www.gipsymoth.org

Skippers Log 10th May 07

This morning the sun rose on the Rock of Gibraltar ahead of us. At 0900 we rounded into the harbour and to the last mooring of my stint as skipper of Gipsy Moth IV.

If my own journey is anything to go by everyone who joins Gipsy Moth for a portion of her round the world voyage will have had an unforgettable experience. On their own aspects of voyaging aboard Gipsy Moth will have a profound effect on the participants; sailing a complicated boat as part of a team to get from A to B, discovering new places and landscapes, experiencing nature at first hand, contemplating the achievements of Sir Francis Chichester, enjoying the companionship of others, and doing something adventurous and out of the ordinary. Put all of these things together and you have a package that will be a highlight of a young persons life and could have life changing consequences.

The originators and sponsors of this project should be congratulated in their foresight and encouraged that they have contributed to something really worthwhile.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the company of all of the participants of legs 29 and 30. Without exception they have performed superbly as a yacht crew but more importantly have got on so well together that every moment aboard has been lighthearted and fun.

I would particularly like to thank my first mate Leanna. She is a first class yachtswoman always cheerful and hardworking. She has made my job of skippering particularly easy.

One of the questions I have asked myself is why Sir Francis Chichester would choose to sail alone around the world alone. Adventure, we all need this in our lives. For Sir Francis this meant a huge project, this scale of project is out of the reach for most of us. But, we can all embrace some kind of adventure. This is the value of a project like the Gipsy Moth Round the World Voyage. When we take these memories back into our everday existence they can help make sense of our lives.

Leanna’s Log 11th May

It has been a while since my last update on the old log front, and it is not with out regret iu say goodbye to our Gypsy Moth! She has become home over the last few weeks, despite her little quirks. Some chapters of which I have found, having followed his biography throughout the last two passages to have formed a remarkable parallel to Sir Francis’ journey itself thanks to the regular reading sessions that have followed our own progress performed with precision by Mike. Although I am sure the engine did not play nearly so prominent a part back in the days of Chichester.

As for Leg 29 it was a fantastic week, one I will never forget. The whole experience of being involved with a project to such a scale. To everyone from this leg it has been a pleasure to have met you and to have shared this fantastic experience with you all. I hope you have all been inspired as I have and continue to enjoy sailing (despite the sea sickness!)

Having now reached Gibraltar my journey on “ The Gypsy Moth” ends. There have been many high lights during the course I am finding it hard to sum up the top most. However experiencing Valencia during the Americas Cup is definitely no ordinary afternoon!

The rest of the week for leg 30 has been full of laughter and enthusiasm three cheers to you all. I hope the aliens and the dolphins have made a lasting impression at least although I am fairly convinced it has meant much more as it should!

Ads for our Skipper over the last few weeks, Mike, who it has been a pleasure to sail for, and I feel has ensured that these last few legs have been special for all involved. I can ensure that every one on these legs have experienced the complete picture, if not more, muchas Gracias!

I wish the last leg all the fun and happiness we have had needless to say a safe arrival home. I hope to see Gypsy Moth out and about ever after!

Fair winds and calm seas!

Leanna

Skippers Log 9th May 07

To all of our regular readers I would like to apologise for the loss of service over the past few days. We have been on passage from Valencia to Gibraltar. Around 380 nautical miles or 72 hours at 5-6 knots. The weather has been superb from a suntanning point of view but a bit of a downer for sailors. We have sailed for around 4 hours and have motored the rest of the way, as I write just over 60 miles to go to Gibraltar and still no prospect of wind.

The main reason for our lack of contact has been charging problems. The engine is not charging our batteries so we are using our towed generator and conserving batteries by switching off all non-essential items. I am afraid that computers and web connections are non-essential.

Despite the lack of wind the trip has been thoroughly enjoyable. The scenery that we are passing is spectacular. The numbers of dolphins has surprised me, we are sighting them every couple of hours as we near the straits of Gibraltar. The company has been excellent with everyone in good spirits all of the time. The teamwork is top class and we are all well fed and rested and Gipsy Moth is being efficiently piloted to one of her last stopovers on this round the world voyage.

Personal highlights of the last three days include the close at hand dolphin sightings that we have had. One during the day and one at night. During the day we were joined by two large specimens playing around the hull. We went the front of the boat and were able to look down through the clear waters at the dolphins just below us. Last night was the most spectacular as 2 or 3 large dolphins once again joined us to play around Gipsy Moth. We could see the dolphins clearly due to the phosphorescence in the water. The dolphins were surrounded by a shimmer of light as they swam through the sea – really, really magical.

Enough from me. I will jot down some more reflections on legs 29 & 30 tomorrow. But, here are some thoughts from our leg 29 crew as they contemplate reaching their final destination on this voyage.

David –
Well its Wednesday today we’ve been sailing for 3 days since we left Valencia and should be arriving into Gibraltar tomorrow morning. I’m really looking forward to getting a chance to look around before catching the plane home on Friday morning, at the same time I’ll be sad to say goodbye to the boat & everyone with whom I’ve spent the week & it will be with fond memories that I return home to work.

The last week has been an amazing experience & there’s so many things I’ve seen & done that I don’t think are going to really sink in until I get home. Having only got a phone call from UKSA last Tuesday afternoon to ask if I could fly out to Palma that Thursday it’s all still slightly surreal. In the last 6 days I’ve had my first airplane flight, Seen Dolphins (lots!), Been seasick for the first time & Gone swimming in Perfect blue water over 200 meters deep, We’ve Watched the Americas cup fleet leaving the start line & had a tour of the Victory Team base. So many memories to take back to the UK,

On top of all that I can’t help feeling a hell of a lot more respect for what sir Francis Chichester achieved. Until you’ve spent a couple of days & nights at sea with only the occasional glimpse of land you cant really appreciate just how remote you feel,
The sheer determination that sir Francis must have had is extraordinary & I feel very lucky to have experienced just a small part of what he went through, its helped me to understand what a remarkable man he must have been.
It seems really strange to think I saw gypsy moth in Greenwich about a year before she was restored, I’d never have imagined that a couple of years later I’d be sitting on board her half way across the world!. Its certainly been a memorable trip!.

David Williams
09/05/2007


Kate –
It is 5pm on Wednesday sat in the saloon writing my final blog entry. We have had 3 days of sailing and 2 night watches since leaving Valencia. Tonight will be the final watch before arriving in Gibraltar tomorrow morning where we will have the day to wonder around and possibly go out for our final evening meal together.

Today has been the hottest day by far! A swim in the sea was definitely needed to cool down. Moments before our swim I saw dolphins for the first time! Everybody else has somehow been in touching distance at least twice this week!

Highlights for my week have included being at the Americas Cup in Valencia, where we were taken round the Victory Challenge base. We watched the races start from Gipsy Moth and were also lucky enough to stay in the main marina alongside some lovely boats. In the evening we were taken out for paella down a small street in the town.

Another favourite time for me has been during night watches where we have seen shooting stars and beautiful sunsets over the horizon. Brian and Leanna have been great company and we have had lots of sing-alongs together.

Overall, it has been relaxing and fun all week with lovely weather throughout. Everyone has got along great. Couldn’t have asked for better company! Lots of laughs.
Sailing on the Gipsy Moth over the past week has been a once in a lifetime experience for me and I will take many memories back home.


Brian
Brian’s Thoughts

We are now on the last part of our journey,Valencia to Gibralter, and expect to arrive there at about 0900 on Thursday 10th May having completed about 525 Nm from the start of the leg.
Perhaps it is appropriate to reflect on the the whole of Leg 30.
The crew has worked well together from the start but we have all become good friends and companions as time has moved on. Sails go up and down with great speed and helming the boat is now done by second nature. Cooking, no problem, cleaning the boat, no problem, completing the log, no problem, watchkeeping, no problem. We now have three budding sailors in the making. Mark in particular has shown a keen interest in taking up sailing in career terms and would do very well should he go down that road, I wish him every success.
This is my second leg as crew leader and I have enjoyed both of them and consider it a privilege to have been part of this great adventure.

Brian

Mark –
Well I never expected this week could be so interesting and mind blowing. The crew are great and we all seem to make each other laugh setting off the domino effect around the boat. The sun has been unimaginable although we have been left with little wind throughout our journey from Valencia to Gibralta(I shall be glad when we finally turn off the engine). The experience has left me hungry for more, my eyes have been fully opened to the sailing life and what it can bring. I feel like I belong and have never been surer of the road ahead I would like to take in my life.

Some of the sights have really shocked me, the beauty that lies around the waters of the Mediterranean from the colour of the water and the different fish you see leaping from the water to the speechless island views I have seen from the distance while on the boat have been implausible. The boat itself has been hard work due to age and complexity of some of the equipment, although I feel I have achieved a lot in the time I’ve been on board. I couldn’t have asked for anything more, it really has been an incredible journey.

Tonight is our last night sail of which I will be sad to leave behind, our chats about Jim Carrey and how many shooting stars we can see will stick with me forever. Tomorrow we arrive at our final destination which is Gibralta which excites me as I am looking forward to seeing monkeys and buying some new sun glasses(heard they were cheap and cheerful out there). Life on the ocean sea has become a part of an everyday routine for nine days so I will be interested to see how I adjust when I’m back home. The three hour watches have been killers!

The highlights of my trip so far have been the amazing dolphin sightings both at day and night (which was scary because I kept thinking of jaws when they circled the boat at night!). Leanna’s tongue burning, water consuming but surprisingly tasty attempt at a curry, everyone’s fantastic humour throughout and swimming in the med was just superb and of course the experience in Valencia with the America’s cup. WOW that was cool. I never expected I would get that once in a life time opportunity on top of everything else. The size and design of the racing boats were fantastic and the tour around one of the bases made me feel important and worthy somehow.


I’d like to thank everyone who has worked hard in making my trip possible in terms of getting me out here and giving me this opportunity on such a legend of a boat. I’d also like to give a special thank you to Mike Acton and Leanna hill for being great leaders in this voyage. Without their knowledge, experience and determination I probably wouldn’t have made it this far on my journey.


Mark Reed

The day started with a 5 till 8 am watch run by team M. Highlights were the cross of the Greenwich Meridian and seeing the glorious sunrise appearing over the eastern horizon. Getting nearer to our destination we noticed a dark block shape which could not be immediately identified but from further study we could only conclude that we believed we were seeing a sub marine. In reference to the chart, it showed that we were near a sub marine exercise area. A few minutes later the object disappeared, possibly confirming our initial thought.

Team L awoke and joined us as we slowly entered America’s cup territory of Valencia.
Some nice wrist action followed as Mark and Brian re-fuelled the tanks with 80litres of diesel. This entailed using the filter and super syphon kit, another job well done.

We berthed and got our bearings but headed straight back out again towards the start line of the north course. Whilst waiting we ate lunch and then found ourselves a lovely open spot to have a swim. And here we sorted the mice from the men, the skipper was the first to dive gracefully into the dreadfully cold water and Mark quickly followed. A reluctant David tested the water with his big toe before launching himself into the water but first having gone and got his bright orange T-shirt. Leanna gave a great entrance by swinging from the main halyard into the water which everyone thought was a great idea to try them selves. Brian and Kate refused to go in after everyone else complained of the cold however Brian redeemed himself by taking the role of the official photographer.

We warmed up, got a cup of tea and headed off to watch the racing which was confusing but most enjoyable. For the journey back to the harbour we decided to put up both main sail and running jib which left us a relaxing sail back. As soon as we moored up we had to quickly pack up the sails and hit the showers as we were due a visit from David Green who was the originators of the Gypsy Moth project. He was able to secure our entry into the base of the Victory Challenge team. This was an unforgettable experience for all with some mind blowing sights of some gorgeous vessels. We were then treated to some official event programmes before being taken to dinner for some lovely paella. This was a superb ending to a very memorable day.

Skippers log 5th May 07

It is just gone midnight as I write. Gipsy Moth IV is motoring westward under a starlit night at just over 5 knots, with team “M” on watch. Team “M” are myself, Mark and David. According to our logbook Team “L” (Leanna, Kate and Brian) are tucked up in their bunks like the sleepy bunnies they are.

The night is warm and dark and (I am sorry to Cheryl and the others from leg 29, I know I promised you this) we are leaving a trail of phosphorescent sparkles in our wake. Just a few minutes ago we had three dolphins swimming alongside us playing in the bow wave. All in all magical stuff. And our new crew are beginning to get to grips with the whole GMIV experience.

We left Santa Ponsa Marina at 9 this morning bound for Valencia (and the Americas Cup). It is one of the simplest passage plans that I have ever put together – 200 metres from our berth to the harbour entrance and then 270 degrees for 130 miles to Valencia. After a few hours we were able to sail in a NW 3-4 Gipsy Moth surged on making good time but the breeze kicked up a lumpy sea and as regular visitors to these logs will know GMIV does like to make a meal of a few lumps and bumps and she started to buck and rear and make life uncomfortable for those of us along for the ride. Mike, Brian and Kate have not been ill. Of those that were ill Mark’s achievements stand out as being spectacular. Having lost his breakfast Mark felt peckish mid-morning and ordered up a sandwich from the galley staff. Mid-way through eating his sandwich he was sick again, and then pausing briefly to wipe his mouth he proceeded to eat the rest of the Sandwich. The wind has died away and we motor over a moderating sea.

Other highlights of the day include the visit of a pigeon (see today’s picture). Obviously tired and some 60 miles from land Sir Francis pigeon hitched a ride for a couple of hours. He availed himself of some water and some sesame crispbread and flew away when he felt rested. Our video clip of the day was of Mark dancing on the foredeck to Go West by the Pet Shop boys (with the words changed to “Go West – to Valencia – Go West etc.”).

Looking forward to tomorrow, well all of my Birthdays and Christmases have come at once. Not only am I part of the Gipsy Moth IV round the world voyage but we are also calling in on the Americas Cup whilst the Challenger series is in full swing. It gets better because we will be berthed in one of the team bases and right at the heart of the action. Anyway that is looking forward, so we will tell you more about that as it happens

Skippers log – 4th May 07

First day sailing for our new crew and a glorious one it was. Reading through Sir Francis Chichesters’ journal you come across days which are just perfect and Gipsy Moth charges on through the waves, the sun shines and all is right with the world. Well, we had one of those today. When the conditions are right Gipsy Moth IV feels like a thoroughbred. She tracked beautifully upwind in the force 3-4 and the selfsteering held a pretty steady course.

Our new crew are gelling well and are full of questions about anything and everything boating. As anyone who knows me will know I like nothing better than to talk about boating. Already lots of laughs around the dinner table and a great deal of excitement and anticipation for the experiences to come.

We have ended up in a beautiful location this evening. Quite an exclusive little marina tucked away in a rocky inlet. A narrow rocky inlet. Flushed with my boat handling successes in Palma Marina I approached with a false confidence and soon came to the conclusion that every other craft in the harbour was equipped with a bow thruster. No matter, for this trip Gipsy Moth IV has been equipped with a bow thruster – her name is Leanna.

Now we lie in an alongside berth preparing for our trip to Valencia on the Spanish mainland tomorrow. 130 miles due west from the entrance of this inlet. Our next report will be posted halfway through this journey.

David, Kate, Mark & Brian have written –
We got ourselves ready for the first day at sea. We left Palma and the sails went up. It was a good start with sun gleaming off the blue water…just what we hoped for. To add to all of this, the breeze pushed us along smoothly.
After sarnies, we put into practise the skipper’s lectures on man over board, tacking and we took turns taking charge on the tiller.
Our destination for the day was Santa Ponca, a short 15 mile run round the coast of Mallorca. We experienced lovely views and smiling faces!!
For the last 4 miles skipper and mate set up the self steering this allowed us to relax from manual steering. Late afternoon we arrived at Santa Ponca & dropped the sails in preparation to enter the marina, turning the point of the headland we saw that the marina was a long narrow inlet nestled between tall rocky hills, Looking for an empty berth we motored into the marina, only to realise that what at first looked narrow became smaller & smaller the further we went at last we decided we’d have to turn back.. One problem – there’s not enough space for moths large turning circle! Minutes later and we were laid across the fairway completely blocking the channel and being shouted at by an array of marina workers. Full credit to mike who managed a 30’something point turn with inches to spare & still remained as cool as a chilled cucumber.

Skippers Log 3rd May 07

Our last crew hadn’t left by the time the crew for leg 30 pitched up at the dockside. The guys from leg 29 were a great help in preparing the boat for the next leg of our adventure and we wish tem bon voyage.

Brian David Mark and Kate arrived mid-morning and were soon moved into the boat. One of the highlights of the first day was a shopping trip into the heart of Palma and a long trek back pushing shopping trolleys full of groceries (Sir Francis Chichester was never able to stop off and pick up some fresh veg and tasty biscuits.

Leanna cooked our evening meal after delving into the bilges to sort out a malfunctioning automatic pump (she did wash her hands before cooking). I think it is fair to say that our Thai Green Curry was a touch on the hot side. Our first photo shows us recovering after the experience (note the empty water glasses on the table). It certainly caused plenty of hilarity, although I am not sure the tears streaming down peoples faces were tears of mirth.

Here are the first thoughts of the leg 30 Gipsy Moth IV crew –

All met up at airport and arrived safely and on schedule at Palma. We were greeted by a radiant smile which was that of Leanna Hill who then escorted us to the boat.

Now on boat, we were all introduced to our skipper, Mike Acton and each member of the crew formally introduced themselves.

Three of us went into town for the big shop that would be our survival for the adventure ahead. Meanwhile the rest stayed and pondered on repairs and how to go about fixing them.

We all returned and sat for lunch while we discussed the rest of the afternoon and our plans for the next week.

Then the crew got together for a clean and tidy up so we were all prepared in advance for the sail next day. All food got stowed and repairs were made leaving the early evening free for our leisure before sups.

Brian Lewis, David Williams, Mark Reed and Kate Scholes all took a stroll into the heart of Palma’s beauty seeing old architecture and other wonderful buildings and sights.

Now returned at boat to relax ready for evening food being cooked by Leanna.