Day 7 on Rocket/Stop Rhino Poaching and all is well.

Day 7 on Rocket/Stop Rhino Poaching and all is well.

Not that the day has been trouble free or without its amusement and excitement.

Last night was a cool breeze with a beautiful starlit night. Night time on the yacht can be very special. The scene may resemble a thriller movie with people moving around stealthily on deck with red headlight torches. Maybe stealthy movement is being too kind - some may call it a drunken like stumbling. The only things to see are brilliant stars, a half moon rolling away from side to side (or maybe it's the masthead rolling?) and the occasional cloud creeping up on our unsuspecting yacht from the rear. Our spinnaker was flying and so was the boat. All was well until around 2:35am (SA time) when a sudden squall hit with zero warning. Within seconds we had an "All Hands" situation. No damage to the boat or crew - but our spinnaker has made an appointment for its maker. It shredded from top to bottom and had to be reeled in rapidly to ensure it did not do under the boat itself. A scary and unnerving time for all - but not without its humorous side. It involves Gerrie and the Heads.

Gerrie had gone down below around 2:20am - the chaos broke loose at 2:35am. Only after all was resolved and we were back sailing under a genoa did we find out that Gerrie gone to the toilet (Heads - remember?) and he was in the process of pulling up his trousers when "All Hands" was called. He came flying out with Oilies still around the ankles and stumbled head first out of the toilet. He finally made it up top (within seconds) with Oilies around knees and a hugely frustrated look on his face. Bushy says "Ek het net Gerrie's se groot oë gesien!"

The next Heads story is not for the feint hearted - you may want to miss the next paragraph. (Another reason for being called the Heads - it seems to Head up so much discussion? I am sure there is a great reason for calling toilet the Heads - but we are having our own fun finding newbie definitions for these sailing peculiarities.).

This is also a little personal - but I was advised under duress to recall the story. I had visited the toilet in the afternoon under pleasant sailing conditions (only one elbow, a knee and a foot required to stabilise). On completion of my duties I had unthinkingly "made clean" and thrown all toilet paper into the bowl. A sudden realisation hit me that this is an absolute no-no! Toilet paper must not go down the toilet! It must go out the window. Toilet blockage is a real threat which we do NOT want. What to do? What to do? (plus other expletives). My only recourse was to very carefully remove every shred of toilet paper from the bowl, squeeze it dry to ensure no spillage and then throw out the window. Be assured I shall not make that mistake again .

We passed through zero longitude around noon SA time today and drank a toast to both Neptune and Poseidon - just to ensure we stay on good terms. We are now officially Westerners! In our travels from East to West, we have not seen a single boat, yacht or light on the horizon (for the past four days now). The Atlantic truly helps redefine the concept of huge open space.

I said we would talk about the off button - sorry this has to move another day.

Best wishes and lots of love to our family and friends

Regards Mike on behalf of Team Rocket/Stop Rhino Poaching