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!!!