After we checked in yesterday and we got our crew brief about the new route and arrangement we became so to speak official member of the team and crew. Our passports were taken away at registration. Now there is no hiding and running away. Skippers meeting at 09:00 am sharp. And as I cam late the day before I made damn sure that I would be on time. And so it was, quick breakfast and an early walk to the club brought me onto the boat a quarter to nine. Big hello of those who were already there. At nine we were all complete and Rich took over. First of all we discussed the allocation to watches. Rachel, Ben, Susie (all three round the worlders), Mark, David, Sophie and Steven would on my watch called Birdwatch. Also all the bunks got allocated. I am in Bunk number 8 on the Portside. It is a low bunk and it is fairly far aft. That means it will be OK in heavy weather, OK to get in and out and most importantly to stay in. I am hot bunking with Laurance, our French round the worlders from Sharkwatch.
The plan also points out what we will be responsible when and when we will be mothers cooking for the whole crew. If I am not wrong my first mother duty is on March 23rd. And as I am hot bunking with Laurance we will share that responsibility.
After these announcements we went into refresher training alongside after the rest of the crew was send back to continue the repair of our Code 3. We checked first our life vest. Interestingly enough I got the life vest number 9. Why is that interesting? When I had my Opti „Spatz“, the boat that I learned sailing with it was marked with the number 9. I take this as a very good omen. We went through all the checks on this vest, a Spinlock, which became my absolut favorite after the L4 training. We inflated it and left it at that for a few hours before we packed the vest together again. We were instructed by Rich to perform this test every Wednesday. This is very important and actually essential. The bladder of the vest could have been pinched. And you like to find out before you go overboard.
After that we walked the deck, went through all safety equipment incising the three life rafts, the Danboy and the 4 horseshoes on board. We talked about the use of jackstays, the does and do not, the safety teacher and the strong points on board. It was a serious but casual training and briefing. We really started to melt on deck because it was hot, hot, hot. In the morning the air almost did not move.
We went below deck and started at the Nav station to go through the equipment, log book handling, generator start and engine start. We reviewed the display and located where we will find the information for the logbook entry. Rich made very clear that we should keep the logbook tidy and correct. No assumptions, no guesswork. ir needs to be clean, readable and accurate.
And he points at an instrument that I was not aware of. There is a repeater in his bunk that allows him to see how accurate we follow the course. Big Captain is watching you.
After Lunch our training was completed Stephen and I had a meting with Ben and Rachel together with skipper. The topic was victualing. So in case my non sailor readers do not know what this is ( and I admit I never had heard that were before Clipper)I like to explain. It means to plan the supplies, stock the food, develop the menu plan and write the recipes. Yes a job that I have a lot of respect for. You know you try your best to get such a complex topic done but the only thing you harvest is complaints. In the old days the victuallers and the cooks had to walk the plank first when morale on battle ships turned bad. All their fault to not keep the crew happy. And I am sure the first ones are already lined up for the complaint.
The good part about Sephens and my situation is that we have a sprint race of 4-5 days in front of us before we do the very long haul. Means we have time to understand the consumption model on board and adjust the supplies and menus accordingly. The briefing was OK, Ben spoke too fast, Rachel was pretty clear about what she thinks has to happen and Rich offered some helpful advice. Stephen and I decided to attack the problem of victualling tomorrow 08:30 am.
I could not sleep that night and was searching for easy to Koop one pot meals. I put a shopping list together considering existing supplies. And we did it as team, Stephen and I.
Good night guys and tomorrow we will talk about the craze of food.
Joe Sails 