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What’s Next - What’s Next Jan 24th



24/01 @ 2014 17'27'17N 048'06'15W
 
Good evening,
 
Today, wow. We're exhausted! Since we pressed 'send' on the last blog we have explored every single technique of sailing, experienced every wind direction, navigated every weather form. We began this morning's watches with the main sail and code 0. We then swapped the code 0 for the genoa, put the main away, got it out again, rigged the pole for the genoa, hoisted the trade wind sail for the code 0, and poled that out, went goosewing (also called 'milk maiden' by our Dutch crew members), and did it all again. The rain poured for the majority of today and like Forrest Gump in Vietnam, we had every type. Today's weather has left the crew wondering if we are indeed on the warm Atlantic cruise filled with consistent trade winds as advertised, or are instead back in the English channel. Nonetheless, spirits were again lifted with Joe's creamy pesto pasta and Dutch caught Mahi Mahi steaks. As of this evening, we are once again heading towards our destination with just enough wind to keep us sailing and as much motivation as six very wet and tired sailors could have. 
 
The next of our crew bios is someone you should know very well by now, Joe Burnip!
 
Joe Burnip
Age: 24
Height: 183cm, so we don't know what that is.
Eye Colour: Blue
Hair colour: Blonde
 

Joe's value to this crew cannot be understated. With two of the original 3 crew members not being known for their patience, Joe had a tough role to play. I can confidently tell you that you would not be reading this blog (or any of our blogs for that matter) without him. His desire to get the most out of everything he does makes sharing an experience like this with him a real pleasure. His wealth of technical, practical and obvious culinary knowledge makes him a valuable crew member, but it's his patience, resourcefulness, and drive to find the answer to any problem that makes him invaluable. Joe can definitely be given credit for the smoothness of communication in the coordination of the Brainstorm rescue, as he sat at our nav. table armed with this laptop, a sat phone and the handheld VHF for hours until we knew the lads had contained the damage. He has continued to go above and beyond on this voyage and he is one hell of a mate. Joe believes his biggest strength is his ability to adapt to any situation he is dropped into. He is armed with an array of tools, like that of a Swiss Army knife. Undoubtedly his biggest weakness, as we have started to realise in the previous blog posts, is his spelling. You can't be good at everything mate. I, Jacob, can honestly say that Joe has been there in the good moments of this experience so far, but more importantly in the difficult moments. Every ocean-crossing vessel needs a Joe, and I feel very lucky to have him onboard.
 
Here's to hopefully some fair winds and a good night of sailing.
 
Jacob
 

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