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Skipper¡¦s Log Sunday 27th May 2007
Last night I went off watch believing ¡§we were making good speed towards the end of our adventure¡¨. What a dreamer. I had reefed the main sail quite a lot before dark, which helped reduce the impact of the explosion of wind that hit us at 4 am. Still kept us busy for a bit, though, getting the sails down and secured. By the time Chris and I were back in the cockpit it was time to watch a spectacular sunrise. Mate Anson has more to say about it, and other things too, in his usual reflective way.

Anson ¡V Sunday 25th May¡K
The expected stroll up the channel towards Plymouth on our last day in our single room is turning out significantly different fro what was expected. About the time my watch was handing over to Chris¡¦s, the winds had increased significantly. Chris and I woke the skipper. Here the skipper excelled as he did throughout the trip ¡V getting the right sails in time for the weather conditions, and into those considerations you need to include the capabilities of the crew. The sails came down and the engine started and something approaching a storm force 10 hit us. You may have seen the shipping forecast. It was true. By the time we were finally clawing our way into the western approaches of the English channel, I was off watch, I am not even sure I saw the Lizard at all. On my next watch again, the weather changed again. The winds turned to blow from the direction we were headed and also increased again ¡V but the crew and Gipsy Moth stood firm. It was uncanny how the changes continually anticipated out moves, I sometime wondered if Michael Fish Junior would appear magically from a Gipsy Moth locker.

Thus, having kept our reins on the weather, over and about the exceptional skippers skills kept us safe, on time, and continually communicated with UKSA and all his other administrative responsibilities. We gave him a short round of applause today. Now covering the crew, and starting with myself, the principle role I was here to do, in fact thankfully I was not called upon to do. That is cover for the skipper in the event of his not being able to take command through, say accident or illness. So with that in mind principally was a watch leader, as was Chris, who is the new generation of trained and very capable skippers of the future, and not too distant future at that.

It has been a privilege and pleasure to work with them, and their capabilities in no small measure on a very challenging trip, kept this boat and the crew very safe, we all owe them out gratitude.

The real purpose of the trip however, of course on top of the Francis Chichester commemorative voyage was the challenge and the opportunities that were put in front of the three young voyage crew, in alphabetical order, Glen, Grant and Kerry. What is important, is they endeavour to take forward into their challenging young lives a belief in their own capabilities which since Gibraltar have been put to several stern tests. They have come through with flying colours. For example, they have on average all stood for two whole days (I mean 48 hours) at the helm, steering guiding and keeping safe, Gipsy Moth and the rest of the crew. I thank them all for that. They have hoisted sails, stowed sails, tidied the cabins and a multitude of domestic tasks, so I ask them all to reflect on that subject and put it to good use, to trust in themselves throughout their life as we have trusted then over the past two weeks.

So with thanks to the five and of course, to Gipsy Moth, who kept us safe and hope she gets the opportunity through the UKSA to encourage a new generation to put themselves to the test and to build on those achievements through all aspects of their life.

Looking back on everything that has happened this past two weeks, I may just do more of this.
Anson Lane, ļ. .

Chris, meanwhile, puts it from his own perspective:
Well, what can I say about the last 6 days? There¡¦s been excitement, there¡¦s been frustration, there¡¦s been laughter but most of all there have been some experiences on board that the 3 youngsters will never forget.
They have sailed through some horrendous weather, trying to sail to windward in a force 8. They¡¦ve cooked meals on a 2 ring stove while the boat is heeling at 35 degrees. Probably the most memorable of all will be the 30 or so dolphins that graced us with their presence yesterday for around 2 hours (yes Charlotte, they were dolphins). They were jumping and playing in the water all around the boat. The young ones and the crew alike got plenty of pictures.
For me the most memorable part of the trip so far must have been sailing in to Vigo in northern Spain. This came after a sleepless night due to yet more bouncing around in force goodness knows what. It was like something out of a movie, the sun coming up over a stunning back drop of rocky headlands. Absolutely beautiful, the sort of images you only really see when on the water. There have been a couple more images that spring to mind from this trip. Kerry and I were on watch on the 24th just as the sun was setting, just as the sun went down it lit up a cloud above it which looked like a huge golden eagle with its wings spread wide. And the other happened around an hour ago, this time as the sun was rising. We were surfing with quite a large following sea with a southerly gale blowing around 40 kts at times. A dull grey sky above us, then BANG, it was like someone was cutting through the thick greyness with an oxy/acetylene torch. The sun just exploded and projected out through the clouds in all different directions.
Anyway back to grey, the south coast of England on a bank holiday. It is going to be nice to reach it and step foot on land again. I¡¦ll be able to pour myself a drink with the liquid going in just the direction I pour instead of the sea insisting that it goes off at 90 degrees. I¡¦ll also be able to park my posterior and be confident that it will land where I send it rather than dump me in an uncomfortable heap a long way away from its intended target! Ah, the simple things in life that most people take for granted!
This has been an exciting trip for me and I¡¦d like to thank everyone that made it possible. Thanks to the crew on board and all those people behind the scenes. Last of all thanks to John Jeffrey, top skipper!

Skipper again:
So we have brought Gipsy Moth IV back almost to the end of the journey, and the great adventure is moving to its climax in Plymouth tomorrow. This is my last ever log entry, but there really is nothing much left for me to say. Just what a delight it has been to sail with so many different people and watch them change; and how much I¡¦ve enjoyed sending the logs from Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Djibouti, Egypt, Crete and Malta.

One more thing ¡V Goodbye.

John Jeffrey

Skipper’s Log Saturday 26th May 2007

From one extreme to another; winds were weak overnight and dropped to almost nothing during the course of the day. Still a reminder of the violence we have seen, though, as Chris continued trouble shooting the failed red, green and white navigation lights (he fixed them, of course).

A bonus of the settled seas has been the most astonishing dolphin display any of us can remember. First indication was a flock of birds swooping around a patch of sea; obviously something was catching their attention. Then the dolphins came into sight, whirling and leaping as they corralled fish. There’s always an uplifting feeling when dolphins come by, but what made this experience really special was the number involved – dozens and dozens, across acres of sea – and the length of time they stayed with us. For more than two hours they leapt and swept and swooped all around, until they were suddenly – just not there any more.

Turning attention from dolphins back to navigational matters I assessed that we were 90 miles South of Cornwall’s Lizard Point. What a landfall after 20 months away from UK, a mark that dozens of generations of seafarers have been familiar with, and some even come to grief on. That’s why there is a very powerful lighthouse on the Point, which we should see soon. As Glen and I stated our last night watch of this voyage, it was encouraging to find the wind we had been expecting did indeed start to blow from the South West and Gipsy Moth was leaning over again, as usual. More proof that we were approaching England was the rain that followed. By the time I went off watch at midnight, there was a respectable shove from behind and we were making good speed towards the end of our adventure. Only hours away, now.

John Jeffrey, Skipper

Skipper’s Log Friday 24th May 2007
Less than 200 miles to go now, so not many more days. Not many more skippers logs, either. Before we get in to Plymouth I will be handing over to a UKSA skipper, Richard Baggett. For those of you who don’t know Rich, he is a key man in the UKSA hierarchy, and in particular has been heavily involved with the ‘second career’ of Gipsy Moth IV from the very first days. Rich is every inch a sailor’s sailor, and he knows this yacht from the inside out. He’s been the one back in UK to pick up the fast balls bowled at him from obscure corners of the world. Although the project has always been a team effort, his personal efforts have had a huge amount to do with getting us where we are now – within a hop, skip and jump of finishing a challenging voyage around the world. So there is nobody better qualified to take Gipsy Moth IV up to the same spot in Plymouth that saw Chichester come ashore exactly 40 years earlier. If you’re watching on TV, Rich is the one with the blonde curls and the big grin; my hair tends very much more towards the grandfatherly, but I can promise an equally big grin.

It hasn’t been easy getting to this point, this leg being at least as challenging as many of the others. But it was never advertised as a leisure cruise. To their credit, our young people realise that. They may grumble (I’d worry if they didn’t) but even the youngest realise they are getting something positive from the experience. Here’s Grant, who has been working to put his thoughts down for a couple of days, now:

4 days left!! In about 3 days il be gaetting ready to step off the boat for once and in 5 days time il be back home in my own bed that doesn’t rock with a roof that doesn’t leak I really cant weight i know that I said I am having a good time but there is nothing like the feeling of home sweet home. We have been back at sea for about 4 days now and its Thursday we got 300miles till Plymouth everything is going quite well im just starting to feel a bit sick as I write this so after il get a sea sickness tablet which I been living off for the last few days but its been helping so.. me and Anson get the night off tonight we got are last shift at 8 and it ends at 12 (midnight) then we aint got another shift till 8 in the morning lucky us I got a whole night sleep but first things first im going to try and fix this leak!

When I wake up for my shift tomorrow im just going to say to myself 3 days left 3 days left over ad over again because I have to admit this is starting to get on my nerves now just days and days of rocking not being able to stand up straight and all my clothes are now wet because we have had some real rough seas and the waves have been coming right up over the boat! Crazy...
I think that the last two weeks have been a real life changing experience and im overall glad I have done this even though times come when I just turnd around and sead that iv had anouth .. I know that il be takeing funny and sad memorys back to Plymouth. But im going to be so glad to be home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Missing u all at home wont be long till im there to love Grant xx

3 DAYS LEFT!! WOOOOP! Well its Friday now today has been a real lath it aint been the kind of day when everyone is just being lazy or in bed sleep pretty much everyone has been up we have al been in the saloon chilling and just chatting away, Chris has decided that he is going to through me in the water when we get to Plymouth so if your going to be there expect it Haha. But ever since me and Chris has been saying we are going to chuck each other in all the crew is on a mission to get each other in the water so it looks like theres going to be one more task coming home. We have all had a good day today and its made me think that this trip hasn’t been as bad as I have made it out to be overall iv had a great time…life changing!

Tonight I got to make a meal I have made meals before but not for a group of 6 people so im quite nervous we have ran out of allot of meat on the boat too. I think that we have only got bacon left so im going to do a pasta with cheese sauce and chop up the bacon inside the sauce that’s probly the best meal I can make out of whats left. I really want to see how it turns out because I never hardly cook at home!! (Il try not to poison the crew…)

I think that the last few days has made me realise that this really has been a great once in a lifetime experience and that the things I have seen for the first time ever abroad and away from home for this amount of time could infact be rounded up to a lifetimes worth of things... (Seen allot of water to haha).

This could infact be the last thing I write in my log so for the people at home.. il be there very soon so hope u wil al be there on the hole to see me in (28th may). Love u al xxx

Thanks for this great adventure.
Grant Ashley McCabe.
Leg 31 gypsy moth 4
Coming home to Plymouth. Xx


Well, as usual, Grant covers both the good and the uncomfortable with the bald honesty of a 16 year old. This experience, which has certainly done him no harm apart from the odd scratch and bruise, has clearly done him good in many ways. For example, encouraging him to reflect positively on the good things in his life that he perhaps took for granted. And showing him that different ways in different countries can be survivable and fun. As the poet has it “What do they know of England, who only England know?”.
Glen, who is already a keen watersports man, hasn’t found it comfortable either. But he, too, is positive about it:

Hello again its glen
Im not writing every day because sleep is better than typing and its life in the bus lane really today and last night weave bean making good progress with the weather treating us a little bit with calmer sea and a slight change in wind direction allowing us to sail close hauled strait at plymoth not ideal but better than motoring through headwinds.
Everything is still damp and getting clean dry clothes organised for plymoth is a nightmare but with just three days to go before we get hot showers and full roast dinners the short bursts of good morale all round are getting longer lived and moor common.
I got a real treat today that not many people will experience in the form of watching dolphins hunt in a group of twenty or moor they have truly got it down to a glassful art herding a shoal of fish wherever they want and tacking as long as they like to take terns to swim through the middle and grabbing one with ease effortless! And that tha that tha that’s all fokes!!!!!!

As you’d expect, a different slant from the Mate (sorry, Anson, I’ve had to shorten it a bit):

Friday May 25th 12:00. Even 12:00 is not quite accurate as we are half way through changing from Continental time to UK time ..but it is 12:00 or thereabouts.

In Vigo we replenished the stores and with the immediate forecast to get winds of 5 to 7, we set sail knowing there was some possibility of an increase. However leaving the bay at Vigo, we were able to sail in a general northerly direction, avoiding Cape Finisterre, towards the UK. I guess that’s about when the winds started to increase. A lot of the sails were taken down to keep Gipsy Moth on an even keel as it were. Stand by me, or so the words of the songs go, Muhammad Ali (and the Drifters) sing ‘when the night is cold, and the night is dark and the moon is only light you’ll see, no I won’t be afraid no I won’t be afraid just as long as you’ll stand, stand by me. Gipsy Moth this week did that, and I trust she feels the same about us. Standing on her deck in some of those dark and windy nights from somewhere, somehow, came some reassurance deep down that she was a safe place to be out, she would look after us all. The waves were coming out of the light and out of the dark, one after the other, relentlessly, hour upon hour, and Gipsy Moth took them with differing strides. Some like Arkle at Beechers Brook, effortlessly climbing up one side and then gracefully landing at the other, but with others, waves would burst through Gipsy Moth’s bow much as an outsider would hit Beechers too hard and crash into the water below. More dramatic still was where Gipsy Moth was a wild west rodeo horse, rearing half way the wave and then sitting in the trough with a mighty crash. Everything would shake, the crockery again providing most of the sound effects, while some tried sleep and some tried thought, if only to take them to a safe Bronte fireside. Grant or I on the helm may get a brief opportunity to steer slightly towards the wave, somewhat preferable to being hit side on, but what happens in those situations just sitting there maintaining the skippers course, when the wave would burst over the yacht and we end up sitting in 12 inches of water, before it drains away. Gipsy Moth all this time being driven relentlessly through the waves northwards and ever further northwards, places to be, deadlines to meet.

So it went on for much of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and not until Thursday was there some respite from the gales. All that time there were watches being kept – with someone on the helm. Grant sat there on red watch, wearing oilskins and at all times in that cockpit we were hooked on to the boat with a safety harness hour after hour taking the pounding of the seas and his full fair share on the helm to keep us on a good course for Plymouth and home. The other watches were much the same, Glen, standing tall his oilies taking his turn at the helm for the white watch and Kerry in hers standing and helming as the storms raged all around, and still we have 100% turnout on all watches. I feel it is a credit to the three of the crew who until this week had hardly ever set sail on a boat this size.

Just getting about the boat in those conditions is a major hazard, ever tried climbing downstairs at a 45 degree angle in an earthquake? Let me know how you get on, and remember you would not be covered in sea spray in an earthquake so you get off that part lightly.

We are now in very much calmer say 250 miles from Plymouth, and with the engine now in use, we are starting to dig into our stock of fuel in cans. We have bonus of 5 cans as well, well sort of a bonus. During one bucking bronco moment, 5 diesel cans ended up trailing alongside the boat, the ropes securing the cans having given way, but the rope holding the handles holding firm. Well we just had to get them back on board. I was nearest. At 8 knots or so the drag on the rope was so strong I could hardly manoeuvre the cans closer to the boat, let along drag them on board, remember there were 5 of them. It took 2 or three attempts to just make any sense of what was the task in hand and the strength that would be needed to retrieve the situation. This was, of course, accompanied by various words of advice, guidance and encouragement being yelled at me over the screetching of the wind, by the remainder of the crew. Chris to the rescue. He managed to pull the whole chain of cans forwards about a meter in the water as the sea rushed by, enabling me to grab the handle of the last can. To drag one on board was just about manageable, then after grabbing a second and it was all plain sailing after that. The spare fuel is now re-secured on board, in fact some of it has just been added to the fuel tanks as we motorsail towards home.

Time moving more rapidly now, the conversations Grant and I are having involve ‘this is the last 4am watch we will do’, ‘this is the last dinner we will prepare, (Grant cooking pasta tonight)’, ‘how can I dry this pile of soggy shirts, all the clothes pegs being deposited in a trail across Finnisterre’ and without the unexpected happening, this is largely true.

Stand by me rings in my ears…when the world is tossing me like a ship out on the sea, thou who rulest wind and waters, stand by me, when I’m growing old and feeble, stand by me, when I do the best I can and my friends misunderstand, thou who never lost a battle, stand by me…………………
Skipper again:
Well, allowing for a bit of poetic licence, you get the idea. Things, as I’ve said before, are much calmer now, and spirits are high. So are Glen’s trousers, drying up there in the rigging. More tomorrow.
John Jeffrey

Skipper’s Log Thursday 24th May 2007
There’s a story behind all that stuff in the cockpit. The fuel cans are usually on the side deck, and we tie up rubbish bags at the stern until we can find somewhere ashore to dump them. They are in the cockpit temporarily while we tidy up after several days of gales and near gales. At the peak of the horrendous weather that chased us away from Finisterre we managed to lose some of both overboard. Sadly, one plastic bag of kitchen waste is still out there somewhere, the bag itself as much of a hazard to marine life as its contents. Better news is that the fuel cans, washed overboard when an express train of a wave scoured our side deck, were strung together. They trailed in the water alongside allowing Anson and Chris, by superhuman effort, to drag them back on board.
Just as well they did, too. We’re likely to need that fuel to get to Plymouth on time. Quite apart from the reception in Plymouth – which we think will be pretty exciting – I’ve got a half-marathon to go to. No, not to run in, but to support son Andrew next weekend, having missed his Brighton event earlier this year because I was in the Mysterious East.
Anyhow, the ferocious winds have changed into something civilized, and we have turned our nose towards home. Still a long way to go, across North Biscay and into the Western Approaches to the English Channel. A straight line from Vigo to Plymouth would have taken us close to Ushant, a bleak and rocky area at the westernmost tip of Brittany. By going north-westwards first to find friendlier winds we have put ourselves in the middle of a lot of empty ocean, and don’t expect to see land from leaving Vigo until spotting the Lizard. It’s exciting to be doing what so many other mariners have done for centuries. Unlike them, we have lots of advantages – accurate charts, and knowledge of where we are on them, an engine for when the winds go against us, even a radio to call for help if things go wrong. Even so, there’s a special thrill in crossing the Big Empty, where the Atlantic, English Channel and Bay of Biscay all melt into one another. Wonder when we’ll see land? Hey, I’m the one who’s supposed to know that – better go and check.
John Jeffrey

Skipper’s Log Tuesday 22nd May 2007
First, an apology to my crew mates. Some of them have found time in their tiring day to write pieces for their log, whereas I haven’t found time to collect and include them. I promise I will soon, but for now let me just say what a great job they are all doing in these unfriendly seas.

We have experienced gale force winds all day, which in turn have whipped up very large waves. Every once in a while, one of those waves breaks over the deck or fills the cockpit, so everyone who comes off watch is very, very wet and tired. My own bunk is right by the companionway (steps to the cockpit), so I lie in puddles. Good job I’m too old for my mother to nag me about that.

Hang something up to dry if you can find a space but within minutes gravity will claim it. It proved impossible to cook this evening so, for the first time, we had sandwiches for supper. I don’t like that except every now and then, because at least one hot meal a day is good for morale as well as health. So I’m going to speak firmly to the weather when I go on watch at midnight and explain that we’re not just any old yacht or any old crew. We still have Biscay to cross, and we’d like it to be a civilised experience, please.

John Jeffrey

Skipper’s Log Monday 21st May
This will be very brief because conditions just aren’t right for fiddling at a computer desk. The great news is that we’re on our way again. The slightly less great news is that the winds near Finisterre are still strong, and forecast to get stronger soon. We’re aiming to head north westwards out into the Atlantic in search of a better wind patter. But what’s really given us a lift is that we’re no longer trying to go dead into wind with the engine grinding away. For almost the first time on this Leg, we are sailing, pure and simple. Yes, we’re leaning over a lot, and cooking turkey breasts, potatoes, broccoli and carrots was easier than keeping them all on the plate. But we expected that, and the compensation is that we feel we’re doing everything we can to be home on schedule. We’d be uaranteed to miss the celebrations in Plymouth, if we’d stayed in Vigo waiting for better weather to come to us, so we’re going out to look for it.

It’s over 500 miles to Plymouth even if we could go directly there, which the wind won’t let us do at the moment. But according to Mao Tse Tung (or was it Confucius?), the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. We’ve made that step, and we’re on our way. Wish us luck.

John Jeffrey

Skipper’s Log Sunday 20th May

I knew we were all pretty tired, that was one of the factors affecting my decision yesterday morning. But I was surprised to be the first one to wake up - at 1015. That convinced me, if I needed it, that we could not sensibly set off again before tomorrow at the earliest. We have spent the day preparing, with a lot of effort going in\to trying to find the best way forward from the tight corner the contrary weather has forced us into. The strong winds that kept us from making progress northwards\are still howling around us, and are due to be at least as strong, if not more so, until the end of the week. With the help of meteorological expert Andrew Eccleston at Plymouth University I’m looking for ways to get round that problem.
Meanwhile, we have braved the cold to see a little of Vigo itself. There’s a lot of street sculpture, like Milton Keynes; but a lot of hills, and a higgledy piggledy street layout that must make driving a challenge, so not really like Milton Keynes at all, then. Brighton?

Grant isn’t impressed:
Well its now Sunday morning we had a 3 corse meal last night in a Spanish restaurant its was lovely, we now was spose to be at shopping the plan was to meet at 10.30 it is now 11 and everyone has just woke up and started getting there breakfast so we are now behind in time. So now im going to go and have a shower then I think we are all going to have a BIG SHOP!! So im going once again now. See yaaaaa

Once again im bord out my head because ////// well I was because me and glan was fishing but as I was writeing im board glen just caught a mullet for I bait for fishing so now its game on we have been waiting ages for bait and now we finally have it!! Woooop

Anyway about today in Spain we spent are day having a walk around the town we walked all the way to the supermarket for are big shop and it was shut! We was gutted but seems we was there we couldn’t not get McDonalds so we had that then we went for a mission around the town back to the boat and sorted out all the sails and had are tea now we are fishing and if plans go ahead after shopping tomorrow we will set off to COME HOME!! CANT WAIGHT!...

Skipper’s Log Saturday 19th May
When Glen and I turned in at midnight last night, we had all but stopped making any progress up the coast. Winds of up to 40 knots were ripping sheets of spray from the tops of the waves and pushing the yacht around like a toy. I had already decided to bend our course a little bit towards the entrance to Ria De Vigo, and we were now getting close. I hoped that the wind might drop overnight, as it has been doing recently, and let us get well north of Vigo by the morning. I decided to review progress when I woke up.

Sure enough, at 6 am, although the wind was no longer at gale force, we had not gone very much further towards Cape Finisterre. We were battering against rough seas and, at this rate, obviously not likely to reach La Coruna in under a couple of days – days in which the weather was forecast to get even worse. Time to rethink the plan.

Kerry tells the story:


Well we have stopped in spain at a place called Vigo, and will be here for a few days. The weather is not being very nice at the moment, every time we change direction the wind is right on our nose!! This morning when me and chris woke up at 4 it was freezing cold and blowing a gale!!! I was not looking forward to this, wind right on the nose, some of the waves were vertical!!! We changed course because we were motoring along at about 2 knotts, and not getting very far! Chris put up 2 sails and we started doing 7 knotts, at last we are sailing!!! Then at about 7:30 chris saw, what he thought were big ‘Ugly’ dolphins!! Then skip appeared saw them and told us that they were whales!! How cool is that. They turned out to be beluga whales!!! Glen and skip took over watch at 8:00 and Glen was not happy we had seen whales.
Took a while to get into the marina, we tried 3 times and twice there was a boat coming out! Well we got in eventually and re-fuelled, then had to manovure into our birth. Got in then were told it was the wrong one! How annoying! Moved again and now for tiding the boat, airing and drying clothes out. After me, Glen and Grant went looking for the beach……. 40 minutes later we arrived, not much of a beach, but something. The lads went for a swim while I just watched and looked after the stuff. It’s a really beautiful day.
Later we all went out for dinner, Anson had been out already watching the football, and was not happy that man u lost. We went to a Spanish restaurant and had some meat (I really don’t know what they were called), it was interesting (I wanted some proper food like steak, but beggars can’t be choosers) but at least I tried some Spanish food.
Me and the boys left the ‘older’ lot at the restaurant and went to look around. We walked through a bit and there was about 200 Spanish people all in one area, with bags of there own alcohol and plastic cups drinking away, making loads of noise till stupid o’clock! (basically till about 3 or 4 in the morning)

Grant’s Log
We have finaly arrived in sunny spain!! First thing was first we was straight to the beach. Its really nice here so far iv been beach then walked through the town centre and back to the boat had a shower and now back here writeing my log in a bit tho I think im going to go and join anson down the pub to watch the footy and then later on all the crew are going out for a meal so it should be good im looking well for would to it.

Anson –

Saturday 19th May, 08:20, Cup Final Day.

We have spent all the remains of yesterday and all night battling strong to gale force winds and spray on the nose, the routine as decribed yesterday..the day before..the day before that.. One thing you should learn about sailing in general – apart from go with the wind, is that planning is not easy and at 2 knots the skipper calculated we could not get to England until some time in June 2007, by which time we would have run out of fuel, food and unmentionables.

We never saw Finisterre, we never saw much of anything, only one boat out there all night. So there must be at least one another crew chasing some deadline.

So, on top of wet, now we are out of the Med, and we are now wet and cold. We have large oilskins that turn us from catwalk specimens into spacemen. On board here, picture it. It is cold and dark and wet, both on deck and in the cabin, and everything is lurching uncontrollably. You need the loo. The process begins with making sure your mate, in my case Grant, on watch is OK and manage on his own for a moment or so and can steer the bronco (the older of you will recognise an obtuse connect here but it is purely coincidental) while you pop down to the heads, as boaters call them. You start by unclipping your safety harness from an eyehook in the cockpit. You always clip on at night. You lurch down the stairs to the cabin, holding both handrails, slipping and sliding, (that’s another song but wont get sidetracked), and remove your lifejacket. You then remove this massive yachting jacket and hood that starts at the eyes and ends at the knees and majors in zips and Velcro. You then remove your trousers that start at the armpits and end at the ankles that come complete with braces at the shoulders, Velcro and zips the length of your breastbone and Velcro at the ankles. If you think that all that gear keeps you dry, you are about 10% right. After successfully removing all that gear, you stand there in your semi dry designer boater gear and the wet designer boaters oilies all round you on the floor. Next step, and if you are still paying attention, next step is to peer into the darkness and find the loo. Obstacles in the way are everyone else’s oilies on the floor (a single room remember) all manner of clutter from shelves that have fallen off during one of the lurches since the last skipper ‘tidy up in here’ order and contents of drawers where the self locking mechanisms have failed. Well they are 40 years old. So you keep holding on, hurdle over the table that is right in the middle of the alley to the loo and having made it safely, switch on the 1 candle power light. You now have to lock both doors, one in front of you that leads to the cabin where Glen and Grant have bunks, and the door behind you that you have just walked through. That has a sort of double hinge arrangement that I am amazed has lasted 40 days let alone 40 years. You are now standing in a room say 3 by 2 and you are rather like a balloon in the national lottery blower. You have the advantage over the balloon in that you have 2 handles to hold on to, hopefully, to save your self from crashing in to the walls, or in my case, bar once, oh yes, and one near miss. Now boys and girls have to sit down in the heads for all business. So whilst lurching and holding on with one hand, you remove the bottom half of your designer gear. Now the loo pan is different, it is about half the size of a domestic loo pan. You lift the lids and sit on it, and you have to sit on it not hover over it, for obvious reasons and it now starts to act very much like a bidet with the water switched on. Overcoming the shock, eventually you relax enough to complete your business, you get the gist. The project is now continues its reverse path enabling you to return to your helmsmanship duties after of course evacuating the pan. That evacuation I am sure has certain similarities to NASAs technology. Firstly you put down the seat, reason will become clear later, and then you find the pump lever, fit the lever in the pump, and push two and fro about 6 inches. As a result of doing this there are lots of water and suction noises that come from a 6 foot long pipe that goes past your head to the top of the cupboard and on to somewhere, I trust the sea. Now you pause, and remember all this time your designer clothes are round your ankles, the boat is lurching and you are holding on with one hand. After the pause, you pump again, this time 15 pumps, so Steve and Paul who want me to join the Gunwharf health club, I no longer have any need to pump iron before a pint, I will satisfy myself with the pint. Further noises ensue, again suction and blowing and water. You return the lever too its clip and if by chance there was say a small piece of paper you want to put in the pan, forget it. The lid is under some serious form of suction to the pan, and I have no idea how long that situation lasts I don’t hang around that long. So hanging on still you try to put your clothes on do up buttons between lurches and then rinse your hands. The tap itself is tricky. You push the tap and a squirt of water comes out and down the plughole. It misses your other hand because that is firmly round a handle to stop yourself turning into a lottery ball. So at best your handwash is 75% effective, but having been in many a gents toilet in my day, 75% of gents don’t even stop at the basin, therefore 75% is not too bad. I wonder, are you ladies any better.

So you turn out the light, open the doors, two remember, or Glen and Grant would not be able to carry on with their watches.

Hook back the second two hinge door, find your oilies, and reverse the process until you reappear smiling, in the cockpit, and clip yourself on.

If you think this description is long you try doing it.

So we are now running, I mean sailing, to a safe haven. Vigo. Not been there. The change is dramatic. Instead of a noisy engine and bashing and crashing in to the wind, the mere fact we are now travelling at right angles to the wind means we have no engine noise, the boat glides smoothly over the water and the coastline is magnificent. I really can imagine how the early American settlers must have felt seeing the new world with Indian Squaws running down to greet them. More good news, mobiles are beeping again.

If I make light of the weather do not be fooled, it has been rough out here, the near gale force winds have ended up as gale force and battling into them makes it significantly more difficult, into the wind we get 2 or 3 knots with engine roaring and the boat lurching and with the wind we get 6 knots, no noise and no lurching, a bit like the brochures. To the youngsters credit, for the past three days of the Lisbon to Vigo run, whether feeling sick, tired, cold, wet or hungry, there has been 100% turnout on the watches, day and night and Kerry, Glen and Grant must take credit for that.

Breakfast noises are being made, I will be included soon because my watch starts at 12. Method in the madness. If you have not heard any stories about Glen and washing up, get I message to me, I have some.

Skipper again –
Sure enough, the wind has risen sharply again this evening. I really, really didn’t want to stop here, 100 miles short of La Coruna. But I listen to the wind howling around the city and think we would still be out there, battling to get round Cape Finisterre, trying to refuel from cans with the yacht leaping around, and know we did the right thing.

Skipper’s Log Friday 18th May

No, it’s not a novel at all. Anson writes huge amounts of entertaining stuff in his log, but sadly there isn’t always room to include anything more than the highlights. Apart from that, this has been a day of variety with only 2 constants – drone of the engine, and wind on the nose.

Anson’s Log:
12:10, 18th May, Friday..…

I never did get to sleep after the party. It started about midnight and was announced by the noise of a factory siren, or in reality the whistle on the kettle, but in the single room we all live in it was deafening. No matter how I tried, sleep would not come. I played patience for hours on my Nokia. Will someone write and tell their guys to write some software to shuffle cards. At present they are dealt as I would have dealt them before I learnt how to shuffle cards properly. So when it came to my watch at 04:00, I was up and dressed and ready to venture outside where I found more of the same. The weather knows we are wanting to travel north so the winds continue to blow from the north force 4 or 5 or even 6. The boat creaks as it take short strides into the waves, the waves break over you like the police water cannons at a football match in France, the boat runs up as hill like it was short of breath, and crashes over into a the trough on the other side to relax. Hour upon hour, watch upon watch, places to go, deadlines to keep. Grant did prepare a cereal breakfast at the end of our watch, we needed that, and needed some catchup sleep as well, So the next time I was conscious it was lunchtime, the winds were worse, still from the north though, and the rain was coming down, both outside and inside the cabin.

So the forecast has come in over the sat phone. We are expecting to be out of mobile range till sometime tomorrow but keep the forecasts coming John. We are trying to get into La Coruna before the weather worsens that is hopefully late tomorrow, so the cup final looks a goner. I will need a match report please. Mind you missing the match means I miss the strain and the tension and that can only be good for me. So we drive on relentlessly, the rain pours down, its skip on the helm, we are making more of that water with the water maker. I don’t quite know what the machine makes it from, hopefully two parts of hydrogen and one of oxygen, as I use it to wash me teeth and boil the spuds. I am less thirsty now I have stopped drinking the stuff. Got a bottle from the shop, that does me.

With the speed at 4 knots or thereabouts (did I tell you that’s about 4.6 mph or just think it?), wind on the nose, the engine driving us on, the skipper has changed our next waypoint to Cape Finisterre which is due North and 100 miles away, so all being well should be there tomorrow lunchtime when we will then change course for La Coruna to await a weather window to see us we trust safely over the Bay of Biscay. Packing in the middle of the night as I tend to do I usually forget something. This time I forgot my EPIRB. Gypsy Moth of course has its own and as it says on the tin, they are only to be deployed if all other means of rescue have been exhausted etc and with a fair wind – that would be nice – and God Speed will see you in England where it is always good to come home to.

While I am away, why not look up the meaning of Cape Finisterre.
Chris’ Log

18th May 07

Hello again. Well, what about the last couple of days? We’ve had everything from glorious sunshine to miserable grey storms, lots of wind to no wind at all. The one thing we haven’t had is wind in the right blooming direction!!!! The fat controller always seems to be one step ahead in this exciting game called ‘Trying to get to Plymouth for the 28th May’. If we alter course even if just to avoid another vessel, he’s there with a new wind direction straight on the nose! This particular aspect of the trip is quite tiresome, as a lot of you will know already, when your trying to sail directly into the wind with a schedule to stick to, the only way of making progress is to use the engine. This is all well and good for a couple of hours here and there but for days on end listening to the little Yanmar rattling away is mind numbing.
I think morale has improved due to the sea sickness tablets now taking effect on the youngsters. (Nonsense. It’s because I’ve been singing “Dingle Dangle Scarecrow” to them, complete with the actions – Skipper). Kerry and I enjoyed our four hour watch this morning from 8:00 until 12:00 due to the fact that she can now open her eyes and actually breathe whilst on deck! We also had the pleasure of seeing many dolphins, the way they all swim towards the boat like it’s a real treat for them is fascinating. If only they knew how much pleasure they bring to the many mariners out there.
Glen again tried his hand at fishing, with I’m sorry to say no results. Well, the only thing he did manage to do was to break the reel, only after having let out around forty miles of line!!!!!! How we laughed.
Young Grant is getting on a lot better too, although he is struggling to sleep in the forepeak. Trying to sleep in there is a hoot, it’s like trying to sleep on a runaway roller coaster. Nearly every time I come off watch the little monkey is fast asleep in my bunk. It’s no big problem though as he always jumps out to let an old man rest!
Let’s just hope that the weather improves for good old Gipsy and that the deadline of the 28th of May can be met. It would be such a shame after all this effort by so many people on so many different levels for Gipsy to be late in to Plymouth just because the fat controller is having some fun with the wind.
Well I must stop my gabbing and go and prepare the evening meal, we’re having spaghetti bolognaise, I think it’s a dish from Yorkshire!

Catch up soon.

Skipper again:
Sleep will be hard to come by tonight again, as the wind has started to really howl once more.

Skipper’s Log Thursday 17th May 2007

Things are improving all the time. When I came on watch at 4.00 this morning Chris and Kerry had grins on their faces and nearly 6 knots on the dial. Amazing what a bit of R&R (and a decrease in the wind) can do for the spirits
Here’s Kerry:

Well its been a while since I was last on, so I thought I better write something. Last couple of days were horrible, I was really ill!! But all better now. We made a quick stop in Portugal for food and fuel, and it was a beautiful day. Me and Chris went for a bit of a mission to find the supermarket, took us a while but we found it in a shopping mall. We are making good progress up the side of Portugal and heading for the north of Spain.
Anson paints a rather more full picture:

Thursday 17th May – very early on.

A different day. After a night watch battling winds and spray and the crashing crockery on very early Wednesday morning we stopped off at Cascais (near Lisbon for those without a map), for fuel for both the boat and the crew and a tidy up for what seemed for just a moment.

The time in Cascais was good. I kept sliding into shops for a lilt, good old Oliver Twist. Had a few euros on me - no flies on me and the mosquitos are healing fine thank you and the head less sore after hitting my head on some plywood. Would have thought my head was thicker than that. Careful.

Must press on says the skipper so off we go, places to be, deadlines to meet and here I am having just come off watch after the next nights shift battling winds and spray. Didn’t I say that just now? That only tells half the story. After leaving Cascais we put up the sails. The winds must have noticed so they got up too and tried to blow the boat down, got the skipper up (luckily he had just gone down to his cabin so could not have been asleep, he got up and took the sails down and we switched on the engine. Hooray for skippers. We haven’t put the sails up again as yet, even although the wind dropped a little, the weather is just watching us and I suspect that as soon as we put the sails up again(in the dark this time) it will have another go.

The red watch has one excellent helmsman, keeps a good course even with buckets of spray being thrown at him, and lurching all over the place, and that’s not me, that’s young Grant. Instinctively knows which was to move the tiller to keep the course he is given, so budding yachtsmen out there, when he has recovered from this trip maybe offer him an opportunity. Clue…he lives in Plymouth.

Computer battery just announced ‘I am low’, so we are both off to recharge and more thinking.


17th May…on my watch that is…think that’s Thursday, its like that out here.


Grant has just asked me ‘What are we going to do for dinner’, and we go on watch at 18:00, then 04:00. We are still motoring up the west coast of Portugal, well it is there on the chart but have not seen it since first thing this morning, possibly see it tomorrow. 04:00, that should be nice.

Dinner calls…

Skipper again –
Behind all that is a story of problems overcome and a reward, in the shape of a beautiful sunlit day out on the water and a sense of progress towards the goal. We have made well over 100 miles since we left Cascais, not a great sail by Gipsy Moth IV standards but a healthy chunk out of the remaining distance. Roll on La Coruna.

Skipper’s Log Wednesday 16th May
The theme for today is ‘Press On’. On this day in 1942, Guy Gibson led 617 Squadron deep into enemy territory to bust the dams of the Ruhr. On this day in 2007, the crew of Gipsy Moth IV didn’t have to cope with fighters or flak, but they did have to put up with hour after hour of gale force winds and rough seas, conditions that, a week ago, they could probably hardly have imagined. They did more than just ‘put up with it’, they prepared meals, steered an accurate course, put sails up and down, and just kept on keeping on. They are entitled to feel jolly pleased with themselves. Here are some snatches of the unvarnished truth from a novice (Grant) and an experienced sailor (Chris).

Grant’s Log
Now we have been on the boat for about 3 days now we have stopped off at Portugal. The last few days have been very hard and I have realised that I am sea sick!! Im starting to get to the point that I want to go home because its all to much

I think that its now going to get harder because we are about to head off from the alantic to the bay of Biscay which hasn’t got good weather conditions so im just going to face it how I should and get it other and done with the best I can.

Chris’ Log 16th May 07
Well Hello to you! Sorry my first entry is so late, this is due to my workload (yeah right!). Although that was said in jest, there is always something to do instead of sleeping (we do get plenty of that though).
We do have a little luxury onboard in the form of 6 crew members. This means that we have in place a very sleep orientated watch system, (sorry skipper, what I meant was a maintenance orientated watch system). The watch bill is, in general terms, 4 hours on and 8 hours off. Watch changes are based around meal times, which works quite well I find.
I’m writing this whilst moored alongside the fuel berth in Cascais Marina (beautiful), in glorious sunshine and a wind speed of between 10-15kts. This in itself is a far cry from the weather that our lord and leader has dished out over the last few days. Last night was probably the worst of all, I do feel for the relatively inexperienced youngsters, They must be thinking ‘what am I doing here?’ This is when dear old Gipsy is throwing them around from one side of the cockpit to the other. She is an unstable old girl you know!As I explained to my crew member, Kerry, it all makes it worthwhile when you eventually get to a place like this. What is strange though is the urge you have to get back out there in the thick of it!!!!!
I’d better go and prepare myself for evening meal, Glen is cooking!!!!!!!!! If I survive I’ll write soon.x

Skipper again:
Pleasant as it was to be alongside in Cascais (where Anson so skilfully parked us on his first ‘go’ at driving the beast), the weather is forecast to get even less attractive as the week goes on, so we must make tracks while we can. The idea is to get to the top left hand corner of Spain (a technical bit of jargon there, meaning the North West) as soon as we reasonably can. I intend to wait there for the right moment before launching off across the Bay of Biscay. Biscay has a well-deserved reputation for uncomfortable conditions, though at this time of year it’s quite possible that we’ll whizz across in a lot more relaxed fashion than we’re enjoying here on the Atlantic coast of Portugal. So we set off from Cascais well before dark, with Chris at the helm experiencing at first hand the delights (!) of manoeuvring Gipsy Moth IV. The conditions were calm enough at first, but we found another strong blow going on once we were clear of the shelter of Cape Raso. Northerly, of course. Unlike the immortal line in ‘The Dambusters’, it wasn’t “Blxxxy Dangerous”, but it was certainly hard work. Not the slightest chance of sailing in a useful direction. Good job we filled the fuel tanks.
John Jeffrey

Skipper’s Log Tuesday 15th May

Today’s theme is speed. On this day in 1936, Amy Johnson set a record by flying to Australia. On this day in 1941, Frank Whittle’s jet engine first flew from RAF Cranwell. On this day in 2007, Gipsy Moth IV made a paltry 75 miles towards her destination. Spot the odd one out.
When you sail on a long voyage you can reasonably expect headwinds some of the time. When you sail on Gipsy Moth IV, you have to be ready for headwinds all of the time, or so it seems. Anson tells an all-too-familiar story:

Anson - Tuesday 15th May…very late on.

Due on watch at midnight so after intermittent sleep am gearing up for action. This trip is not turning out to be a joyride. Sail the famous Gypsy Moth as the mate from Gib to the UK in May. Lovely I thought. Lovely springtime weather – or so I hoped.

The weather is definitely got a sixth sense – it was blowing from the west when we wanted to sail west, and is now blowing from the north as we want to sail north along the coast of Portugal up to Lisbon(Cascais). The forecast is force 5’s 6’s and 7’s. Everything gets tossed about, kit, crockery, paperwork but with places to be, deadlines to meet, this is not the Portugal in the brochures. Last time I was in Cascais it was on the Whitbread a 72 foot ketch, and I was on my way to the start of the ARC and the Caribbean. We stopped off at Cascais for repairs and fuel I recall. The Whitbread is still out there in the warm and we are just starting to feel the chill. The sea here looks a bit lumpy like the gently undulating South Downs and just when you relax for a moment a hole opens up and you all lurch into it, the crockery making the noise I would like to.

Routine sets in. Ensure you do not eat too much, sea sickness is always possible so try to be careful. I have been OK so far, others have not but to their credit work on doing their watches.

The floorboards were up again tonight. It is the check the diesel tanks routine, so once again you have to admire Francis Chichester running this boat solo. Dropping sails today was a minimum of three and that is after a rest. Rest … that sounds like a good idea, a shower sounds even better, and no I do not mean I want it to start raining….:-)

Skipper again – well, so much for forecasts. The “6 or 7” has been a Force 8 gale all through my watch. The sunset was spectacular, and working on the deck to refasten some loose (and heavy) fuel cans was huge fun. One part of that sentence is true.
John Jeffrey

Skipper’s Log Monday 14th May
I know that it’s not just families who look at the website. A special ‘Hello’ today to Year 7 at Woodland View Middle School, Norwich. Mrs Payne tells me you’ve been following the voyage with interest, so by way of thanks, here’s some extra homework (voluntary, of course, but Google makes it a doddle!). In the last couple of days we have sailed from Gibraltar, past Tarifa and Trafalgar, across the Gulf of Cadiz, and will soon be at Cape St Vincent. Last night we watched the planet Jupiter rise over Africa. All but one of these are mentioned in a poem by – well, that would be too easy. What’s the poem, which is the odd one out, and what English word do we get from that odd one out?

Anson:
Monday 14th May, I needed to check that on the phone.

One thing I forgot last night was the way fellow sailors on the marina all stop and recall Gypsy Moth’s triumphs and remember where they were when they heard she was safely home all those years ago. It is just so good to be a small part of the whole 2007 Gypsy Moth adventure. How did Sir Francis sail this on his own. Maybe after his knighthood he didn’t, but plain Francis did and it takes three or four of us do reef mainsails in calm weather. Ok maybe we could manage with 2 or 3, but only 1. You have to admire him, these older yachts are not as straightforward as the modern day counterpart.

No longer sure of the day, and as we are unlikely to be on land for more provisions much before tomorrow night it does not really matter out here. We work 4 hours on and 8 hours off although the 8 hours goes by faster than the 4. There is always so much to do for example I was chef tonight and after that everyone retired to rest without comment. I thought it was OK - the pork chops has lashings of rosemary and Italian seasoning and Italians are good cooks. Felt a bit like Oliver Twist myself, always thirsty, always needing more water.

All day the winds were still coming from the direction we wanted to sail, so the engine has been busy again. Passing Cape Trafalgar last night was a very poignant moment, the lighthouse flashed 2 and 1 as we passed. (That sounds like a pompey united result.) The wind slowing us starts to put a little pressure on - to achieve the published homecoming date

Glen started fishing this evening, let us hope he doesn’t catch anything, not keen on primitive killing methods – maybe I should not even eat fish from Waitrose but somehow that doesn’t seem so bad.

Resting now for a 4am start, although the momentary mobile connection to TNS in Faro a brief period of texting activity took me away from my thoughts. You think a lot at times like these – where you have been – where you will be in a month, a year. The next sail will definitely be a day sail around the Solent, hopefully skippering the winning boat in a corporate regatta and picking up the champagne!

As I am about to sign off the skippers got all the floor boards up – what’s that about – must dash.

Skipper again -
Nothing too dramatic, just checking how much fuel we have left. Not really high tech – just poke a stick into the top of the tank and see how much of it gets wet. But first Chris and I spent some time on the foredeck reefing the mainsail because the wind has increased. Yes indeed, it couldn’t have been easy for Chichester as a single-hander. Wasn’t it President Kennedy who said something like “We choose to do these things not because they are easy but because they are hard”? The people who come on board Gipsy Moth IV haven’t chosen an easy option, they are following in Chichester’s footsteps along a path of adventure.
Anyhow, as another Monday comes to an end, it’s my turn to go outside and watch Jupiter again. What a stunning free show.
John Jeffrey

Skipper’s Log Sunday 13th May

I finished the last log entry by saying the wind was “not very promising for sailing westwards. Let’s see what the morning brings.” It brought more of the same, I’m afraid, with cloud cover into the bargain. So we’re grinding our way along under gloomy skies and engine. Even if we could spare the time to tack back and forth (mustn’t be late getting to Plymouth), zig-zagging across one of the busiest stretches of water in the world would be about as smart as skateboarding across a motorway.

But hey! We’re at sea! This is where Gipsy Moth IV belongs. And as we approach Cape Trafalgar it’s not a bad time to reflect that others have been here before us, and some of them had a lot more to complain about than a lack of sunshine.

Anson’s Log.

Sunday 13th May 2007.
Since arriving in Gibraltar the tour of the Rock encompassed mosquito bites, the apes pinching my brand new Choc Ice (I was warned when I bought it that the apes like Ice Cream!), a couple of Nokia snaps at the top that I can bore everyone with when I get back and a Burger King cup of tea after getting back to the village square. One great moment was actually seeing rootops above you again – at last. The views, mind you, were great - continuous shipping everywhere. Apart from the pleasure craft around the bay there were several oil tankers unloading to baby oil tankers, container ships passing through the Straights and several North African ferries. North Africa was very visible, as of course was Spain.

Gibraltar itself is a somewhat unusual mixture, lots of traditional cottages, then several 1950’s block of flats in front of them that block the view from the cottages, and now there are being built several blocks of designer flats and Marinas that block everyone’s view. 1990’s UK is catching up with Gibraltar. The cheap marina moorings that have been enjoyed by the locals for years have now ended. What did I say, 1990’s UK.

On top of that of course, lots of history, but one plaque that was particularly interesting to me was the one commemorating the launch of the African Campaign by US and UK troops in 1942.

Struggled to find a Cyber Café, and when I did they were Arsenal Supporters. Didn’t speak much – just did my email and got out of there. Looked for the premiership results -24 hours early – the matches are on Sunday this week. Texted brother Bill to text back the results so I can keep in touch with reality, or is it reality.

Grant and I have named ourselves the ‘Red watch’ both having red baseball caps, and Grant (Liverpool) needing to see Champions League Final and I (Manchester United) need to see the Cup final. You see, red is the right colour. Just trust the Gypsy Moth progress is such that we are in Port those days. The need to be by a TV at those times does regretfully mystify John Chris Glen and Kerry. Working on nicknames – so be wary! The youngsters really do well. Only Glen has sailed to any extent before this trip but their contributions are only positive. Let us hope they all 3 take the Gypsy Moth experience to heart and they go on through the UKSA to Yachtmaster and even beyond.

What of Gypsy Moth itself? All that sightseeing was just a bonus, (did that include the mosquito bites?). What was nice was the outgoing crew (Leanna) welcomed us at the airport and made us feel at home. (Or were they just glad to be off the boat and back to an en-suite). John warned us storage was very limited, how right he was, and we will need to live out of a suitcase for the 2 weeks of the voyage. Check the ships stores, raided Morrisons, that was just going through a much needed facelift. Found out how the boat the engine, the sails and the fridge kick into life. A fridge is essential at 80 degrees. Filled up with diesel, ensured we knew how do deal with fire, flood and man overboard and set off for the UK, mainly motoring in a Westerly direction against wind and tide. Reminds me of the Solent when you are trying to get to Lymington for a curry with the tide flooding past the needles. I enjoy Lymington and know I will enjoy the stops around the Atlantic side the Spain and Portugal prior to the dash over Biscay.

Skippers cooking dinner tonight…wish me well...in terms of both the dinner and the first Leg 31 night watch.

Skipper again:
Don’t know why Anson thinks I don’t understand his passion. After all, it’s reasonable to want to see Man U in the Cup Final as a consolation for having been pasted by Pompey.

By this time tomorrow we should be in Portugese waters, having crossed to the other side of the Gulf of Cadiz. It would have been fun to look into Cadiz itself, but it’s the time and tide thing. We have to go ashore somewhere, though, to buy a boat hook; yes, there’s a story there, but I’ll let Glen tell it.

Skipper’s Log 12th May 2007

It’s been a full day today, making sure we are ready to leave first thing tomorrow. After more briefings on the way things work aboard, and a final food-shopping session, the crew, and the yacht, are about as prepared as they’re going to be. That left time for a brisk walk up The Rock to see the Barbary Apes and to take in the magnificent views of the harbour, the bay, the frontier, and the mountainous coast of Africa looking almost close enough to touch. Quite a hike – people are going to sleep well tonight.

Grant’s Log

Well what could I possibly say to start off my log then already it has been the to best days of my life and abroad which at first was scary however in the long run and looking back on it all its been amazing!!!

The first thing I had to eat at the gypsy moth was a hotdog just as the other crew was handing the boat over to the new skipper, John. John was the first person I met. It was outside the airport and I went straight up to him and shook his hand with the biggest of smiles and he greeted me in the same way.

After that I went into the airport and the next person I met was Kerry inside the airport waiting for myn and Glens arrival we spoke about the journey mostly then I was speaking to Chris and Anson, all these seemed to me as very nice people I new that I would get along with them easily as I am now.

Then glen arrived and I had a nice chat with him to and we also got along very well the people I was getting along with the best as glen and kerry and now I no everyone quite well they all all very close to me.

When we arrived in gibralter I was so loveing the weather as I said it was my first time abroud! The first to days has been very chilled out and fun packed but I no that the next few days ahead will be a challenge however I am well up for it and the experience.

Kerry’s Log

What a first couple of days!! Arrive in Gibralter and it is roasting hot, everybody had to change into shorts straight away!! We got to the boat and sorted everything out, bit cosy for 6 people but it’s going to be interesting. We walked to safeway and got the first lot of shopping, what a mission!! Me and the lads went out for the evening and had a look around, not much there but nice.

Next day we woke up and done a few things on the boat, and decided to walk up the Rock!! That was hard work, but the monkeys were hilarious, they would fight each other, lay in the road and not moving or caring!! Cheeky!

Skipper again.
By the way, supper was chicken again – there was a special offer at Safeway, too good to miss! Must have a change on Sunday. Since we arrived, there has been a fresh wind from the west, which is great for helping us keep cool but not very promising for sailing westwards. Let’s see what the morning brings.

John Jeffrey

Skipper’s Log 11th May 2007

My first trip aboard Gipsy Moth IV was a year and a half ago, when I sailed from Gibraltar the short distance to Cape Trafalgar and back, to mark the 200th anniversary of Nelson’s victory. And now here I am in Gibraltar again, getting ready for what may turn out to be my last ever trip as skipper of this national treasure. There have been several thousand miles of ocean, and many different crews, between that trip and this one Say ‘Hello’ to my latest sailing companions, whose great fortune it is to be helping return Gipsy Moth IV to England at last.
Those of you at home who are grumbling about the recent soggy break in the UK’s spell of fine weather may not be happy to learn that the sun has been beating down here. The heat has quite sabotaged my plan to frog-march the crew up the Rock to inspect the Apes. Maybe tomorrow, when we will all have had a decent night’s sleep not broken by having to get to Gatwick at stupid o’clock. Meanwhile, Chris has set a high standard by showing what can be done by raiding Somerfield’s shelves and throwing some well-chosen ingredients into a pan. A hard act to follow, but I’m sure the guys are up to it. Let you know later!

John Jeffrey