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

Menu

Second Wind - Seasickness and Deisel




Monday 27 October 
9am and the back room in the Sports Bar is full of expectant sailors ready for the morning seminars. Today's topics are provisioning, mental preparation and boat gadgets. 

Mia, the lovely Swedish wife of Andy, (who as a duo run the Arc1500 rally) gave us the benefit of her experience provisioning and cooking for ocean passages. Top tips were avoid alcohol and coffee, over-provision by 50%, expect to be seasick for three days, and store chocolate! 
Well, we have the luxury of a freezer, so we have lots of one pot meals ready to heat up when no one wants to cook, and we've calculated for enough containers of water for the trip even if we lose both the water tanks. But we do need to buy more chocolate :-)

Bob then demonstrated his 25 top gadgets, none of which cost a lot, and our favourite was the 'looky bucket' basically a bucket with the base replaced with Perspex, for poking over the side to see the anchor. Great idea!

Finally, Andy focussed everyone on the mental challenge ahead. But the big message was that the boats are ready, we just have to keep a clear focus on what matters most - keeping water out of the boat, keeping the sails and engine sound, and keeping the crew fit and well. After that we just deal with whatever we meet - we've all been through the training for heavy conditions and safety and survival at sea. Then enjoy it!!!

In the afternoon, we decided since the wind was light that it would be a good time to move out to the fuel dock and fill up. This took all afternoon, as the pump station was faulty, and we had to fill the tanks 5 gallons at a time from containers - and we needed 80 gallons.

So we felt we deserved our free drinks and nibbles at happy hour courtesy of Portsmouth City Hall, and once again enjoyed the great hospitality in this lovely old town.




Previous | Next