Log Entry No 6 - 9th Nov 07. (Discoverer)

FROM THE CAPTAINS CABIN

This afternoon we landed at Stanley in the Falklands, accompanied in by a pod of dolphins playing under our bows for the best part of 2 hours. After surviving the storm the weather has been kind to us with favourable winds blowing in from the West on Monday, rather than the SW that we had been banging into for the previous 48 hrs.

Discoverer on course for Stanley.

NAV CHECK

Progress has been ticked off every 3 hours as each new Watch came on, and minor celebrations took place as every 100 miles was knocked off. The Watch system was changed after the storm to allow everyone to recover and prepare for the next potential onslaught. The normal 4 hour rotation was dropped to 3 hours, Lucy covered all the cooking duties during the day, allowing everyone to get at least 6 hours off in a row in any 24 hour period. This has had the desired effect with everyone becoming far fresher and stronger, and allowing a number of running repairs to take place on the way in. Over the last 3 days we both sailed and motor sailed to maintain a good speed to try and beat any new weather fronts. Now in Stanley all that is required is a crew meal, followed by a short 20 mile hop round to Mare Harbour, a clean up of the yacht and to carry out any maintenance jobs that spares will allow. The crew of Discoverer then have Battlefield Tours of the Falklands to look forward, rather apt just after Remembrance Day and the 25th Anniversary.

Final adjustments on approach to docking in Stanley.

So, 10 sailing novices have made their first Ocean crossing, experiencing everything from flat calm to storm force conditions with everything in between. There have been more whale sightings than boats, having not seen any other vessels until this morning since the first night out of Rio. Everyone has learnt a lot about sailing, a lot about themselves and is better for the experience. It has not been everyone’s cup of tea (just looking at a tea cup is enough to turn some green now), some may never sail again, others have got the bug and will go on to gain qualifications and lead expeditions in the future. However, no one regrets the experience and will leave with a lot of good memories and having had a lot of laughs. It is testimony to these recruits and soldiers that they have jelled so well as a team, met adversity with humour and taken all that is good from a testing expedition; I don’t believe any now view South Atlantic Ocean sailing as a ‘jolly’. This is the last log of Leg 3 of LTTA, rather appropriately some thoughts from the crew are logged below. Reading them proves the old adage that ‘those times that are hardest to endure are sweetest to remember’.

FROM THE CREWS QUARTERS

The experience of the trip has been one to remember and the whole crew has achieved a lot due to both physical and mental demands. Throughout the trip when things have got rough we have glued together as a team and come through with a great sense of pride and achievement. The laughs have never stopped, even if you have just been wiped across the foredeck for 2 hours trying to pack away a staysail, or 2 and a half hours trying to fold the Genoa in 35 knots or even enduring well over 50 knots of wind too add a view of the highlights of the trip.

Sig Best, Royal Corps of Signals.

A quality experience and a great opportunity to further my sailing skills, as well as a real test of physical and mental strength.

Rfn Doy, 5 Rifles.

I enjoyed this trip a lot and would do it again. The funniest time was on the foredeck with Best and Jay trying to put the staysail away in 40 knots of wind and mine and Bests lifejacket went off during the process.

Gnr Daryl Ellis, 1st Royal Horse Artillery.

An experience to be remembered. Hope my hand doesn’t scar form the Jaws attack!

Dan Day, Corps of Royal Engineers.

A 2600 nautical mile journey, full of trials and tribulations. Sail and motor. Sunshine and rain. All of which have contributed to an experience never to be forgotten. Boys have become men, and strangers become firm friends. It was a pleasure.

SAC Temple, Royal Air Force.

For me this journey has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my life so far. I’m walking away from Discoverer with not only a greater knowledge of sailing but having learnt other valuable skills of taking up responsibilities, managing my duties and most importantly learning to work effectively within a team in close proximity to each other.

Tpr Steve Allen, Royal Wessex Yeomanry.