Monday, 8 October 2007
Skipper Should Not Go On the Foredeck!
Yesterday morning I found out why skippers are not normally allowed on or near the foredeck! It is a dangerous place up there, a fact that Tom Frame, our (now) one-legged bowman from the Fastnet, will endorse. I had been warned on several occasions by my concerned crew about the consequences of venturing in front of the mast. However, I have found myself in an inescapable situation whereby I am forced onto the bow due to a severe lack of personnel and suitably qualified bow people!
Whilst on the bow keenly aiding my skipper to do a gybe, the bucket at the bottom of the kite snuffer, which was suspended in the air at approximately head height, decided to have a bit of fun and walloped me in the face. The outcome is a big shiner and cut to the left eye. Steve will undoubtedly claim that in fact he gave me a good beating as he blamed my helming for the shredded kite! Crew discipline is very high on this boat.
We have just completed the second night of our passage. The winds have been very light since the previous nights blast and the sailing therefore not quite so exhilarating. Due to the light winds we have agreed a new route with the race committee. The wind in the Bay of Biscay was looking mostly non-existent and what little there was would have been on the nose. Luckily, the French Race Committee took pity on us and agreed to our proposed course change. I am sure that RORC would have just made the course longer!
Our new course takes us to a waypoint over 300 miles west of Brest before heading north to round Fastnet Rock (at last) and ten home to Weymouth. Progress has been slow over the past twenty-four hours but the wind has just picked up again. We have now sailed 330 miles and with the current forecast we expect to be back in sometime on Tuesday night.
Whilst on the bow keenly aiding my skipper to do a gybe, the bucket at the bottom of the kite snuffer, which was suspended in the air at approximately head height, decided to have a bit of fun and walloped me in the face. The outcome is a big shiner and cut to the left eye. Steve will undoubtedly claim that in fact he gave me a good beating as he blamed my helming for the shredded kite! Crew discipline is very high on this boat.
We have just completed the second night of our passage. The winds have been very light since the previous nights blast and the sailing therefore not quite so exhilarating. Due to the light winds we have agreed a new route with the race committee. The wind in the Bay of Biscay was looking mostly non-existent and what little there was would have been on the nose. Luckily, the French Race Committee took pity on us and agreed to our proposed course change. I am sure that RORC would have just made the course longer!
Our new course takes us to a waypoint over 300 miles west of Brest before heading north to round Fastnet Rock (at last) and ten home to Weymouth. Progress has been slow over the past twenty-four hours but the wind has just picked up again. We have now sailed 330 miles and with the current forecast we expect to be back in sometime on Tuesday night.
posted by Sailing Logic at 10:57 AM
