All Hands on Deck

Wednesday 31/3/10

Position: 037degs 048' 31N  130degs 21' 67W

Boat time: 11:30hrs

Just as I had finally nodded off about 12.30 yesterday lunchtime, Lindsey came running through the accomodation calling 'All hands on deck!' It took a few minutes for what she was saying to register through the sleep, but when it did, I was up, trousers, boots, lifejacket, deck, go,go, go! We had been cruising along all morning making good speeds with the 1st. reef and poled out Yankee 3 when a random side wave rolled the boat over onto the leeward side. The inboard end of the pole gave instantly and wedged itself in the starboard rigging. When I got on deck, the yankee had been brought over to the right side of the boat and they were trying to bring it under control. We untangled the sheets, brought it in and dropped it. The next task was to untangle the pole from the rigging which Charles directed expertly, 'Ease this, take in on that!' and as if by magic the pole was returned to its housing on the deck, a little battered and slightly bent, but still in one piece!

This is only the second all hands we've had since the boat left Hull (worryingly, I have been on board for both!) and the team's reaction was fantastic! Pete was very impressed with the profesional way in which we all coped with the situation. Although at the time your heart is racing and you're trying to keep your breath under control, if anything the morale onboard has been boosted. The pacific has tried its best to knock us down but once again JLB has proved her worth!

My last mother watch is almost over and ther is less than 350mls to the finish! Today me and Bel are making burgers out of a tin for lunch which will be somewhat of a novelty! We had some interesting weather yesterday and as we were huddled into the far corner of the galley, we were still being pelted by hail coming horizontally through the hatch and stinging our ankles! Unfortunately our hatch flap is broken so there is nothing we could do! Would you like one hail or two with your tea?! This is the only Mother I have done on the whole race where I have not taken any stugeron and still survived - the irony really takes the biscuit!

Good speeds mean our ETA is getting sooner and sooner and it looks like we will be in, in the next 24hours! woopwoop!! xxxxxx