Jack Rowland Smith - Log Day 17 - JACK Rowland Smith - We Are Getting There

Day 17 was a cloudy and damp affair but lovely and warm with a good breeze blowing us roughly towards our destination. We thought we would be slow with only the double reefed main set but we managed to latch onto a string of black clouds and as I write this we have 100 miles to run and so a good day for us.

Little to report on boat or crew, a couple of gybes to try and achieve the best angles was the only major activity otherwise it was sit back and watch the miles tick by.

Ben completed his English GCSE mock which, of course, included the obligatory “toilet break”, in this case a gybe. How he managed to concentrate for over two hours as the boat rolled its way down waves I will never know. As parents you never know whether it is the right thing to do to give your children an opportunity such as this, missing school in such an important school year. Ben’s commitment to his studies leaves me in no doubt it was the right thing to do. He believes he has achieved more on the boat than he would have done at home and yet he has lived a life experience very few his age will and also learnt loads, much of which he doesn’t appreciate yet. At 3.45am this morning we gybed the boat, he heard us and came up to help, and that after doing an exam and being on watch until midnight. I am so proud of him.

You know we are getting nearer land because standards start slipping as the sheer enormity of what our boat and small crew have achieved start to sink in. Firstly the music went on for dinner and the skipper started dancing and singing, I use both words in a very loose context............ consideration was even given to an alcoholic beverage, well at least by me, but that would drop standards too far. Last night was the first dinner on the trip where we relied on tins, even I may have been able to give Chef Sue a run for her money but I doubt it. Our fresh food finally ran out the day before, we worked out ten tins in total for dinner and pudding (with custard!!).

Laurel and Hardy have put their fishing differences to one side and one line went out yesterday. We got a bite but the fish was so large the break on the rod would not even stop the line going out. The line finally snapped and Hardy had to wave goodbye to his favourite lure number 2!!!! We think we might have caught a marlin but we will never know. “That was the largest fish I have ever caught” announced Hardy, I looked on rather bemused given I thought the definition of “caught” in fishing extended a bit beyond having something nick your lure. It is fair to say that the fishing antics have been fun and also a good source of fresh meat!!

We watched a seabird yesterday who clearly had not got the memo detailing the insanity of the JACK birdwatching crew because he decided he needed a rest. The bird tried to land on the top of the mast which was doing pirouettes in the sky but finally gave up. He either decided discretion was the better part of valour after being hit by various bits of equipment at the mast top or one of his mates called him and explained about the boat inhabitants.

One thing we will need to do once we get ashore is clear the boat of rubbish. The anchor locker of a boat is usually a tangy place, well ours is much worse because that is where all the rubbish is stored. However we are careful and everything perishable goes over the side and we are cutting up plastic to reduce the size and therefore making it easier to store and therefore dispose of. It is part of my “skipper therapy programme”, he has to sit down quietly on a daily basis aand cut up the plastic bottles. It is like being in nursery school really but the pupil shows no sign of being willing to listen or learn, some say he has no capability of either.......!

As regards the boat, she is in good shape. We seemed to have remedied George’s issue and he has worked perfectly for three days, albeit we are sitting patiently by him should his mood change!! The boom is a frustration but such is life, unless we fail to follow our tried and tested procedures we should finish with it being the same length, albeit slightly less straight.......... and the pole fitting is one of those things. Everything else has worked perfectly and we have had no issues. We can be very thankful for this because we received a message of a dismasting yesterday and the boat requiring fuel for 500 miles of motoring, yes preparation has been meticulous by skipper and first mate but there is an element of skill and luck as well. This is not an easy trip otherwise everyone would be doing it.

So what of today, well the wind is forecast to go light on us but we have decided that come what may we will be averaging six knots. We have pretty much sailed this far and if we have to do a few hours of motoring to save the mainsail flogging we will do it. That puts arrival time late tonight but trust me, early enough for a celebratory drink!!! We will have sailed 3,000 miles.

And finally we saw our first aeroplane last night but we still have seen no boats and nothing on the horizon this morning. It is incredible how nearly 200 boats get so quickly lost in this ocean. As I sit here the stars are still in the sky but there is a glimmer of dawn. The enormity and solitude of the ocean, the night skies, the sunrises and sunsets and the rolling Atlantic swells and crystal clear water will be memories that will stay with me for ever. I only hope this is not the only time I witness the ocean and all its magic.

We will report back when we cross the line.

Nick (Head of the 4.00am/pm sunrise and sunset watches)