19 June 2008
Hilary's Blog - 19 June 2008
It was a stormy night which shook the camper vans and would have brought down the awning, had it not been for Paul who got up at 4am to put it back together. We woke up hoping that the front had passed over and that the sea state would have improved. One look over the break water told us this wasn't the case.
We still hoped that by lunchtime the situation might have improved, but by mid morning a quick glance at the Greenwich light vessel data showed us that the wave height had increased to over two metres. We even considered a night sail, starting at midnight to get to Chichester just twelve hours behind schedule, but the weather did not want to play the game. The result has been a frustrating day in camp for me whilst everyone else has still been busy.
My jib boom, which had seized up completely over the winter, making it extremely hard to tack, had been partially freed by Sean's hard work in Eastbourne. I hoped that it would continue to improve, but despite his best efforts there is only so much that fresh water and washing can do. This afternoon Mike and Toby scared the living daylights out of me by bringing the whole unit up to camp and proceeding to take it to pieces in a less than gentle manner. As I write Mike is still trying to persuade the "ooofah to fit in the doofah" (direct quote) and turn freely.
I'm just praying that it all goes back together again without several threaded bolts being left over. Helen and Jacqui have gone swimming and Sean was determined to go too, albeit in his dry suit, until we persuaded him that shorts were a better idea. He returned somewhat early claiming that, "one of the girls tried to push me in", but that it was just too cold. Helen and Jacqui, who somehow manage to keep us all sane and in order, have returned claiming that "the water is lovely".
The most I seem to have done today is come up with some potential chapter headings for a book, most of which have been received with hoots of derisive laughter. We are just all hoping that we will be back on the boats tomorrow.
Page last updated on 22 June 2008 at 17:12