can we help
+44(0)1983 296060
+1 757-788-8872
tell me moreJoin a rally

Menu

Athena of Southampton - Athena log 4 – Tuesday December 3rd 2013



Athena log 4 – Tuesday December 3rd 2013 – 1200 hrs., 15 54 N; 30 00 W

Well here I am again, another crossing, another blog, another crew. I ask myself what qualifies me for skippering another crew of “Motley’s” across this wonderful powerful ocean.

So often I hear, when I mention another ocean passage ahh well everyone has done it these days, it’s easy.  My rejoinder is often quick and cutting as I say “name one” and in truth they cannot. There are a lot of us that are serial ocean crossers, so because of repetition we considerably reduce the actual volume of participants. This ARC is the 28th, a brief guesstimation of the full number excluding the repeats and the reduced numbers in the early years, I recon about 32,000 people have enjoyed the fun of participating, from every nation under the sun, This being so the spread, reduces still further the volume of Brits who have competed and have enjoyed the organisation and fun of the Arc. So in fact quite a small number!!!

This crossing will be my 36th both ways across this pond and the magic still works. This year I am enjoying the crossing on Athena of Southampton a well found vessel with a wonder full Irish crew of various levels of experience, together however we pretty well cover everything short of surgery. For me” the lone but happy Welshman” I am enjoying the mystic blend of ribald humour  and Irish folk singing, the gentle but professional blend of tunes with the guitar is fabulous.

I was asked formally, only at the last minute to skipper this trip, but how lucky can you get and be paid for the pleasure. For this passage so far has been has been wonderful. We have out of necessity and convenience stopped in Mindelo, in the Cape Verde islands, what a difference from my last call in there, many years ago, at the island of Sal when they had not had rain for 15 years and water was the same price as diesel. Our stay was, as before, for fuel, our twelve hour stop topped off the fuel tanks and gave us a fantastic meal ashore, which sent us back in time to the 1930s, the meal a blend of thinly sliced tuna and plates heaped with boiled spuds and cabbage. The price including copious amounts of beer was 10 Euros a head.

The crew (the motleys)

First we have John the first mate. Works in computer technology…..Yes I know one of those!!!   He started working life training as a mariner, a radio operator no less …how convenient you might say and you would be right!! We have had installed on this vessel the oldest SSB set in existence. It produces no mysteries to our John!  The aerial, jury rigged on a lanyard near the back stay, is tuned to perfection the arc fleet although spread is still in touch. It is rumoured that even his long lost aunt in America has been tormented by his skill with the valves and dials. But his skills do not end there, his culinary expertise is exceptional. Not for him the shambles of open cans and pre-cooked packets. Last night a delight of chicken breasts stuffed with cream cheese and herbs, wrapped in a parcel of bacon, a true delight served with new potatoes and lightly blanched spiced cabbage. This gourmet presentation finished with a light, delicate sauce of tomatoes and just a hint of garlic. I am sure his ARC Michelin star is on its way.

Then we have Myles, He can be described as our constant gardener, when he is awake he is checking or doing, doing, doing, a sort Jack Russell tenacity always looking and solving problems. As I write his eyes are alight with the magic of a newly found box of spares for engine and water-maker. His background as a production manager means he was solving problems, he is the perfect foil for the people who build inherent faults into sailing boats and owners who work in the mystic realm of “ it’s only leaking a bit I will do it next service, parsimonious but not wise. He takes no prisoners with his quick wit and cutting phrase. In truth a great crew member, and a great guy.

Then we have Brian, a folk singer with immense talent, quality guitar, and a ready smile. He is the only person on board who has not done an Ocean passage. He has an enquiring mind, another engineer with a skill set to match he has been my watch mate until last night when he swapped to another mate….maybe something I said!! Brian has the look of a benign judge, a quick mind and an enquiring way. He kept secret, his considerable knowledge of the stars…my belief is that he has been in this life before and has been sent back to re-educate us.

Next we have Philip. A day skipper so he tells me, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of sailing and things nautical. We have nick-named him Waypoint for without a mark on the chart of known origin he cannot operate. The worst thing that can happen to this Master Mariner would be to lose the plot!! The wonder of his enquiring mind will turn the most innocuous comment into an intellectual debate …right or wrong the debate rages. He is a civil engineer who finds the need to qualify all. Yesterday he was explaining how to measure the stresses on the boom and mast rigging, viciously accurate and in his element. He is our other guitar player. He is also being taught the rudiments of cooking by his wife maybe she has an ulterior motive? He and his wife are veterans of a previous crossing with the ARC and they are still married so the waypoints must have worked.

LIZ

As my grandfather would call a True Lady, a clever blend of the gracious and the competent, quietly spoken efficient in all she attempts. You can set your watch by her arrival for her watch always 15 minutes before the due time. She and Philip have a boat and I would love to be a fly on the shrouds when they are at sea. She is certainly a competent sailor and meticulous with her log keeping.

TAFF; long suffering skipper!!!



Previous | Next