Big Spirit - The Big Blog - Day 6

As the dust settled from last night I surveyed the scene of devastation on
the deck. Coffee stains everywhere gave away the carnage of the early
evening watch struggling with the helm. Huge quartering seas and strong
winds put then all to the test. An exhausted crew snuggled in their bunks
now with my watch now doing battle with an odd combination of lights.
They sat off our port beam and appeared to show the lights of a trawler.
We watched her on the radar move forward at 21 knots then back on a
reciprocal course at 6.5 knots and yet she remained on our port beam.
Eventually as our courses were clearly converging a VHF call was placed
and a sorry sounding voice responded that they were in fact a sailing vessel
in the ARC and had, during the rather hairy night, had managed to jam their
main half up, half down and had decided to wait for the seas to calm and
dawn to arrive before attempting a fix. They were under motor they told us. It
was agreed that they would continue on course but would throttle back to ensure
that we could pass unhindered as we were still racing. At that, we wished them
well and decided to shake out a reef that had held up together during the night.

Sadly for the strickened yacht this involved us turning directly towards
them thus presenting a complete change of light sequence which resulted in a second,
more panicked VHF communication with said yacht. They requested, with a little strain in
their voice, our intentions to which I explained our movements and that we would resume our
course in a couple of minutes - we had not in fact altered course and ramming speed
in their direction.

All settleed and my watch enjoy the dawn, fresh tea and a calmer sea state.  Talk of kite hoisting rang out.

As the sun peeped through a cotton-wool cloud sky various items of clothing began to be removed. Two new "mothers" - Tori and Paul - stepped into the galley for the day to tend to our every catering needs with the exception of lunch. A hand of bananas which had been forgotten and buried in the fruit and veg locker was beginning to make it's presence known and a suggestion of banana pancakes prepared by Kurt was proposed and approved.

The afternoon was fast and furious in the right direction and a relaxed crew soaked in the sum, read and
generally chilled out. With dusk came the best meal on board yet - the mothers had excelled and produced a brilliant meal raising the standards of the mothers in the days that  follow.

It was, as usual, showers for the mothers and I managed to squeeze myself into the shower schedule too which
was lovely and so I pottered off to my bunk, (well someone else's bunk  actually - long story but suffice it to say
that my nickname is "Hobo" as I don't have a permanent bunk so I sleep where and when I can - sobs of sadness please!!!!)

Em Pontin
Big Spirit





I must introduce you to my new friend. Since my arrival on board I have discovered a new toy at the chart table
that was not here when I sailed these boats I have discovered on board. It is called the AIS navigation system and is magic! It tells all and I am slowly driving the crew up the wall with my new found knowledge of any commercial boat larger than us receiting their length, on board cargo, name, port of destination and time of arrival together with the closest point of impact, course and speed amongst other inane drivel I can spout about it. It is brilliant and I have become, I am ashamed to admit, an AIS geek.