Dear Family and Friends
Today marks one full week of sailing and I am happy to report that all crew are still well and healthy - although our infamous friend RR (Running Repairs for those occasional followers) has caused us to take on some "different" new hobbies.
Last night the winds were quite mild so headway was slow. We had our full spinnaker flying all night - hard concentration for those on the helm (that's the driver of our yacht .
Early this morning we changed course and thus changed sails - however more changing winds took us back to our spinnaker. Somehow Poseidon did not take a liking to the brand of rum we toasted him with yesterday (maybe we should have used champagne) and he (she?) threw a brief tantrum around 9:30 this morning and ripped our largest spinnaker from top to tail. (So that now makes two spinnakers out of action) Two sets of sail changes later we have managed to set up a good replacement using our all powerful Code Zero (it really does sound powerful, not so?) and we are back on track again.
So where does RR come into this picture. Our ever zealous skipper, Gerrie, has advised that we should have sewing and crocheting skills as an integral part of team dynamics - so we reviewed the possibility of sewing something like 50m of fine cross stitch sewing - by hand. Most unfortunately we only have enough special cotton to do about 39m - so RR is now engaged in sticking the sail together using MacGyver tape and specialist sail repair material. A hectic job for RR!
Our one and only formal bucket which we use for washing dishes, clothes and ourselves decided to part ways with us early this afternoon as it quietly slipped out of soapy hands (the soapy hands were conducting RR on a gas leak). Bushy's comment... "we can stop now, our bucket list has gone!" Since when did one ever mourn the demise of a bucket! We certainly are so RR has decreed the requirement for a new bucket and inventions are being developed.
I have alluded to the concept of an "off button" in previous report backs. Let me explain. Many of the crew are (or were...) indeed reasonable athletes. We even have a Sani2Sea medallist with us. However every single one of the athletic activities that have been embarked upon have had an off button. If the bike broke - that's it - you have to stop. If you really feel beyond exhausted, you can call it a day and move on to the next event. This yacht has no such off button. Be assured, in the first few days of this adventure, I personally searched high and low. And I am sure I was not alone in my search. On many occasions in those first few days, I found probably every Newbie skulking around searching under sail bags, behind cupboard doors and even in cabbage holders - and I have it on reasonable authority that they were indeed looking for that "off button". I am not entirely sure what we would have done if we had found it - however it simply does not exist. The Atlantic simply does not offer a worm hole back to a comfortable motion free bed. Fortunately we have embraced this reality fully and have rather devoted efforts to RR to ensure our worm hole is ahead of us in Rio.
This afternoon we are planning our first braai - this will be an adventure in itself. There is still plenty of very hot daytime left for us - even though the nights are still cold.
Lots and lots of love and best wishes to our family and our friends
A SPECIAL wish to my son Ryan who turns 21 tomorrow - happy birthday Ryan! Sorry I'm not there to celebrate.
Regards
Mike on behalf of Team Rocket/Stop Rhino Poaching
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