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Magic - Magic B'ARC Day four ­ Wednesday 25th November Dog Blog from May the Maltese on Magic



Being a dog at sea there are certain delicate subjects we don’t discuss but just so you are not concerned for me I have to report that all systems are working well.  It has taken me four days to settle and I think the people are the same.  It is odd at sea as our address keeps changing – apparently just now we are at 26.17.2N 25 09.31 W

 

There is an endless amount of entertainment for me on the yacht watching the feeders working.  They are a good pack and work together well, but I have noticed that sometimes they are tired and stressed – that’s where I come in to make them smile or give them a hug.  They call it May Watch when they have to pick me up and cuddle me – but of course really I am looking after them. 

It is 2.30pm and all is calm. Mark is on watch with Tina – Simon is watching a movie and Lottie and Nisse are having a well-earned rest.  John is on deck with Mark.  I love all the food they are making – spaghetti carbonara (that has Bacon!) Chicken Casserole (I love chicken) Scrambled Eggs and Smoked Salmon (my favorite)  They are also eating a lot of fresh fruit – which is frankly weird.  I love Lottie – she is a really good cook and when she cooks I sit on her feet – not just because she has pretty feet but also because it stops me slipping across the floor and because she always gives me treats from her yummy food.  I love watching Lottie and my mum – Tina cooking on board as it is funny – they have to dance about and help each other hold things as the boat is rolling about like a barrel in a stream.  I like it but it makes the feeders tasks seem harder.

 

 I have to tell you though – I am tired this after noon because I have had a lot of looking after to do during the last 24 hours.  Things have been very  busy on Magic.   

 

I will tell you what was happening.

 

During the night there were squalls and heavy rain. The people were wearing their funny suits again and looking  very serious.  Nisse was ill with a fever and Lottie was nursing him.  Everyone has been rushing about so much I think they are tired.

Then I heard something I don’t understand – a concerned voice said “ the steering and auto pilot seems to be failing” the feeders all looked very worried and were talking about having to go to Cape Verde as the steering wouldn’t last the whole trip to St Lucia. They had to do something called “hand steer” what ever that is.  They didn’t look very happy about it.  They worked as a team all night and when the dawn came they focused on the problem they had.  Nisse (who was still feeling ill but carried on) and Simon went into the bedrooms at the back of the boat (I think they said the Port and Starboard bunks at the stern – odd?)  they took the roof down and saw that there was a wire thingy that had jumped out of a disk thingy –and there was a chain thing that had come out of the cogs I felt that they were worried because all the people were worried.  They got out the Emergency Tiller  (I thought – good thing that nice lady Anna from the ARC safety check team made the feeders find it and check it fitted.)  Then they worked on taking down the  biggest white flappy thingy that they had been tending so carefully it made me jealous.  John, Nisse and Simon looked like they were in control as they stood on deck. As the big flappy thingy came down they wrapped it up while John and Tina pulled on some bits of string to help them.

There was a lot of noise – creaking and banging and whistling wind.   Then Nisse and Simon – the “fix everything” feeders, focused and worked together to fix the problem – meanwhile outside – the on deck team with the “emergency tiller” in place sailed the boat very carefully whilst handing tools and grease to the fix everything feeders.

Soon it was all over.   I felt that they were all relived – but they were all very quite for a long time.  Then things sort of got back to normal – what ever that is anymore!!

 

They tidied away the tools and the “emergency tiller” and declared that the now repaired, tightened and greased, steering was better than new – then there was a hesitant moment when they said “put the auto pilot on”  not sure what that is but they were all looking at the button and the round wheels.  They seemed happy that all was well and when they are happy I am happy.  

Then on to more serious matters – breakfast!  I was delighted when they decided to have scrambled eggs and smoked salmon – that’s my favorite – it was raining and windy and grey so to cheer them selves then had chips for lunch – My mum Tina has a thing called an Actifry on the boat and it makes everyone very happy to have chips safely.  I don’t really like chips that much so I don’t get it – but I love it when the feeders and all smiling.  My mum likes that too – that is something she is very concerned with.  I think she is like me – she feels it if people are not happy and it makes her unhappy.

So everyone was happy – chips for lunch and there was even sun in the sky – then there was a bang and the big flappy thingy seems to fall.  Poor feeders they had just relaxed and now they all looked very worried again.  It was very windy and I heard Simon say that “the Main Halyard had slipped dropping the main part way”  they do say odd things.  They pulled on string and made that grinding noise I hate with the big silver drums and then all seemed to be well.

Now dinner is made – Chicken Casserole and everyone is resting – apart from me as I am writing my blog ….

This sailing life is great for me with all the fresh air, strange other animals to see and delicious food but I am not sure that the feeders are having a good time.  I hope that they don’t have any more stress now and that we can all enjoy ourselves.

Mum got the following email  from an old friend just now and it made her very happy so she had a little cry – I love my mum so I am off now to give her a cuddle

 

May the Maltese on Magic

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