adina friendship bracelet Mark V aka electric furler drive belt failed so Mark VI is sitting in the sun drying after an application of Sikaflex. Persistence is the word – some may say trying is a better word!
Fishing has not happened for several days now due to the sea state, the furler not guaranteed to work which we need to slow the boat, and our towable generator zig-zagging all over the place behind the boat. That said, the towable generator is doing a magnificent job pulling in 15-20amps, saving us hours of the diesel generator running.
Tom with limited edition Adina Christmas Cake!
Yesterday saw the appearance of some traditional Christmas Cake made by Ros Plume specially for the Skip – he is very fond of her Christmas Cake. We were treated to the real thing complete with a boat made in icing on the top. ‘Twas totally delicious, a real treat. Thank you kindly Ros.
People have asked about how we store food. Put simply, you store it wherever you can! We have net hammocks hanging in the saloon with our fruit and vegetables. Sealed milk bottles are in the bilges, tins under the table, chocolate under the floor in the aft cabin, indeed it’s not a surprise when you find a few cans of beer stored in with your underwear!
Today’s quiz – with the extended journey time we may face running out of food. Does spring onion or orange go better with mallard duck? 🙂
Rocking and Rolling on Adina
Be careful out there, and remember always one hand for you and one hand for the boat. You are in luck as both spring onion and orange are excellent accompaniments for duck. If you are frying then I would go with the spring onion, if roasting, then the oranges. I hope you are singing Christmas carols to keep your spirits up.
Schools out!
Hello all and a massive hello to Lindsey, you are all fab and am enjoying reading the daily blog. Life here is very dull in comparison school is rubbish but I have my bike and can’t wait for your return. Miss you loads, and can’t wait to see all the photo’s xxx
Tom that is not funny. It is very upsetting. Poor Harold. I think Hallie would rather you ate Neil. In which case the answer would be orange.
Zig-zagging sounds awfully exciting..although I am a little disappointed that I can’t see that on the tracker but then again people may just think you were all a little tipsy.
Mummy thinks you should make a couple of bracelets in one go if you have enough supplies then you don’t have to wait for the pesky drying process every time because you can be TRULY Blue Peter with “here’s one I made earlier”. Genius.
I think that if you are running low on food it was a bit silly to tell everybody where your sneaky stash of chocolate is hidden….particularly if no-one is sleeping they may get peckish.
I am sorry that it is frustrating for you but if everything went according to plan then life would be very boring. You are laughing (or at least harumphing) in the face of all adversity and chomping down each new problem for breakfast. You CAN’T be down beat when there are so many squillions of people cheering you on from here (and, it appears, from across the globe!). You’re going to get there Adina!!! REALLY soon! I can zoom in lots on the tracker and you’re still on the same page as St. Luica… the SAME PAGE, how cool is that?!?!
You’re all amazing and I don’t think many people would even try to do what you’re doing – lets face it they didn’t – most of them turned on their engines…clearly they don’t all live in the jungle 🙂
You should be very very proud I know everyone else is.
Love Barnaby xxx
ps You should have a cheery festive song of the day to keep you motivated…today’s shall be……..
“I wish it could be christmas everyday”….
I am happy to tell you crew of Adina – I have arrived in St Lucia and it is worth the wait! I am typing this from in the shade of the canope of my own private deck in front of my apartment. The pool is maybe 3 meters away, and the sea visible through the palm trees – I will be watching for you! This weather (or the marathon of flights Amelia endured to get here) has a sedating effect on the little thing. I have managed two cups of tea this morning without interruption (don’t worry Neil one was decaf!). It sounds like its getting a bit rough out there – but you guys are troupers. I feel guilty that in the comfort of my hotel room I have the replacement parts that you need. I am contemplating a chopper – but then what would Susie and Gareth do for entertainment?! Gareth must be running out of breaking bad episodes – we wouldn’t want him to get bored.
As for what goes well with Mallard duck – I suspect that if you find out on this crossing replacement parts might go on walkabout. I wonder how much I could pawn valuable replacement parts sourced from Italy for in a marina full of desperate sailors in St Lucia ;). Instead explore the wonders of Spam – Neil can show you how Obama likes it, and I will greet you with Champagne in St Lucia – whenever you might make it in!
Love from St Lucia from Amelia & Hallie
Yaaaay a hallie and Amelia welcome party. Best thing EVER.
Mummy thinks hallie needs adult company just in case you’re delayed further……will just pop across to ba.com……