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

Menu

Free Spirit - Log 22: 1 June 2015



Yesterday, Michael spotted a very large black triangular fin slicing through the water in the direction of Free Spirit. This surprised us because Michael is normally asleep. Anyway, sure enough there was not one but two very large black triangular fins slicing through the water towards us. Then, as they got nearer we could see, beneath the surface, two very large black torpedo shapes with white patches at the front end. Killer whales!! Having soon decided that there was nothing sufficiently edible aboard FS to warrant the effort of sinking her they descended silently back into the deep - and Michael went back to sleep. That was the most exciting thing that happened all day. Except that, at 2300hrs last night, a slight breeze arose from the NW. Sails were hoisted hurriedly and the elusive zephyr moved us gently, i.e. slowly, through the water for almost an hour. Then, at midnight, the breeze fled, like Cinderella from the ball, and the party was over. Today the morning has dawned grey, cool and windless. What's more the GRIB files tell us there will be not be any more wind between here and Horta, our next destination on the island of Faial 150 NM away. So, the motor grinds on. If it doesn't pack up between now then, we should be in port some time tomorrow afternoon.
Like toads in early spring, with land beckoning over the horizon, some of the crew are showing signs of stirring from their torpor. Bits of the boat actually got cleaned yesterday. As a reward for this commendable effort, the daily ration of ships biscuits - now getting a bit wormy - was supplemented with a few chicken bones left over from me dinner. Normally, I feed them to the fish - the chicken bones that is.
While at sea, as Captain of this vessel, I am judge, jury and executioner in all matters pertaining to alleged criminal activity aboard. In port these onerous responsibilities must be surrendered to some namby-pamby authorities ashore who, if it's left to them, will let the perpetrator(s) of the most heinous chocolate embezzlement incident off with no more than a warning. So, this matter must be settled urgently. As everyone knows I am a fair man and an excellent judge of character. Therefore, I do not expect my decisions to be challenged. Here is my verdict: The young whipper-snapper stole the chocolate. But, he was just the 'runner'  - the fall-guy. The truly guilty party is another who, by distancing himself from the sharp end, thought he would never be caught and that the young whipper-snapper would cop the consequences if and when the shit hit the fan, leaving him in the clear. Not so!! He even framed an innocent man to try to throw me off his trail - without success. I have seen through his cunning plan. Accused he came up with the 'defence' that the crime is not to steal but to be caught stealing, thereby sealing his guilt in my mind. Michael is the guilty party. As to the punishment: Keel-hauling, 60 lashes o' the cat-o'-nine tails, clamping irons in the bilges - all too good for him. The only way to get to lawyers of his ilk is to hit them where it hurts most. I therefore pronounce the following sentence: Inexhaustible supplies of chocolate (preferably Cadbury's Fruit and Nut) to be provided for all crew members for the next stage of the voyage, upon pain of being chain-ganged into another Atlantic tour aboard Free Spirit. That should keep everyone sweet on the next leg. This is where the saga of the Captain's chocolate ends - definitively.
Log authored by Peter.


Previous | Next