Log Entry No 4 - 1st Nov 07. (Discoverer)

FROM THE CAPTAINS CABIN

Well hope does spring eternal, the expected low, along with the winds, hit us Monday and increased through the night and into the following morning.  We have been enjoying sailing at speeds in excess of 9 knots since, with out the clatter of the engine. 

Lionel concentrates on the helm.

NAV CHECK

FROM THE CAPTAINS CABIN

Well hope does spring eternal, the expected low, along with the winds, hit us Monday and increased through the night and into the following morning. We have been enjoying sailing at speeds in excess of 9 knots since, with out the clatter of the engine.

Chris and Tony enjoying a romantic sunrise together.

The winds have now backed round from the SE to the NE and as I write we are currently polling out the Yankee as the wind continues to back further round to the north. To hear the whoops of excitement as soldiers at the helm, who 2 weeks ago had never sailed, surf down waves at speeds in excess of 13 knots is magical; especially when it is followed by raucous laughter as someone gets the equivalent of a bucket, or more, of water splashed over them as the yacht hits the bottom of a particularly large wave. You could say morale is somewhat high! As always, as the conditions worsen young soldiers just give more, smile and get on with it.

It was during these increasingly testing conditions that the first watches were led by the un-qualified afterguard as part of their leadership training. A true test of leadership for soldiers who had previously not sailed even though they were still under the watchful eye of the mates, I hasten to add. Tuesday morning saw the unqualified watch leader Besty command his team in changing down from the Genoa, the largest foresail, to the Yankee 2 in what was one of the longest sail changes, but one that proved that this type of adventurous training does develop leadership in young soldiers as he completed the task successfully, with more raucous laughter. With still no other sign of human life, not even an aircraft, it is difficult not to think about how incredibly large the ocean is and how self reliant we are on the yacht and each other. This becomes even more apparent when an electrical storm strikes within 3 miles of the yacht, and you have a rather large metal conductor sitting above a steel hull! However, Discoverer is a fantastic yacht and coupled with an equally good crew we look forward to arriving safely in the Falklands, but not before some more cracking fun at the helm.

FROM THE CREWS QUARTERS

The weather is starting to get wet and cold which has made the sea a lot rougher and it means that its more exciting for the crew as the waves are becoming large they are coming over the top of the boat- proper sailing!! This has made for high morale as every one is enjoying working completing sail changes in the harsh conditions.  I think this is what everyone has been looking forward to, a bit of hard work and enjoyment at the same time as its much more enjoyable than just motoring along bored. We have not seen any boats in the past four days so it has been quiet on that front. People are starting to dread there mother watch shifts as the cooking conditions are pretty bad as the boat is rocking from side to side with the rough sea, but all in all its been a good few days with strong winds lets hope it carries on.

Tpr Tony Laws Light Dragoons