Log Entry No 1 - 1st May 08. (Discoverer)

FROM THE CAPTAINS CABIN

For those who might be logging on for the first time, perhaps to follow a loved one or friend; welcome. For long term followers welcome back! You will have noticed an enforced silence since the middle of leg 8. I’m afraid that technical problems abounded but after sterling work by Joint Services Adventure Sail Training Centre (JSASTC) staff, particularly John Bransom (also our current skipper) and Marvin Gillard who have worked tirelessly whilst Discoverer was lifted out of the water and had her mast replaced. Working in Antigua might sound exotic but in fact to recent arrivals the heat is repressive and those unfamiliar with yacht maintenance might not appreciate how hard the work is even in a temperate clime. So although we are now significantly behind schedule we are delighted to be once more at sea.

A job well done John & Merv.

Discoverer’s new crew have bourn the disappointment with commendable fortitude. Departure from the UK was delayed first by a week and then by a second. We did however manage to get down to JSASTC where Vaughn Marsh (LTTA leg 3 skipper) assisted by taking the crew through the initial safety and other briefs before a brief introductory sail (while your scribe was having an adventure with a minibus and a garage door – but that’s another story!!) It saved time when we arrived in Antigua and once again goes to show how a venture like this is supported by so many unseen back room staff whose contribution is essential. So once again a big thank you to all those in the project Office, HQ ARTD, Upavon QM’s dept, DESCOM, ATG(A) and JSASTC without whom none of this could happen. (If these abbreviations mean nothing to you, then don’t worry it just means a lot of people and organisations supporting Discoverer’s crew.)

Mismuster - gathering.

So finally on a very wet 3 June morning we assembled at Gatwick for the flight to Antigua. For the football fraternity the greatest excitement was the presence of Peter Crouch (England and Liverpool for the unsighted!!) on the plane. In Antigua we moved into temporary accommodation in Jolly Harbour and that night headed off to Old Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour where courtesy of the Royal Naval Tot Club of Antigua and Barbuda we were privileged to share in the tradition of drinking a lot of rum to the appropriate Naval Toast of the day. The Tot club whilst raising considerable sums of money for charity preserve the centuries old RN tradition, only abandoned on 31 Jul 1971 or each man being issued a tot of rum. A tot is the equivalent of a treble in pub measures and not for the faint hearted!!! As a member of the Tot Club (I previously spent a week in Antigua whilst sailing back to the UK at the end of the first British Army Antarctic Expedition in 2001) I was able to call a “Mismuster” so that we could repeat the process as a token of thanks to our hosts and also to apologise for our slightly late arrival. The crew were privileged to be allowed to purchase a Tot Club mug as a memento to the occasion.

Leg 9 - Crew.

The following day we moved (via the swimming pool) to join Discoverer and that afternoon sailed the 10 miles or so from Falmouth Harbour (where the refit had been conducted) to Jolly harbour our port of departure. What should have been an uneventful easy journey was made memorable for the wrong reason’s as Discoverer became entangled with a lobster pot. We entered Jolly in the dark and after tidying up and completing other admin tasks enjoyed a crew meal.

Yesterday morning we took on fuel whilst Simon and Jim led a supermarket raid as we vitaled the boat with provisions for 14 people for a fortnight. After storing our provisions we moved to the Custom’s wharf for final clearance. This 500 yard journey was made memorable as the gear linkage failed and we had to deploy the kedge anchor smartly!!! All part of comfort, stretch and panic zones!! We finally slipped Antigua at 1430 and at 1500 hoisted sail. After a successful man over board drill, which involves the recovery of a fender we laid course due north in near perfect Caribbean sailing conditions.

As darkness fell and the stars came out to accompany us we settled into routine. With Antigua now 170 miles astern; Leg 9 is finally well underway.

Richard Pattison
Mate and Expedition Leader

FROM THE CREW QUARTERS:

We were a bit disappointed when we found out that the yacht had been damaged, which meant us being delayed. In the meantime we travelled to Gosport to learn the basics skills of sailing, which at one point we didn’t enjoy as we got rather wet!! When we finally arrived in Antigua we had a little down time to enjoy the sights and beautiful beaches that Antigua had to offer, whilst at the beach we all had a go on the jet skis which we all really enjoyed.

Setting off for the expedition from Jolly harbour, we started to get in to the routine of the yacht i.e. we are split into three watches. In a 24 hr period one is earmarked as “the mother watch” and responsible for cooking and cleaning the boat while the other two are the on and off watch doing 4 hrs each sailing the boat and then resting.

We have now been sailing for the last 24 hours and find it very hot and tiring but are pulling through as a team.

Crew member Dean Smith: I have particularly enjoyed taking the helm at night I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and I am looking forward to doing it again.

Crew member Lisa Jones; I have been lucky to have this opportunity to be a crew member on this yacht I’ve enjoyed it all so far, the weather is very hot and the ocean is beautiful and it’s just a lovely experience and an exciting experience.

Dean & Lisa