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Quasar V of Lleyn - log for 22nd January 2009



22nd January 2009

 

ABS

 

I'll get back to the title in a minute.  Just a brief précis of last nights and today's sail first.  Last night, we had a strong breeze, filling the spinnaker and pushing us along at a steady pace.  That was before the squalls descended upon us and provided us with absolutely no wind in their aftermath!  The spinnaker hung sadly from its halyard, not even a breath of air could nudge it in to life.  Even the mainsail flapped in consternation; so down it had to come and on came the engine.

 

It was only at about 09:30 that a sufficiently modest breeze tapped us on the shoulder and pressed us in to action.  She was an easterly breeze, relatively shy throughout the day, rising to a confident 12 knots when she fancied it but she coaxed us in to putting the spinnaker up and we've been making an average of 5 - 6 knots. This is quite frustrating when you have 1250 miles to go.

     

So let me get back to the cryptic title.  Abs!  What does abs mean to you? Well I asked each of the crew on board Quasar, including myself:

 

Lindsey: 'Abs? Abs JB is what I'm going to have by the time I get to Salvador - a nice toned tummy'. She says this doing sit-ups on the saloon floor, followed by more painful looking exercises.  I smile at her determination and look for Ian.

 

Ian:  Ian was reclining in repose in the aft cabin and scrambled around looking for his hearing aids as he saw me approach.  With hearing aids fitted I posed him the question as to what abs meant to him. 'Fabs?  Tabs? What?' he pressed his ear closer to me and I repeated myself for the fifth time. 'Oh, abs!' A lengthy pause ensued, 'well, I guess they're in here somewhere', he concluded tapping his stomach, which has been growing rapidly in size as he tucks away at least 2 chocolate bars a day.  I smile at his relaxed, restful manner and go in search of the skipper, Malcy.

 

Malcolm:  He's in his bunk on his 10th book. 'Isn't Abs short for abseiling?' Was his considered response; given the amount of times Malcy has been hoisted up the mast and abseiled back down I'm not surprised this is the first thing that springs to mind.

 

For me, ABS is the acronym for Able Bodied Seaman, used in cryptic crosswords; I occasionally attempt to do the Telegraph crossword.  I go in search of Sam.

 

Sam: Sam has a huge grin on his face, a sparkle in his eye, 'Abs JB, are my A level grades which I got through today by email and you've spelt it wrong, it's ABBs, one A and 2 Bs!'

 

We all start to celebrate and agree to have a party, dress code 'education', this evening.  Linds cooks a cracking spag bol.  We all dress up as school girls and boys, save for Sam who dresses as a graduate, and he hasn't even started university yet!  WELL DONE TO SAM AND CONGRATULATIONS!

 

All's good on the good ship Quasar, if not a little slow!

 

Position @ 0700 UTC 14.40S 15.33W


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