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Challenger 2 - Challenger 2 Entry Fifteen



Hi Dear friends and followers of life on board Challenger 2 – the adventure continues.

“Hark, now hear the sailors’ cry, Smell the sea, and feel the sky.

Let your sail and spirit fly into the mystic………….”  Van Morrison

I was back up on watch at 6am and it was so very hot already. Unless there is a squall approaching there is no need to wear oilies on deck.  Watched the sunrise fill the skies with glorious sunshine and a weather system of interesting shaped fluffy kind of clouds encircled us in every direction.   Off on our starboard side was a collection of squalls raining down heavily in the distance and at the same time a massive rainbow stretched from one part of the horizon to the other, reaching down into the sea – such an awesome sight.

OMG – As I write it would appear we have caught a fish, the first of this voyage, let’s hope it’s edible and so we will be feasting tonight. I will let you know before I finish this blog.

Couldn’t wait that long as I was shouted on deck and yes the fishing line has caught a massive Dorado.  YES – it’s massive!!!!!! and whoops as it came on board it was dropped into the helm area whilst Steve (the younger) is helming. Hilarious to see everyone jumping out of the way – it’s only a fish guys.

Late morning an enthusiastic mother watch of Kathryn, John and Laurence were busy cleaning and preparing lunch of Jacket potatoes and fillings.

As we are heading ever closer to the finish line a process of cleaning and reorganising the boat has started.  Much of the fresh fruit and veg is finished and sadly some has gone overboard now quite inedible. We’ve even had an exploding melon.

Another team led by Monkey, our skipper serviced the winches in the snake pit.  Well done Ollie for jumping into learn how it’s done.

So the day finished with another scrummy meal of pasta and chicken in a tomato, and herb sauce. Yet again our fantastic meals have been down to the hard working mother watches and of course to our wonderful skipper, mate and watch leaders for organising for us to have such wonderful fresh food.  Dinner was followed by a personal thank you by John to his mother watch with Kathryn and Laurence.  A huge cheer went up as we all agreed John and his vote of thanks.

So for me personally it has and continues to be a massive adventure and I am enjoying every minute of it.  Who would have thought it would be easy to get up in the middle of the night to go on watch with only 20 minutes’ notice.  Who would thought I could go to bed and sleep at any time of the day of night because we’re all so weary and so very steamy hot and sweaty.

After slowish speeds yesterday we are now rocking and rolling along at an average speed of 9 knots.  Challenger 3 is now within range and we continue to do our best to hold our lead.  Anyway we look forward to our arrival in St Lucia and as I write we now only have 371 nautical miles to go.

“Throw your dreams into space like a kite,

And you do not know what it will bring back,

A new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.      Anais Nin (Pilgrim fathers)

So I take my leave and say cheerio for now.

All my love and best wishes to our followers but especially to Peter, Fiona and Mike.

Love, Heather xxx

 



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